The Wonderful Wine World of Ballard Canyon

We 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.

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Bollinger’s PNVZ15 Blanc de Noirs

Gary doesn’t often buy a wine before tasting it, but he knew he couldn’t go wrong with Bollinger. So when he opened up Bollinger’s newly released PNVZ15 for the first time, his instincts were pleasantly validated by the sumptuous deliciousness of this wine. We just received a tiny amount of this tiny-production wine, so it is not a purchase to ruminate on… it’s one to buy while we have it!

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The Fountain of Youth: 1972 by Xavier Vignon

The 1972 is a very special Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Though it has nearly 50 years of age, it was only put into bottle in 2019! This wine was stored in its original concrete foudre for decades at the domaine, until oenologist Xavier Vignon discovered it. What you get in the bottle is a wine with elegance and some maturity, but still a lively freshness and youthful acidity. A profound experience.

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A Tale of Two Cities: Barbera from Alba and Asti

Italian wine is known for its food-friendliness, but the Barbera grape from Piedmont might very well be the most versatile for the dinner table. Its high acidity and friendly tannins make it a great pair for many a meal. With subtle differences in style based on where it’s grown, the best way to really get to know this grape is to open up a bottle from each of its hometowns. Hard work, but someone’s gotta do it…

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John's Master Class: 2015 Brunello di Montalcino

What 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.

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Our Summer Burgundy Newsletter

Some wine drinkers consider Burgundy the most inscrutible of regions, but really all you need is an Alex Pross. In our newsletter, K&L Burgundy Buyer tells you his latest favorites and has some tremendous tips for finding Burgundy values (not an oxymoron). Whether you’re a collector or a daily drinker, there is much to love from this famed region!

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