Tasting Appointments: Oakridge’s Henk Vineyard

I’ve spent years writing about the Henk Vineyard wines, so it was difficult not to get a little caught up when Georgina’s truck pulled onto the steep ridgeline that separates the north-facing Pinot and Chardonnay blocks. Henk vineyard is named for the former vineyard manager and property owner who leased the vineyard to Oakridge almost six years ago. As part of their local vineyard series, Oakridge has found a handful of sites throughout the Upper Yarra that produce fruit of exceptional quality–and Henk is my absolute favorite.

Masterful Organic and Biodynamic Wines from the Base of Mont Ventoux

For many years, Ventoux was associated with thin, lackluster table wines. Yet in recent decades the potential for excellence has been tapped by skilled winemakers, and you now can find some exceptionally good wines from Ventoux on our shelves. The massive slopes of Mont Ventoux, famous for chewing up riders during the Tour de France, dominates the region of vines to the southwest, creating a natural amphitheater that allows for cooler nights and a longer growing season. And no one understands this climate differential more than Sebastien Vincenti, the inspired owner of Domaine de Fondrèche, whose balanced, flavorful range of appreciably affordable wines are stunning stars in our Southern Rhône portfolio.

J.L. Chave “Selections”: Soaring Values from the Rhône Master

The wines of Jean-Louis Chave hold a special place atop the Rhône wine hierarchy. With an unbroken winegrowing lineage that dates back to 1481, not many other producers in the region (or even the world) can claim the heritage, the history, or the track record of superb craftsmanship that the Chave brand has evoked for centuries.

LGBTQ Winemaker Spotlight: Terah Bajjalieh

Terah Bajjalieh of Terah Wine Co. is a queer woman of color who owns and operates one of the coolest natural wine companies in California right now. She has had a long and distinguished career, working 13 consecutive harvests around the world to hone her craft. She first started making wine in a friend’s garage, before starting Terah Wine Co. She only works with organic and biodynamic vineyards and focuses on a minimal intervention winemaking style.

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.

Loire Valley Newsletter: Keith's Road Trip!

Today's Newsletter is Loire Buyer Keith Mabry's travel diary, so to speak. Having just returned from the region, he's full of fresh insight and enthuisasm for an incredibly broad and diverse range of expressions, starting with a trio of standouts from Keith's many visits while he was on the road. Our direct-import Loire producers are firing on all cylinders, showcasing the reference-point class of Loire Sauvignon Blanc. Hidden-gem regions provide unbeatable value (and longevity) for jaw-dropping bargains, and Keith pays a long-awaited visit to an all-time favorite visionary in an up-and-coming appellation.

The Fresh and Feisty 2020 Bordeauxs at UGC in San Francisco

On January 27, K&L hosted the Union des Grands Crus of Bordeaux tasting in San Francisco at City View Metreon, whereover 80 châteaux send winemakers, owners, and representatives to pour their current releases and discuss the vintage. We’ve had the honor of being the Bay Area host since the 2005 vintage, and our 15th event brought us the 2020s.

The Loire's Finest Values, Hidden Gems, and World-Class Buys

Today’s Loire Valley Newsletter starts with a few personal favorites of our intrepid Loire Buyer Keith Mabry, followed by an introduction to one of the great unsung heroes of the Chenin Blanc varietal—Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups. Next we dig a little deeper into the Loire's most famous region, Sancerre, by highlighting three under-the-radar stunners that provide everything Sancerre fans love about the appellation. The Loire's red wines get their due praise as Keith takes us through Cabernet Franc stunners that offer world-class appeal for simply unbeatable prices, and we round out the journey with thrilling examples of what the Loire arguably does better than anywhere else—provide exceptional wine drinking experiences for a mere song.

Australia, New Zealand, South Africa Newsletter: Adventure Awaits!

Southern Hemisphere wines are more exciting than ever, and K&L Buyer Thomas Smith has assembled a tour de force of the best on our shelves. Whether you’re looking for exquisite cool-climate Pinot, skin-contact summer sippers, or the most exciting producer to come out of South Africa, Thomas has got you covered.

Rhône News: 100-Point CdP Stars, Direct-Import Stunners, Best Buy Values

Today's Newsletter returns us to one of our very favorite regions in the world for both incomparable value stunners and blue-chip collector's trophies alike. Rhône buyer Keith Mabry recently made his first trip back to the region in three years, and he's returned with fresh insight and ton of renewed energy and excitement for the category.

Corned Beef and Crozes

For St. Patrick’s Day, I knew my friend was bringing Corned Beef (here’s the recipe she used), so my wine pairing was the 2018 Ferraton Père et Fils "La Matinière" Crozes-Hermitage. I adore Northern Rhône wines—and a Crozes-Hermitage for $19.99 was an immediate draw! Not only is the pricing off the hook, its pedigree is, too: it’s organically and biodynamically farmed thanks to major investment in this estate by Rhône giant Michel Chapoutier. Critics reap praise and scores on this estate. I had to try it.

Dazzling Aromatic Whites from Germany, Austria, and Alsace

Today's Newsletter brings us many of the greatest white wines in the world, all from undisputed masters of their craft. To make matters even more compelling, they also represent some of the greatest values in long-term, cellar-worthy wine you'll find anywhere.

K&L Wine Merchants

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