Celebrating Clyde’s Birthday with Château Palmer

Château Palmer is easily on many wine consumers Top 5 all-time Bordeaux properties list—including mine—and for good reason! It’s technically a Third Growth, but one that ranks with some of the most well-regarded châteaux in the whole region. Recently, on not exactly just a random Monday night—but as Monday nights go this was not bad—I was lucky enough to experience a deep Palmer lineup and an exquisite food pairing menu. The occasion? It happened to be the only day that is a command (March 4th)—and my father, Clyde Beffa’s, birthday.

Go for the Oscar Gold with Champagne!

It’s nearly time for the Academy Awards! If you’ve managed to see any of the movies, even those that clock in at under 3½ hours long (thanks for pointing that out, Hugh Grant!), you’ll have seen some very deserving technicians and artists. My favorite thing to have while watching the show is either fried chicken with French fries and a salad (which I use to fool myself into thinking that I’m eating semi-healthily), or Kung Pao chicken, rice, and steamed asparagus with sliced almonds and a clear sauce… No matter what foodstuffs you are planning, there is only one beverage that matches perfectly with this event...Champagne!

A Go-To Resource for Wine Collectors of All Stripes

Whether your cellar takes up an entire room or you've got your first few bottles stashed away as you start your collecting journey, K&L will be there for you every step of the way. Our industry-leading Key Accounts and Auction departments are ready to guide you to all the latest, greatest releases and library stunners, so dive head-first into this comprehensive guide to the joys of wine collecting.

The Ins and Outs of Buying Wine at Auction

Scott Shulsinger wasn’t born into the wine business. Instead he honed his palate and knowledge of the world’s most rare and collectible wines by inspecting private cellars from coast to coast. His sneak peeks into incredible collections (and tens of thousands of miles on the road) let Scott see and taste incredible wines while becoming an expert on which bottles deliver significant ROI… while learning first hand which practices might disappoint collectors and wine enthusiasts down the line.

Premiere Napa Valley 2024 and the 2022 Napa Vintage

Last week was the eagerly anticipated, 28th annual Premiere Napa Valley (PNV), a celebration of the best wines of our beloved Northern California valley. It’s one of the most vibrant weeks in the Napa Valley calendar year, particularly for those with a penchant for collectibles. As one may expect from the name, the event bears some similarities to Bordeaux's En Primeur (EP), but also some distinct differences, not just in the terminology of 'Primeur' versus 'Premiere.'

A Renewed Excitement for Napa Valley Cabernet

In July of 2022 I moved with my family to Napa Valley. Despite the Bay Bridge commute testing me at times, the move has been incredible for getting to know the U.S.’s most iconic wine region much more intimately. Observing from afar, it’s easy to lump all of Napa Valley together as an adult “Disneyland” of homogenous, over-priced, over-hyped wines with little sense of place. However, when you get to spend lots of time here—the more you explore, the more back roads you turn down, the more vineyards you walk—it becomes increasingly clear that despite the commercial success and sometimes inflated price points, Napa Valley is undeniably a phenomenal, distinctive, and radically diverse place to grow grapes.

Celebrate Your Sweetheart with Chelsea's Collectible Wine Picks

In an understated and often unnoticed way, K&L has become a part of many lovers' lives. Upon revealing my employment at K&L to a recent acquaintance, they promptly shared, "Twenty years ago, I bought the Champagne from you that my wife and I enjoyed when we got engaged!" As Valentine's Day approaches and we think on the importance of these memories, I've curated a list of top-tier wines, not limited to Champagnes, that every wine lover will appreciate. These selections are perfect for toasting love, be it Platonic or romantic, or gifting to your favorite wine aficionado for future enjoyment.

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.

Holiday Buying Guide: Léoville-Barton, Bordeaux Château of 2023

I love the wines from Léoville-Barton.They are a true delight to drink, and they offer fabulous values in today’s high-priced Bordeaux market. Very much Cabernet Sauvignon–based, Léoville-Barton makes full-flavored, old-school Bordeaux wines that are very fairly priced. We have many vintages in stock (back to 1995) and offer a fine selection of Bartons.

The Ultimate Rare Collectible: Banded OWC 6-Pack of 1999 DRC La Tâche

We come across many very exciting wines in our Auction Department, but we launched a listing today that’s truly once in a lifetime: a banded 6-pack of 1999 DRC Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche Grand Cru (OWC) in pristine condition from the original owner. The fact that this 6-pack is still sealed with the original band around its original wooden case from the winery makes this extremely rare. That it’s from one of the most lauded vintages of La Tâche in recent history and has been in the same hands since its original purchase? It’s an astonishing collectible.

The Annual Champagne Summit Dinner Sparkles with Billecart's Brightest

Earlier this week, the K&L Champagne team kicked off our annual staff summit with a dinner hosted by Billecart-Salmon. It has become a welcome tradition to start off our yearly survey of all the grande marque producers with a sushi dinner at my place featuring the wines of this great house. Christian Esser, who just returned from a visit to Billecart, and Eric Lecours presented the wines and treated Scott Beckerley, Michael Benoit, Philip Roufail, Will Langhi, Cinnamon and me to a great spread from Kanpai sushi in Palo Alto.

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