Happy Grapes make Great Wine

Happy Earth Day! Each year, around April 22, people around the world take the day (or week, or month) to recognize, reflect, and hopefully do a small something for the environment. At K&L, that of course got us thinking about wine. And why not? At its heart, winemaking is intrinsically tied to the land, and there are some pretty exciting ways that winemakers and vintners do their part (not just in April, but all year round). I’m sure you’ve heard buzz words like ‘biodynamic,’ ‘organic’ and ‘sustainable,’ but with so many terms, it’s easy to get lost - and how do you determine what’s important for you? In honor of Earth Day today, I thought it would be good opportunity to clarify the differences.

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Guest User
Brut IPA: The New “Champagne” of Beers?

Just when you thought there couldn’t be another IPA, a new style emerged. Over the last year, Brut IPA became the hot new beer for brewers to play around with. The style, which was created by brewer Kim Sturdavant of SF’s Social Kitchen in late 2017, is refreshing, crisp and completely dry. It became an immediate hit with hop heads who crave the big aromas and flavors but are looking for something without all the heaviness. And with the return of the sun, it’s a perfect summer beer.

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Guest User
Some Off-the-Hook Bargains from Bordeaux's 2016 Vintage

Recently, I’ve come across a bunch of articles claiming that Bordeaux is poised to make a comeback. I don’t know what all those writers have been drinking, but here at K&L, Bordeaux never went away. Sure we get a lot more requests for, say, skin-contact wines from Slovenia than ever before—and we love that—but Bordeaux has always been a staple for our customers. And perhaps that’s because y’all are extremely savvy people who know that Bordeaux wines are among the most ageable on the planet. But I’d wager there are just as many of you who buy Bordeaux because it can offer spectacular bargains if you know where to look.

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Bollinger Vin Clair

Bollinger is a place that somehow seems both untouchably historic and welcoming. They are a global enterprise, but the team is tightly knit, the wines made with heart.

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On the Trail
South Africa’s Rising Star

In a small wine region at the bottom of the world, there is a wine revolution happening. The place is Swartland and the revolution is led by a group of energetic, young winemakers and small, family-run wineries that are revitalizing this once abandoned wine region. Prioritizing craftsmanship and expression of place, they are making honest, natural wines that are extremely exciting. One of the talents to watch is Andrea Mullineux from Mullineux and Leeu Family Estates, who is helping to put this area on the map.

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Guest User
Tasting at Chateau Marquis d’Alesme

After a long day of tasting at multiple chateaux in Pauillac, St. Julien and Margaux, the crew had their last meeting of the night Wednesday at Chateau Marquis d’Alesme in Margaux, followed by dinner. The mood of the day was instantly transformed from professional analysis to warm hospitality by estate manager Delphine Kolasa and head winemaker Marjolaine Maurice-de-Coninck. I’ve long held the opinion that most wines reflect the characters of their makers, and this experience certainly held true to the theory. First, a little background on the property.

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Alex Schroeder
"What's the Price?"

When tasting through properties in Bordeaux, we are fortunate enough to be greeted and hosted by some of the greatest producers and personalities in the region.  Many are long time friends of Clyde, so they take it with a grin and a grain of salt when, in the middle of recalling their past year of cultivating, toiling, and crafting the wine before us, he drops the question… “So…what is the price?”

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Ryan Moses
En Primeur: Top Picks from Day Three

It is day three of en primeur week in Bordeaux, and your K&L Bordeaux team has been working hard, moving from château to negociant to château, trying to find the exceptional wines of the powerful 2018 vintage.  Today, we knocked out three first growths, among several others, and these are some of the highlights …

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Alex Schroeder
Early Returns: 2018 Bordeaux is Taking Shape

The week is far from over, but we have had the fortune to taste through a large proportion of the Left and Right Bank after today’s marathon tastings took us to the northern-most regions of the Medoc and back through the heart of Pauillac and Saint-Julien.  Here are our initial thoughts on a very compelling vintage.

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Ryan Moses
Champagne Wrap Up

I just returned home to California after a two week trip in Champagne. After 46 appointments and tasting 506 wines, I am a little tired but completely inspired by the work of the Champenois. About 1/3 of the wines that I tasted were vin clairs, the still wines from the 2018 harvest that I tasted before the bottling. This vintage, which was much lauded at the time of harvest, I believe is a turning point in Champagne.

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Gary Westby
The Right Bank’s Old Guard Made New

One common thread in Bordeaux over the past decade is seeing how the qualitative landscape changes while the terroir stays the same.  Sometimes it is hard to keep track of what properties are experiencing their next renaissance, but the best ones seem to find a way to take every step to amplify what is so unique and special about the land they are caretaking. 

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Ryan Moses