Post-Tent-Event Bliss and Other Champagne News
Another Champagne Tent Event is in the books, and we’re still riding the wave of excitement that follows an afternoon spent with so many remarkable producers. This month’s Champagne Newsletter celebrates that same spirit—spotlighting the unforgettable wines of Launois, sharing stories from Champagne Buyer Gary Westby, and inviting you to keep exploring through our Champagne Club and exclusive grower selections. As the holidays approach, we’ve also gathered a lineup of exceptional Champagne values to have on hand for every toast, dinner, and celebration to come. Raise a glass with us to another season of discovery, connection, and great bubbles.
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Get to Know Champagne Buyer Gary Westby
On the occasion of Gary Westby’s 20th anniversary with K&L, we sat down and asked him all the questions that inquiring minds want to know. Find out more about the man behind our world-class Champagne program!
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What I'm Excited About This Week: Absolutely Beautiful Burgundy
We just had another fantastic tasting from Alex Pross, and I really loved the heck out of it. It was all reds from Burgundy, which typically means all Pinot Noir, and this was no exception. I have written before about how much I enjoy tasting a lot of something all at once, and this lineup showcased to me the beauty of this format. We tasted 22 wines, and all of them were unique with their own personalities. Sure, they were all Pinot Noir, but like all truly elegant and luxurious things it's the nuance that makes all the difference. The regional similarities were ultimately trumped by each wine’s more individual qualities.
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Burgundy Buying Guide: Top Collectibles, 1er Cru Values, Auction Highlights
Burgundy is a region of rich tradition and exciting innovation. This guide highlights the best of the 2022 and 2023 vintages—from accessible Bourgogne Rouge to prestigious Premier and Grand Crus. Whether you’re exploring top villages, discovering rising domaines, hunting rare finds at auction, or starting to plan your holiday party, this guide will help you navigate Burgundy’s complex world with confidence and enjoyment.
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Agnès Gleizes Gives Us a Grand Tour of Premier Cru Chablis Terroir
Agnès Gleizes and her partner Cyril Gautheron lead a family-run estate in Chablis that stretches back seven generations. Based in the village of Fleys, just a few kilometers from the town of Chablis, they manage about 30 hectares of vines spanning Petit Chablis, Chablis, Premier Cru, and even Grand Cru appellations.
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Demystifying Some of Burgundy’s Top Communes
We see it constantly: customers interested in Burgundy but intimidated by the complexity and nuance and overall high barrier to entry. Even those comfortable discussing a few favorite bottles may struggle to navigate an unfamiliar shop or wine list. While nuanced producer knowledge represents the pinnacle of Burgundy expertise, nearly 2,000 years of terroir knowledge is why the region is both revered and yet so complicated. Soil, slope, aspect, and weather are critical for finicky Pinot Noir and ripening-sensitive Chardonnay. Luckily, understanding a few top villages can immediately bring clarity, making it possible to move from overwhelmed to confident.
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New Releases from Three Rising Star Burgundy Domaines
Marsannay was once the epicenter of Burgundy thanks to its proximity to Dijon and easy transportation to Paris. One of the most Northern appellations, it originally produced rosés and was known for making high-toned red Burgundies thanks to its cooler climate. Climate change and an influx of next-generation winemakers have given Marsannay renewed vigor. With the impending 1er Cru status about to be bestowed upon them, things are looking up!
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The Stunning 2023s from Louis Jadot
With an impressive array of holdings strewn throughout the Côte d’Or, Louis Jadot is a producer that deserves space in your cellar. From 1er Cru to Grand Cru these wines represent both great quality as well as great values with many of the wines coming from estate-owned vineyards.
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The New Wave of Bourgogne Rouge
Thirty years ago when I first started out in the wine business, I honestly was not a big fan of Bourgogne Rouge. They were clipped, hard-edged, and lacking that beautiful fruit we associate with Red Burgundy. Today, however, everything has changed! The new generation of Bourgogne Rouges are flat-out delicious and often represent not only the best value to be had in Red Burgundy but also serve as a great introduction to the house style of their producers. The recent batch of landings all from either the 2022 or 2023 vintage—both of which were solar—are fresh, bright, lively, balanced, and packed with gorgeous fruit flavors.
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Turn Your Corporate Holiday Events Into Burgundy 101
Our sommelier-guided events are fully customizable. Our team will work with you to craft a unique and memorable experience for your crew. And, because Burgundy offers both prestige and clarity of focus—Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes—it serves an ideal topic for a wine workshop. If you’ve always been curious about diving deeper into this distinguished region, your company holiday party is the perfect chance to do so! Guests leave not only having enjoyed an evening of world-class wines, but with practical, lasting confidence they can use at their very next client dinner. After the guided tasting the event can transition into a relaxed reception where guests can revisit wines or explore new selections while networking and engaging with our sommeliers.
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Taste Burgundy Greatness with Our Open Cellar Program
Sixteen wines go into our WineEmotion machines each month—half at the start, half midway through—and with a simple tasting card activated at the register, you can try them by the ounce. Sometimes it’s a perfect weeknight red, sometimes it’s a bottle so rare and storied you’d never dream of opening it on your own. Either way, the idea is simple: to share the kinds of discoveries we’re fortunate enough to make here every day.
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New Discoveries, Tent Events, and the Best White Wines for Fall
This month at K&L brings no shortage of excitement—from the debut of the Italian Discovery Series to the return of our Champagne Tent Event in Redwood City and Hollywood. We’re also spotlighting late-summer whites from Alsace, Germany, and Austria, and our Open Cellar lineup updates—your chance to taste incredible bottles by the glass in-store. There’s plenty to discover this month, and we’re thrilled to share it all with you.
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