Today's Newsletter brings us many of the greatest white wines in the world, all from undisputed masters of their craft. To make matters even more compelling, they also represent some of the greatest values in long-term, cellar-worthy wine you'll find anywhere.
Read MoreIf Champagne has a lot of one thing in the pipeline for us Champagne lovers, it is hot vintages. The 2015 vintage unseated 1852 as the hottest vintage ever, only to be unseated itself by 2018. There was no shortage of sun in 2019 or 2020 either. While the power and roundness of ripe vintages like these are widely appreciated, I think that in the fullness of time, there is a lot to be said for a cool vintage as well. The 2011 Deutz "Amour de Deutz" Blanc de Blancs Champagne that I just had is a great example of the sleek elegance that strict selections can yield in a cold year like this.
Read MoreOn Monday, for Valentine’s Day, Cinnamon and I opened the best bottle of wine I have drunk in quite a while. It was the Krug Grande Cuvée 165ème edition, which had been in my cellar for just over four years. Just last week, Krug announced their ingredient of the year—rice—as part of their wonderful single-ingredient program. Each year they choose a “humble” ingredient to inspire everyone from top chefs to Krug-loving home cooks to come up with great pairings. Cinnamon and I had been talking about which rice dish to cook ever since. I settled on crab risotto, a dish we used to make every Dungeness crab season, but due to poor supply of the crustaceans over the last few years, have not made in quite a while.
Read MoreLast night, Cinnamon and I enjoyed the perfectly aged 2004 Brillette, Moulis with a big cowboy steak, diced potatoes, and a steakhouse salad. Now that my case is safely in my cellar, I can tell you about this wine: it’s the best deal in aged Bordeaux to come along in some time here at K&L.
Read MoreFor those looking for a sharp buy in beautiful bubbly, Champagne Buyer Gary Westby celebrates the dynamic releases from fan-favorite value producer Egrot. Alex Schroeder then discusses the brilliant biodynamic releases from Solemme. Scott Beckerley revisits an old friend with the perennial excellence of Aspasie. And Giovanni Bueno takes a look at the luxury of Laurent-Perrier. All of these stories just scratch the surface of the remarkable range of top-flight Champagne that you'll find at K&L. From everyday bubbles to cellar-worthy icons, we have you covered.
Read MoreLast week, the wine world lost one of its giants: Anthony Barton had shepherded the estates of Léoville-Barton and Langoa-Barton into legendary status, and was often called the “gentleman of Bordeaux” for his charm and humor. He was well known for being an entertaining racontuer and was a dear friend to K&L. In today’s blog, some of our Bordeaux staff pay tribute to this great man.
Read MoreToday's Domestic Newsletter must be one of the broadest and most comprehensive editions we’ve written to date. Domestic Buyer Ryan Woodhouse starts off with the highly anticipated 2019 vintage in the Napa Valley then moves his focus to the exceptional, world-class wines coming out of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Next, SoCal Domestic Buyer Kaj Stromer gives us a look back at some of the brightest spots to come out of 2021 by recapping the best Domestic deals. Unprecedented times produced unprecedented deals. Continuing on the theme of wines that overdeliver, Kaj highlights his favorite bottles for under $25. Finally, Kaj looks at what K&L staffers are drinking during these long winter months. Read on and enjoy!
Read MoreIn this month’s Wine News, we’ll be celebrating the fact that our ship has come in...literally. We're flush with phenomenal in-stock opportunities that we've been anticipating for a long time. Take a look at the pages of the newsletter to find details on the Bordeaux new arrivals we’re most excited about. From perfectly aged classics to modern-era values, the range and depth is nearly unrivaled. From there, we explore a trio of not-to-be-missed vintages—the irresistible 2018s, the bright and focused 2019s, and dynamic and balanced 2020s. We have a selection of high-scoring collectibles available from the region's iconic 2010 and 2016 vintages as well.
Read MoreThe holidays are the merriest time of the year ... and perhaps the most exhausting. Let us help make things a bit simpler for you—this week’s newsletter is your one-stop shop for rewarding holiday picks. We’ve got bottles to give, bottles to share, plus a few for your own stockings.
Read MoreNext up in our Meet the Staff series is Kaj Stromer, the Southern California half of the Domestic Buy Team Powerhouse Duo. His story involves following your dreams and taking big leaps, the stuff of all great modern tales. His love for Burgundy runs deep, and he’s on a never-ending mission to uncover what’s cool, unique, and utterly delicious about wine from the U.S.
Read MoreIn this week’s newsletter, Buyer Gary Westby brings you all of the fan-favorites: Franck Bonville’s exquisite Grand Cru Chardonnay from the Côtes de Blancs; the meticulously crafted, micro-produced wines from Alexandre Le Brun; the Grand Marque elegance of Billecart-Salmon; the party-in-a-bottle of Baron-Fuenté. These are producers we’ve stocked on our shelves for decades because they are hands down some of the best in the biz, and thanks to our long-term relationships, we’ve got the best prices you’ll find anywhere. We love Champagne season and can’t wait to share these wines with you!
Read MoreWe at K&L are Thanksgiving die-hards. It’s the one time of year when our collective favorite hobby is front and center: eating and drinking! In this week’s newsletter, our buyers have put together a compendium of some of their favorite turkey (or tofurkey) tipples—and there’s even a mortadella pairing if you want to veer off the beaten path.
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