For the Love of the Vineyard: Champagne Pierre Paillard

Quentin Paillard cares about his vines. His family has been growing grapes and making wine in the village of Bouzy since 1799—so it’s fair to say that he’s deeply rooted (pun intended!) in its soil. But upon speaking to him, it’s clear that their soil and their vines are truly the driving force behind the domaine. His passion for the work they do in the vineyards is palpable, and this is indeed the unique advantage of being a grower-producer among Champagne’s many negociants. All their wines are made from this devotedly grown estate fruit, with a heavy emphasis on preserving the character of the vintage, even in their nonvintage offerings. And there’s some alchemy that happens between soil and fruit and year that makes these Pinot-driven wines perennial staff favorites here at K&L.

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The Last of the Cult Cabs

After travelling to about a dozen palatial estates throughout Napa, the humble and straightforward approach that the brothers apply to their craft was a breath of fresh air to say the least. The 2015 vintage they shared with us was a meticulous expression of their treasured To Kalon parcel - aromatically brilliant, immensely layered and expressive, with each sip seemingly exposing another dimension that was intriguing and compelling.  It is a special place, a unique story, and a fantastic wine. It also just happens to be one of modern Napa’s biggest success stories and one of the wines most coveted by collectors these days.

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Ryan Moses
Discovering Switzerland

Perhaps this isn’t an obvious comparison to your wine-producing United States of America, but hear me out. As a nation, strong thirst and a stronger currency mean that Switzerland consumes more than twice as much wine as it can produce itself. The vast majority of wine production is consumed domestically, just like in the USA. But with an Old World sensibility, prized terroirs in populated areas of Switzerland mean that if you live in a pricey condo on the sunny bank of Lake Geneva, there might be two rows of Chasselas vines squeezed between you and the bakery next door. So you’re wondering why I taunt you with tales of wines you rarely see back home?

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On the Trail
Jean-Louis Denois: Excellent Bubbles, Excellent Price

Our Direct Import program is really the backbone of K&L. It’s one of the most significant ways that we are able to bring you wines that we believe in at such great value. Our buyers build relationships with producers all over the wine-growing, wine-loving world. Most of these are small producers whom we only find out about because we have feet on the ground. Our buyers travel and make relationships that connect them to that friend of a friend of a friend who turns out to be making astonishing wine. That’s how we found Jean-Louis Denois 15 years ago.

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The Scoop on Chartreuse

“Chartreuse, the only liqueur so good they named a color after it.” –Death Proof, script & film by Quentin Tarantino

Conceived 400 years ago as an elixir of long life, I suspect that the mention of Chartreuse in Death Proof is allegorical for the film’s theme of immortality and invulnerability. Having returned to fashion in recent years, this fascinating liqueur drew me on an inconvenient and magnificent side-trip during my recent time in France. In the sub-alpine city of Voiron, the distillery of Chartreuse Diffusion includes the largest liqueur cellar in the world... for now.

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On the Trail
Bastille Day — A Great Day to Taste French Wine!

K&L is crazy about France any day of the year, but this is a special time. With France doing so well in the World Cup, our love of everything French is reaching a fever pitch. Add on top of that the start of the Tour de France tomorrow and it is almost too much. Luckily, we will be able to let the tricolor fly next Saturday for le quatorze de juillet — Bastille Day. Take a look at some of our favorite French finds from all corners of the country.

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Gary Westby