The Wonderful Wine World of Ballard Canyon

We are so lucky in California to be a stone’s throw from great wine regions, no matter which part of the state we live in—and it seems a particularly good moment to celebrate this unique part of the world while it suffers under smoke and fire right now. Hollywood staffer Illya Haase recently took his family on a short jaunt from LA to Ballard Canyon, home to Stolpman Vineyards and their great lineup of wines. He was impressed by their thoughtful winemaking and farming, but mostly by the deep connection to their people and their land.

Bollinger’s PNVZ15 Blanc de Noirs

Gary doesn’t often buy a wine before tasting it, but he knew he couldn’t go wrong with Bollinger. So when he opened up Bollinger’s newly released PNVZ15 for the first time, his instincts were pleasantly validated by the sumptuous deliciousness of this wine. We just received a tiny amount of this tiny-production wine, so it is not a purchase to ruminate on… it’s one to buy while we have it!

We're Preaching the Ministry of Clouds

Ministry of Clouds is a husband-and-wife team who make majorly buzz-worthy wine all over Australia. We are thrilled to announce that we are now their exclusive importer for the U.S.! We have a small quantity of these incredible wines, so grab them while you can. The good news: these are cult wines with very reasonable price tags.

The Fountain of Youth: 1972 by Xavier Vignon

The 1972 is a very special Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Though it has nearly 50 years of age, it was only put into bottle in 2019! This wine was stored in its original concrete foudre for decades at the domaine, until oenologist Xavier Vignon discovered it. What you get in the bottle is a wine with elegance and some maturity, but still a lively freshness and youthful acidity. A profound experience.

A Tale of Two Cities: Barbera from Alba and Asti

Italian wine is known for its food-friendliness, but the Barbera grape from Piedmont might very well be the most versatile for the dinner table. Its high acidity and friendly tannins make it a great pair for many a meal. With subtle differences in style based on where it’s grown, the best way to really get to know this grape is to open up a bottle from each of its hometowns. Hard work, but someone’s gotta do it…

Tonic for the Jaded Palate

Last night, Cinnamon and I were at a loss for words over the greatness of the 2019 Domaines Ott "Château de Selle" Côtes de Provence Rosé. This morning I woke up still thinking about it, wondering what it was that made it so special, and ran to my notebook to reflect and write…

From Châteauneuf to Condrieu, the Rhône Is a Bounty of Riches

There’s so much to love coming out of the Rhône Valley these days. After a string of phenomenal vintages, the Rhône is one of the best places to look if you want wines that consistently overdeliver bang for your buck. Buyer Keith Mabry leads the charge of the other K&L Rhônephiles with a list of current favorite bottles and producers in today’s newsletter.

John's Master Class: 2015 Brunello di Montalcino

What is it that makes Brunello di Montalcino so incredibly special? If you are a fan of Italian wine, you’ve probably heard K&L and critics alike rave about the 2015 vintage, and maybe you’re ready to learn more. We asked one of our Italian experts, John Downing, to give us the lowdown on the vintage, the region, and some of his favorites. This is a deep dive for the Brunello lover, or even just the Brunello curious.

Tahbilk: A “First Family” of Australian Wine

We are thrilled to be the exclusive U.S. importer for one of Australia’s finest wineries. Tahbilk is one of the much-lauded “First Families” of Australian wine, and we couldn’t be happier to offer their wines at very special pricing. They encompass the best of Australia’s quality and deep tradition.

2013 Surprise from Launois

The 2013 Blanc de Blancs from Launois is an electric, mineral-driven style on the dry side of most bruts, and it pairs beautifully with take-out sushi.

The Not-To-Be-Missed 2016 Piedmont Vintage

Early results are in, and there are fewer vintages in the region’s history that are delivering at such a high level from Barbaresco to Barolo and beyond. Any cellar full of the best of 2016 Piedmont will thrill collectors for years to come.

Our Summer Burgundy Newsletter

Some wine drinkers consider Burgundy the most inscrutible of regions, but really all you need is an Alex Pross. In our newsletter, K&L Burgundy Buyer tells you his latest favorites and has some tremendous tips for finding Burgundy values (not an oxymoron). Whether you’re a collector or a daily drinker, there is much to love from this famed region!

K&L Wine Merchants

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