Last week we were thrilled to host the Best of Bordeaux dinner at One Market in San Francisco, honoring some of the brightest lights in the region. While this event used to be semi-annual, it has been five years since we’ve had one! And what a comeback… owners, winemakers, and representatives from an amazing collection of châteaux gathered in San Francisco for a night of exquisite dining and conversation.
Read MoreToday's Newsletter is our long-awaited, comprehensive report on all things Bordeaux 2022 En Primeur. After a whirlwind trip to the region in April, our team returned full of enthusiasm and insight for what can only be described as an unprecedented modern vintage. While the growing season was not without its challenges, numerous properties crafted renditions that will rank with their very best, and while prices are undeniably up from 2021, there are still remarkable values to be had when you know where to look. As with any potentially great vintage, the hype and hyperbole must be put into proper context to help our customers make their very best buying decisions—this year's En Primeur newsletter does just that. Please note - these wines are all being offered on a pre-arrival / futures basis.
Read MoreAs we wrap up the end of this year’s En Primeur week, we’ve got a look back at years past. These are photos from Clyde’s archives, with his captions below each. Enjoy!
Read MoreI’ll cut straight to the chase. The 2021 Bordeaux vintage is exponentially superior to what the narrative implied in the weeks and months leading up to En Primeur week. And, as of today, there’s still hope that first-tranche pricing will be grounded and we’ll have a meaningful futures campaign on our hands.
Read MoreNow back home, Ryan Moses reflects on the recent en primeur Bordeaux trip and the daunting question… “What was the wine of the trip?”
Read MoreNovember 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.
Read MoreWhen 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.
Read MoreChâteau Haut-Bailly is near and dear to K&L’s heart. In addition to making stunningly elegant wines, CEO Veronique Sanders is a dear friend of our co-owner Clyde Beffa. To celebrate their long friendship and our first visit since the pandemic, Clyde brought a bottle of 1952 Haut-Bailly to dinner. It was particularly special to try the brand new baby wine from the 2020 vintage on the same evening as wines that have been in the cellar for decades.
Read MoreWe’re beginning the new year by taking a look at new arrivals from one of our favorite categories: Bordeaux! Co-owner/Bordeaux Buyer Clyde Beffa introduces us to the wines—some with age, some still babies—that will soon be landing on our shelves. Whether you’re looking to collect bottles from celebrated vintages, like the 100-point 2009 Pontet-Canet; looking for great values from older vintages that are hitting their sweet spot now, like the 1996 du Val d’Or from St-Emilion; or just looking for an excellent to bottle for dinner tonight, like the 2016 Bellegrave du Poujeau—we’ve got something for you in these pages. After 45 years in the biz, Clyde never steers us wrong, and this new batch definitely won’t disappoint!
Read MoreThis weekend in Northern California, we were honored to host guests from one of our very favorite Bordeaux producers, Château Haut-Bailly. The wines were excellent, the pairing dinner knocked it out of the park, and the company, throughout all, was superb.
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