A Visit from Pierre-Olivier Clouet of Cheval Blanc
Last Friday, we were treated to an incredible staff education seminar on Chateau Cheval Blanc by Pierre-Olivier Clouet, the technical director of the Chateau. He brought with him five vintages of Cheval Blanc, a generous lineup. For me, this was one of the big highlights of my year here at K&L, and the wines were so exciting that they made me feel like I was in my 20s again, making a personal wine discovery! To have wines at this price point and reputation live up to their billing is special indeed.
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Thrilling Wine from One of Champagne's OG Biodynamic Producers
There are plenty of Champagne geeks in the world and plenty of natural wine geeks but they don’t always get excited about the same wines. Recently Gary put a wine in front of me that fits both bills—the 2011 Fleury Sonate Extra Brut Champagne Sans Soufre, made by one of the OG biodynamic producers in Champagne.
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Napa, Sonoma, and Hanzell: History in a Glass
A few of us buyers recently embarked on an overnight trip through Napa and Sonoma Valley to check the pulse on wineries as spring dawns on North Coast wine country. We walked sacred vineyards in the heart of Napa Valley, and we heard amazing tales of heroism saving wines during the horrific fires of 2017 in both counties. While everyone we visited had their share in the history of American winemaking, the outstanding highlight of the trip for me was our last visit, to the legendary Hanzell Vineyards in Sonoma.
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A Sushi Experiment!
I love grabbing some sushi to go and drinking Champagne on a Tuesday night. Most luxurious things in this world involve a lot of ritual, and are worth it; making fresh blini for caviar or dressing up for fine dining for example, but grabbing sushi on the way home is an easy treat. Some Tuesdays call for that.
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Billecart-Salmon Masterclass
Last night, we were treated to a once in a lifetime opportunity at K&L, a Masterclass on Champagne Billecart-Salmon led by Mathieu Roland-Billecart.
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Keith's Loire Travelogue, Part 2
One thing I’ve learned about K&L Buyer trips is that they are not for the faint of heart! Buyers pack a lot of visits into a short amount of time so that they can see as many producers as possible. Luckily there’s ample cheese and wine for fortification.
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Not Just For Special Occasions
It is a common notion that Champagne is reserved for special occasions. If you ask me, there are just too many fantastic Champagnes and not nearly enough special occasions. The sheer number and diversity of Champagnes out there call for all sorts of occasions, not simply the special ones.
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Keith's Loire Travelogue, Part I
Recently, our French Regional Buyer Keith Mabry was given the enviable task of traveling through France, meeting winemakers, tasting their wares, and eating cheese—all in order to bring back the very best for us in our Direct Import program. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it! In honor of this Saturday’s Loire Valley tasting in all three stores, Keith and I put together a travelogue of sorts to introduce you to some of our amazing producers.
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On Judging Wines
I was honored to be invited to judge this year’s LA International Wine Competition, an 80-year-old tradition based at the Fairgrounds in Pomona. We kicked it off by introducing ourselves, and I quickly learned I was among some greats—some true veterans of both the industry and of this competition.
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Winemaker to Watch: Samuel Louis Smith
When Ryan Woodhouse stops a tasting and tells you, “Now this is a winemaker to keep an eye on,” you listen. In this case, he was referring to Samuel Louis Smith, a young winemaker out of the Central Coast. Smith, who is currently the winemaker at Morgan, also has his own eponymous, private label that he started in 2014. Currently, he makes three wines, a Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay, from vineyards in Monterey, Santa Cruz and Santa Rita Hills (respectively). Although very small production, each of them are outstanding. I managed to catch up with Sam this week to ask him a few questions.
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The Ubiquitous Chardonnay
Whether you love it or hate it (and generally you fall on one spectrum or the other), Chardonnay is undeniably one of the most popular wine grapes in the world. In fact, it is the most planted white wine grape on the planet. So, when International Chardonnay Day rolls around, love it or hate it, you should celebrate it. Grab a bottle and grab some friends, and use it as an excuse to raise a glass. We’ve provided a list of five fun facts below to whet your palate and impress your guests.
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A Masterclass Bordeaux Tasting with Chateau Lafite’s Saskia de Rothschild
On Wednesday, K&L customers enjoyed a particularly rare treat at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco— for the first time in history, Saskia de Rothschild, the head of Chateau Lafite, producer of one of the world’s most famous and highly sought wines, came to Northern California for a special Masterclass Tasting of her properties’ wines.
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