The Brilliant 2022 Vintage from Burgundy’s Domaine Parent
I always look forward to my annual visit to Domaine Parent and my sit-down tasting with Anne Parent. We tasted her 2022 wines from bottle, and they were absolutely singing! 2022 was an exceptional vintage for red Burgundy, and the set of wines from Domaine Parent showcase both the quality of the vintage as well as the signature style of Domaine Parent. With premier holdings scattered mostly across Pommard, Corton, and Beaune, Domaine Parent has created wines of incredible freshness with enviable fruit and impressive structure and depth. Domaine Parent exemplifies the perfect synergy of Burgundian classicism with the new world order in Burgundy.
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Clos de l’Anhel: Soulful, Biodynamic Wines from Corbières
Clos de l’Anhel is one of the first producers I recruited after taking over the French Regional progam at K&L. Vigneron Sophie Guiraudon established Clos de l’Anhel in the appellation of Corbières just over two decades ago. She proudly states that she is a first-generation winemaker. Beginning her career at another winery in the region, she felt like she could do the same thing they were doing but better and organic—so why not strike out on her own?
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Jaw-Dropping Finds and Collectible Rarities
From our Bordeaux Buyer Ryan Moses, Director of Auctions John Christensen, and Private Client Services Advisor Chelsea Herholdt, we bring you a lineup of some of our most collectible bottlings from producers who continue to inspire. With the goal of introducing—or reintroducing—you to bottles that promise to delight for years to come, we're thrilled at the opportunity to dive into these stellar selections from some of the world's very best.
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A Treasure Chest of Collectible Wines on Our Auction Block
This month, our auction block is brimming with exceptional lots from some of the most coveted producers in the world. Whether you're seeking investment-grade Bordeaux, rare Burgundian treasures, Cult classics from California, or the pillars of Champagne, our currently live lots present an incredible opportunity to add legendary bottles to your collection.
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Burgundy and Beyond: The Storied History and Current Vintages
There are few rollercoaster rides in the wine world quite like being a Burgundy fan. I like to joke that if you just look at a bottle wrong, it might decide to spite you and have an “off day” when you open it. Being one of the most finicky fine wines, it raises the question: why do people chase it so fervently? Because when you catch it at the right time, there is no taste more glorious, wine or not. A bottle of Burgundy in its finest form carries nuance and depth that is paralleled only by the finest flavors in existence on Earth far beyond wine.
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Under the Radar and Over-Delivering Finds from Bordeaux
I’ll be the first to admit—with all the tumult in the wine industry these days, it’s been a bit more than an uphill battle to restock our shelves. That said, I’m absolutely thrilled with some of our current selections, from everyday values to top collectibles. Here are a few finds that you won’t want to miss, and some of the stories behind them.
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Northern Rhône Wines from the Top of the World: Guy Farge
I was fortunate enough to visit with Thomas Farge last year, and he took me through his St-Joseph holdings where we saw many of his new plantings. Since taking the winemaking mantle from his father, Guy, Thomas has grown the estate to about 20 hectares. Every vineyard has a stunning hillside view but some of the new vines overlook vistas of the valley below that any developer would be jealous of. We traipsed through some of his existing St-Joseph vines and marveled at the steep terraced slopes. Each time I got out of his truck, I had to consciously think about not stepping out over a ledge and tumbling to another terrace below.
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Rhône Discoveries and Collectible Rarities
My love affair with Rhône wines can't possibly be attributed to a single quality, yet the sheer versatility of this region, in terms of food pairing, stands unmatched in my mind. From elegant whites perfect for spring dishes, to incredibly versatile red blends (ideal companion for burger night, anyone?), to world-class rarities reserved for life's most special moments - this lineup genuinely offers something for everyone.
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The Oft-Overlooked but Overdelivering White Wines of the Rhône
One of the categories that I love but does not get a lot of attention is the white wines of the Rhône Valley. I think there is so much to unpack here, it would take a few newsletter articles to do it all justice. I love that these wines do not fit the mold of the more famous white varieties like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc—and they are about as far away as you can get from wines like Riesling and Pinot Grigio. The Northern Rhône is home to Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne grapes. The mostly granitic and alluvial soils make for beautiful stone-fruited wines that can be both aromatically expressive, like Viognier, or heady and rich like Marsanne and Roussanne.
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A Smorgasbord of Seafood and Laurent-Perrier
On Tuesday evening, Lilia from K&L Redwood City and I were lucky enough to be invited to a dinner at the Sea by Alexander’s Steakhouse by Naomi Smith, the director of sales for Laurent-Perrier in the U.S. It was a marvelous night with two of my favorite women in the wine business, and the fantastic seafood went perfectly with the elegant wines of Laurent-Perrier.
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Cristal and Sushi with Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon
Last night Cinnamon and I were treated to a once in a lifetime evening of sushi and Champagne with Jean Baptiste Lécaillon, the chef de cave of Champagne Louis Roederer. He invited us to Sushi Hashiri for a special meal paired with Roederer, including five vintages of Cristal, by chef Toshiaki and my long-time friend Yuri Shima. The wines, the food, and the pairings were unforgettable.
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Finding Inspiration Across the Globe: K&L Buyers' Top Wine and Spirits Picks
Our Buying team truly comprises some of the most knowledgeable, passionate wine and spirits experts in the biz, and we’re happy to bring you a set of their favorites from across our aisles. From years of traveling and extensive experience in the industry, each buyer represents a wealth of knowledge broadly about wine and spirits, but very deeply about their own regions and categories. If you want to shoot the breeze about soils, talk about best vintages to buy, or just learn what’s new and exciting—they are unparalleled resources! Seek them out on our sales floor or shoot them an email via our Staff Profile page.
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