Even though the grape variety Meunier covers about one-third of the Champagne region, it is still little understood by most wine lovers. Follow Gary Westby on the trail through Champagne to explore the wonder of this dynamic and not-to-be-missed varietal that great Champagne could not do without.
Read MoreAs a long-time lover of this historic wine, I’m excited to share with you some of the finest and most unique Champagnes we’ve discovered recently as well as sharing a few highlights as I reminisce on 2024. Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or just beginning to explore the world of Champagne, I’ve handpicked some exceptional bottles and offers that I think you'll absolutely love. Cheers to great bubbles and even better moments ahead!
Read MoreThe Bonville family is blessed with 40 acres of vineyards in the Côte des Blancs grand crus of Avize, Oger and Mesnil, and make some of the best expressions of blanc de blancs available at any price. Many readers have been drinking these champagnes for decades, as we have been working with them now for over 20 years.
Read MoreWhen I think of Champagne Baron Fuenté, I think of two things: patience and value. The brother and sister team of Ignace and Sophie Baron are fans of long ageing and deliver super quality champagne at extraordinary prices.
Read MoreLast year I was in luck for the number of great champagnes that I had a chance to drink, and looking back, I picked out 10 of the most memorable to tell you about. Highlights include the over-achieving 2004s at age twenty, the epic 2008s that we can’t get enough of, and even some non-vintage gems. And of course, most often it’s the company that makes these bottles so special.
Read MoreEvery year I look back and realize how blessed I’ve been to experience so many great wines, stories, and events. Often, it’s not the scale of the wine, but the people you’re with or the places you find yourself. 2024 was a roller coaster year for sure, but here are some of the peaks of fine wine that I was fortunate to be a part of last year.
Read MoreI think this is going to be an incredible, tenuous, fascinating, and challenging year for Bordeaux. I’ll say it again... the wines seem better than ever, but now it’s time to make that matter in a big way. Here are some of the major events I’m looking forward to this year—potentially big inflection points in Bordeaux and the greater wine market.
Read MoreEvery single day, we’re on an endless treasure hunt at K&L, scouring for the next jaw-dropping collectible to share with you. The thrill of discovery never gets old, and luckily for you, we’ve got one of the most customized e-mail platforms around to keep you in the loop. Seriously, it’s like your own personal shopper on autopilot. All you have to do is log in to your account, select your interests, decide how many emails you want to receive per month (a little or a lot, totally your call), and voilà—you’re set.
Read MoreWhile the fine wine and spirits industry is experiencing some turbulent times, I find myself still enamored with the products, culture, and people who make this one of the most exiting businesses in the world. The joy I get from pulling corks is not going away, and, while everybody is fretting over trying to mobilize the next generation of collectors, I firmly believe that there’s a significant and not-to-be-missed trend towards better and more accessible products that will be the great leveler.
Read MoreThe year 2024 was certainly one for the record books at K&L. It’s been a year of big changes: we opened the Culver City store at the beginning of the year—our first new location since 2007—and celebrated with a wonderful party filled with winemakers and friends. We also held our annual Champagne Tent Event in Culver City for the first time, after many years in Hollywood.
Read MoreFranciacorta is Italy’s premier sparkling wine from Lombardy. It draws upon centuries of history, culture, and winemaking tradition. Its name dates back to the 11th century when Cluniac and Cistercian monks reclaimed the lands, which became known as Francae Curtes—lands free of taxes. It then became "Franzakurta" in 1277. Franciacorta's legacy dates back even earlier than Dom Perignon, with a mention in the Libellus de vino mordaci, a groundbreaking book on bottle-fermented wines published in 1570.
Read MoreOne of our great long-standing Direct Import partners is Famille Antech. Proprietor and sixth-generation winemaker Françoise Antech-Gazeau has been a dear friend for many years, and her son Baptiste joined the winery a few years ago. There have been some great initiatives at the winery over the last couple of years that are now coming to fruition.
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