K&L Monthly Newsletter - Featuring South America

Now Available From K&L Wine Merchants... Monday Jul 31st, 2017 [View in Browser]( [Special South America Feature]( sunshine, cooling influences from the Pacific Ocean or high-altitude locations, a wealth of great old-vine material and plenty of healthy, organically cultivated vines—these are just a few of the factors that make wines from Argentina and Chile such compelling values. We continue to mine the gems and find all kinds of good stuff: Malbec at all price points and in an ever-expanding range of styles; under-$20 Cabernet that continues to make the critics gush; Pinot Noir that is really beginning to sing and find its true voice; old-vine bottlings containing everything from 1940s-planted Sémillon or Cinsault to 200-plus-year-old, own-rooted Pais (Mission) grapes. There has never been more variety or value in wines from Chile and Argentina. Combine the ongoing renaissance in California wine with the energy, rugged beauty and ascendancy of South Africa, along with the focus and quiet confidence of our favorite New Zealand winemakers, and then I think you can begin to get a feel for the emerging wine scene in Chile and Argentina. Joe Manekin - K&L South American Wine Buyer [View our electronic newsletter!]( Highlights this month include... Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link 2012 Haras de Pirque "Hussonet" Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva Maipo Valley 92 $9.99 [View]( 2016 Bodegas Colomé Torrontes Valle Calchaquí Salta 90 $11.99 [View]( 2013 Tapiz "Alta Collection" Malbec Mendoza (Elsewhere $18) 95 $13.99 [View]( 2016 Gen del Alma "Ji Ji Ji" Malbec/Pinot Noir Gualtallary (Previously $18) 92 Price: Hidden [View]( 2016 Matetic "EQ" Sauvignon Blanc Casablanca Valley 92 $14.99 [View]( 2016 Laberinto "Cenizas de Laberinto" Sauvignon Blanc Maule Valley 94 $17.99 [View]( 2015 Zorzal Eggo "Tinto de Tiza" Mendoza 94 $24.99 [View]( 2014 Garage Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon "Lot #61" Maipo Alto $34.99 [View]( 2003 Aleph "Old Vines" Malbec Mendoza $39.99 [View]( 2014 Seña Red Blend Valle de Aconcagua (Pre-Arrival) 97 $104.99 [View]( [2012 Haras de Pirque "Hussonet" Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva Maipo Valley]( [2012 Haras de Pirque "Hussonet" Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva Maipo Valley]( ($9.99) 92 points James Suckling: "Aromas of lemon rind, spice, sweet tobacco and hints of currants. Full to medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Light spicy aftertaste to this. Drink now." (05/2016) K&L Notes: While the 2011 vintage Hussonet took everyone by storm, we believe the 2012 vintage, with its greater volume, added structure and superior balance, to be even better. Simply put, there are few under $10 Cabs that deliver the true varietal character, subtle savory nuances and overall balance that this one does. Highly recommended. Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 06, 2017 While the 2011 is a tough act to follow, this 2012 absolutely brings it; actually I find the 2012 to be far better. This vintage shows a fruit quality that is more penetrating, with greater volume, persistence and length on the palate than the comparably softer 2011. Tannins, fruit and acidity are impeccably balanced, and in fact I would be hard pressed to find a Cab that is this well put together for $15-18, let alone one that comes close to this at $10. Bold statement, I know, but this Cabernet is a category killer! This would make as nice a pairing with grilled skirt steaks this summer as it would with low oven heat, high flame pan finished rib eyes 3-4 years from now. Real Cab for a real value price. Load up. Bearden]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 08, 2017 Here is a fantastic follow up to the 2011 version of this overachiever and an amazing value. Once again this is a wine of balance with the sweet blackberry and currant fruit tempered by the fine tannins and fresh acidity. The husky aromatics give way to a firm , rich and earthy middle laced with savory herb and tobacco. The Antinori pedigree is obvious in the long, dry and detailed finish. Stevens]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 25, 2017 Oddly enough about a week ago I had a customer mention that we had carried an excellent Cab that was really well priced from South America and that they wanted to get another case, I told them it was the Hussonet and unfortunately we had been sold out of it for a while and no I did not know if it would ever be back. Then yesterday Joe's ears must have been ringing because he said he had the new vintage of Hussonet to taste. That is correct, Hussonet is back! The year it has all of the same qualities that people loved in 2011 but with a little more structure and length. Leafy notes of tomato lay alongside the plum and berry notes. This is not a big juicy bomb, this is a cab that exudes structure and green notes to match the ripe fruit and is finished with silky tannins. Best of all we get to keep the $10 price tag. [2016 Bodegas Colomé Torrontes Valle Calchaquí Salta]( [2016 Bodegas Colomé Torrontes Valle Calchaquí Salta]( ($11.99) 90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2016 Torrontés is sourced from 50-year-old parral vineyards that yielded 10,000 kilos per hectare from vines planted at 1,700 and 2,300 meters altitude. Some 10% of the grapes were harvested early to provide freshness. It fermented slowly with neutral bayanus yeasts for some 35 days and lots of fine lees and was bottled without malolactic in the month of June. This is perfumed and lightly floral with the Torrontés notes making an appearance in the palate, which fills the mid palate and leaves that sensation of Moscatel pulp. This has the intensity of older vines and slightly longer fermentation and combines power with great freshness. The acidity seems to compensate the faint bitterness inherent to the grape. In general, they are harvesting the white grapes earlier than before, a general tendency they also started to apply to the reds in search of more freshness. This is the best young Torrontés I've had from Colomé. Kudos to winemaker Thibaud Delmotte and his team! (LG)" (12/2016) K&L Notes: From biodynamically farmed Torrontes, this wine is produced from some of the highest elevation vines in production anywhere in the world, at more than 7,000 feet above sea level! Very floral aromas with juicy yellow plums and white peaches lead to a lovely, slightly spicy and floral, yet refreshing palate. Another great effort from one of our favorite Argentinian wineries. [2013 Tapiz "Alta Collection" Malbec Mendoza (Elsewhere $18)]( [2013 Tapiz "Alta Collection" Malbec Mendoza (Elsewhere $18)]( ($13.99) 95 points James Suckling: "A soft and silky red with violet, berry and dark fruits on the nose and palate. Full body, fine tannins and a flavorful finish. Extremely well craft with elegance and style. Made from high vineyards in Uco Valley with consulting enologist from Bordeaux Jean-Claude Berrouet. Drink or hold." (05/2015) K&L Notes: Tapiz is one of the most renowned and awarded Argentine wineries, made even more famous by the addition of winemaker Jean Claude Berrouet in 2012, recently-retired from Petrus after 44 vintages at the revered Bordeaux chateau. To celebrate his addition to the team, Tapiz created a new "Alta Collection" line of wines using fruit that comes solely from Tapiz's sustainably-farmed San Pablo vineyard in the Uco Valley. San Pablo is one of the highest altitude vineyards in Mendoza (4,600 feet above sea level). This extreme altitude provides for warm days which impart concentration to the grapes, and cold nights which give natural acidity. Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 30, 2016 The Tapiz hits the spot for a juicy, fruit forward Malbec that still does not lack for structure and overall balance. Most importantly, though, with its red and dark fruits and hints of spice and licorice, it is a delicous, easy to drink red for a budget friendly price. Vander Wall]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 25, 2016 Looking for a fun new everyday bottle? Try this lovely little Tapiz Malbec! We recently tasted a bottle of this, and I was impressed with the nice balance and pretty fruit. Although slightly lighter than some Malbecs from the area, this wine shows lovely dark berry fruit and mild spice notes. Malbecs from this area are also extremely versatile for food pairing, and are a great go-to for weekday nights. Rodriguez]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 24, 2016 Looking for a bright, fruit forward, easy drinking Malbec, for not a lot of money? May I hand you a case of this? Party on with this easy to drink, lovely, red-fruited number that will surely charm your guests. Enjoy! [2016 Gen del Alma "Ji Ji Ji" Malbec/Pinot Noir Gualtallary (Previously $18)]( [2016 Gen del Alma "Ji Ji Ji" Malbec/Pinot Noir Gualtallary (Previously $18)]( Price: Hidden 92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The red 2016 JI JI JI is a 50/50 blend of Malbec and Pinot Noir from eight-year-old vines in Gualtallary (Tupungato Winelands) on granite and limestone soils with a 20-centimeter layer of sand that fermented together with carbonic maceration. The wine was bottled unoaked. It feels a lot more serious and complete than previous vintages, and they attribute it to the superb vintage in Gualtallary, which surely affected the wines; ripeness was very slow, and there are more floral aromas. They also had a new, dedicated winery, where, even if they had less technology, they made an effort to do everything as perfect as possible. The palate mixes acid, bitter and bittersweet flavors, sour cherries, a touch of earth and decayed violets. This is simply delicious and incredibly priced. I'm not surprised the wine sells out in two months after it's released. (LG)" (12/2016) K&L Notes: Gen d'A is yet another Michelini brothers project, started by Gerardo Michelini and his wife Andrea Mufatto. They use fruit grown on a single vineyard in Gualtallary (within the Tupungato sub-zone). If you expect Malbec to be big, brawny and spicy, then this wine will come as quite a shock: it's actually 50-50 Malbec and Pinot Noir. It's all crunchy, tangy red berry fruit, a wine that is incredibly light on its feet and refreshing. Think good grower cru Beaujolais or even Anjou Gamay. With traces of Malbec's violet floral quality combining with minerality and bracing, electrifying acidity, this is fascinating wine, sure to bring lots of new wine drinkers into the world of exciting new projects happening right now in Argentina. (Joe Manekin, K&L Argentinian & Chilean wine buyer) Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 18, 2017 This is the prettiest, freshest, finest, crispiest, most crunchy, most refreshing, and [insert superlative] red I have yet to taste from Argentina. It is simply that freakin' delicious. Place in a brown bag, and a wine professional would likely guess this to be a very good quality, cooler climate French red. The lively berry fruit, subtle violet floral aspects and firm, poised tannin structure all point to a French effort, perhaps in the Loire or one of the villages in Beaujolais. That said, this Malbec and Pinot Noir blend is impressive. Do not expect loads of fruit but do expect a crisp, balanced, low 12% ABV red for your next whole roasted chicken and oven crisped yukon gold potato dinner. Fun stuff! McIntosh]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 24, 2017 This wine is all about fresh, vibrant red cherry fruit interwoven with delicate spiciness. It's light and crunchy. Drinking this wine is like biting into a bunch of delicious Montmorency cherries! Juicy and mouthwatering finish lasts forever. It also reminds me a lot of Cru Beaujolais, particularly Julienas and Fleurie because of its floral notes similar to violets and peonies. "Jijiji" has no oak treatment and is done entirely in stainless steel, so if you enjoy light wines with a lot of character, give this one a try. Vander Wall]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 12, 2017 A gorgeous new vintage of Gen Del Alma's "Ji Ji Ji" red! This lovely little wine is all about freshness and vibrancy, with very open, pretty aromas of mixed berries. On the palate it is fairly light in body, with a further punch of berry fruit, and quite fine tannin. This would be a fun and f air substitute for your favorite Cru Beaujolais. [2016 Matetic "EQ" Sauvignon Blanc Casablanca Valley]( [2016 Matetic "EQ" Sauvignon Blanc Casablanca Valley]( ($14.99) 92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The almost transparent 2016 EQ Coastal Sauvignon Blanc from Casablanca was produced with grapes grown at 12 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean on decomposed granite and mica soils. It fermented in stainless steel, barriques and concrete amphorae where it's kept with lees for four months, which represents the essence of what Matetic Sauvignon Blanc is about: citric, salty, with a balanced palate and good persistence. It's subtle and elegant, a restrained style of Sauvignon, more about the place (sea breeze, granite) than the variety. Beautifully textured, in the style of a Sancerre, with no influence from the oak, with a notable absence of herbal notes, as they avoided the clones that lend those aromas. Very food friendly, this wine is about the palate rather than the nose. Awesome value. This was started in 2001, but since 2007 it has been fine-tuned to a more elegant style. 92+ Points (LG)" (04/2017) 91 points James Suckling: "Pretty density here for a sauvignon with pear and green-apple character. Crushed stones. Medium body, bright acidity and a fruity finish. Screw cap. Drink now." (05/2017) 90 points Wine Enthusiast: "Fresh citrus and green-apple aromas lead to a healthy palate with just enough bracing acidity. Flavors of tangerine, passion fruit and grapefruit are bold and typical of Casablanca SB, while this tastes of lime, green herbs and scallion on a fit finish. (MS)" (06/2017) K&L Notes: A leading producer of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir in Chile's coastal Casablanca Valley, Matetic has once again produced a tasty, textbook Sauvignon Blanc. On the nose, bright citrus and stone fruits combine with just a hint of snappy green notes. Flavors on the palate are bright, juicy, crunchy and balanced. A delicious SB to enjoy a glass or two while prepping dinner, hanging outside or poolside. Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 31, 2017 Real deal Sauvignon Blanc here! While Sancerre is synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc, and New Zealand continues to produce many great examples, Chile has been busily building the case for their crisp, mineral driven Sauvignon Blancs as well. Matetic produces one of the very best values. Its lively citrus, brisk salinity and granite driven minerality combine to make a refreshing summer white, one of our best values early on in the summer sauvignon season. [2016 Laberinto "Cenizas de Laberinto" Sauvignon Blanc Maule Valley]( ($17.99) 94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Always among the best and most characterful Sauvignon Blancs from Chile, the 2016 Cenizas de Laberinto Sauvignon Blanc was cropped from a slightly cooler year, and the grapes were picked in March before the rain started. This cold-fermented, unoaked white has incredible parameters, moderate alcohol and very low pH (3.05), which provided for a sharp texture and great freshness. Even if the grape is very aromatic, the wine is more about the soil than the variety. This has the austerity and minerality of a Sancerre from Vatan, all about the soils with great acidity, going back to the style of cooler years like 2011 or 2013. It ends very tasty, almost salty. This is simply stunning and clearly over-delivers for the price. Unbelievable value and with all the ingredients for 10+ years in bottle. After three months in contact with the lees, 18,000 bottles were filled in November 2016. This is a great value if there is one in Chile! 94+ points. (LG)" (04/2017) [2015 Zorzal Eggo "Tinto de Tiza" Mendoza]( [2015 Zorzal Eggo "Tinto de Tiza" Mendoza]( ($24.99) 94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The one blend in the Eggo range is the 2015 Eggo Tinto de Tiza, which mixes Malbec with 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon fermented in 2,000-liter egg-shaped cement vats where the wine matured for almost one year. This feels quite complete and balanced, with good ripeness while keeping the balance and poise. The palate is juicy and fresh, with fine-grained tannins and a bittersweet finish akin to sour cherries. Very tasty and long. Super. Incredible for the price. 16,000 bottles were filled in January 2016. (LG)" (12/2016) Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 31, 2017 A most serious Malbec based wine, this 2015 vintage is now in a Burgundy bottle, and the wine's reserve, structure, acidity and overall balance seem to have risen to the occasion and new bottle shape! As Gutierrez suggests, there is an initial austerity on the nose, though on the palate, the wild plums, subtle cured olive and meaty notes suggest very good quality northern Rhone Syrah. Spectacular value here in one of the driest, most structured and complex bottles of Argentinian Malbec we have yet to feature. Vogel]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: June 10, 2017 Maybe those more worldly than I already knew that "Tinto de Tiza" means "red chalk," naming the wine after the influential soil type of the region. Nestled at the foot of the Tupungato Volcano in one of the highest elevation vineyard sites in Mendoza, this Argentinian Blend is solely influenced by it's terroir. While the vines are young, the high elevation, strong sun and cool temperatures creates a balanced wine with both striking acidity and structure. It is fermented and aged in a concrete egg (hence the Eggo), to more easily control temperature and keep the wine in constant movement to allow more complex character to form. That control allows the wine makers to skip the more artful wine making techniques that are usually used to add character to young grapes. The wine goes through a bit of malolactic fermentation for texture while the bold spice, deep black berry and fresh acidity really give you the true colors of the Uco Valley. [2014 Garage Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon "Lot #61" Maipo Alto]( [2014 Garage Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon "Lot #61" Maipo Alto]( ($34.99) Derek Mossman is up to some truly interesting things on the Chilean wine scene. Whether it's dry farmed Maule Carignane, Cabernet Franc, or this opulent, rich yet decidedly fresher take on Maipo Cab, the man is making very interesting wines and raising the qualitative bar. This particular Cabernet is from the Maipo Alto subsection of the Maipo Valley, and shows opulent, floral aromatics with a suggestion of eucalyptus as well. On the palate, the red fruits and plums are juicy and bright, with bright acidity and a relatively toned down use of oak framing the wine. (Joe Manekin, Chilean wine buyer) Vander Wall]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: March 16, 2017 Hesitant to buy a wine from a smaller wine company in the Maipo at this price? Don't be! This is a gorgeous wine with something of the finesse of Bordeaux and the power of Napa combined into a balanced expression all its own. Garage Wine Co. works with small lots of fruit, sourced from the best vineyards throughout Chile, in this case one of the very best high-elevation Cabernet vineyards. Their wine-making philosophy is almost non-interventionist, with a focus on pure translation of fruit into wine. The Lot 61 Cabernet shows very bold, dark fruit, with plenty of structure and notes of green olive, eucalyptus, and cassis. The wine is neither overly pepper-y nor rough, but rather shows a seamless, smooth whole. [2003 Aleph "Old Vines" Malbec Mendoza]( [2003 Aleph "Old Vines" Malbec Mendoza]( ($39.99) This is terrific Malbec, with nearly 15 years bottle age, and therefore a real rarity. Great presence on the palate - dark fruits, graphite and some savory hickory smoke notes as well, but still fresh. The Malbec in this bottle comes from 90= year old vines in Lujan de Cuyo. Maybe one of our best deals in serious Argentinian Malbecs. Manekin]( | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 20, 2017 This is terrific Malbec, with nearly 15 years bottle age, and therefore a real rarity. Great presence on the palate - dark fruits, graphite and some savory hickory smoke notes as well, but still fresh. The Malbec in this bottle comes from 90 year old vines in the La Consulta district of the Uco Valley. Maybe one of our best deals in serious Argentinian Malbecs. [2014 Seña Red Blend Valle de Aconcagua (Pre-Arrival)]( ($104.99) This product is expected to arrive for shipment or pickup by Thursday, August 31, 2017. 97 points James Suckling: "Complex aromas of blueberry, rose petal, licorice, and currant. Full body, ultra fine tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Balanced and very refined. A wonderful purity and beauty. Give it three to four years to come together but already a beauty. A blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 16% carmenere, 11% malbec, 8% merlot and 5% petit verdot." (05/2016) 95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The blend for the 2014 Seña was 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Carmenere, 11% Malbec, 8% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot from their stony soils. The different grapes are carefully fermented separately and with different regimes of maceration and extraction but always looking for elegance within the natural power of the zone. The final blend was transferred to French oak barrels, 67% of them new (a percentage that seems to be slowly going down), for the élevage of 22 months. This time, some 5% of the volume carried out its aging in new Stockinger foudres. This is very much in line with the 2013 and the direction set by that cool year. The wine is very harmonious, elegant within the house style. Another superb vintage of Seña. This should age effortlessly in bottle. 60,000 bottles were filled in March 2016." (04/2017) 92 points Wine Spectator: "A powerful, refined and seductively fruity red, with plenty of savoriness to the red currant, plum tart and dried cherry flavors. Asian spice and minerally notes emerge on the focused and pure-tasting finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2021." (05/2017) --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on: Check Out Our Blog: [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [On the Trail (K&L Blog)]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [My Account]( | [Wine Clubs]( | [Events]( |[Gift Cards]( | [Accessories]( | [Shipping]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Missed an offer? Check out recent opportunities at our [Email Archive]( page. Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637) Email: wine@klwines.com K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA Click here to manage your e-mail settings with K&L Wine Merchants or alternatively, [click here to unsubscribe from all mailings]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [K&L](