The title of this article might get me into hot water with some of my colleagues—especially our Burgundy buyer, Alex—but hear me out. I subscribe to the thesis that the new wave of Muscadets entering the market can offer a similar experience to drinking lovely Chablis but at a much more competitive price. First a little backstory.
Read MoreThe wait is over: customer tastings are back! As we head into the end of 2022, we are celebrating with a full roster of tastings, with lineups that reach high into the top shelf. All tastings are walk in, with details when you click through to this post.
Read MoreNext up in our France adventures: Sancerre! The Sancerre region is close to the heart of K&L—it’s Kay Beffa (the “K” of K&L)’s favorite wine, and our co-owner Clyde is also a big fan. It’s also the first place that we imported wine from directly, and we are still importing and loving the wines of that first producer, Franck and Betty Millet.
Read MoreThough the grapes and soils and wines of the Loire Valley are varied, there is one thread that unites them: the Loire River, an east-to-west-running thoroughfare that is home to some of the best Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc (not to mention Chenin Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne, Pinot d’Aunis, and Pinot Noir) on the planet. Today’s newsletter celebrates our current favorites from this riverfront region—all of which are perfectly suited for sipping your way through summertime.
Read MoreLoire Buyer Keith Mabry introduces viewers to the excellent 2019 vintage in Sancerre, one that started with the threat of frost, but ultimately ended dry and warm, producing good quality and balance in the wines.
Read MoreRecently, our Buyer Keith Mabry introduced us to the wines of Patrice Colin, a new Direct Import producer who specializes in Pineau d’Aunis, and the grape came into laser focus for me. Seriously, they’re intensely delicious and interesting wines. If you’re craving a rich Cab, they might not be your thing, but if you’d like to try something a little off the beaten path that still delivers immense drinking pleasure at the table, pick up a few of these bottles—they’re a great value, all around the $15 mark.
Read MoreSancerre is the quintessential paradise of country France. It is only two and a half hours from Paris by car, but it might as well be on another planet. This is a peaceful place that runs at French small-town pace. I can’t recommend a vacation here highly enough and wanted to share some of the highlights of my ten days there.
Read MoreFor our 15th wedding anniversary, Cinnamon and I decided to vacation in Sancerre, a region who’s wines we have always loved, but a place we had never visited. Located at the eastern end of the Loire Valley, this is the true couer de France, and we found it even more beautiful than the pictures we had seen and the descriptions that we had heard. I promised Cinnamon that we would not spend a lot of time working on our vacation, so we kept the appointments to a minimum. One producer that we could not miss however, was Franck Millet, who we have been importing directly here at K&L for 25 years.
Read MoreIn a few days, Cinnamon and I are going to the Loire Valley for the first time, spending the whole trip relaxing in one place: Sancerre. I have been so excited about this trip that I couldn’t wait to get a little taste in advance, and started searching around online for recipes to go with the iconic Sauvignon Blanc from the region. I settled on the salade au crottin de Chavignol as inspiration, and read a number of recipes online. Naturally, I picked the wine first—and went with the 2017 Domaine La Clef du Recit, a recommendation from our Loire Valley buyer Keith Mabry.
Read MoreOne thing I’ve learned about K&L Buyer trips is that they are not for the faint of heart! Buyers pack a lot of visits into a short amount of time so that they can see as many producers as possible. Luckily there’s ample cheese and wine for fortification.
Read MoreRecently, our French Regional Buyer Keith Mabry was given the enviable task of traveling through France, meeting winemakers, tasting their wares, and eating cheese—all in order to bring back the very best for us in our Direct Import program. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it! In honor of this Saturday’s Loire Valley tasting in all three stores, Keith and I put together a travelogue of sorts to introduce you to some of our amazing producers.
Read MoreIf you received our February wine club shipment, or if you went to our Loire tasting a few weeks ago, you might have had the opportunity to try the wines from Aurore Dezat. This small producer from Sancerre makes three wines, two Sancerre blanc and one Sancerre rouge, and is a relatively new sensation with our staff. We just started working with her a few years back and each year, her wines get better and better.
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