A Renewed Excitement for Napa Valley Cabernet

In July of 2022 I moved with my family to Napa Valley. Despite the Bay Bridge commute testing me at times, the move has been incredible for getting to know the U.S.’s most iconic wine region much more intimately. Observing from afar, it’s easy to lump all of Napa Valley together as an adult “Disneyland” of homogenous, over-priced, over-hyped wines with little sense of place. However, when you get to spend lots of time here—the more you explore, the more back roads you turn down, the more vineyards you walk—it becomes increasingly clear that despite the commercial success and sometimes inflated price points, Napa Valley is undeniably a phenomenal, distinctive, and radically diverse place to grow grapes.

When It Comes to Cabernet, Bordeaux Is King

If Cabernet Sauvignon is the king of red wine, and Bordeaux is the king of wine, doesn’t it follow that Bordeaux is the king of Cabernet Sauvignon? Of course, I am prejudiced as I have been collecting Bordeaux since 1971. Yes, I also have some California Cabernets, but 95% of my cellar is red Bordeaux—vintages ranging from 1918 to 2019.

Rare Napa Cult Cab Collectibles Have Hit Our Auction Feed

This week on the blog, we are celebrating the inimitable Cabernet Sauvignon grape, and we are excited to kick it off by featuring the wines of an impeccable collection of super-rare Napa Cult Cab at our auction. Not only do these have perfect provenance—the collector is the original owner; the wines were purchased directly from the winery and stored in a professionally managed cellar—these are mostly 100 point wines that we just don’t get access to very often.

Storing Wine Right: The Ins and Outs of Fine Wine Storage

How a bottle (or case, or pallet) of wine is stored directly impacts how it will age, evolve, and—most importantly—taste once the bottle is opened. It’s why we’ve built out our own storage facilities in San Francisco, Redwood City, and San Carlos and have recently partnered with RareStorage, an industry-leading wine storage company here in California, to increase our storage offerings. We know it’s always worth it to protect the integrity of great wine, whether it’s a crisp rosé for this weekend’s dinner party or a pristine Vosne-Romanée to be uncorked in a century. Read on to discover how to ensure your wines are mesmerizing rather than vinegar when it’s time to (finally) pop the cork.

Pink Bubbly to Your Heart’s Content

Venus, the Roman goddess of love, has often been painted in pink, and pink has somehow become interwoven with our cultural associations of romance. As Valentine’s Day approaches, we’re here to celebrate the pink—in bubbly form, of course.

Celebrate Your Sweetheart with Chelsea's Collectible Wine Picks

In an understated and often unnoticed way, K&L has become a part of many lovers' lives. Upon revealing my employment at K&L to a recent acquaintance, they promptly shared, "Twenty years ago, I bought the Champagne from you that my wife and I enjoyed when we got engaged!" As Valentine's Day approaches and we think on the importance of these memories, I've curated a list of top-tier wines, not limited to Champagnes, that every wine lover will appreciate. These selections are perfect for toasting love, be it Platonic or romantic, or gifting to your favorite wine aficionado for future enjoyment.

New Burgundy Releases from Direct-Import Standouts

Today's Burgundy Newsletter shines a spotlight on several direct-import favorites and their recent releases that have just arrived in stock. The Chardonnays of 2022 are the focus with Sylvain Langoureau's superb St-Aubins, Paul Pernot's ultra-classic Puligny-Montrachets, Mâconnaise value stunners from Château Vitallis, and Chablis QPR performers from Seguinot-Bordet. The old-school 2021 red Burgundy vintage is highlighted by a quintet of astounding 1er Beaune offerings from Albert Morot for simply unbelievable pricing.

Domaine Albert Morot's Seductive 2021 Beaunes

Finding excellent 1er Cru red Burgundy that is both delicious now and can age gracefully for less than $60 a bottle is difficult to say the least—but this quintet from Albert Morot fits the bill!

2022 Domaine Sylvain Langoureau: A Stunning Set of Wines

In 1989 Sylvain Langoureau took over the reins of his family winery, becoming the fifth generation to tend the nine-hectare domaine located in the small hamlet of Gamay on the hillside where Puligny-Montrachet and St. Aubin meet... These are easily some of the greatest values we carry in white Burgundy at K&L.

New Year, New Bordeaux Buying Guide

Before we know it, we'll be knee-deep in en primeur with the 2023 vintage. But in the calm before the storm, we're taking a good look at the current state of Bordeaux with K&L Bordeaux Buyer Clyde Beffa, Jr. and K&L Key Accounts Manager Ryan Moses.

Best-In Class Bordeaux Awards

For the best collectible sweet-spot buys, Léoville-Barton, Rauzan-Segla, Domaine de Chevalier, and La Gaffelière are right at the top of my list.

2023: A Year of Bordeaux

This has been a fascinating year for Bordeaux, one that could stand to reshape the market for a long time to come. At the heart of it was the 2022 En Primeur campaign, which not only offered a truly unique (and often “surprising”) expression of some of the region’s finest wines, but also served as a major inflection point for demand and supply.

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