Spring Sale!
by Anthony Lynch
Spring Sale!
by Anthony Lynch
When Alain Pascal, vigneron at Domaine du Gros ’Noré, invites you over for lunch, you arrive to find him watching over an enormous pan of mussels on hot coals at the side of a vineyard. He takes the pan off the heat, sets it down on the table, and hands you a cool glass of his Bandol blanc. The mussels are saturated with fresh rosemary sprigs and garlic, and a baguette lies nearby to sop up the juices once the mussels have inevitably disappeared. Then he turns to the fireplace, where a large Mediterranean creature from the morning’s catch has been grilling to tender perfection.
Wines In The Collection
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
It has a purity and seamlessness—no angles or edges—and a feeling of weightlessness despite its broad, full-bodied, golden flesh.
Deperu Holler Italy | Sardinia
A field blend of Vermentino and other native Sardinian grapes, one week maceration; deep, broad, savory, and salty
Jean-Paul et Charly Thévenet France | Beaujolais
In classic Thévenet fashion, the wine is bright and energetic—a snappy Chardonnay that tastes like fresh green apple skin with a whisper of gentian.
Bruno Colin France | Burgundy
Lots of herbs and lemon curd precede its dry, racy finish. It’s a mouthwatering, drink-me-now white Burgundy.
Domaine Giacometti France | Corsica
Not quite Rhône-like and not quite Corsican, this has the best of both worlds, with plenty of palate-staining black fruit to boot.
Ferretti Italy | Tuscany
This 2017 is compact and absolutely brimming with energy, culminating in a grippy, stony tannin.
Domaine Michel Brégeon France | Loire
A subtly floral nose and textured mouthfeel seal the deal. This is off-the-charts Muscadet.
Vignai da Duline Italy | Friuli
A sublime late harvest of Malvasia that is sumptuously delightful with a perfectly tart bite.
Domaine Michel Brégeon France | Loire
This lithe and expressive “orange” wine is an ideal palate-opener with a dry, cleansing finish and a fresh, cooling effect like coastal sage and seaspray.
Giovanni Montisci Italy | Sardinia
You’d be right to be skeptical of a Nebbiolo from Sardinia, but from a top-notch terroir high in the mountains, it is something else entirely.
André et Michel Quenard France | Savoie, Bugey, Hautes-Alpes
Lychee and ripe citrus wrapped in beeswax. You might think there are a bunch of busy benevolent bees whiling away inside your glass.
Domaine Leon Barral France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Earthy, meaty, savory, juicy, and powerful, it is a glassful of joyful, soulful goodness.
Masseria del Pino Italy | Sicily
A profound red wine full of depth, liveliness, and old-school, rustic character.
Alex Foillard France | Beaujolais
A generous dash of plump, sun-ripened fruit enveloping a granite core.
Grange Saint-Sauveur France | Loire
A lovely blend of Grolleau Noir and Cabernet Franc with a synergistic effect that elevates both grapes to create a spicy, refreshing whole.
France | Corsica
It has a purity and seamlessness—no angles or edges—and a feeling of weightlessness despite its broad, full-bodied, golden flesh.
Italy | Sardinia
A field blend of Vermentino and other native Sardinian grapes, one week maceration; deep, broad, savory, and salty
France | Beaujolais
In classic Thévenet fashion, the wine is bright and energetic—a snappy Chardonnay that tastes like fresh green apple skin with a whisper of gentian.
France | Provence
It is a seafood lover’s dream wine.
France | Burgundy
Lots of herbs and lemon curd precede its dry, racy finish. It’s a mouthwatering, drink-me-now white Burgundy.
France | Corsica
Not quite Rhône-like and not quite Corsican, this has the best of both worlds, with plenty of palate-staining black fruit to boot.
Italy | Tuscany
This 2017 is compact and absolutely brimming with energy, culminating in a grippy, stony tannin.
France | Loire
A subtly floral nose and textured mouthfeel seal the deal. This is off-the-charts Muscadet.
Italy | Friuli
A sublime late harvest of Malvasia that is sumptuously delightful with a perfectly tart bite.
France | Loire
This lithe and expressive “orange” wine is an ideal palate-opener with a dry, cleansing finish and a fresh, cooling effect like coastal sage and seaspray.
Italy | Sardinia
You’d be right to be skeptical of a Nebbiolo from Sardinia, but from a top-notch terroir high in the mountains, it is something else entirely.
France | Savoie, Bugey, Hautes-Alpes
Lychee and ripe citrus wrapped in beeswax. You might think there are a bunch of busy benevolent bees whiling away inside your glass.
France | Languedoc-Roussillon
Earthy, meaty, savory, juicy, and powerful, it is a glassful of joyful, soulful goodness.
Italy | Sicily
A profound red wine full of depth, liveliness, and old-school, rustic character.
France | Beaujolais
A generous dash of plump, sun-ripened fruit enveloping a granite core.
France | Provence
If Hermitage were grown in the Provençal Alps...
France | Alsace
Decadent, rich, stony, and a touch off-dry—hard not to love.
France | Loire
A lovely blend of Grolleau Noir and Cabernet Franc with a synergistic effect that elevates both grapes to create a spicy, refreshing whole.
More Collections
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A Spring Quartet of Buzzworthy Arrivals
It seems like every day over the last few weeks, we’ve been greeted at the Port of Oakland by dozens of thrilling new wines from France and Italy. After making the short trip from the port to KLWM headquarters, these bottles have queued up for our weekly staff tastings, and among the many standouts, four wines in particular have unanimously wowed our staff…
Pairing Pinots in Spring
Coming upon Chris Lee’s Wild Salmon Baked in Fig Leaves with Rosé Butter, I thought, what could be more appropriate right now? The recipe appears a few times across our sixteen-year archive, and the suggested pairings change every time, ranging from lush whites to juicy, light reds, and crisp, mineral rosés in between. For such a simple dish, the possibilities seemed endless. In revisiting, I wanted that same versatility in the glass, and only one word came to mind: Pinot…
Arthur Ostertag
Arthur’s wines were the revelation of the trip. For months after, in the group chat with everyone on the tour, my screen would light up with shots of his wines—those incomparably elegant bottles with the stunning labels—standing tall atop the tables of every restaurant the other growers were dining in, in their hometowns or around the world. Arthur was officially the breakout star of the trip...
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!
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.