Today is the worldwide release for one of the best of the great 2012 vintage in Champagne, and we are lucky to have an allocation. We had a preview of the 2012 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Louis" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne before today’s release, and. after tasting it in the morning with Clément from Billecart, I knew that I had to make something special to have with it at dinner. This is a Blanc de Blancs that has it all—and promises to develop well for at least a generation.
Read MoreIt’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!
Read MoreWhether 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.
Read MoreI know I have been like a broken record recommending the 2014 vintage, but some things are worth repeating. After drinking a bottle of this great 2014 Louis Roederer Brut Champagne $89.99 95WA with some homemade sashimi bowls earlier this month, I feel compelled to repeat myself. No Champagne lover will ever say “I bought too many of the 2014s.” I understand that these wines lack the flash of the 2012s and the power of the 2015s, but in the medium-to-long term I promise that they will evolve into something very, very special—and I think better than those two other vintages. I caught a glimpse of that with this great Champagne on the fifth of this month.
Read MoreThis year has marked my 23rd in my job as Champagne Buyer here at K&L, and I feel lucky to say that it was one of the best for memorable Champagnes. This list could have been much longer than just ten, as I have been treated to so many noteworthy wines over the last 12 months. I have noticed three themes for 2023: large bottles (magnums and jeroboams) account for about one-third of the list, as do pairings with tinned fish, and half the bottles were not vintage dated. The flexibility that blending across time gives the Champenois is not just for basics—a skilled chef de cave can make magic with multiple vintages.
Read MoreOn Wednesday evening, K&L San Francisco welcomed a dynamic, female-led team for a celebration of one of the most revered pairings: caviar and Champagne. A group of 15 guests joined the K&L team to delve into the complexities of flavor, texture, and terroir inherent in both Champagne and caviar.
Read MoreWhen it comes to gifts under $100, it is hard to do better than the Champagnes from Launois in Mesnil. These wines have an accessibility that makes them the hit of every party; they are a gift that is always appreciated. The value for money will be your secret!
Read MoreIt's that time of year when our Champagne program shines, and this year we have more direct-import standouts than ever to make your holidays sparkle. Recent reloads from a trio of DI favorites will have long-time fans stocking up, while the iconic Billecart-Salmon's current releases offer holiday luxury at nearly any price point. Finally, Champagne buyer Gary Westby's "boots on the ground" approach pays off once again with a pair of new direct-import additions that are sure to garner legions of fans once the wines make it to your table.
Read MoreEstablished in 1818 with the marriage of Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon, Champagne Billecart-Salmon is perched at the pinnacle of Champagne’s Grand Marques. Located along the Marne River in the renowned village of Marieul-sur-Aÿ, it is still family-owned and operated 205 years later. Seventh-generation vigneron Mathieu Roland-Billecart is now at the helm alongside sixth-generation mentors Antoine Roland-Billecart, Deputy General Manager, and Jean and François Roland-Billecart.
Read MoreIf my memory serves me correctly, we are approaching our 20th year since initiating our very successful small-estate Champagne import program, care of Gary Westby! It was an immediate hit, and to this day it still surprises me how well the wines beautifully balance high quality and extreme value. As many of our long-time customers know, the nonvintage bottling from Champagne Ariston Aspasie was our first direct import for this program. Paul Vincent Aristan and his wife Caroline have been with us from the start.
Read MoreEarlier 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.
Read MoreI have the great fortune of belonging to a Champagne tasting group that meets quarterly. Since August 2019, we have been having our get-togethers. Everyone in this group is an absolute Champagne fiend. Luckily, we have never had to suffer through an even slightly mediocre tasting. Yes, a couple of bottles have been corked here and there, but, amazingly it’s only been very, very, few—especially considering that we taste 15-plus bottles per meeting. This last one, a week ago, was another stunner.
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