Few wines in all my buying categories bring me as much joy as the humble Côtes du Rhône. From reds to whites, these wines offer some of the best daily drinking at prices that still defy the market. Each of the producers featured here are small, family-run estates, and what they put in the glass for the cost simply transcends everything else in the category. Many are certified sustainable and/or organic, emphasizing care in both vineyard and cellar.
Read MoreFebruary is all about Champagne at its most thrilling. From the laser-focused precision of Damien Hugot to the beautifully mature old-vine depth of Fallet-Dart, this month’s selections celebrate grower brilliance and grand marque mastery alike. We spotlight collectible bottlings of Cristal, revel in Pinot Noir–driven power, and savor the final allocations of Krug Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition. Plus, we honor the enduring elegance and innovation of Laurent-Perrier. Whether you’re cellaring icons or discovering new grower stars, there’s never been a better time to explore Champagne’s latest treasures.
Read MoreDirectly next door to Château Rayas, the wines of Font de Courtedune remain one of the Southern Rhône’s best-kept secrets. Vigneron Caroline Charrier views herself as a steward of the land, farming gently and crafting her wines with whole-cluster fermentation and native yeasts to preserve purity and site expression.
Read MorePassed down through four generations and now managed by Thibaut Chamfort, Domaine de Verquière has been certified organic since 2014. Their Côtes-du-Rhône, a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah grown on chalky clay soils dotted with large pebbles, is one of my favorite everyday reds from the South of France.
Read MoreFounded in 1930 by Italian émigré Nicolas Benedetti, Domaine Benedetti has deep roots in the Southern Rhône. The estate transitioned to organic farming in 2000 and today encompasses 4 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and 10 hectares in Côtes du Rhône. Now led by Christian Benedetti, the domaine is guided by a minimalist philosophy in the cellar, resulting in wines that emphasize purity, balance, and honest expression of place.
Read MoreIn 2002, Jacques Coipel left the petrol industry to pursue wine, purchasing vineyards in the Côtes du Rhône Villages cru of Valréas. Set at roughly 1,200 feet on soils of clay, limestone, and gravel, the estate benefits from cooling northern winds that lend freshness and clarity to the wines. Reds show vibrant red fruit and lift, while the whites carry crisp orchard tones and natural energy.
Read MoreWelcome to "Rendez-Vous," our newest K&L private label. This latest addition to our lineup fulfills the promise K&L has always strived to deliver: exceptional quality wines that reflect the authenticity of their place, producer, and varieties - all at a price that makes sense.
Read MoreFor as long as I have worked at K&L—20+ years—Laurent-Perrier has been a favorite Champagne of both our customers and our staff. Six years ago, I had the opportunity to go into the deep cellars of Laurent-Perrier to see the oldest blends of the Grand Siecle, including the first bottling, released in 1959. It was composed of juice from the vintages 1952, 1953, and 1955. It also contained juice from 11 of the 17 Grand Cru villages in Champagne and sat for 10 years on the lees. This formula carries through to this day.
Read MoreWhile some may disagree with me, I think that the Grande Cuvée isn’t just the equal of the other offerings at Krug; I think it is their best wine. The thing that I like the best about it is the combination of youthful exuberance and profound, aged depth that it shows at the same time. This is something that just gets better with age. Every time that I have done an event with Krug, it has been the oldest Grande Cuvée that has been my favorite wine, and I have been lucky enough to do a lot as a Krug Ambassade.
Read MoreAn entire third of the Champagne region is planted to Pinot Noir, yet 100% Pinot Noir Blanc de Noirs is a relative rarity—especially compared to Blanc de Bancs, even though Chardonnay represents less than a quarter of plantations in the region. Here are some of our favorites:
Read MoreChampagne Louis Roederer’s Cristal is an icon of the wine world for good reason. This is an estate within and estate—the chalkiest parcels, the oldest vines of this house’s significant holdings. Farmed biodynamically, often by horse, nothing is left to chance and no expense is spared for quality. We are very lucky to have a diverse selection of vintages to offer right now.
Read MoreThe Fallet family of Champagne Fallet-Dart has written records of being vine growers in Drachy going all the way back to 1610. The family has almost certainly been there even longer than that. Their 47 acres of vineyard are closer to Paris than to Épernay, located in the Aisne department on the banks of the Marne river. The family’s extraordinarily long time in this business has given them patience like few other producers—as a matter of fact they supply us with our oldest current-release Champagne at 20 years old!
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