A Renewed Excitement for Napa Valley Cabernet

In July of 2022 I moved with my family to Napa Valley. Despite the Bay Bridge commute testing me at times, the move has been incredible for getting to know the U.S.’s most iconic wine region much more intimately. Observing from afar, it’s easy to lump all of Napa Valley together as an adult “Disneyland” of homogenous, over-priced, over-hyped wines with little sense of place. However, when you get to spend lots of time here—the more you explore, the more back roads you turn down, the more vineyards you walk—it becomes increasingly clear that despite the commercial success and sometimes inflated price points, Napa Valley is undeniably a phenomenal, distinctive, and radically diverse place to grow grapes.

Exploring the Latest Releases from the Napa and Sonoma A-List

To someone outside of California, saying “North of the San Francisco Bay” would indicate a large territory, including the lumping of Sonoma and Napa Counties together. Being just a quick 30-minute drive apart from each other means that many out-of-town visitors make plans to hit both areas in one go, especially for wine tasting expeditions. Yet, separated by the Mayacamas Mountain Range, these two wine-driven counties are, surprisingly, incredibly different from one another—in personality, in terroir, and ultimately in the wines that they produce. A few weeks ago, the Key Accounts team had an opportunity to spend a day in Sonoma and surrounding areas, and a day in Napa, side by side.

The Opportunity of a Lifetime: Calera Library

The relationship between Calera and K&L is long and deep. In 1975 when the late Josh Jensen planted his first vines in the rugged limestone soils of Mt. Harlan, the idea of K&L was also taking root in the minds of our founders Clyde Beffa and Todd Zucker… Fast forward to March of 2022 when I was told that K&L was going to be offered access to these library wines—an opportunity that I was obviously never going to pass up! However, the sheer scale of the library didn’t hit home until I was in possession of a somewhat overwhelming spreadsheet of wines going back five decades!

Wine Chat with Team Domestic

K&L’s Domestic Buyers met up virtually for a fun chat on their latest favorites from the U.S. of A. Join us on Instagram for weekly live sessions with Buyers, winemakers, distillers, and more @klwines.

An Anderson Valley Pioneer Nears 40: Roederer Estate

The winding Highway 128 that runs through Anderson Valley was known by sportscar enthusiasts before it was known by California wine seekers. As harvest wraps up throughout the Valley and the leaves just begin to change, Roederer Estate’s 2021 harvest is in tank as they push the throttle toward their 40th anniversary next year. Now firmly placed in California’s sparkling wine pantheon, the estate’s wines represent a remarkable and unmatched value in the marketplace.

Ridge Vineyards: History in a Bottle with a Beautiful Future

To celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Judgement of Paris, we’d like to pay tribute to one of our very favorite California wineries, one whose 1971 Monte Bello came in fifth place in 1976, and whose 1971 Monte Bello came in first place 30 years later at the rematch—Ridge Vineyards. Our Domestic Buyer, Kaj Stromer, recently attended a Zoom tasting of Ridge’s spring releases, and he left thoroughly impressed. Click for his recap.

In Memory of a Larger-Than-Life Winemaker, Jim Clendenen

On Monday night, browsing through my Instagram feed, I was shocked to read about the sudden passing of Jim Clendenen. I have seen many outpourings of heartfelt sorrow for Jim's untimely death and several anecdotal stores highlighting just what a colorful guy he was. So, I figured I'd share a quick story about the first time I met Jim back in 2009.

Wonderful West Coast Wines in Our Domestic Newsletter

As we look to the state of Domestic wines for today’s newsletter, grace is the word on the tips of our tongues. From the vibrant, focused Cabernets coming out of Napa’s excellent 2018 vintage to the seductively aromatic Pinots from Oregon’s Arterberry Maresh, these pages showcase wines that achieve a seamless blend of elegance and self-possession that can only be encapsulated by the word grace. Take a stroll through the wine country of our own backyard and see what these amazing folks have been up to!

Wine Enthusiast 2020 Winemaker of the Year: Greg Brewer

Greg Brewer has been making gorgeous wines in the Sta. Rita Hills since 1996, first with his eponymous winery Brewer-Clifton, opened with Steve Clifton, then at Melville and Diatom wineries. Though the style is different at each winery, the message is the same: Sta. Rita Hills is world-class terroir, and it’s here to stay. If you want to understand Pinot and Chardonnay from the Sta. Rita Hills, Brewer’s wines should be where you start.

The Golden Age of West Coast Wines

There’s no doubt that the wines coming out of California, Oregon, and Washington State these days are better than ever. With an influx of new talent and well-honed skills from the veterans, the wines are not just a departure from the “go big or go home” model, they are in fact some of the most pure expressions of the specific and varied terroir that the West Coast has to offer.

Matt Duncan and Silver Oak's Unique Oak Barrels

The wines of Silver Oak are nothing short of iconic, Third-generation vintner Matt Duncan gives us a peak into one of the reasons why: their American oak barrels, painstakingly prepared to create the perfect symbiosis with their favorite grape: Cabernet!

Wine and Friendship for the Ages: Accendo Cellars

Behind every great wine is a great story. Napa’s Accendo Cellars indeed makes great wine, and the story behind it is particularly special to us at K&L. Bart Araujo, former owner of Eisele Vineyards and Araujo Estate Winery, is the man behind the magic at Accendo Cellars. He also happens to be good friends with K&L’s Clyde Beffa, and their story stretches back to the baseball diamond at Serra High. Luckily they both held their own on the ol’ sand lot, though you might hear a bit of friendly rivalry now and again! Since those years, they’ve built some amazing businesses, and a remarkable multi-generational friendship.

K&L Wine Merchants

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