Golden State, Silver Linings: The Domestic Wine Newsletter

As California finds itself in the midst of another brutal fire season, we release our newsletter devoted to its wines. The timing is coincidence, but the sentiment is sincere: we are passionate about our state and want to support our fellow Californians in this difficult time in any way we know how. The way we know is wine. We’ve enclosed in this newsletter some of our Buyers’ current favorites. And we are publishing it with the hopes that our beloved places and people under siege by fire will soon get the reprieve they so desperately need.

A Vintage Côte des Blancs Stunner at Half the Price

Love vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne? Love an incredible value? Our Champagne Buyer, Gary Westby, has found both and there’s plenty to share. The 2013 Ayala Blanc de Blancs Brut is an incredible find no Champagne enthusiast will want to miss.

ChampagneGary WestbyOctober 3, 2020vintage krug, blanc de blancs, Cotes des Blancs

Barale's 2016 Barolo

Barale Fratelli is always among our favorites wines from Piedmont, as the balance between elegance and value that each bottle delivers seriously can't be matched. In their 2016 Barolo, they've truly made something special.

Something Extra: The Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs from Brochet

Last night, Cinnamon and I had the opportunity to compare two of the top cuvées from Louis Brochet, his Extra Noir and Extra Blanc. Both of these are made in small quantities from the oldest vines on the property, and given long aging on the lees, both over five years. It was fascinating to enjoy a pure Chardonnay and a pure Pinot Noir Champagne like these next to each other…

Soave and the Wines of Le Battistelle

Though Italy’s red wines often snag all the glory, the country’s white wines can be phenomenal—with dozens of native grapes and styles, there’s truly something for every type of white wine lover. And, yes, there’s much more than Pinot Grigio out there! K&L’s Italian Afficionados, John Downing and Greg St. Clair, explain what makes the Le Battistelle wines of Soave Classico some of our faves.

The 2014 Roederer Rosé Reveals the Charm of Its Vintage

The 2014 vintage in Champagne is one that all Champagne lovers should take note of. For me, it is only the second time since 1988 (the other harvest being 2004) that the region has produced wines of such streamlined and relaxed elegance…

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…

K&L Wine Merchants

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