Next up in our Meet the Staff series is Kaj Stromer, the Southern California half of the Domestic Buy Team Powerhouse Duo. His story involves following your dreams and taking big leaps, the stuff of all great modern tales. His love for Burgundy runs deep, and he’s on a never-ending mission to uncover what’s cool, unique, and utterly delicious about wine from the U.S.
Read MoreIn this week’s newsletter, Buyer Gary Westby brings you all of the fan-favorites: Franck Bonville’s exquisite Grand Cru Chardonnay from the Côtes de Blancs; the meticulously crafted, micro-produced wines from Alexandre Le Brun; the Grand Marque elegance of Billecart-Salmon; the party-in-a-bottle of Baron-Fuenté. These are producers we’ve stocked on our shelves for decades because they are hands down some of the best in the biz, and thanks to our long-term relationships, we’ve got the best prices you’ll find anywhere. We love Champagne season and can’t wait to share these wines with you!
Read MoreWe at K&L are Thanksgiving die-hards. It’s the one time of year when our collective favorite hobby is front and center: eating and drinking! In this week’s newsletter, our buyers have put together a compendium of some of their favorite turkey (or tofurkey) tipples—and there’s even a mortadella pairing if you want to veer off the beaten path.
Read MoreNext up in our staff spotlight series is Gary Westby, K&L’s longtime Champagne Buyer (20+ years!). He’s a big contributor here on our blog, and you’ll find his videos, tasting notes, and dinner pairings on our social media channels. Redwood City regulars likely know him for his helpful suggestions on the floor. Gary’s enthusiasm for his wines and winemakers is infectious!
Read MoreThe Brochet family has 32 acres of vines, almost all in the village of Écueil on the Mountain of Reims. They have been growers since 1882, at least, and have the distinction of possessing their own special selection of Pinot Noir, Pinot d’Écueil, which is an old massal selection passed down for generations in their family. Louis Brochet, the current winemaker, is qualified with a diploma of enology, a masters-level education in winemaking. With his learned skill, their special selection of Pinot, and the great terroir of the 1er cru of Écueil, the family is turning out fantastic wines. Since we have been buying direct from them for years, the prices are still super reasonable.
Read MoreWe just received an allocation of 300 bottles of the 2013 Duménil “Special Club” 1er Cru Brut Champagne at a nearly unheard-of price for a wine in the club trésors, $49.99. This group of 28 growers, which includes super stars like Paul Bara, Gaston-Chiquet, and Pierre Gimonnet all agree to put their top wine in the Special Club bottle, but only after it passes a blind tasting jury of members and oenologists. For grower Champagne, I can think of few better guarantees of quality than the Special Club.
Read MoreIn the next few months, Champagne Louis Roederer will be replacing their Brut Premier, which has been pleasing palates since 1986, with the Collection 242, a numbered multi-vintage blend. This new cuvée is one of the most revolutionary moves—if not the most revolutionary move that I have seen from a grand marque producer in my 21-year career as Champagne Buyer here at K&L. I can’t wait for all my Champagne-loving customers and friends to try it when it arrives.
Read MoreThanks to technology, today we were able to convene and do a virtual tasting, led by our Champagne Guru, Gary Westby. I’m thrilled to be able to taste again as a staff, and Gary’s presentation reminded me how much I love his Champagne program. If you haven’t been down the Champagne aisle in awhile, it’s a great time to take a stroll there—no celebration needed! Any of these bottles would make a day special.
Read MoreIn the middle of last month, I was on the second plane into France for vaccinated Americans with Kate Soto, Clyde and Trey Beffa. It was great to be back on the job in the cellars and tasting rooms of Champagne, but the highlight of the trip, under the June sun, was the time I got to spend in the vineyard. On the last day of the trip, Chantal Gonet of Champagne Philippe Gonet and Champagne Pierre Mineral took me for a visit to the crown jewel of their estate: Les Hauts Jardins.
Read MoreLast night, Cinnamon and I treated ourselves to some sushi from the recently reopened Kanpai in Palo Alto and paired it with the magnificent 2007 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Louis" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne. I had opened it to make a little video presenting the wine (see below), and we enjoyed the rest paired with the great variety that a sushi dinner has to offer. This over-200-year-old house continues to push and strive for ever more quality, and this all-Chardonnay tête-de-cuvée is proof of that.
Read MoreWe’ve made it to France! Our first few days were spent happily in Champagne, driving through the narrow towns that climb up and down hillsides. I was able to meet some of the people K&L has forged the deepest relationships with in the region—and some of the wines that I have on regular rotation at home. Aside from being lovely people, their wines are exquisitely made, with generations of experience in each family.
Read MoreOf all the Grand Marque producers of Champagne, none are moving as fast at improving quality as Champagne Louis Roederer. This upward trajectory is even more impressive because of the high level that they have always maintained. Last week, tasting the newly released 2013 Louis Roederer “Cristal” Brut Champagne, I realized that Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has once more found room to go upwards, even in a vintage less famous than the 2012 that proceeded it.
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