I was mostly interested in the 2002 vintage because I knew it was an extremely difficult year in Montalcino (they never say bad), and I knew if their 2002 was solid then everything else would take care of itself. I was amazed at the freshness, purity, and supple weight of the wine! The other vintages, too, were unbelievably good. I said, OK I’ll be your importer.
Read MoreI think it took me at least two years to figure out the proper pronunciation for this winery, it’s [FEL-zina], so don’t feel bad if you didn’t have it correct. I was with Giuseppe Mazzocolin, the then manager of the winery and son-in-law of the owner. Giuseppe had a background in classics—not winemaking or anything to do with it—but he nonetheless jumped in to help resurrect the winery. The Poggiali Family purchased the property in 1966 and began renovating it. In the late 1970s Giuseppe arrived and changed the game.
Read MoreOne of Tuscany’s least-known appellations is Chianti Rufina, so often pronounced incorrectly and confused with the Chianti producer Ruffino. The DOC is pronounced [ROO-fin-ah] and the producer is pronounced [Roof-fino], which is confusing even more when you know that the Ruffinos sold to Folonari and then bought Folonari. So the Folonaris own Ruffino and the Ruffinos own Folonari…alas, I digress.
Read MoreToday’s newsletter is an ode to a region that lies in the heart of Italy, a place that earned our Italian buyer Greg St. Clair the unofficial title of Mayor of Montalcino: Tuscany. Home of Dante, villas on rolling hills, and Greg’s favorite grape (Sangiovese!), it is also home to one of the world’s most undeniably special wines, Brunello di Montalcino, which, in a superior vintage like 2015, reaches the greatest heights Sangiovese can offer.
Read MoreWe are so lucky in California to be a stone’s throw from great wine regions, no matter which part of the state we live in—and it seems a particularly good moment to celebrate this unique part of the world while it suffers under smoke and fire right now. Hollywood staffer Illya Haase recently took his family on a short jaunt from LA to Ballard Canyon, home to Stolpman Vineyards and their great lineup of wines. He was impressed by their thoughtful winemaking and farming, but mostly by the deep connection to their people and their land.
Read MoreWhat is it that makes Brunello di Montalcino so incredibly special? If you are a fan of Italian wine, you’ve probably heard K&L and critics alike rave about the 2015 vintage, and maybe you’re ready to learn more. We asked one of our Italian experts, John Downing, to give us the lowdown on the vintage, the region, and some of his favorites. This is a deep dive for the Brunello lover, or even just the Brunello curious.
Read MoreGreg recently returned from a trip to Italy and he brought back some great finds that will be coming into the store over the next few weeks. First to arrive is De’Ricci, a new direct import from Montepulciano. This is an exciting new producer - not only for us, but for the region as a whole. With an interesting past, as well as a promising future, this winery offers some really fun and delicious wines.
Read MoreThe 2016 Farnetella Lucilla Toscano Rosso is a delicious wine—notes of deep red fruits with underpinnings of herbs and earth, plus great acidity and structure to stand up to your takeout pizza. But did I mention it’s $10.99? Friends, it’s $10.99.
Read MoreIf you put your ear to the ground, you’ll hear a lot of buzz around Tuscany’s 2015 vintage, especially around two wines in particular: Sassicaia just topped Wine Spectator’s top ten list with an illustrious slot at #1. Meanwhile, Solaia has raked in two 100-point scores from James Suckling and Robert Parker. These are from world-class winemakers at the top of their game, making the most of an exceptional vintage.
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