In-Stock: Exceptional Wines from Bordeaux’s 2020 Vintage

Vintage Report for Bordeaux’s 2020s: A particularly early growing season was characterized by heatwaves and drought. Some mildew pressure June to mid-August in northern Médoc. Merlot was picked in ideal conditions in early September, but then the weather turned cool and particularly damp so some Cabernet Sauvignon had to be picked before perfect ripeness. Small grapes meant lots of tannin and a relatively small crop.

As I said in the report I published upon my return from the En Primeur campaign, some great wines were produced in 2020, and some good wines were produced. 2020 is a fine vintage in general even though it was anything but normal.

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… For this year’s Holiday Buying Guide, we got his insight into collectible holiday wine gifts, big and small.

The Best Bordeaux Vintages of the 21st Century with Clyde

When I heard that K&L Wine Merchant’s co-founder, Clyde Beffa Jr., was hosting a Bordeaux tasting for his birthday at our San Francisco store, I knew it was a can’t-miss opportunity.

Interview with Lorenzo Pasquini of Château d'Yquem

I missed the introduction to Lorenzo Pasquini before he began guiding the Château d’Yquem staff tasting last week at our San Francisco store. When I nosed the first pour, I didn’t know what he did for the winery. All I knew was that the wines and his passion and charisma shone brilliantly, which inspired me to ask if he would sit down for an impromptu video tasting.

The Fresh and Feisty 2020 Bordeauxs at UGC in San Francisco

On January 27, K&L hosted the Union des Grands Crus of Bordeaux tasting in San Francisco at City View Metreon, whereover 80 châteaux send winemakers, owners, and representatives to pour their current releases and discuss the vintage. We’ve had the honor of being the Bay Area host since the 2005 vintage, and our 15th event brought us the 2020s.

Make 2023 the Year of Bordeaux!

Today's Newsletter rings in 2023 with our first and best love—Bordeaux. As our team gears up for their annual trip this spring, we're highlighting some of our top performers and personal favorites that came our way in 2022 and looking ahead to what the coming year will bring from the world's most famous wine region.

Bordeaux's Best Collectibles, Value Stars, and Hidden Gems

We have such a wonderful abundance of Bordeaux on our shelves, as our fearless Bordeaux Buyer Clyde Beffa explains in this week’s newsletter. Just in time for the weather to turn toward fall (in California, we’re still waiting…), we have favorite collectibles, everyday values, and perfectly aged gems for every palate. Bordeaux may be known for its regal Classified Growths, and we do adore those—but Clyde’s keen eye and long history in the region mean that we also can bring you amazing value wines, many of which are perfectly aged. Whether you like a mature claret, a bright and modern burger wine, or a longterm cellar-worthy classic, our Bordeaux shelves are the place to look!

Bordeaux Newsletter: Modern-Classic Collectibles, Staff Favorites, and Everyday Stars

Today's Newsletter spans the length and breadth of the world's greatest wine region (and the foundation of K&L's business) with a stellar run of hand-picked favorites from our intrepid Bordeaux team, followed by recaps of the back-to-back outstanding 2019 and 2020 vintages.

A Triology of Great Vintages in Bordeaux

In this month’s Wine News, we’ll be celebrating the fact that our ship has come in...literally. We're flush with phenomenal in-stock opportunities that we've been anticipating for a long time. Take a look at the pages of the newsletter to find details on the Bordeaux new arrivals we’re most excited about. From perfectly aged classics to modern-era values, the range and depth is nearly unrivaled. From there, we explore a trio of not-to-be-missed vintages—the irresistible 2018s, the bright and focused 2019s, and dynamic and balanced 2020s. We have a selection of high-scoring collectibles available from the region's iconic 2010 and 2016 vintages as well.

Begin the Holiday Season with Bordeaux

November is the perfect time to start talking about winter festivities. And for us, that conversation starts with Bordeaux. It's one of our very favorite regions, as much for the incredible everyday values as for the blue-chip collectibles. Our co-owner and Bordeaux Buyer Clyde Beffa has filled the pages of our latest newsletter with Bordeaux of every stripe for every reader.

Lynch-Bages 2020: First Year in New Cellar

On the last day of our trip to Bordeaux, while Clyde was nursing a sore leg, Trey and I met up with Jean-Charles Cazes, fourth generation of the Cazes family, to tour their new cellar. With a new cellar and a ton of momentum in the market, it feels like an exciting moment for this château.

BDX 2020: Classic Wines, Atypical Year

When France opened its borders in early June, our team was on the second plane out of California. And indeed, we were among the very first Americans that many of the French had seen, and we were certainly among the only to taste the 2020 vintage at the châteaux. We were able to learn from the winemakers, taste wines fresh from barrels, and get a perspective on this vintage not afforded to those who didn’t leave terra firma in the U.S. In this week’s newsletter, you’ll find our direct-from-Bordeaux 2020 vintage preview.

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