Champagne Winners for a Holiday Season to Remember
It's that time of year when our Champagne program shines, and this year we have more direct-import standouts than ever to make your holidays sparkle. Recent reloads from a trio of DI favorites will have long-time fans stocking up, while the iconic Billecart-Salmon's current releases offer holiday luxury at nearly any price point. Finally, Champagne buyer Gary Westby's "boots on the ground" approach pays off once again with a pair of new direct-import additions that are sure to garner legions of fans once the wines make it to your table.
Back in Stock: Ariston Aspasie's Singular Champagnes
Scott Beckerley, K&L Champagne Specialist
The wines of our long-time direct-import partner Paul-Vincent Ariston have been solid favorites of our Champagne clientele for years, and for good reason. With some of the most unique vineyards in all of Champagne, tucked away in the tiny, northwest corner in the village of Brouillet, these are exemplary expressions of terroir and craftsmanship. This new parcel includes some of our all-time best sellers with the added treats of a small stock of the 2012 vintage Brut and the ultra-rare, singular Cépages d'Antan. Best of all, they're all available at our regularly outstanding direct-import pricing. Read more.
NV Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne $34.99 View
NV Ariston Aspasie "Réserve" Brut Champagne (375ml) $16.99 View
NV Ariston Aspasie "Brut Prestige" Champagne $39.99 View
NV Ariston Aspasie "Brut Prestige" Champagne (1.5L) $84.99 View
NV Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne $39.99 View
NV Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne (375ml) $19.99 View
NV Ariston Aspasie Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne (1.5L) $84.99 View
2012 Ariston Aspasie Brut Champagne $44.99 View
NV Ariston Aspasie "Cépages d'Antan" Brut Champagne $99.99 View
NV Ariston Aspasie "Brut de Fut" Champagne $59.99 View
NV Ariston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne $39.99 View
NVAriston Aspasie Brut Rosé Champagne (375ml)$21.99 View
The Holidays and Billecart: A Match Made in Heaven
Philip Roufail, K&L Champagne Specialist
One of our most important relationships with any producer in the world, Billecart-Salmon is a mainstay in our Champagne program for good reason. Even as one of the world's most recognized and famed houses, the estate is still family-run with a steadfast commitment to uncompromising quality. Just in time for the holidays, our inventory is deep with vintage and non-vintage stunners alike. Whether you're seeking an impressive pour to entertain your guests or you need an iconic téte de cuvée for the discerning collector in your life, Billecart fits the bill. Read more.
2005 Billecart-Salmon "Le Clos Saint-Hilaire" Brut Champagne 98 $549.99 View
2008 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart" NFB Brut Champagne 98 $229.99 View
2009 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Louis" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne $219.99 View
2010 Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne $119.99 View
NV Billecart-Salmon "Sous Bois" Brut Champagne 95 $94.99 View
2013 Billecart-Salmon Vintage Champagne 94 $99.99 View
2016 Billecart-Salmon Vintage Champagne $99.99 View
NV Billecart-Salmon "Brut Réserve" Champagne 92 $59.99 View
NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Nature Champagne 94 $64.99 View
NV Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut Champagne 94 $94.99 View
NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne 94 $84.99 View
Direct-Import New Addition, Part I: Petiau, Trépail's Rising Star
Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer
We're excited to introduce a new direct-import producer from the 1er Cru village of Trépail in the Montagne de Reims. The Petiau family specializes in Chardonnay over Pinot Noir, producing wines with great minerality, crisp acidity, and robust white fruit. All wines undergo stainless steel fermentation, malolactic fermentation, using non-commercial, 80-year-old vines. At the core of the portfolio are the Brut Grande Réserve, Brut Rosé, Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, and Cuvée Prestige Brut Champagne, now available in the U.S. for the first time and promising an exceptional balance of creaminess, mineral notes, and fruit, offered at unbeatable prices for wine enthusiasts. Read more.
NV Petiau Brut Grande Réserve Champagne $34.99 View
NV Petiau Brut Grande Réserve Champagne (1.5L) $69.99 View
NV Petiau Brut Rosé Champagne $34.99 View
NV Petiau "Cuvée Prestige" Brut Champagne $49.99 View
Direct-Import New Addition, Part II: Cordoin-Didierlaurent
Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer
For 23 years, multiple visits annually have revealed Champagne's wonders to me. This past May, I unearthed hidden gem Cordoin Didierlaurent in the tranquil town of Port-a-Binson. This 21-acre estate is owned by Pierre-Emanuel Cordoin, whose exquisite wines are mostly barrel fermented in old oak and sold partly to négociants. Rich yet refined, they are crafted with precision, benefiting from extensive vine holdings passed down through the generations. His crown jewels include the Brut Réserve Champagne and Louise Antoinette Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne, both expressing the unique characteristics of their base grapes. The pièce de résistance, however, is Les Grands Champs, a singularly vivid expression of Meunier from a storied vineyard in Leuvrigny, produced only in limited quantities. Read more.
NV Cordoin Didierlaurent Brut Réserve Champagne $39.99 View
NV Cordoin Didierlaurent "Louise Antoinette" Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne $49.99 View
NV Cordoin Didierlaurent "Les Grands Champs" Champagne $79.99 View
All-Time Best-Selling Champagne Value Stars
Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer
In the realm of overachieving value Champagne, few names hold a candle to Baron-Fuenté. If you are serving a crowd at any point during the upcoming holiday festivities, look no further than the all-time QPR champion Grande Réserve, arguably the greatest bubbles value in our entire inventory. Right along side Baron-Fuenté, Jean-Baptiste Jacquesson puts as much dedication and meticulous care into his vines as any other top Champagne grower, and the resulting wines deliver all the authentic character that fans of grower Champagne already know and love. The difference—and it's a major difference—is that the Jacquesson wines remain in a price tier unto themselves compared to their peers. Case buys have been the norm for these exceptional QPR performers for years now, and they're tailor-made to shine during the holidays. Read more.
NV Baron-Fuenté "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne (Elsewhere $37) 90 $24.99 View
NV Baron-Fuenté "Grande Reserve" Brut Champagne (1.5L) 90 $49.99 View
NV Baron-Fuenté "Grande Réserve" Brut Champagne (375ml) 90 $14.99 View
NV Baron-Fuenté "Esprit" Brut Champagne 92 $34.99 View
NV Baron-Fuenté "Esprit" Brut Nature Champagne 92 $34.99 View
NV Baron-Fuenté "Esprit" Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne 92 $34.99 View
NV Gilbert Jacquesson "Cuvée Tradition" Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne $24.99 View
NV Gilbert Jacquesson "Cuvée Eugénie" Brut Rosé Champagne $29.99 View
NV Gilbert Jacquesson "Cuvée Prestige" Brut Champagne $34.99 View