Discovery Time: New Labels Making Their Début
by Anthony Lynch
© Nicolas Maillart
© Nicolas Maillart
Discovery Time: New Labels Making Their Début
by Anthony Lynch
Have you tried our new Champagne?
This phrase has been on repeat for me ever since our first container from Nicolas Maillart, the latest Champagne grower to join the KLWM ranks, arrived at port a couple of months ago. His pure, precise, and vinous Pinot Noir-based cuvées have been a staple on my table through the holidays and into the new year, and I urge all Champagne aficionados to become acquainted with Maillart’s creations before they sell out.
But that’s not all there is to discover—we have been hard at work unearthing new domaines to introduce to American palates, and on top of that, some of our longtime producers have surprised us with compelling new bottlings we can’t get enough of. We’ve gathered some of the most exciting novelties below for your enjoyment.
Highlights include Montmajou, a fleshy white blend from the Languedoc’s Saint-Chinian appellation with alluring notes of gunflint and stone fruit, as well as new Loire whites showcasing Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc in off-the-beaten path appellations. In the realm of reds, there is a novel cuvée from Corbières trailblazer Maxime Magnon, plus labels from familiar domaines in Corsica, Alto Adige, and the Rhône making their début. We’ve also highlighted a deeply hued rosato from the little-known Molise region—a perfect winter rosé, robust and loaded with southern Italian sunshine.
Wines In The Collection
Steiger-Kalena Italy | Molise
Offers an absolutely electric perfume loaded with bright notes of pomegranate, sour cherry, and fresh strawberry, while the palate delivers bracing acidity and a chiseled, chalky finish.
Domaine Trotereau France | Loire
Textured, lush, full of aromatic gooseberry and passionfruit—all supported by spiny minerality.
Peter Dipoli Italy | Alto Adige
Merlot and Cabernet Franc born from such high altitudes display classic cedar, graphite, and black cherry notes, but with smooth, velvety tannins that bely the bottle’s youthful age.
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
Deep, dynamic Grenache feels aptly highlighted by bright and fresh Clairette. Soft and rich, yet still defined.
Grange Saint Sauveur France | Loire
The new vintage shows great freshness and brightness, making me think of tart berries picked in the forest just a touch below full ripeness.
Christine de Mianville France | Loire
Juicy and open-knit, it mirrors the sensation of biting into fleshy slices of white peach, nectarine, and guava.
Italy | Molise
Offers an absolutely electric perfume loaded with bright notes of pomegranate, sour cherry, and fresh strawberry, while the palate delivers bracing acidity and a chiseled, chalky finish.
France | Loire
Textured, lush, full of aromatic gooseberry and passionfruit—all supported by spiny minerality.
Italy | Alto Adige
Merlot and Cabernet Franc born from such high altitudes display classic cedar, graphite, and black cherry notes, but with smooth, velvety tannins that bely the bottle’s youthful age.
France | Southern Rhône
Deep, dynamic Grenache feels aptly highlighted by bright and fresh Clairette. Soft and rich, yet still defined.
France | Loire
The new vintage shows great freshness and brightness, making me think of tart berries picked in the forest just a touch below full ripeness.
France | Loire
Juicy and open-knit, it mirrors the sensation of biting into fleshy slices of white peach, nectarine, and guava.
More Collections
Opening Our Cellar Doors
Like a portal to another dimension, December is the time of year when our cellar doors open. And this year, the stars have aligned for them to open not just for a few days, but the entire month. Yes, all month long we’ll release aged wines from across our portfolio, including Domaine Tempier, Les Pallières, Vieux Télégraphe, Mas Champart, Quintarelli, and Robert Chevillon, to name just a few…
Holiday Gift Shop
As is tradition here at Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, we’ve made it easy to celebrate together—whether in person or in spirit!
Annual Dessert Wine Sale
Gingerbread cookies, yule logs, pumpkin pies…Sauternes, Banyuls, Muscat…Whether you prefer your treats baked or fermented, no holiday meal is complete without the final flourish of dessert. Now through the end of December, 20% off per bottle!
Champagne & Sparkling Sale
Now through the end of the year, take 20% off all Champagne & Sparkling Wine. Whether your bubbly of choice is a luxurious and elegant Champagne, a rich yet mineral Vouvray Brut, a versatile Italian Prosecco, or an aromatic Alsatian Crémant, our annual Champagne & Sparkling Sale offers all of these and many more toast-worthy bottles for every occasion.
Elegant, Terroir-Transparent Champagnes
It had been many years since we introduced you to a new selection of ours from the Champagne region—not for lack of trying! In 2023, we finally found what we had been looking for in the small Champagne village of Écueil, on the Montagne de Reims, in the cellars of Nicolas Maillart…
New Arrivals
Here is a collection of recent arrivals. Every week, we’ll be adding a dozen or more new arrivals, so check back often for your favorite classics or new discoveries!
Samplers for the Holidays
If you find yourself especially busy this time of year, without an abundance of time to carefully study every bottle before you buy, our latest collection of curated sampler packs offers a quick and easy way to discover new wines in categories that you already know and enjoy...
The Carpe Vinum Collection
An ever-changing offering of wines that are just about to sell out; one last opportunity to seize a range of selections before they disappear from our shelves forever.
50th Anniversary Merchandise
When the esteemed French wine artist Michel Tolmer created beautiful artwork for our 50th anniversary, we knew right away that we had to feature it on a few select items of merch. After spending maybe a little too much time researching the options, we landed on a classy, leather-strap cap, a comfortable t-shirt made from 100% cotton, and a tote made with incredibly sturdy, fair-trade, and organic cotton by a certified B corp that invests in the livelihoods of women and farmers of India, featuring three wine sleeves and two other compartments for all of your other needs!
Recent Wine Club Selections
Our five wine clubs feature our best values from France and Italy as well as complex and cellar-worthy wines.