K&L Top 10 Picks

Our Top Picks and Bestsellers for the month of December Monday Dec 14th, 2020 [View in Browser]( [KL-emailheader.gif]( For time-sensitive bottles this December, please get your orders in early. Thanks and happy holidays! We appreciate your business. NOTE: Our walk-in retail locations are currently closed. We have curbside pickup and low cost (often free) delivery options available in ZIP codes where we can ship lawfully, including anywhere in California. We can also include any new or existing will call orders in your delivery batch. Choose local delivery at checkout to learn if you qualify. --------------------------------------------------------------- Each month we dig through our inventory of several thousand hand-picked wines and spirits, and come up with a list of our Top 10 selections on KLWines.com Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2019 Eric Cottat Sancerre $19.99 [View]( 2017 Silenus "Tyros" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $35) 90 Price: Hidden [View]( 2019 Matt Connell "Rendition" Pinot Noir Central Otago 95 $29.99 [View]( 2018 Moulin de la Gardette "Tradition" Gigondas 94 $29.99 [View]( 2009 Shea Wine Cellars "Estate" Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $50) 94 $29.99 [View]( 2015 Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino 92 $49.99 [View]( 2016 Robert Craig Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $100) 94 Price: Hidden [View]( 2019 Kistler "Les Noisetiers" Sonoma Coast Chardonnay $69.95 [View]( 1997 Hector Macbeth (Glenfiddich) 23 Year Old "Hepburn's Choice" K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Finish Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $119.99 [View]( 2012 Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne 98 $249.99 [View]( [2019 Eric Cottat Sancerre]( [2019 Eric Cottat Sancerre]( ($19.99) We were first introduced to the wines of Eric Cottat a few years back when he was brought to our attention by one of our long-time friends and winemakers in Sancerre. Eric only produces a small amount of wines each vintage for family, friends, and close customers, and then sells the rest of his fruit off to other eager producers in the region. This Sancerre is always invigorating and fresh, with lemony citrus aromas and flavors accented by delicate white flowers. The palate is full and lively, with balanced acidity and minerality on the finish. Although easy to drink, it has complexity and intrigue up and down the palate. You'll want another after the first one has disappeared. Open and enjoy tonight with seafood or fish dishes. [keithmabry.gif]( Mabry]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 20, 2020 Every year winemaker Eric Cottat seems to get better and better at his craft. He has been a staff favorite for years and has always had a strong following in each of our stores. The 2019 is a benchmark vintage delivering a generously fruited wine with ruby-red grapefruit, crushed pineapple and pomelo flavors. Lemon verbena and fresh cut grass on the finish give great typicity. All are wonderfully balanced by a streak of acidity. Destined to be one of the greats this year! --------------------------------------------------------------- [2017 Silenus "Tyros" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $35)]( [2017 Silenus "Tyros" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $35)]( Price: Hidden 90 points Decanter: "Earthy, black and blue fruit aromas over a very lovely, juicy palate showing cassis, currants, cocoa and coffee. (Decanter 2020 World Wine Awards)" (09/2020) 90 points Wine Enthusiast: "This is an enjoyable and approachable Cabernet that is blended with 23% Merlot. Black cherry, cassis and mocha highlight a soft, supple palate. It has a hint of dried herb on the finish. *Editors' Choice* (VB)" (05/2020) 90 points Wine Spectator: "Quite bold and ripe, this teeters a bit, with a prune note amid the cherry, raspberry and plum confiture flavors. Features pretty spice accents, a relatively silky feel and a lingering mesquite element for added range. For fans of the style. (JM)" (10/2020) Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Tyros comes from throughout Napa and offers plenty of red plum, brambly herbs, black tea, and spice-laced aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, rounded, and charming, it's a good value with classic Cabernet character." (01/2020) K&L Notes: The historical Silenus property in the Oak Knoll district of Napa Valley was planted to vines back in 1968. The fruit has historically been sold to the likes of Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Inglenook, Clos du Val, and others. Eventually the owners built a winery on the property, making them the 35th Napa Valley winery established post prohibition. Their "Tyros" bottling includes both estate-grown fruit as well as purchased fruit from other select AVAs across the Valley. It's primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (77%) with Merlot (23%) rounding out the balance. The wine gets the same first-class treatment as their more expensive wines. It is aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak, 10% new American oak and the rest in neutral barrels. This is high-quality Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon made by an estate-driven winery. [kajstromer.jpg]( Stromer]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 11, 2020 Ever since our wildly successful Liparita offers, we've been scouring Napa Valley for another $20 Cabernet Sauvignon. Our criteria demanded that the wine taste dramatically better than the price, it had to come from a small, estate grown, independent winery (not corporate wine), and we needed it to be a great deal. Well, look no further. The Tyros Cabernet is a plush, robust Cabernet, filled with bold fruit. Plum, blackberries, and a hint of Tahitian vanilla rise from the glass. Much like more expensive Napa Valley Cabernets, the enticing fruit components are complimented by bay leaf, rose petals, and toasty oak. I am extremely excited about this wine. I suspect it will become our best selling Cabernet Sauvignon while it lasts. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2019 Matt Connell "Rendition" Pinot Noir Central Otago]( [2019 Matt Connell "Rendition" Pinot Noir Central Otago]( ($29.99) 95 points Sam Kim: "Combining richness with grace, this stunning Pinot shows dark cherry, spiced plum, thyme and toasted nut characters with a hint of dark mushroom complexity. The palate displays outstanding concentration and depth, while remaining elegant and harmonious. Splendidly structured by refined tannins, finishing superbly long and engaging. At its best: now to 2029." (08/2020) 94 points Bob Campbell: "Moderately concentrated Pinot Noir with plum, dark cherry, mocha, cocoa powder and spicy oak flavours underpinned by juicy acidity and soft tannins. The wine has an interesting savoury and dried herb edge that adds complexity." (08/2020) [Thomas-Smith.jpg]( Smith]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 30, 2020 When Matt Connell emerged on the Central Otago wine scene a few years ago, we were quick to reach out and start direct importing his wines to K&L. As one of New Zealand's rising stars with stints everywhere from Elk Cove Vineyards in Oregon to Wynns in Australia, Matt has proven himself to be one of the most exciting winemakers in New Zealand to date. With the exceptional 2019 vintage, it's thrilling to see what he can do with a classic Central Otago warm vintage. The 2019 Rendition comes out swinging. With aromas of blackberry, raspberry compote, and dark cherry, the power seems to radiate out of the glass. On the palate, wild strawberry, black fruits and savory undertones are displayed with a sense of extraordinary balance and drive. The tannin profile is softened, and the light hint of French oak complements the depth and sweetness of fruit on the palate. A stunning achievement by one of Central Otago's new classic winemakers. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2018 Moulin de la Gardette "Tradition" Gigondas]( [2018 Moulin de la Gardette "Tradition" Gigondas]( ($29.99) 94 points Decanter: "This is exuberantly fruity, ripe and vividly aromatic full of strawberry and raspberry fruit. The acidity is perky and bright and this has real lift and freshness. So approachable and drinkable - very well balanced with great tannic finesse and no excess. Made with 45-year-old Grenache, with Syrah and Mourvèdre. Grown on clay limestone and marl, handpicked, no destemming, aged in old foudres. Organic. (MW)" (09/2019) 91-93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2018 Gigondas Tradition is the main production of the estate, a blend of 80% Grenache and 10% each Mourvèdre and Syrah, aged in a mix of foudres and demi-muids. It's slightly light in color but perfumed with charming herbal nuances, rose petals, red cherries and orange zest. It's full-bodied and charming, with silky, seductive tannins and a long, pepper-edged finish. (JC)" (08/2019) 91 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2018 Gigondas Tradition from this estate is a winner, and those who love spicy, more complex, incredibly Provençal wines should snatch this up. Revealing a translucent ruby color as well as an incredibly perfumed nose of kirsch, Provençal herbs, orange blossom, potpourri, and spice, this beauty hits the palate with more medium-bodied richness, a seamless, elegant texture, and a great finish." (10/2020) K&L Notes: Jean-Baptiste Meunier is the fifth generation winemaker behind the great property of Moulin de la Gardette in the Rhône region of Gigondas. We have been working with him since the mid-90s and the wines have always been some of our favorites from the area. The region itself has stepped out of the shadow of neighboring Châteauneuf du Pape, creating wines of intensity and flavor that are distinctly their own. Gigondas has more south facing slopes and higher elevations as well as varied soils that help distinguish the region. The "Tradition" is a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah from vines averaging in age of 40 years. It is aged for about 18 months in mostly used foudre and demi-muid before bottling. (Keith Mabry, K&L Rhone Buyer) *Organic* [keithmabry.gif]( Mabry]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 03, 2020 JB Meunier's Gardette is one of our longest standing direct relationships in the Rhone Valley. We have been buying his wines for almost two decades and every time you try one, you can see why. In that time, it is amazing to see his evolution as a winemaker. As JB (and his vines) have gotten older, his winemaking is more deft and balanced. The "Tradition" bottling is loaded with perfume, filling the glass with a sense of place like so few others. When you inhale, you are transported to the Dentelles (the jagged hillsides of Gigondas) and walk among its forests. Incense, garrigue, lavender and of course beautiful strawberry and cherry fruits surround you. Fine tannins lend beautiful structure and a supple finish. I love wines that transport you. Who couldn't use a little trip to Provence right now? --------------------------------------------------------------- [2009 Shea Wine Cellars "Estate" Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $50)]( [2009 Shea Wine Cellars "Estate" Willamette Valley Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $50)]( ($29.99) 94 points Wine Spectator: "Supple, rich and complex, layering its dark berry, black cherry, pink grapefruit and exotic spice flavors on a velvety frame. The finish lingering effortlessly. *Ranked #7, Top 100 Wines of 2012, Highly Recommended* (HS)" (02/2012) 91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2009 Pinot Noir Estate contains some of each of the vineyard blocks in the blend. Given the size of the vineyard and the multiple exposures, there is plenty to choose from in composing the final blend. It is a relatively forward offering with notes of cedar, rose petal, spice box, black cherry, and black raspberry informing the nose of a smooth-textured, savory, elegant wine. Dick Shea has more than 20 clients for the fruit he grows at his large Yamhill-Carlton estate, most of whom vineyard designate the resulting wine. More often than not, it is the best wine in their respective portfolios and the one that sells out the most quickly. Currently Shea retains 25% of the fruit to go under the winery label. The wines are made by the talented Drew Voit with the vineyards managed by Javier Marin. (JM)" (11/2011) [ryanwoodhouse.gif]( Woodhouse]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 20, 2020 Now here's an opportunity you don't see every day! A perfectly mature Pinot Noir from one of the most highly regarded estates in Oregon...and at an affordable price! Oh, I should also mention this wine was No.7 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 list of 2012! Top 10 wines typically sell out within hours of being announced, but this parcel (originally destined for export) has been cellared in a temperature-controlled warehouse since release until we discovered it! Shea vineyard is an iconic site, perhaps the most famous in all of Oregon. The list of folks who make a vineyard designate from this highly sought-after fruit reads like a who's who of Oregon Pinot Noir. Shea only produces a small amount of their own estate bottled wines. This wine was made by the highly talented winemaker Drew Voit. It shows the opulence of the 2009 vintage and the power that comes from this magical vineyard. At the core there is still big, exuberant dark fruit, blackberry, deep earthy red currant, woodsy spices. There are also beautiful bottle aged characters of leather, cigar box, dry leaves, and more savory spices. Mouth-filling and rich with lovely layers and depth. It's so nice to get a parcel of perfectly aged, fully mature and ready to drink Pinot Noir of this caliber and to get it for this price is just incredible. This will be gone fast and there's no more to be had! [stevebearden.gif]( Bearden]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 05, 2020 Holding onto its youth yet also showing its age beautifully this is a delight to drink and a bargain to boot. This has lots of tart cranberry and taut cherry fruit along with roasted herbs and hints of sassafras. The wine is mellow yet very fresh and has bright fruit and savory notes that last on the clean finish. Just super tasty and ready to drink. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2015 Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino]( [2015 Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino]( ($49.99) 92 points Decanter: "As of the 2015, all of Val di Suga's wines spend less time in wood to curb Sangiovese's tendency to oxidise. This wine brings together grapes from all three of Val di Suga's distinct vineyard sites in equal proportions. Fragrant orange and raspberry notes progress into darker, earthier nuances. There is a saline edge and a gentle grip holding together lush fruit. It's a touch short but still bright and tangy on the finish. (MM)" (02/2020) 92 points James Suckling: "A dense and linear red with medium to full body, chewy tannins and a slightly extracted finish. Needs time to soften. Better after 2022." (09/2019) 91 points Vinous: "The 2015 Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino is spicy and intense, leading off with dried cherries, cedar spice box, savory herbs and dusty rose. Silky, almost creamy textures flood the palate with ripe red and black fruits, contrasting saline minerals with cooling acids, as fine tannins slowly settle upon the senses. The finish is long and structured, mixing youthful tension with pretty inner florals, yet the best is yet to come with medium-term cellaring. (EG)" (04/2020) [gregstclair.gif]( St. Clair]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 30, 2020 The nose is full of bold, ripe plum accented with wild cherry and with touches of wild brush and earth, but on the palate the wine shows a fuller body, evident tannic structure all enclosed in rich, supple, and smooth fruit. It is well balanced showing a density that is combined with good length and a reinforcement of its richness. On the palate the wine's flavors are bold and straightforward, repeating the dark plummy signature. Hints of wild cherry and leather begin to emerge in a powerful, weighty statement of fruit. The finish is compelling, balanced, and a conveys a flow of consistent flavors throughout. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2016 Robert Craig Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $100)]( [2016 Robert Craig Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $100)]( Price: Hidden 94 points Vinous: "The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Spring Mountain) is suave, silky and super-polished. Sweet red cherry, blood orange, mint, pomegranate and wild flowers give the 2016 a distinctly exotic quality that is hugely appealing. Medium in body and decidedly gracious, the 2016 speaks to finesse above all else. Although a few years in bottle will only help, the Spring Mountain is the most accessible of these 2016s. (AG) 94+" (12/2018) 93 points James Suckling: : "There's a lot to like about this blend of 95 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon with some Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It delivers deeply ripe plums and blackberries with the right balance of ripeness and freshness." (12/2018) [ryanwoodhouse.gif]( Woodhouse]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 07, 2020 My favorite bottling from Robert Craig in 2016 is the Spring Mountain Cab. This bottling is sourced entirely from the Crowley Vineyard at a towering 2000ft elevation at the top of the mountain. Though this site was originally planted in the late 1800s, the current vines were put in the ground in the early 2000s. The site is farmed biodynamically and almost entirely dry-farmed. The resulting fruit is powerfully concentrated and a pure expression of this very special terroir. The wine itself is classic Spring Mountain; soaring aromatics of crushed flowers and mint, black and blue fruits, wisps of cigar smoke, crushed rock, thyme and spice box. The palate is dense and powerful but very polished and plush. I get the sense that there are some mountain tannins in there somewhere but they're fully enveloped in luxurious, flowing fruit and the whole thing is veiled with classy oak tones. Exceptional Napa Valley, mountain grown Cabernet, from a great producer and top vintage, at this price!? Need a seriously good bottle for a gift without breaking the bank? It doesn't get much better than this when you look at quality, prestige and price point. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2019 Kistler "Les Noisetiers" Sonoma Coast Chardonnay]( [2019 Kistler "Les Noisetiers" Sonoma Coast Chardonnay]( ($69.95) Few names are synonymous with California Chardonnay the way Kistler is. This winery raised the bar in Sonoma to heights not seen before and continues their legacy uninterrupted. The Les Noisetiers is a combination of their Sonoma Coast sites (Vine Hill Vineyard, Dutton Ranch, and Trenton Roadhouse) and emphasizes the area’s sandy Goldridge soils. The vinification draws on techniques used in Burgundy. The result is a luxurious and complex bottle which possess a minerality which is rare in New World Chardonnay. --------------------------------------------------------------- [1997 Hector Macbeth (Glenfiddich) 23 Year Old "Hepburn's Choice" K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Finish Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)]( [1997 Hector Macbeth (Glenfiddich) 23 Year Old "Hepburn's Choice" K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Butt Finish Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)]( ($119.99) One of the original teaspooned malts here at K&L that longtime customers may already be familiar with is Hector Macbeth. While nearly all of this year's blended malts had another distiller's spirit dropped into it right before bottling, this was teaspooned at the time of production by the original maker with the intention of being sold off to the independent market. This is really how teaspooning came to be a thing in the first place. Blue chip distilleries, like Glenfiddich in this case, don’t want a bunch of people trading on their name. They do, however, still want to sell casks into the blending market to raise quick cash. While we don’t know what they put into the cask in this case (although our money is on the sister distillery next door - Balvenie) we do know that it tastes just like you’d expect sherry-finished Glenfiddich at cask strength to taste. If you’ve ever had the excellent Glenfiddich 15 Year Sherry Solera bottling and thought, "I wish this was full proof," this is the malt for you. The extra 8 years of aging doesn’t hurt either. [David-otheningirard.jpg]( Othenin-Girard]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 11, 2020 I'm generally skeptical of finishes, and I know I'm not the only one. That's not because I don't believe they can do great things, but because so many people use finishing to try to "save" or "hide" flawed whisky. If you start with great juice and use a great barrel to bring something more special to a whisky, then I'm all for a good finish. Here, though, we're fully into a double maturation range. We started with the same awesome 'Fiddich base that we've selling for several years. Two of these gorgeous hogsheads were dumped into a freshly emptied sherry butt more than three years ago. The result is something absolutely unique and undeniably delicious. None of the pancake syrup (thanks for that one Todd!) character that you sometimes get with finished whisky. Because the barrel was originally used for many years to age single malt, we're getting that it's very different than the seasoned sherry barrels that we normally see used for finishes. The color is auburn. The nose is an exotic bouquet of toasted vanilla bean, exotic wood, nougat, clean fresh leather, dried apricots and Christmas spice. The palate is medium bodied with extremely well integrated red fruit, nutty compote and baking spice. With water the nose explodes with dried stone fruits, exotic honey. nutmeg, clove and fresh sweet buns. On the palate it's definitely very zesty and easily drinkable, but the water adds texture and length. I couldn't be happier to have more than 500 bottles from this cask, it's easily one of the best values we've ever put our name on. Stupendously high quality 20 year old malt aged for an additional three years in quality old sherry butt for less than $120? It's so good I just don't get why the distillery isn't doing the same themselves. --------------------------------------------------------------- [2012 Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne]( [2012 Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne]( ($249.99) 98 points John Gilman: : "The 2012 vintage of Cristal is the first to be produced entirely from Demeter-certified, biodynamically-farmed fruit, which is a landmark for Maison Roederer. The future is now here! I have been looking forward to this release of this vintage of Cristal for a few years now, but sadly found myself not in top form to appreciate its debut, as I was so suffering from jet lag after my three weeks on the road in November that my energy level was no match for this beautiful young wine. The 2012 Cristal is its customary cépages of sixty percent Pinot Noir and forty percent Chardonnay and none of the vins clairs went through malo this year, with one-third of the blend barrel-fermented. The wine was finished in 2012 with a dosage of 7.5 grams per liter and offers up a beautiful young nose of pear, apple, fresh lemon, white flowers, a very complex base of chalky minerality, a hint of the caraway seed to come and a topnote of white flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and nascently complex, with a racy girdle of acidity, a rock solid core, impeccable focus and grip, refined mousse and stunning length and grip on the poised and perfectly balanced finish. This is another great vintage of Cristal in the making, but it deserves plenty of time in the cellar to blossom properly." (11/2019) 98 points James Suckling: "Such attractive, fresh, floral aromas here with fine bread, hints of white almonds and a lemon edge. White cherries and strong, chalky minerals, too. The palate has a very composed feel. Seamless and quite silky texture with effortless length and flow. Very fluid and composed. Very late, warming almond flavors. This is very long and smooth with a velvety finish. Super long Pinot weight. Resolved and drinkable, but will age so well." (07/2019) 98 points Vinous: "Rich, vinous and beautifully textured, the 2012 has been nothing short of magnificent on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. In the glass, the 2012 is radiant and luscious, yet it possesses remarkable transparency and striking aromatic depth. Light tropical notes develop in the glass, giving the 2012 a real feeling of exotic beauty. The 2012 is the first vintage of Cristal done with 100% organically-farmed fruit, an approach introduced gradually starting with the 2007 that has profoundly changed Cristal, especially in its aromatic breadth. Two thousand twelve is the vintage where endless trials and experiments in farming and winemaking are fully realized. The 2012 is just stunning. It's as simple as that. Dosage is just over 7 grams per liter, the lowest it has even been for Cristal. (AG)" (12/2019) 98 points Wine Enthusiast: "As the first 100% biodynamic Cristal, entirely from Roederer-owned vineyards, this is an important milestone. This latest incarnation is a great Champagne with its density, elegance and poise. Still impressively young, the wine is taut, tightly wound and textured. At the same time, it has pure, ripe white and citrus fruits that are perfumed, and an important part of this wine's long-term future. Drink at the earliest from 2023. Organic and biodynamic. *Cellar Selection* (RV)" (10/2020) 97 points Wine Spectator: "A classic beauty, fresh-faced and focused today but with a harmonious grace of form suggesting a long career ahead. There's a creamy, viscous quality to the mousse that swathes the palate, carrying finely detailed flavors of poached quince, Mandarin orange preserves, toasted almond and pickled ginger. Mouthwatering throughout, with a pleasing, soft zestiness to the mineral-laced finish. (AN)" (10/2020) 97 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Aromas of clear honey, crisp green orchard fruit, white peach, pastry cream and dried white flowers introduce the 2012 Cristal, a full-bodied, concentrated and powerful wine that's built for the cellar. Broader, more textural and more muscular than the 2008 Cristal, with seemingly even greater reserves of structuring dry extract, the 2012 is incisive and searingly chalky. This is the first Cristal produced exclusively from organically farmed fruit, and it marks the opening of a new chapter for Louis Roderer. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, vinified without malolactic fermentation and disgorged with 7.5 grams per liter dosage. Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has once again excelled himself. (WK) 97+" (12/2019) Jancis Robinson: "To be launched December 2019 or January 2020. Not affected by the oidium problems experienced elsewhere. 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay (the same as 2008). You have to adapt and stay on the blank page. If you try to tick too many boxes, you go in the wrong direction. It will be the average age for Cristal launch. It was 2008 that was late. This will be the first 100% biodynamic Cristal. Rich and ripe, like 2002. Pungent nose -- straight up the nose. Gorgeous and seductive. Complex and embroidered. Already lovely. 19/20 points. (JR)" (06/2019) K&L Notes: While the 2008 and 2009 vintages were entirely organically grown, the 2012 Cristal is the first to be completely biodynamic. Cristal is an estate within an estate for Louis Roederer and the vineyards are spread across the chalkiest areas of the Grande Vallée de la Marne, Montagne de Reims and Côtes des Blancs. This wine is composed of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, and this year they have increased the amount that is fermented in large wooden barrels to 32%. The dosage is 7.5 grams per liter. (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer) [gary.gif]( Westby]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 12, 2020 Cristal is made for the connoisseur who has been lucky enough to taste a lot of nice things, and this 2012 is as elegant as one could wish for. They used more barrel fermentation (in large foudre only) than ever before at 32%. The extra wood fermentation has brought some subtle Christmas spice to this creamy, clean and extraordinarily long Champagne. This Cristal is open right now, with wonderful baguette toast and fabulous, detailed chalk on the generous finish. --------------------------------------------------------------- There are now several K&L email lists, where wine enthusiasts like yourself can sign up for categories that interest you. Visit [Email Preferences]( to find out more. Automate the effort to find your favorite wines! Our waiting list "keyword matching" program sends you an email when a wine matching your individual keywords comes into our inventory. Find more information or get started with your [waiting list for keywords]( in the My Account section of our site. From the home page of our site you can view a listing of all New Arrivals as well as items that are Coming Soon. In addition right there in the middle of the home page there is a link to our Best Sellers. 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