Assyrtiko has become so important and in demand that the grape has been planted well outside its native viticultural confines. Several producers have embraced it on mainland Greece, and it has become a core wine in many top Greek wine programs. The grape has become so popular that we are now seeing it emerge from other new world regions like California and South Australia.
Read MoreAs I criss-cross Champagne this spring, one theme keeps popping up: 2024 is shaping up beautifully in the cellar—but we collectors can’t drink futures on Mother’s Day. So I’ve pulled together bottles that are ready to thrill right now. First up is the crown jewel of my 25-year buying career, the transcendent 2008 Louis Roederer “Cristal”—direct from the maison and showing every bit of its triple-digit pedigree. I’ll also share notes from the Kimmeridgian soils of Les Riceys with Vivien Lamoureux and give you a sneak peek at Alexandre Le Brun’s rain-soaked yet dazzling 2024 vins clairs. Finally, because brunch without pink bubbles is just breakfast, I’ve hand-picked six rosé Champagnes that deliver serious finesse and pure festive joy. Grab a glass and dive in—there’s plenty to celebrate.
Read MoreJoel Nicholas & Steve Birer: uncorking “Pour Decisions” – where we’ll spill the booze on the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of the retail wine & spirits world. Buckle up.
Read MoreThis Mother’s Day, if you feel like a splurge, we have something incredible in stock for you: a wine that comes from the best vintage of my 25-year career buying Champagne at K&L, and one of the very top wines from that vintage. I am talking about the 2008 Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne (direct from Roederer 2025) $449.99. This wine has absolutely perfect provenance, coming direct from Roederer, through their own wholly owned import company, MMD. With multiple 100 and 99 point scores from the press, I am not alone in liking it—it is simply as good as Champagne gets.
Read MoreSome winemakers create wines that seem to have a life of their own. The wines tell stories. The wines alter your perception about a location. Arianna Occhipinti is one of those winemakers.
Read MoreOn the heels of our highly successful Champagne Tent Events, we’re now bringing you not one but TWO new tent events coming in 2025—and we love the idea so much, we’re making it an annual tradition. On May 18th, we’re bringing winemakers and other winery representatives from all over the West Coast to San Francisco for the Great West Coast Wine Tasting! On June 8th in Culver City, we’re celebrating the dolce vita with Italian winemakers and winery reps! Our Domestic and Italian Wine Buyers have worked hard to bring you absolutely stellar lineups, and, at $50 a pop for two-and-a-half hours of tasting and mingling, we think these tickets represent the best deal in town! More info below—snag your tickets before they sell out.
Read MoreOur buying team recently returned from their journeys through Champagne, Burgundy, Rhône, Italy, Bordeaux, and beyond, bringing back an insider's perspective on what's exciting in the world of wine right now. From under-the-radar producers to emerging vintages, this curated collection features their favorite discoveries, greatest values, and standout bottles.
Read MoreEvery time I go to the picturesque, hilltop town of Monthelon to visit Alex Le Brun, he wears his Giants gear, and it makes me feel so welcome. We looked in the vineyards, tasted his 2024 vin clair (the still wine before the second fermentation in the bottle) and also his current and a few upcoming releases. It was the best part of my day!
Read MoreFor the last five to six years the dollar-per-dollar highest-reviewed Sauvignon Blanc in the world has been Chile’s Laberinto Sauvignon Blanc (check out the current vintage we have in stock: (2023 Laberinto "Cenizas de Laberinto" Sauvignon Blanc Maule Valley $19.99 96TA 95DS 93JS). The competition is not even close. Its closest competitor comes from New Zealand, and, at this price point I think we would have to go back decades to find a wine with similar reviews from France! I love that this overachieving wine comes from an appellation that is off the grid, far away from where, on paper, you would expect to find crisp, mineral-driven wines.
Read MoreYou 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.
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