K&L Newsletter: Italy and "the Mayor of Montalcino"

Few people are as synonymous with Italian wine as Greg St. Clair, a luminary and veteran of the category, and a standard-bearer for our buying team at K&L. Today, we are taking a moment today to congratulate Greg St. Clair on his incredible tenure, wish him the best in retirement, and acknowledge that although he won't be around every day, we look forward to continuing to pop bottles with Greg in the coming years. We will have some exciting news coming in the next few weeks about the new leader for the category, but for now, grazie e congratulazioni, Greg!

• What I Have Learned, and I Hope You Can Learn From It
• What Would Greg Drink: The Whites
• What Would Greg Drink: The Reds
• In Stock: Experience the Joy of 2019 in Brunello
• Back-Vintage Piedmont: 2010 and 2016 Barolo & Barbaresco

Be sure to visit our Local Events page on the K&L website for a comprehensive listing of this week's in-store tastings.

What I Have Learned, and I Hope You Can Learn From It

I have watched an inordinate amount of people tasting wine over my career and personal life, and there is one thing that has always jumped out at me. The moment that nearly anyone tastes a wine, there is an immediate reaction—I like this or I do not like this—after that reaction there is rarely any more learning. Instead of stopping at the point where you’ve deciphered whether you like the wine, one must look for the whys and hows of the wine; where is it going; what you are feeling from it… because if you stop your exploration at the first sip, you’re never going to learn the depths that are available from wine at any level. Read more.

What Would Greg Drink: The Whites

Great Italian white wines are usually fresh, mineral-driven, and dynamic, but their remarkable variety and uniqueness truly make them shine. With Greg's hand-picked highlights, including Timorasso, Prie Blanc, and Vermentino, each sip is a new discovery. Rarely are these wines anything but affordable, and each has its own story to tell. Even the usual suspects defy expectations, from a Sauvignon Blanc that Greg thinks is "soon to be a K&L legend" to another classic from Cantina Terlano, their 2022 Pinot Bianco. Read more.

What Would Greg Drink: The Reds

The answer to "What would Greg drink?" is usually Brunello, but it's no surprise that you'll find plenty of other options on his table, too. While the top wines of Montalcino and Piedmont loom large in the minds of Italian wine lovers, the real charm and discovery of the country go deeper than that. The endless allure of Langhe Nebbiolo, the character of Chianti, the Rossos of Montalcino, and Etna's fine wine revolution—all of these are the foundation of what makes Italian wine dynamic and accessible. Read more.

In Stock: Experience the Joy of 2019 in Brunello

The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino vintage is celebrated for its outstanding quality, showcasing a remarkable balance of power and finesse. This vintage benefits from ideal growing conditions, resulting in wines with vibrant acidity and rich fruit flavors. Noteworthy examples include La Fortuna Brunello, which offers a great introduction to the vintage, and Casanova di Neri's "Tenuta Nuova", renowned for its depth and aging potential. Altesino and Baricci each offer a single-vineyard Montosoli bottling, speaking volumes to this amazing Montalcino terroir that shines in 2019.

Back-Vintage Piedmont: 2010 and 2016 from Piedmont

Whether it's the 2010 Barolos or the 2016 Barolos and Barbarescos, there is always another level of intrigue and interest with these signature Piedmont vintages. Today’s set features some of the biggest names in the region—Giuseppe Rinaldi, Bartolo Mascarello, and Giacomo Conterno—alongside some surprisingly good collectible values from Conterno Fantino, Sottimano, and Elio Grasso. Some of the region’s top crus are also represented, including Monvigliero, Brunate, and Ginestra. These vintages are becoming rarer by the day and we're grabbing them where we can find them; we recommend you do the same!

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