Holiday Buying Guide: Ryan’s Festive Collectibles
Ryan Moses is one of the quiet forces behind the scenes that makes the wheels turn at K&L. He manages our Key Accounts program, where we work closely with customers to locate rare and allocated products; he leads our Marketing and Analytics program, where we send our messages out into the world and analyze how we’re doing; and he supports the Bordeaux team as a Buyer. You’ll see him each year on the K&L Bordeaux Buy Trip because his perspective is indispensible. For this year’s holiday buying guide, we got his insight into collectible holiday wine gifts, big and small.
Bottle of the Year
2019 Léoville-Barton, St-Julien $119.99 97JA 97JD 97WA 97VN 96DC 96JS 96WE 96WS This is quietly one of the best wines made this century at this address, with an eye on perhaps the 2016 and 2022 being in that conversation. I’m still amazed it is available at this kind of pricing, as it’s an undeniably great wine that will charm collectors ranging from those who adore traditional claret to folks looking for the best of modern Bordeaux to any fan of refined Cabernet at its finest. Whether you’re looking to explore the great 2019 vintage in its early years or lay down an undeniable winner for your cellar for the years to come, I’d be hard pressed to recommend another wine that delivers at this level for the price.
Gifts Under $100
2019 Dominus "Napanook" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend $89.95 96JS When we tasted this last year, it was stunning to see how well it held up to the Grand Vin at this famed estate—which is a massive accomplishment, considering the company in question. This is one of those wines that will thrill serious wine collectors, whether they lean towards Old or New World, and has the pedigree and cachet that will impress anybody receiving it. It also happens to hail from a great vintage. This is the complete package, and another reminder why it is one of the best buys in fine wine for under $100.
Money-Is-No-Object Gift
2020 Domaine Trapet Père et Fils Chambertin Grand Cru $899.99 As Decanter says in their 99-point score, “Trapet has mastered the art of Chambertin.” Considering the epic quality of the vintage and the out-of-this world press, it is a bottle that competes with the top cult-caliber, allocated Red Burgs, but does so at a fraction of the price. When I think about wines that will fully display the magic of Burgundy in the years to come, this is right up there with the finest. The fact that we have it in-stock in quantity is certainly a rare opportunity, and you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who is not floored when seeing a wine of this caliber.
Party in a Bottle: Magnums
I’d be thrilled to own some of the magnums we have in stock from the 2020 vintage. Leading the way is a triple 100-point 2020 Canon, St-Emilion (1.5L) $419.99 100JA 100WA 100VN 99DC 99TWI 98JS 97JD. A wine Jane Anson calls “stunning, grab-a-friend, insanely good wine.” That sounds like the start to the party right there.
Their stable-mate from the Left Bank is also available in large format, with the “pure Margaux brilliance” of 2020 Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux (1.5L) $249.99 98DC 98JD 98WA 97JS 97VN 96JA 96WE.
The 2020 La Mission Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan (1.5L) $769.99 100WA 99JD 98DC 98VN speaks wonders to the 2020 vintage, and our going rate for magnums is around what you might pay for some benchmark back vintages in 750ml. For a clear rival to Haut-Brion in 2020, this La Mission could easily be a cellar centerpiece in large format for the years to come.
- Ryan Moses, Manager, Marketing and Retail Analytics