Other than customer tastings, one of my favorite projects here at K&L is conducting themed staff tastings. It can be a challenge to come up with a theme that is interesting and informative and...fun—the last tasting I held was based around one of our small estate producers, Launois, that was inspired solely by the questions posed to me by a newer employee who had not tasted any of their Champagnes. So, actually, credit belongs to Andrew Tobin for giving me the idea.
Read MoreFor our 15th wedding anniversary, Cinnamon and I decided to vacation in Sancerre, a region who’s wines we have always loved, but a place we had never visited. Located at the eastern end of the Loire Valley, this is the true couer de France, and we found it even more beautiful than the pictures we had seen and the descriptions that we had heard. I promised Cinnamon that we would not spend a lot of time working on our vacation, so we kept the appointments to a minimum. One producer that we could not miss however, was Franck Millet, who we have been importing directly here at K&L for 25 years.
Read MoreIt’s an exciting era in Pouilly-Fuissé, as the region finally gets awarded premier cru status for some of its best vineyards. Historic families with excellent holdings like Denis and Maxime Dutron of Château Vitallis are exemplars of the quality coming out of the region.
Read MoreThis week we’re getting a pretty exciting wine into our stores - the 2016 Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon, recent winner of The Jimmy Watson Trophy. If you’re not familiar with “The Jimmy,” it is pretty much the most prestigious and sought after wine award in Australia. Each year, hundreds of wineries vie for this award. In 2018, Xanadu claimed the title. Although they are no stranger to awards and accolades, this amazing recognition solidified their reputation as a World Class winery.
Read MoreIs “affordable Burgundy” an oxymoron? An urban myth? Not at all! You just have to have the right Virgil to guide you. Enter Alex Pross, our Burgundy buyer, with a newsletter devoted to values in the region. As he says, “With a string of good-to-great vintages dating back to 2014, Burgundy is poised to offer a better, less expensive, and more interesting array of wines than ever before.” Read on for Team Burgundy’s top picks and news from their recent buying trip.
Read MoreOur July 2019 newsletter is chock full of Bordeaux oldies, values, and classics, plus Clyde’s favorite picks.
Read MoreLast week I walked into K&L for our Domestic staff tasting, and Keith declared it was Pét Nat & Pizza Day (which, actually, isn’t a thing, but really should be a thing). In true Keith fashion, this wasn’t just any pizza—this was homemade Detroit-style pizza, a labor-of-love take on Sicilian pizza whose beauty lies in the thick, open-crumb, cheesy crust. Even better, we paired it with Pét Nat! You may have heard of Pét Nat, Champagne’s hipster cousin.
Read MoreHere’s the much-anticipated report from Clyde and his crew after their spring trip to Bordeaux. Clyde’s verdict? “The wines from 2018 are, for the most part, quite good— especially the red wines.”
Read MoreOver the last few years, one of the biggest trends that I have witnessed in Champagne has been the drive toward extra brut by the Champenois. This is because of three main factors: climate change, the French fine dining scene, and a strange perception of diet.
Read MoreThe other day I tucked into a Syrah-dominated bottle of Minervois made by Chateau St-Jacques d’Albas, and was reminded exactly why I love Minervois. The bottle, from the 2015 vintage, was all juicy black fruits with structure and a sexy smokiness at an excellent price. And this is what good Minervois can do: knock your Tuesday night out of the park. I’m always on the hunt for an imminently drinkable companion to everyday life that will be more delicious than precious. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and place for precious wines, but I love a wine that punches way above its weight class. And Chateau St-Jacques delivers.
Read MoreIn a few days, Cinnamon and I are going to the Loire Valley for the first time, spending the whole trip relaxing in one place: Sancerre. I have been so excited about this trip that I couldn’t wait to get a little taste in advance, and started searching around online for recipes to go with the iconic Sauvignon Blanc from the region. I settled on the salade au crottin de Chavignol as inspiration, and read a number of recipes online. Naturally, I picked the wine first—and went with the 2017 Domaine La Clef du Recit, a recommendation from our Loire Valley buyer Keith Mabry.
Read MoreWith its Mediterranean climate and 4722 miles of coastline, Italy is a mecca for white wines. From north to south, there’s a vibrant seafood-based cuisine, and a litany of whites to accompany it. And now that we’re in peak summer, it’s a great time to branch out beyond Pinot Grigio (though we have a killer Pinot Grigio on this list, too!).
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