Friday night SOS: a text from K&L colleague Dejah Overby: a photo of a massive wolf spider camped out in her bathroom. I knew the right move was to help a good friend out. I drove over and captured the spider for her. On my way out the door, Dejah handed me a bottle of red as a reward, one our colleagues had been raving about and calling a killer deal. That got my attention…
Read MoreHere's the math on summer: more bottles opened, more people showing up, same budget you had in June. So this week we kept things mostly under $20, added a few wines Keith Mabry can't stop drinking, plus the chillable reds on rotation at Chez Ryan Woodhouse. (There's also one splurge at the bottom, because rules are made to be broken...at least once.)
Read MoreChillable reds have been very much in vogue over the past couple of years. These light, bright, crushable wines are often quite translucent in the glass and drink beautifully at cool cellar temperature, around 55-60°F, or even properly chilled like a white or rosé, closer to 45-50°F.
Read MoreThe 2023 Napa Valley vintage is as good as anything I've tasted in years—and the pricing, somehow, is better than ever. Dominus released their 100-point 2023 at a lower price than the 2021! It's a rare combination: an exceptional-quality vintage paired with more favorable pricing. No complaints from me!
Read MoreWith the summer solstice already in the rearview mirror and 4th of July celebrations in full effect for America’s 250th birthday, I figured I should talk a little about some of the crispest, most refreshing wines in our selection. As a lover of white and rosé wines in general, I can’t get enough of wines that enliven the palate—wines that need nothing more than a little sunshine to pair with them. When the opportunity for some day drinking reveals itself, I like to be ready to roll. So let’s keep the fridge stocked, the cooler bag at the ready, and something zesty and refreshing always within arm’s reach.
Read MoreIf you've been paying attention to our email blasts in recent months—especially the Insider’s Advantage offers—you’ve probably gathered by now that there are some exceptional deals to be had in the wine world right now… So, in that spirit, I put together some of the most ridiculous deals we have in inventory right now, so you can load up and drink like a king on a peasant’s budget.
Read MoreOne of the biggest misunderstandings about domestic wine—California wine especially—is that all the wines are big and fruity because California is a sunny, hot place to grow grapes. I hear time and again that people prefer “Old World” wines because California is too hot and the wines are all too big and high in alcohol. Now, apologies in advance if that’s your take on things, but it’s just plain wrong.
Read MoreAcross the vintage releases so far, the wines show wonderful purity of fruit, classic varietal character, powerful structure, and an excellent balance of richness and natural acidity. Many have enough mid-palate fruit and polish to be enjoyed young, yet 2023 will also be a vintage with exceptional aging potential for those with deep cellars and patience.
Read More99% no. Today's yes is a Syrah.
When people hear "private label," they think corner-cutting. Anonymous is the opposite.
The wines come from top-tier California producers under NDA so we don't undercut their flagship pricing. You're paying 2-3X less for the same wine.
Ryan Woodhouse, our longtime CA buyer, turns down 99% of what crosses his desk. Bottles from winemakers he respects, brokers he's known for years, rockstar names. If the price isn't right or the wine isn't ready, the answer is no. I check in with him regularly to find out what, if anything, has cleared his bar. Usually nothing has.
When K&L Domestic Buyer Ryan Woodhouse stops a tasting and says "keep an eye on this winemaker," you listen. That was six years ago, and Samuel Louis Smith has been one of our favorite producers ever since. He makes about 1,300 cases a year across Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay, and cool-climate Syrah from some of the most compelling sites on the Central Coast — all organically farmed, all minimal intervention, all genuinely outstanding. We've visited him in the vineyards, poured his wines at our tent events, and we're re-running our 2019 interview now that new vintages are in stock.
Read MoreTo mark the first anniversary of the Anonymous Wine Collective, we’re releasing two extraordinary Sonoma Coast sparkling wines—both crafted by a longtime California sparkling specialist and aged far beyond the norm. From seven years on the lees to extended élevage in oak, these limited‑production wines deliver Champagne‑level pedigree at a fraction of the price.
Read MoreWe landed early: caffeinated and on a mission.
Premier week in Napa Valley is not a casual affair. Sunrise departure out of LAX, a Sacramento pickup, a quick team rendezvous—and suddenly we were off to two tightly packed days of tastings, sub-appellation deep dives, and enough Cabernet to recalibrate the palate for weeks.
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