After 20 years of buying the Champagne here at K&L, I have to say that I have never seen a year like this one… The good news is, some very good deals have come out of this bizarre situation, and one of the best deals is the small lot of Canard-Duchêne "Charles VII - Grande Cuvée le Victorieux" Brut Champagne that just arrived. The last time we had this, many years ago, we sold it for $49.99, which was a good value. It is now selling for $60 elsewhere, but we were able to grab the last of it and offer it at $39.99.

Drinking French with David Lebovitz

We are thrilled to partner with blogger/author/bon vivant David Lebovitz to bring you the Drinking French pack, an ensemble that features his new guide to all libations French (signed), plus an assortment of bottles that will help you make some of his favorite tipples at home. You may not be able to while away the hours in a Parisian cafe, but you can at least drink like it!

Stuff Their Stockings with Booze: The 2020 Holiday Newsletter

Whether you’ll be spinning a dreidel, rockin’ around the Christmas tree, lighting the Kwanzaa candles, or simply enjoying Winter Solstice, we have something that can make your celebration special, and, though the times were strange in 2020, the wines were superb.

Ethereal 2008 From Henriot

Vintage Henriot and white truffles, oh my. Gary found a very special wine to go with his birthday truffle straight from Alba and handmade pasta. Though he’d intended to drink the 2008 Henriot as an aperitif, it paired so divinely with his meal that it became the star of the show.

Let's Do the Turkey/Tofurkey Tango

This may be an out-of-the-box Thanksgiving, so we’re thinking about out-of-the-box wine pairings. In today’s newsletter, we bring you the best and brightest of Pinot Noir, one of the classic characters you see at the turkey/tofurkey table. But we’ve thrown in some fun options from around the winemaking world to mix things up.

Bordeaux Shines Brightly As the Holidays Approach

The barometer has dropped a few notches, and we’re inching toward the holiday season—it’s the perfect time of year to reach for the exquisite wines of our beloved Bordeaux! While we can’t be in the wine aisle with you chatting up our favorite wines of the year, our Bordeaux experts are very excited to share some of the treasures we have on our shelves. From new arrivals to perennial fan favorites, Clyde and crew have Bordeaux picks to get you through the rest of 2020.

A Regal Showing from Taittinger: 2008 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs

Last night, Cinnamon and I drank one of the most long-awaited prestige cuvée releases, the 2008 Taittinger "Comtes de Champagne" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne. I can’t remember fielding quite as many calls and emails for a Champagne since the 2002 Krug was released, and for good reason—this is a prestige cuvée that delivers on all of its promise. I had already been extremely impressed with another preview bottle on Saturday with the team at work, but, at home, with time and food, I was blown away.

Luxury Cuvées to Everyday Values: Our Champagne Newsletter

It’s no secret that we absolutely love Champagne at K&L. The reasons why are too many to count, but if we had to pick one, it could very well be the breathtaking diversity of this world-famous region. As such, our Champagne buyer, Gary Westby, makes the area’s impressive range of styles a central theme in this month’s newsletter. Gary and the team take us on a tour that winds its way to such locales as Tours-sur-Marne, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, and Drachy—some of Champagne’s most revered and celebrated sites. Along the way they delve into many of the region’s biggest names, including Laurent-Perrier and Billecart-Salmon as well as lesser known producers such as Fallet-Dart. Represented in these pages is everything from luxury cuvées to outstanding values.

Celebrating Sauvignon Blanc Day Across New Zealand

Fans of New Zealand wines are celebrating Sauvignon Blanc today,and our very own NZ guru is no exception. Buyer Thomas Smith may not be able to be in Marlborough with his Kiwi pals, but he is drinking a glass or two in solidarity from the comfort of his own home—and he has some excellent recommendations for you to do the same!

The NorCal K&L Holiday Party: A February Tradition

Each year, K&L Redwood City & San Carlos staffers celebrate the holidays in style—in February!—well after the retail rush of December. Gary Westby documented the food, the festivities, and most importantly, the wines!

Super Bo(wl) Ssam

After my Packers were laughed out of Levi's Stadium a few weeks back, I've been thinking more about what I'll be eating and drinking on Super Bowl Sunday than who's going to Disneyland. As it turns out, there's a lot one can do with the space in the brain that would have otherwise been occupied by recurring visions of Aaron Rodgers hoisting the Lombardi trophy high into the air…

Ring in 2020 with Champagnes Under $30

It’s here—that time of year when Champagne gets the limelight it deserves: New Year’s Eve! Though you can definitely drink Champagne any time of the year (and should), you can’t drink anything but Champagne on New Year’s Eve. The gods demand it. You’re morally obliged. Hammurabi put it in his code.

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