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May 2024 Newsletter
Receive our Monthly Newsletter and Special Promotions. Stay up to date on new arrivals, sales, and events at our Berkeley shop.
May 2024 Newsletter
Table of Contents
- New Arrivals From Domaine Guillemot by Jane Augustine
- Rosés for Pouring, Not Pondering by Dustin Soiseth
- The Silkiest Reds of the Southern Rhone by Tom Wolf
- Value of the Month by Anthony Lynch
- Le Mâconnais by Chris Santini
- Nebbiolo Three Ways by Tom Wolf
- Corsican Vermentinu by Anthony Lynch
Savigny-lès-Beaune hasn’t changed much over the years, but it has undergone a renaissance of late. Le Soleil, a hip little restaurant just south of...
Savigny-lès-Beaune hasn’t changed much over the years, but it has undergone a renaissance of late. Le Soleil, a hip little restaurant just south of the town square, opened recently, and people young and old, tourists and locals alike, are finding a reason to discover, or rediscover, this sleepy town. The historical motto of the village—its once-strong selling point—is that it produces wines that are “nourishing, theological, and morbifugal [disease-chasing],” a now dated, albeit solid marketing pitch. But one thing that’s remained timeless about this appellation is the Guillemot family’s wine, raised right in the heart of the village. What makes a bottle of Guillemot so consistently reliable? “We are constantly adapting,” says Philippe Guillemot. “Agriculture requires a state of permanent adaptation, you always need to be thinking.” For the Guillemots, this means planting strawberries and plum trees around their vines after taking apiculture courses. They release bees into the habitat to help pollinate the fruit trees, which attract the right sort of birds that feast on the specific type of caterpillar that devours the leaves in their vineyards. They consider the whole ecosystem: how to respect it and how to optimize it to meet their grapes where they are, vintage after vintage. While mottos and stylish restaurants can certainly play their part, what really matters in keeping a place relevant is what’s in the glass.
Buy this collection 4 bottles
Wines in this Collection
2022 Bourgogne Côte d’Or Rouge
France | Burgundy
This wine embodies the qualities that enchant and thrill us most about red Burgundy.
2022 Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Blanc “Le Mont et Forêt”
France | Burgundy
Full of that perky, palate-opening freshness and vigor that’s so essential in a blanc.
2022 Savigny-Lès-Beaune “Vieilles Vignes”
France | Burgundy
This cuvée is a glimpse into a specific terroir, the best of what it produces—the voice of this appellation.
2022 Savigny-Lès-Beaune 1er Cru “Aux Serpentières”
France | Burgundy
A classic vintage that’s tart, earthy and generous; it’s beaming with pleasure and would be well worth cellaring, too.
I’m reminded of just how much fun wine can be. Each refreshing sip goes down lighter than air, keeping your palate clean and refreshed for whatever ...
Buy this collection 2 bottles
Wines in this Collection
2023 Beaujolais Villages Rosé
France | Beaujolais
Sourced from the pink granite terroir of Brouilly, this rosé is simply delicious, with good grip and notes of summery red berries.
2023 Vino Rosato
Italy | Piedmont
Each refreshing sip goes down lighter than air, keeping your palate clean and refreshed for whatever comes next.
It has that unmistakably spicy and rocky finish so evocative of the southern Rhône, but this is about as quaffable as the region’s rouges get...
Buy this collection 3 bottles
Wines in this Collection
2022 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge “Le Pigeoulet”
France | Southern Rhône
This is about as quaffable as the region’s rouges get.
2019 Côtes du Vivarais Rouge
France | Southern Rhône
Gorgeous and lifted aromas of black pepper, briny black olive, and violets.
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “La Sagesse”
France | Southern Rhône
La Sagesse carries the full flavor, succulence, and savoriness we associate with Grenache on a graceful and lively frame.
I’m willing to bet that most people have never tasted a Rosso Piceno: this Italian red comes from a region most have never heard of (Le Marche) and ...
I’m willing to bet that most people have never tasted a Rosso Piceno: this Italian red comes from a region most have never heard of (Le Marche) and its starring grape variety, Montepulciano, is often conflated with a town in Tuscany by the same name—coincidentally home to its own wine appellation featuring not Montepulciano but Sangiovese, which plays a supporting role in our Rosso Piceno. Is that all confusing enough?
Let’s take a step back. Rosso Piceno does not fancy itself as one of Italy’s greatest or grandest wines. It serves a purpose similar to Piedmont’s Dolcetto, or France’s Côtes du Rhône: wines you can uncork—or in this case, unscrew—on a whim, without worrying about the company, the pairing, or the planetary alignment. Grown along the Adriatic coast of central Italy, it combines the deep color and wild berry fruit of Montepulciano with the brightness and earthy grip of Sangiovese. Its dark fruit is boldly mouth-filling, yet smooth and juicy, even crunchy when served with a slight chill, which I recommend. With only its second release, the Colleleva Rosso Piceno has already joined the ranks of the shop’s top pizza and BBQ bottles. Unscrew responsibly!
In the heart of the Mâconnais lies the hilltop village of Chardonnay, self-professed birthplace of the world-famous variety of the same name. True or...
Buy this collection 2 bottles
Wines in this Collection
2022 Mâcon-Villages “Terroir de Farges Vieilles Vignes”
France | Burgundy
The tiny village of Farges-lès-Mâcon is a wonderful terroir for textbook, perfectly opulent, floral Mâconnais.
2020 Pouilly-Fuissé “La Croix Vieilles Vignes”
France | Burgundy
Bursting with energy and joy, this wine is bound to bring out the best of your inner bon vivant.
Intermingling orange zest with roses, red fruits, and a fine tannin, it is utterly enchanting and begs to be paired with a polenta topped with mushroo...
Buy this collection 3 bottles
Wines in this Collection
2022 Langhe Nebbiolo
Italy | Piedmont
Deceptively light on its feet, it finishes with an impressive tannin that begs for a hearty stew or your favorite cut of steak.
2018 Barolo “Vigna Santa Caterina”
Italy | Piedmont
As seamlessly as it will pair with all kinds of dishes, from a seared pork chop to cacio e pepe—you don’t even need food. It is that graceful!
2017 Laboro Disobedient
Italy | Piedmont
Swirling with notes of cherries, tar, blood orange, and spice.
There is no better time than springtime to drink Vermentino. Wines made from this grape, which thrives across a vast stretch of coastal Mediterranean ...
There is no better time than springtime to drink Vermentino. Wines made from this grape, which thrives across a vast stretch of coastal Mediterranean appellations, have an undeniable springy character that is both soothing and uplifting, often recalling the colorful flowers and fragrant herbs synonymous with this time of year. As a bonus, Vermentino pairs to perfection with spring produce: favas, asparagus, artichokes, fennel, young leafy greens, and fresh herbs need only the most basic preparation to be savored with these wines.
At KLWM, the island of Corsica is synonymous with great Vermentino. Here are three bottles to inspire, intrigue, and certainly refresh.
Buy this collection 3 bottles
Wines in this Collection
2023 Vin de Corse “Blanc de Marquilliani”
France | Corsica
Not only are the wildflowers soaring out of the glass, but with each sip, they are blossoming all around us.
2021 Corse Figari Blanc “Amphora”
France | Corsica
It has a purity and seamlessness—no angles or edges—and a feeling of weightlessness despite its broad, full-bodied, golden flesh.
2022 Patrimonio Blanc “Hauts de Carco”
France | Corsica
It’s like Corsican Chablis: pure Vermentinu planted in seashell-encrusted limestone.
Loire Valley
Farmer’s Market Sampler
Nothing quite captures the abundance of springtime like filling a basket to the brim with locally grown leafy greens, plump fruits, and earth-crusted vegetables. Much of France’s gourmet produce is cultivated in the Loire—le jardin de la France—along its river’s fertile banks. As the weather gets warmer, weekly markets in the valley will soon abound with baskets of Sologne white asparagus, Bigarreaux cherries, Mara des Bois strawberries, and Nantes lamb’s lettuce. It wouldn’t be a French market without just-baked baguettes…
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New Arrivals From Domaine Guillemot
by Jane Augustine
Savigny-lès-Beaune hasn’t changed much over the years, but it has undergone a renaissance of late. Le Soleil, a hip little restaurant just south of the town square, opened recently, and people young and old, tourists and locals alike, are finding a reason to discover, or rediscover, this sleepy town. The historical motto of the village—its once-strong selling point—is that it produces wines...
Rosés for Pouring, Not Pondering
by Dustin Soiseth
I’m reminded of just how much fun wine can be. Each refreshing sip goes down lighter than air, keeping your palate clean and refreshed for whatever comes next...
The Silkiest Reds of the Southern Rhone
by Tom Wolf
It has that unmistakably spicy and rocky finish so evocative of the southern Rhône, but this is about as quaffable as the region’s rouges get...
Value of the Month
by Anthony Lynch
I’m willing to bet that most people have never tasted a Rosso Piceno: this Italian red comes from a region most have never heard of (Le Marche) and its starring grape variety, Montepulciano, is often conflated with a town in Tuscany by the same name—coincidentally home to its own wine appellation featuring not Montepulciano but Sangiovese, which plays a supporting role in our Rosso Piceno. Is that all confusing enough?...
Le Mâconnais
by Chris Santini
In the heart of the Mâconnais lies the hilltop village of Chardonnay, self-professed birthplace of the world-famous variety of the same name. True or not, they do have a strong argument going for them given their namesake...
Nebbiolo Three Ways
by Tom Wolf
Intermingling orange zest with roses, red fruits, and a fine tannin, it is utterly enchanting and begs to be paired with a polenta topped with mushrooms or braised beef (or both!)...
Corsican Vermentinu
by Anthony Lynch
There is no better time than springtime to drink Vermentino. Wines made from this grape, which thrives across a vast stretch of coastal Mediterranean appellations, have an undeniable springy character that is both soothing and uplifting, often recalling the colorful flowers and fragrant herbs synonymous with this time of year. As a bonus, Vermentino pairs to perfection with spring produce: favas, asparagus, artichokes, fennel, young leafy greens, and fresh herbs need only the most basic preparation to be savored with these wines...
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
Let the brett nerds retire into protective bubbles, and whenever they thirst for wine it can be passed in to them through a sterile filter. Those of us on the outside can continue to enjoy complex, natural, living wines.
Inspiring Thirst, page 236