I missed the introduction to Lorenzo Pasquini before he began guiding the Château d’Yquem staff tasting last week at our San Francisco store. When I nosed the first pour, I didn’t know what he did for the winery. All I knew was that the wines and his passion and charisma shone brilliantly, which inspired me to ask if he would sit down for an impromptu video tasting.
Read MoreSaturday in all three stores, we're doing a battle for the ages: Northern Rhône vs Southern Rhône! In this corner, we have the dark and brooding Syrah grape in its most majestic incarnation; in the other corner, we have the powerhouse team of 13 grapes working side by side to bring you stunning complexity and juicy drinkability. Who will reign supreme? You'll have to join us to find out!
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 MoreThe 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!
Read MoreAt the end of May, I was lucky enough to be hosted at Champagne Billecart-Salmon in Mareuil by none other than cellarmaster Florent Nys. We have known each other for many years, but I hadn’t had the chance to sit down with him since before the pandemic. He invited me into the new reception area at Billecart, and poured quite the tasting.
Read MoreI have been waiting for the release of the 25th iteration of Laurent-Perrier’s Grand Siècle for years, and, now that it is here, I am happy to say it has delivered on all my expectations.
Read MoreK&L's Bordeaux Guru Clyde Beffa introduces us to a bunch of new-old wines on our shelves (some are new-new, as in young). You don't have to be a longtime collector or invest a lot of money to try mature Bordeaux! Check out why it's one of the longest-lived, most complex wines in the world.
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 MoreMichael Broadbent was an influential wine writer whose work was deeply important to the early days of K&L. Upon his recent passing, one of our longest-tenured staffers, Ralph Sands, looks back at the man, the myth, the legend.
Read MoreOur roving reporter Gary Norton is back! And he’s got a list of must-hit events for SF Beer Week 2020. Beer lovers, hop heads, suds savants of NorCal—this one’s for you!
Read More“I think it’s the 1955. Yes, it’s the 1955.”
We all watched as Bordeaux buyer Clyde Beffa’s jaw dropped. He slowly pulled down the brown paper bag that was hiding the mystery wine he brought with him from California that was in our glasses. Sure enough. 1955 La Gaffelière-Naudes, St. Emilion.
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