K&L Holiday Newsletter: Treasured Collectibles

Celebrated collectible selections from our buyers to you... Monday Dec 13th, 2021 [View in Browser]( [KL-emailheader.gif]( K&L Grand Tastings: Category-Best Selections We'll Raise a Glass to You Until We Can Host You Again Next Year... --------------------------------------------------------------- This is normally the time of the year that we roll out the red carpet and pop some of each category's most renowned and celebrated bottles. Unfortunately, we're still not hosting tastings at our stores. But hopefully we are able to invite you back soon, because it is a great joy to line up Classified Growths and Grand Cru Burgundy and really explore the heights of our categories. In the meantime, we've asked our buyers to share some inspired selections that they have spent all year procuring—wines and spirits that represent the pinnacle of their respective categories. We're hoping you'll find something inspiring to carry you through the year, and hopefully we'll soon be popping corks with you in person. Until then, we offer great thanks to the wonderful patrons of K&L who make all of our jobs endlessly engaging and dynamic. Happy holidays! --------------------------------------------------------------- Bordeaux Grand Tasting with Clyde Beffa Every year we keep going back to the flat-out delicious 2009s. Meyney, who is making wines that compete with St-Estèphe's best, shows why this vintage is just so easy to drink, even though it's still relatively young. The same can be said about the best-selling 2009 Troplong-Mondot, which just landed in stock. We also hold the 2016s in the highest regard, and whether it's the luxurious Barde-Haut or Pagodes des Cos, the second wine of the 100-point Cos d'Estournel, you can't go wrong with these classics. Haut-Bailly, Montrose, and Figeac will be reference-point wines in due time. [Chateau Montrose] Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2016 Barde-Haut, St-Emilion 96 $46.99 [View]( 2016 Les Pagodes de Cos, St-Estèphe 94 $62.99 [View]( 2009 Meyney, St-Estèphe 94 $64.99 [View]( 2009 Lalande-Borie, St-Julien (1.5L) 93 $119.99 [View]( 2010 Malescot-St-Exupéry, Margaux 95 $129.99 [View]( 2016 Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan 98 $159.99 [View]( 2009 Troplong Mondot, St-Emilion 100 $209.99 [View]( 2016 Montrose, St-Estèphe 100 $229.99 [View]( 2016 Figeac, St-Emilion 99 $299.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Domestic Grand Tasting with Ryan Woodhouse Unfortunately, 2021 has rolled by without public tastings at K&L. However, behind the scenes we continue to seek out the best of the best. I’m excited to share with you my Grand Tasting lineup featuring some of my favorites from the past year that I hope you will enjoy this holiday season. These are highly rated, top-notch examples that show the staggering breadth and quality of wines being produced in the USA. Of particular note is the strength of the 2018 vintage in Napa Valley. In my opinion, these are some of the finest, most balanced, age-worthy wines in recent memory. [Larkmead Estate] Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2018 Crescere "Ritchie Vineyard" Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 98 $49.95 [View]( 2019 DuMOL "Wester Reach" Russian River Valley Chardonnay 98 $56.95 [View]( 2018 Zena Crown "Slope" Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir 96 $74.95 [View]( 2018 Larkmead Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Elsewhere $120) 97 $99.95 [View]( 2018 Corison Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 95 $99.95 [View]( 2018 DuMOL Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 98 $99.95 [View]( 2018 Shafer "One Point Five" Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 97 $99.95 [View]( 2018 Daou "Soul of A Lion" Adelaida District Cabernet Sauvignon 97 $129.95 [View]( 2018 La Jota Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 97 $149.95 [View]( 2018 Joseph Phelps "Insignia" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 99 $269.95 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Rhône Grand Tasting with Keith Mabry A Grand Rhône tasting covers much ground. Where the Northern Rhône focuses on Syrah for reds, the south is dominated by Grenache along with some of its favorite blending companions. But even in the north, where you have a singular grape variety, the range of flavors can vary from village to village. Côte-Rôtie is some 60 miles north of Hermitage and Cornas. It makes a difference. Hermitage and Cornas have warmer fruit characteristics that contrast beautifully with Côte-Rôtie's savory and more elegant profiles. By contrast, Châteauneuf is fixed on Grenache. Sure, there are Mourvèdre- and Syrah-based blends, but seldom do they define the profile of the region. It's Grenache's show, and everyone else is a supporting ensemble player. Here is a range of wines that covers some of the great vintages of the region—2016 for the south, 2018 for the north, and 2019 for both. Singular producers making singular wines, showing what the best and brightest can be from one of France's most exciting regions. [Châteauneuf Vines] Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2018 Ferraton Père et Fils "Les Grands Mûriers" Cornas 94 $39.99 [View]( 2019 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 93 $39.99 [View]( 2019 Domaine Belle "Roche Blanche" Crozes-Hermitage Blanc 94 $49.99 [View]( Xavier Vignon "La Réserve XV XVI XVII" Châteauneuf-du-Pape 97 $59.99 [View]( 2018 Domaine Alain Voge "Les Vieilles Vignes" Cornas 98 $69.99 [View]( 2018 Ferraton Père et Fils "Le Reverdy" Ermitage Blanc 95 $85.00 [View]( 2019 Domaine des Remizières "Autrement" Hermitage 97 $120.00 [View]( 2018 Domaine Garon "Lancement" Côte-Rôtie 99 $139.99 [View]( 2016 Domaine du Pégaü "Cuvée Réservée" Châteauneuf-du-Pape (1.5L) 98 $149.99 [View]( 2018 Auguste Clape Cornas 97 $179.99 [View]( 2019 Le Clos du Caillou "La Réserve" Châteauneuf-du-Pape (1.5L) 99 $350.00 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Spirits Grand Tasting with Andrew Whiteley and David Othenin-Girard We have an unprecedented selection of the highest-quality spirits from around the world as we roll into the home stretch of 2021. Whether you’re looking for the best liqueurs on the planet, the finest agave expressions, or the most collectible Scotch, there is something for everyone right now. Don’t miss the chance to add to your collection or impress a loved one with a one-of-a-kind gift. From Roulot rarities to classics from Laphroig and Ardbeg to singular Armagnacs from Château du Buscan, here are some of the highlights for your next unforgettable dram. [Ardbeg Distillery] Item Name Retail Link 2007 George Dickel 13 Year Old "2021 Release" Bottled In Bond Tennessee Whiskey (750ml) $44.99 [View]( Irish Single Malt 15 Year Old "That Boutique-y Whisky Company" Batch #5 Single Malt Irish Whisky (375ml) (Elsewhere $100) $49.99 [View]( Laphroaig 10 Year Old "Sherry Oak" Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $89.99 [View]( Rezpiral Mexicano/Espadin/Tepextate (Berta Vasquez) "Series 6" K&L Exclusive San Baltzar Chichicapam Mezcal (750ml) $129.99 [View]( Amrut 6 Year Old "K&L Exclusive" Ex-Oloroso Sherry Butt #3890 Unpeated Indian Barley Indian Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $149.99 [View]( 1981 Château du Busca Ténarèze Armagnac (750ml) (Elsewhere $180) $159.99 [View]( Du Roulot L'Abricot Apricot Liqueur (1L) $169.99 [View]( Du Roulot Le Citron Liqueur (1L) $169.99 [View]( La Gran Señora Extra Añejo Tequila (750ml) $179.99 [View]( Amrut 8 Year Old "SCWC Exclusive" Ex-Port Pipe #4672 Unpeated Indian Barley Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $200.00 [View]( 1994 Tomatin 25 Year Old "Hunter Laing Old & Rare" Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $249.99 [View]( 1972 Château du Busca Ténarèze Armagnac (750ml) (Elsewhere $300) $279.99 [View]( Ardbeg 19 Year "Traigh Bhan - 2021 Release" Batch #3 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $299.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Pinot Noir Grand Tasting with Kaj Stromer Pinot Noir reigns supreme as the queen of all wines, possessing elegance without peer and complexity that's the envy of all others. Few varietals achieve its sublime stature. The evolution of California as one of the world's eminent sources for Pinot Noir should come as no surprise, as faithful vignerons have been at it for well over 50 years now. Vine age, site designation, and the fierce tenacity of some of the best wine growers have created the modern era for Pinot Noir. We've assembled a line-up of our favorite producers from Santa Barbara County up to the Sonoma Coast. Styles and character vary, as do the soils and climates of each location. I'd match these venerable expressions against the best in Burgundy and beyond. There's great history in this flight from a "murderer's row" of top-class Golden State producers. [Cobb Vineyard] Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2016 Byron "Radian Vineyard" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir (Previously $65) 94 $34.95 [View]( 2019 Hirsch "Bohan-Dillon" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 95 $39.95 [View]( 2018 Martinelli "Bella Vigna" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $39.95 [View]( 2018 Au Bon Climat "Isabelle" California Pinot Noir 95 $49.95 [View]( 2019 Bien Nacido Estate Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $60) 96 $49.99 [View]( 2017 Calera "Mills" Mt. Harlan Pinot Noir (Elsewhere $80) 97 $59.95 [View]( 2019 DuMol "Wester Reach" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 96 $69.95 [View]( 2018 Cobb "Old Firs Block - Coastlands Vineyard" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 95 $79.95 [View]( 2018 Wayfarer "Wayfarer Vineyard" Fort Ross-Seaview Pinot Noir 98 $89.95 [View]( 2019 Kosta Browne "Keefer Ranch" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $139.95 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Italy Grand Tasting with Greg St. Clair Italy has such a diverse array of varietals that you can’t really compare it to any other country. The masterful offerings from Terlano and Marisa Cuomo show the heights the finest Italian white wines can achieve, with a mind-blowing combination of scintillating acidity and luscious, mouth-coating richness. The Molettieri Taurasi is one of the finest examples of ready-to-drink Aglianico you’ll ever see. The 2016 Vietti Lazzarito Barolo and Fontodi's 100-point 2016 Flaccianello are prime examples of the apex of blue-chip Italian collectibles. Yet, you don’t have to break the bank to get your hands on equally stunning wines—the near-perfect Castiglion del Bosco is a Brunello steal at less that $55, and the Damilano “Cannubi” Barolo is just a killer rendition in the fabulous 2016 vintage. Enjoy and Buon Natale! [Vietti Castiglione] Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2007 Salvatore Molettieri "Vigna Cinque Querce" Taurasi 92 $39.99 [View]( 2016 Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino 99 $54.99 [View]( 2017 Cantina Terlano "Nova Domus" Riserva 95 $64.99 [View]( 2016 Damilano "Cannubi" Barolo 98 $74.99 [View]( 2018 Marisa Cuomo "Furore Bianco Fiorduva" Costa d'Amalfi 94 $79.99 [View]( 2018 Bibi Graetz "Testamatta" Toscana Rosso 100 $94.99 [View]( 2015 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 99 $164.99 [View]( 2016 Vietti "Lazzarito" Barolo 98 $199.99 [View]( 2016 Fontodi "Flaccianello della Pieve" Toscana 100 $249.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Rioja Grand Tasting with Kirk Walker The best, most exciting/fun/interesting/delicious part of tastings is the exploration. Spain is one of the greatest wine-producing countries to explore. Why? Most consumers know just enough to start asking questions, and that is where the fun starts. Where to start a Grand Tasting of Spain? Rioja, of course. There is so much more to Spanish wine than Rioja, but this can be our Rosetta Stone, our compass rose to help us journey around this wonderful wine-producing country. Rioja can be confusing, but figuring it out is half the fun. Between new varietals (Tempranillo, Graciano), familiar varietals with different names (Garnacha, Mazuelo), sub-regions (Alta, Alavesa, and Oriental), and demanding aging requirements, there are so many different iterations. Add single-vineyard expressions and brilliant, under-the-radar whites, and it is easy to get lost in the adventure. I wish that we could all be together in the tasting bar, but hopefully you can grab some of these bottles to experience story of Rioja in the comfort of home. [Roda Vineyards] Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2015 Miguel Merino Reserva Rioja $34.99 [View]( 2016 Pedro Martinez Alesanco Garnacha Rioja 97 $35.99 [View]( 2016 Contino Reserva Rioja 97 $38.99 [View]( 2018 Miguel Merino "La Loma" Rioja $54.99 [View]( 2011 La Rioja Alta "904" Gran Reserva Rioja 96 $64.99 [View]( 2016 Roda "Roda I" Reserva Rioja 95 $69.99 [View]( 2016 MacRobert & Canals (Laventura) "Barranco de San Ginés" Rioja 95 $74.99 [View]( 2014 CVNE "Cune Imperial" Gran Reserva Rioja 94 $79.99 [View]( 2012 CVNE "Cune Imperial" Gran Reserva Rioja 95 $79.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Champagne Grand Tasting with Gary Westby A lot of Champagne producers have run short of bottles and more still have raised their prices this holiday season. But we have a great selection of six world-class offerings that are fabulous for the money—a few are even less than they were last year! The 2013 Launois "Special Club" comes from plots in the grand cru of Mesnil that were planted in the late '40s and early '50s and delivers a wine of stately creaminess and electric minerality. The 2008 Laurent-Perrier Brut is also all grand cru and comes from the best vintage in living memory in Champagne, combining toasty generosity with chalky snap. The 2014 Alexandre Le Brun "Cuvée Fascination" is the product of just two rows of grand cru vineyard in Chouilly and shows vanillin pie crust and a super long, bone-dry back end that will make you wish for a second bottle. Louis Roederer's "Collection 241" only comes in magnum and will likely become a sought after collector's Champagne with its effortless concentration and graceful, nutty finish. From Billecart-Salmon, both the 2007 "Cuvée Louis" and 2002 "Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart" are at the best prices you're likely to find and represent the best tête de cuvée experiences in our stock with the breathtaking precision of the 2007 and the pannatone toast complexity and depth of the 2002. A toast to you! [Billecart Cuvée Louis] Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2013 Launois "Special Club" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne $64.99 [View]( 2014 Alexandre Le Brun "Cuvée Fascination" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne $69.99 [View]( 2008 Laurent-Perrier Brut Champagne 96 $69.99 [View]( Louis Roederer "Collection 241" Brut Champagne Magnum (1.5L) $109.99 [View]( 2007 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Louis" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne (Previously $170) 95 $129.99 [View]( 2002 Billecart-Salmon "Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart" Brut Champagne (Previously $180) 98 $149.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Burgundy Grand Tasting with Alex Pross This has been a pretty amazing year for Burgundy. Not only were the tariffs lifted, but we've gone on a run of great vintages, from the classically styled 2017s to the engaging and delicious 2018s to the landmark 2019s. We're also really excited about what we're hearing on the 2020s, but more on that next year. Today's selections show that Burgundy has so much to offer at every price point. We just stocked up on a perennial best-seller, Faiveley's Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes. For those looking for under-the-radar discoveries, the Givrys from Joblot are must-try wines, and we also have one of the nation's best selections in collectible 1er and Grand Crus, with a few of our favorites from Bouchard, Arlaud, Drouhin, and Gouges now in stock. [Domaine Faiveley] Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2018 Domaine Albert Morot Beaune 1er Cru "Les Aigrots" 93 $44.99 [View]( 2018 Domaine Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 93 $49.99 [View]( 2019 Domaine Joblot Givry 1er Cru "L'Empreinte" 94 $49.99 [View]( 2018 Domaine Jean-Marc & Hughes Pavelot Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru "Aux Guettes" 94 $59.99 [View]( 2018 Domaine de la Pousse d'Or Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru 93 $139.99 [View]( 2019 Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-St-Georges 1er Cru "Les Vaucrains" 94 $149.99 [View]( 2017 Domaine Faiveley Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 96 $239.99 [View]( 2019 Domaine Arlaud Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 94 $259.99 [View]( 2019 Domaine Joseph Drouhin Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru $279.99 [View]( 2019 Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Echézeaux Grand Cru 94 $299.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Australia & New Zealand Grand Tasting with Thomas Smith Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc are emblematic of Australia and New Zealand, respectively, and we have some of the best examples you'll find on today's market. That said, these regions take it to another level altogether with handcrafted, Burgundian-style masterpieces from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Any of the examples below are custom-fit to impress any devoted collector of the best of each varietal, with cult-caliber renditions that compete with (and often surpass) the world's top collectibles. The unforgettalbe Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay and site-specific bottlings from Felton Road exude remarkable structure, exibit tremendous depth, and will age beautifully for a long time to come. These are not-to-be-missed treasures, one and all. [Leeuwin Estate] Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2018 Pyramid Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Central Otago 95 $44.99 [View]( 2019 Felton Road "Bannockburn" Pinot Noir Central Otago 96 $49.99 [View]( 2019 Felton Road "Calvert Vineyard" Pinot Noir Central Otago 98 $54.99 [View]( 2020 Kumeu River "Hunting Hill Vineyard" Chardonnay 97 $59.99 [View]( 2019 Felton Road "Cornish Point" Pinot Noir Central Otago 95 $59.99 [View]( 2019 Burn Cottage Pinot Noir Central Otago 96 $69.99 [View]( 2017 Leeuwin "Art Series" Chardonnay Margaret River Western Australia 99 $69.99 [View]( 2018 Leeuwin "Art Series" Chardonnay Margaret River Western Australia 98 $79.99 [View]( 2018 Dry River Pinot Noir Martinborough 97 $89.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [New Feed]( [Auction]( [Local]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [On the Trail (K&L Blog)]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Instagram]( [YouTube]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [BORDEAUX]( | [NAPA]( | [BURGUNDY]( | [CHAMPAGNE]( | [ITALY]( | [RHÔNE]( | [SPIRITS]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [My Account]( | [Wine Clubs]( | [Events]( |[Gift Cards]( | [Accessories]( | [Delivery]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Missed an offer? 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