Posts in riesling
Soulful Wines from Desire Lines

One of the favorite things about my job is seeking out small producers making interesting wines. I love working with people who are really just beginning on their journey and climbing on board with them to see where it goes. I first met Cody and Emily Rasmussen of Desire Lines Wines back in May of 2019 at a very memorable “Shades of Shake Ridge” event in the Sierra Foothills. … There is something so authentic and genuine about them as people and that in turn is encapsulated in their wines. The wines embody a true passion and love for the craft of making wines with a palpable sense of place. They are soulful wines of minimal intervention, yet are also precise and refined. Every part of the process from the selection of vineyard sites, meticulous farming, astute subtle winemaking, hand-drawn label art… everything is done with the utmost care and deliberate attention to detail.

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2022 Max Ferdinand Richter Wines 

Traditionally some of the first wines we receive from each new German vintage release are the wines of Max Ferdinand Richter. We eagerly await these wines as they are always great barometers of the quality of the vintage. I am happy to report that the wines of Max Ferdinand Richter are once again great—and with critical scores from both Mosel Fine Wines and the Wine Advocate, the critics agree. Even more importantly, these are some of the most economical offerings around. We have a wonderful selection that goes from Kabinett all the way to Auslese.  

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News from Austria: Allram’s Amazing 2021s

Austria is at a watershed moment, and 2021 looks to be one of the greatest vintages they have produced in the last 40+ years—that’s on top of a string of vintages that run from good-to-better-to-great! Most exciting are the incredible wines coming to us from Weingut Allram, one of our Direct Import producers who offers price-to-quality ratio that is insanely good.

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Notes from a Fanboy: New Zealand Riesling

New Zealand Riesling is one of the wine styles I find myself drinking more than anything else these days, thanks to the high quality and incredibly reasonable prices. Riesling is produced in nearly every major wine-growing region in the country and comes in a variety of styles. Most are off-dry with just a hint of sweetness, while others can range from bone-dry to lusciously sweet. With a variety of styles and QPR that is off the charts, I honestly can’t recommend these wines enough. Here’s a quick tour of New Zealand’s best Rieslings.

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Domestic Wine News: Sta. Rita Hills' Finest, An Oregon Rising Star, & Top Values

Our Domestic Buyer Ryan Woodhouse shines a spotlight on the Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County’s rising superstar wine region. This cool climate zone produces some of the most exciting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the state, and our pages are packed with some of Ryan’s favorites. He also includes a focus on an Oregon Riesling producer who knocked his socks off and a roundup of under $20 bottles that overdeliver.

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Revelatory Finds from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa

In this week’s newsletter, K&L’s Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa Buyer, Thomas Smith, has a litany of bottles from the other side of the world that will be at home by grill or by garden. If you’re in the mood for a sizzling burger hot off a campsite fire pit, try a Bordeaux blend from Stellenbosch. Ceviche by the beach? Try one of Australia’s powerful, bone-dry Rieslings from Eden Valley. Just want to catch up with friends in your own backyard? Try a bubbly rosé from Tasmania or a Pinot Meunier rosé from New Zealand. The possibilities for summer fun are endless!

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