You have not really lived until you have tasted Barolo at 9 AM, had six espressos before noon, rushed through Vinitaly meetings as if speed-dating while forging new friendships at every stop. That was my last week. And yes, it was worth it.
Read MoreI recently returned from two weeks in the Rhône Valley, and I am still playing catch up. There were so many things to digest along the way – new vintage assessments, strengthening our producer relationships, and finding new partner producers.
Read MoreI have just returned from a nine-day trip to Burgundy where I was able to taste the 2023 vintage from bottle as well as many 2024 wines from barrel. I also spent a lot of time discussing economic global trends with our winery partners. Going over to taste is an annual trip, and I always appreciate re-tasting a vintage in bottle that I had previously tasted from barrel as well as tasting the next vintage we’ll be selling. 2023s are excellent: loaded with fruit and very fresh and energetic, though a tad less rich and complex than their 2022 counterparts. The whites excelled once again while the reds are delicious with wonderful aromas and pure red fruits cores across the board.
Read MoreWith some of the most northern vineyards in all of Burgundy, the appellation of Marsannay has been benefiting from the warmer vintages of late. Previously known for making tight, less-forgiving wines, the wines of Marsannay are now beautiful expressions of red fruit, spice, and mineral notes. There are many top prodcuers making wines in Marsannay, including Bruno Clair, Denis Mortet, Louis Jadot, Domaine Faiveley, Domaine Bart—and one of our longtime direct import producers, Charles Audoin. The wines of Charles Audoin deserve particular note because we have just received a terrific trio of 2022s.
Read MoreIf you’re in the market for impeccably well-made white Burgundy that is also affordable then the set of 2023s from Pernot-Belicard should definitely fit the bill. I have been lucky enough to visit this property multiple times and taste the 2023s from both barrel and from bottle and see the wines evolve from potential to reality in terms of how good they are. These are easily the best set of wines produced from Pernot-Belicard to date, and they represent stellar values from the entry-level Bourgogne Blanc all the way to the top 1er Cru Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault offerings.
Read MoreWe’re back on the trail, getting ready to taste the 2024s in Bordeaux, while catching up with our friends in the region. It is one of the great traditions in the world of fine wine—and quickly becoming an indispensable part of my year. The exhausting (trust me…) trek through the region will give us a wonderful perspective on the wines that will be released for sale as soon as next week—another chapter in the storied history of Bordeaux.
Read MoreBordeaux, the wine world, and K&L Wine Merchants lost a very special friend and mentor a few weeks ago with the passing of Mr. Bill Blatch.
Read MoreWelcome to our latest newsletter, spotlighting our newly expanded private-label lineup, Anonymous Wine Collective, and launching Spirits Auctions on May 1st! We’re also celebrating the return of our buyers, who’ve uncovered hidden gems for our Direct Import program. Plus, we’ve got two inaugural Tent Events—a West Coast tasting in San Francisco and an Italian-themed event in Culver City—showcasing can’t-miss wines poured by the people who make them. Finally, check out our updated Open Cellar Program, now available in all locations.
Read MoreWe’re thrilled to announce the next chapter in our auction journey—K&L Spirits Auctions, launching on May 1! We’ve spent the last 15 years refining our fine wine auction platform, focusing on curation and bringing compelling lots to the most heavily visited online retail and auction site in the U.S. Now we’re applying that experience to collectible spirits.
Read MoreAll my French friends always ask me if I am going to the south of France on my trip. I tell them yes—I am going to Les Riceys! It is just three miles away from the northern border with Burgundy here, and has the same soil as in Chablis, the famous Kimmeridgian clay. Not only is the soil different than the chalk of the Marne, so is the climate—here it is far more continental with colder winters and warmer summers. Luckily today was picture-perfect French spring weather, and I hope that I’ll just be carrying around my winter clothes and not wrapping up in them.
Read MoreI always look forward to my annual visit to Domaine Parent and my sit-down tasting with Anne Parent. We tasted her 2022 wines from bottle, and they were absolutely singing! 2022 was an exceptional vintage for red Burgundy, and the set of wines from Domaine Parent showcase both the quality of the vintage as well as the signature style of Domaine Parent. With premier holdings scattered mostly across Pommard, Corton, and Beaune, Domaine Parent has created wines of incredible freshness with enviable fruit and impressive structure and depth. Domaine Parent exemplifies the perfect synergy of Burgundian classicism with the new world order in Burgundy.
Read MoreI'm beyond excited to introduce the first releases in a new line of exclusive K&L collaborative bottlings—welcome to the Anonymous Wine Collective.
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