The New Tastemakers of California and Washington Wine
There's a never a shortage of new developments to share on the domestic wine front. Starting with our Key Accounts Team's Northern California Report, we dive into some of the benchmark properties in Napa and Sonoma to see what's on the horizon for collectors. Then Domestic Buyer Ryan Woodhouse shines the spotlight on three of his favorite boutique projects making waves among the most clued-in connoisseurs. Finally, a tantalizing sneak peek at Napa's upcoming 2021 releases has everyone in a festive mood for the upcoming holiday season.
Key Accounts Visits NorCal's Finest
Our Key Accounts team's recent visit to several benchmark properties in Napa and Sonoma was eye-opening in many respects. First and foremost, we were treated to several thrilling 2021 new releases, which provided us with unbridled excitment for what will surely shape up to be an outstanding vintage for both regions, as Key Accounts Manager Ryan Moses outlines in his 2021 Napa and Sonoma vintage report. Furthermore, we caught up on a few current releases from some old-school icons, such Dunn's 2018 Howell Mountain Cab, while the highlight of the trip was a jaw-dropping retrospective at Realm, which featured bottlings going back to 2015. It was an action-packed two days to say the least, and we're all the better for it. Read more.
2019 Cobb "Cole Ranch Vineyard" Mendocino County Riesling (Previously $33) 93 $23.99 View
2021 Cobb Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 94 $69.95 View
2021 Cobb "H. Klopp Vineyard" Sonoma Coast Chardonnay $59.95 View
2021 Raen "Royal St. Robert Cuvée" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 98 $64.95 View
2021 Occidental "Freestone-Occidental" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 98 $64.95 View
2021 Hanzell "Sebella" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 93 $39.95 View
2018 Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 97 $169.95 View
2019 Dunn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 93 $109.95 View
2019 Robert Craig "Affinity" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $70) 92 $54.95 View
2019 Robert Craig "Estate" Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 97 $99.95 View
2021 Realm "The Bard" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Pre-Arrival) 97 $174.95 View
2022 Realm "The Bard - Riverbound Vineyard" Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc $59.95 View
2018 Realm "The Bard" Napa Valley Red Blend (1.5L) 98 $399.95 View
2015 Realm "The Bard" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 98 $219.99 View
2019 Realm "The Bard-Blair Edition" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend (bin soiled label) $279.99 View
2017 Realm "The Absurd" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 98 $899.99 View
2019 Realm "The Absurd" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 100 $1,169.99 View
Cruising the Santa Cruz Mountains
Pinot Noir at Trout Gulch Vineyard in the middle of veraison.
The Santa Cruz Mountains, a region defined by its complex geology and proximity to the cool Pacific Ocean, is home to diverse grape varieties and a rich cultural element that inspires its best winemakers. A new generation of rising stars, like Ryan Alfaro, are utilizing traditional wisdom and experimenting with regenerative farming techniques. Ryan is steering his family-owned, dry-farmed vineyard with a new sense of energy and producing spectacular wines through non-intrusive winemaking methods. His passion project, Farm Cottage, is imbued with the same sense of purpose and enjoys the same top-quality raw materials, with an added element of Ryan's avant-garde creativity setting these wines apart from anything else being made in the region today. Read more.
2021 Alfaro "A" Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay 91 $19.95 View
2021 Alfaro "A" Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir 92 $22.95 View
2021 Alfaro "Trout Gulch Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay 93 $29.95 View
2021 Alfaro "Lindsay Paige Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir 95 $39.95 View
2021 Alfaro "Trout Gulch Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir 93 $39.95 View
2021 Farm Cottage "Trout Gulch Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay 95 $39.95 View
2021 Farm Cottage "Trout Gulch Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir 95 $49.95 View
A Rising Star in California's Historic Vineyard Scene
Evanghelo Vineyard in Contra Costa County.
Given Cody Rasmussen's day job as assistant Winemaker at Bedrock, we knew his passion project Desire Lines was one to keep an eye on. With access to many of the same top-tier vineyard sites that comprise the Bedrock portfolio, Cody can turn out remarkable results at ridiculously affordable prices from some of California's most prized old-vine sites. Of course, it also helps that his wife, Emily, serves as Executive Director of the Historic Vineyard Society. Noted for their passion and attention to detail in every aspect of their work, the pair's wines reflect a true sense of their origins in a way that can only come from dedicated students of California's viticultural history. Read more.
2021 Desire Lines "Kick Ranch" Fountain Grove Sauvignon Blanc 93 $34.95 View
2021 Desire Lines "Wiley Vineyard" Anderson Valley Riesling 92 $24.95 View
2021 Desire Lines "Winds of Change" California Syrah 94 $24.95 View
2021 Desire Lines "Cachagua Ridge Vineyard" Carmel Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $40) $29.95 View
2021 Desire Lines "Evangelho Vineyard" Contra Costa County Red Blend 94 $34.95 View
WeatherEye Vineyard Kicks Up a Storm
WeatherEye Vineyard is producing some of the most exciting wines in Washington State.
WeatherEye Vineyard, on the ridgeline of Red Mountain in Washington, is without doubt one of the most exciting and radical plantings in the United States. Dozens of micro-blocks are draped over the peak and north-facing aspect of the mountain in areas previously deemed inhospitable for vines. In short, this place is the epitome of the concept of terroir. The wines themselves are made by Todd Alexander, one of the state's most highly regarded and critically acclaimed winemakers, whose resumé includes Bryant Family and Cade/Plumpjack in Napa Valley, as well as blue-chip Washington stars Force Majeure, Pášxa, and The Walls. The buzz about WeatherEye is palpable throughout the wine business, and these are sure to become some of the most coveted wines in the region in short order. Read more.
2020 WeatherEye "Estate" Red Mountain Mourvèdre 98 $79.95 View
2020 WeatherEye "Estate" Red Mountain Grenache 96 $79.95 View
2020 WeatherEye "Estate" Red Mountain Syrah 97 $79.95 View
2020 WeatherEye "Estate - Hillfighter" Red Mountain Proprietary Red 96 $49.95 View
First Look at Napa's Exceptional 2021 Vintage
Ryan Woodhouse is the Domestic Wine Maestro at K&L.
The Napa Valley wine industry faced exceptional challenges in 2020 due to COVID-19 and California wildfires that burned over 4.3 million acres, and while many wineries chose not to harvest their grapes that year, some still produced notable wines unaffected by smoke. In contrast, 2021 proved to be a much easier harvest for producers, and the resulting wines show immense promise, characterized by low yields, intense flavors and aromas, and powerful tannin structure due to a moderate growing season and minimal heat events. While wine availability may be limited due to low yields and lack of production in 2020, we couldn't be more excited about what's to come from Napa's 2021 vintage. Read more.
2021 Clos du Val Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $49.95 View
2021 Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 93 $49.95 View
2021 Nickel & Nickel "John C. Sullenger Vineyard" Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 96 $99.95 View
2021 Realm "The Bard" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Pre-Arrival) 97 $174.95 View