K&L Newsletter: Australia, New Zealand, & South Africa

Remarkable depth of rewarding selections: discover your next favorite bottle... Tuesday May 17th, 2022 [View in Browser]( [KL-emailheader.gif]( [Commonwealth News]( [Today's Newsletter]( is truly a globetrotting exercise, as it takes us to three different countries and two continents. Buyer Thomas Smith is a busy man handling the reins for our Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa portfolios, but that just means he has no shortage of truly spectacular hunting grounds from which to bring us many of our all-time direct-import stunners. First, we're re-introduced to three of our absolute finest direct-import buys in their respective categories, followed by surveys of the excellent 2021 Sauvigon Blanc vintage in New Zealand's iconic Marlborough region, the emerging world-class Grenache scene in Australia's McLaren Vale, and our current favorite offerings in Aussie Riesling. Producer highlights include hidden gems in McLaren and South Africa's far-flung Western Cape, and we round out the show with three of the most unique rosés you'll find in our entire inventory. Everyone knows the wine world is big, but you don't realize just how big it is until you start to explore its farthest reaches. [Ministry of Clouds] --------------------------------------------------------------- Category Best Buys from Our Direct-Import All-Stars Our direct-import program is deep with star estates from Australia and New Zealand, and we're always thrilled to introduce a whole new cohort of wine lovers to these world-class operations, as they present some of the best buys you'll find anywhere in their respective categories. The 2018 Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Noir is another cult-caliber stunner. Tagged with 96 points by James Suckling, this new vintage hits all the notes we've come to expect from this perennial best seller, with consensus press and at a price that's a small fraction of what you'd pay for similar pedigree and class from other renowned regions. The historic Tahbilk estate in Australia's Nagambie Lakes brings us an ultra-classic, critically acclaimed, old-vine Cabernet-Shiraz. Buyer Thomas Smith notes, "With a level of concentration that’s off the charts, this big, bold, and ripe blend is one of Australia’s best." Finally, our old friends at Te Whare Ra (TWR) in Marlborough have simply blown our minds with their latest rosé release. Having declassified all their Pinot Noir fruit and some Syrah to make this triple 94-point beauty, they've turned out what Vinous calls "the best-value rosé you'll find this year." Now is the perfect time to dive headlong into our DI program and discover the incomparable treasures that await. Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2018 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough 97 $59.99 [View]( 2017 Tahbilk "Old Vines" Cabernet-Shiraz Nagambie Lakes Victoria 95 $29.99 [View]( 2021 TWR (Te Whare Ra) Rosé Marlborough 94 $19.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Marlborough's 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Vintage: Small But Mighty While the 2021 vintage saw early frost damage that decimated the yields for New Zealand's most famous wine region, the quality that ensued is simply off the charts. Our longest tenured direct-import partners at Te Whare Ra have crafted yet another jaw-dropping winner that noted Kiwi wine authority Sam Kim gives 94 points and calls "a stunning expression of the variety." Renowned Marlborough winemakers Kevin Judd and Simon Wegman have also turned out can't-miss showstoppers from their respective labels, Greywacke and Astrolabe, while Thomas' newest discovery from Saveé Sea is set to wine legions of fans with unbeatable QPR for a mere $12.99. You may think you know Marlborough Sauv Blanc, but it's never a bad time to get reacquainted. Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2021 Saveé Sea Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough $12.99 [View]( 2021 TWR (Te Whare Ra) Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 94 $19.99 [View]( 2021 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 93 $19.99 [View]( 2021 Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 94 $19.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Lethbridge in Geelong: Cool-Climate Brilliance from a Hidden Gem Estate One of the most exciting new entries in our direct-import program from anywhere is the incomparable Lethbridge estate in the cool-climate bastion of Geelong. Founded in 1996, they specialize in creating boutique expressions defined by poise, precision, and chiseled cut. The 94-point 2016 Estate Shiraz “almost reads like top-quality Syrah from Cornas in the Northern Rhône.” This wonderfully refined and well-crafted Shiraz garnered 94 points from the authoritative Halliday Wine Companion. Now drinking at peak form, we’re able to offer this impeccable boutique beauty at over 40% off the original release price of $55. Lethbridge's mastery of the style extend to white varietals as well. The JH96 2017 Dr. Nadeson is a "complex Riesling of an effortless intensity, seldom experienced on these shores," all for a sterling sub-$20 price. As with the rest of our direct-import stars from Down Under, the quality for price is simply unmatched, and we highly recommend diving deep into the Lethbridge portfolio, as we're sure they'll fast become some your absolute favorite buys. Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2017 Lethbridge "Dr. Nadeson" Riesling Geelong Victoria 96 $19.99 [View]( 2016 Lethbridge "Estate" Shiraz Geelong Victoria (Previously $55) 94 $29.99 [View]( 2017 Lethbridge "Estate" Chardonnay Geelong Victoria (Elsewhere $55) 93 $29.99 [View]( 2015 Lethbridge "Estate" Pinot Noir Geelong Victoria (Elsewhere $55) 95 $29.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- The Soulful Wines of McLaren's Coriole While industrial-scale operations seem to expand their reach with each passing vintage in Australia, there is still no shortage of small, family-run estates keeping the faith and sticking to their guns, making wines of "heart and soul," as Thomas describes them. The Lloyd family, owners of McLaren Vale's Coriole estate, have not only been quietly producing some of the country's greatest values since 1967, but they've also pioneered the planting of esoteric Italian varietals to great fanfare from the locals. The 2020 Sparta Shiraz is hands-down one of the best QPR buys in our entire inventory, while the 94-point Sangiovese "is Australia’s original and most classic expression of the variety" according to Thomas, and it shows just what vision and commitment the Lloyd family has brought to their work for two generations. Finally, the 96-point, sub-$50 Lloyd Reserve is a thrilling snapshot of the estate's history, made entirely from the original 12-acre parcel of 100-year-old Shiraz vines, "a concentrated wine with an impressive thrust of vinosity" according to Halliday Wine Companion. Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2020 Coriole "Sparta" Shiraz McLaren Vale South Australia $14.99 [View]( 2020 Coriole "Dancing Fig" Rhône Blend McLaren Vale South Australia $14.99 [View]( 2020 Coriole Sangiovese McLaren Vale South Australia 94 $14.99 [View]( 2019 Coriole "Estate" Shiraz McLaren Vale South Australia $19.99 [View]( 2018 Coriole "Lloyd Reserve" Shiraz McLaren Vale South Australia 96 $49.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Australia's Next Big Thing: McLaren Vale Grenache While Shiraz has always had top-billing in Australia, especially the benchmark renditions from Barossa, there's a strong argument to be made that the country's most compelling hidden gems are the absolutely stunning, world-class Grenache wines being made in the McLaren Vale. From the value end to the cult-collectible end of the spectrum, we've got a handful of surefire winners to pique your interest and get you started on Aussie Grenache journey. New direct-import standout Ministry of Clouds has crafted "a spectacular effort" that Thomas compares glowingly to the utterly profound wines of Châteauneuf's Domaine de Marcoux, while Coriole (profiled above) captures a "quintessentially McLaren Vale" style, as described by Halliday Wine Companion. In the collectible sphere, the inimitable Yangarra, one of Australia's most revered estates, has simply blown the roof off with their 99-point masterpiece "that pulses with energy, purity and expression of place" and carries stratospheric praise from James Suckling, Wine Advocate, and Wine Enthusiast alike. Boutique natural wine producer Ochota Barrels has also crafted a spectacular rendition that is both true to place (the iconic Grenache vineyards of Blewitt Springs) and true to the stylistic philosophy of its founder, the late Taras Ochota. If these wines are any indication of the direction that McLaren Grenache is headed, we're all in for some very big treats in the near future. Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2019 Ministry of Clouds Grenache McLaren Vale South Australia 94 $24.99 [View]( 2018 Coriole "Estate" Grenache McLaren Vale South Australia 95 $24.99 [View]( 2019 Yangarra "Ovitelli" Grenache McLaren Vale South Australia 99 $64.99 [View]( 2021 Ochota Barrels "Fugazi" Grenache McLaren Vale South Australia 96 $69.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- South Africa's Next Rising Star: Minimalist Wines You'd be forgiven for not having more than a passing familiarity with the wines South Africa's far-flung Western Cape, but it's also high time to rememdy that, and there's no better place to start than Sam Lambson's Minimalist Wines. One of South Africa's most dynamic young winemakers (he's only 25!), Lambson gained his first round of notoriety from none other than Vinous' Neal Martin, who dropped 97 points on his 2019 Stars in the Dark Syrah from the nearly unheard-of Cape Agulhas region, calling it "a doppelgänger for Côte-Rôtie." While that breakout bottling never made it to these shores, Buyer Thomas Smith took sharp notice of this glowing press and immediately set about securing an import agreement with Sam to bring in his new releases to the U.S. for the first time, and here we are. The stellar pair of 2020 bottlings presents a perfect introduction to this producer, who is set to redefine cool-climate excellence in the most remote reaches of the wine world. Vintage Item Name Retail Link 2020 Minimalist Wines "Connect the Dots" Syrah Western Cape South Africa $29.99 [View]( 2020 Minimalist Wines "Stars in the Dark" Syrah Cape Agulhas South Africa $34.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- The World-Class Brilliance of Aussie Riesling Riesling fanatics are a breed apart from other wine lovers, and while everyone acknowledges the abundant greatness of Germany's and Austria's finest estates, true aficionados know not to overlook the illustrious history of Australian Riesling and its many world-class exponents. We've gone to great lengths to source the very best out there. Clare and Eden Valleys are the epicenters of Aussie Riesling, and the folks at Rieslingfreak (they're not hiding anything, here) are some of the most compelling newcomers to the game at quality levels far outpace their prices. Of course, no discussion of the category would be complete without three of the most iconic Riesling estates in the country. A stirring, 97-point library vintage of the benchmark Pewsey Vale Contours from Eden Valley shows just how age-worthy these wines are, while the critically acclaimed, small-production offerings from Grosset define the pinnacle of varietal expression with the Polish Hill, "unequivocally one of Australia’s greatest Rieslings," as Thomas describes it. Not to be missed, Western Australia's Frankland Estate is another source of reference-point bottlings beloved by connoisseurs and critics alike. Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2021 Rieslingfreak "No.33" Riesling Clare Valley South Australia $19.99 [View]( 2021 Rieslingfreak "No.44" Riesling Eden Valley South Australia $19.99 [View]( 2013 Pewsey Vale "Contours" Riesling Eden Valley South Australia 97 $34.99 [View]( 2019 Frankland Estate "Isolation Ridge" Riesling Frankland River Western Australia 97 $39.99 [View]( 2019 Frankland Estate "Poison Hill" Riesling Frankland River Western Australia 97 $39.99 [View]( 2021 Grosset "Springvale" Riesling Clare Valley 97 $44.99 [View]( 2021 Grosset "Polish Hill" Riesling Clare Valley South Australia 98 $64.99 [View]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Off Color: Exicting New Rosé Styles from the Southern Hemisphere We close out this edition of the Newsletter with a trio of singularly unique expressions that take the rosé category in intriguing new directions. New Zealand's Middle Earth Pinot Meunier Rosé from Nelson has long been a staff favorite at K&L—after all, it's not every day you find still wine made from Pinot Meunier, and you almost never find it in rosé form. Kiwi wine authority Bob Campbell's 93-point review calls it "charming and instantly appealing," which goes a long way in explaining its massive popularity. That, and the amazing sub-$15 price point. Next up, Central Otago Pinot Noir master Andrew Donaldson found inspiration for his 92-point Akitu Pinot Noir Blanc in the unique examples from Germany's Ahr region. Direct pressing of the grapes results in minimal color extraction and a thoroughly beguiling aromatic and flavor profile, making for a truly one-of-a-kind "rosé". Finally, the Craven Wines Ramato Pinot Gris presents an altogether different take on skin-contact wine. Made in a fashion similar to a red wine, the pink-skinned Pinot Gris grapes undergo a long maceration on the skins to pull an amazing color and texture into the juice, resulting in a wine that's not orange and not rosé, but rather ... Ramato. Any or all these expressions will add some welcome variety and flair to summer sipping sessions. Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2021 Middle-Earth Pinot Meunier Rosé Nelson 93 $14.99 [View]( 2021 Akitu Pinot Noir Blanc Central Otago 92 $24.99 [View]( 2021 Craven Wines Pinot Gris (Ramato) Stellenbosch South Africa $29.99 [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? Check out recent opportunities at our [Email Archive]( page. 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