The Bordeaux Playbook: From Investment Quality Bottlings to Top-Value Gems

Bordeaux is having a moment. Between the precision of 2022, the ripe classicism of 2019, and the structure of 2016, there’s never been a better time to buy smart—whether you’re building a cellar, restocking weeknight staples, or hunting blue-chip collectibles. In this guide, Bordeaux Buyer Ryan Moses highlights where value lives today, introduces the K&L Discovery Series, spotlights top in-stock 2022s, and curates age-worthy picks for the long haul—then invites you to a high-energy, side-by-side tasting: a rare chance to experience world-class producers and vintages in one sitting.

• K&L Discovery Series: The Gateway to the Finest in Bordeaux and Beyond
• In Stock 2022s: Investment in What Bordeaux Does Best
• The Heart of Value is Still in Bordeaux
• In It for the Long Haul: Savvy Collectibles
• Upcoming Tasting — Discovering 2022: Bordeaux Benchmarks from a Remarkable Vintage

There are few moments more rewarding than opening a bottle that outperforms its price tag—when structure, provenance, and vintage align to deliver something that resonates deeper than expected. We live for those moments. And with that pursuit in mind, we’re proud to introduce a new chapter at K&L: the Discovery Series.

To kick things off, we’re featuring three textbook expressions at impossible-to-ignore prices: the 2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux from Pauillac ($29.99; Elsewhere $50), delivering graphite-laced cassis and classic Left Bank cut; and two Right Bank wines with real bottle age—the 2005 ($19.99) and 2009 ($14.99) K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux from St-Emilion—jaw-dropping deals from two of Bordeaux's all-time great vintages.

The Discovery Series and our suite of K&L exclusive brands are more than a label—it’s a promise of quality, character, and wines that move you even before the first sip. And this is just the beginning. Learn more about the Discovery Series and our exciting upcoming releases On the Trail.

It may sound surprising to describe 2022 as a breakout, turn-of-the-decade moment—especially at the outset. The vintage began with unusually warm and dry conditions, prompting many of us to brace for excess, over-extraction, or relentless heat. Yet as the wines start to land and open in bottle, I’m sensing something else entirely: an unlikely alchemy. The season’s heat became a crucible—sharpening focus, forcing the vines to tap deep into their roots; the consistency of the weather (no late drought shocks, no mildew threats) allowed each château to lean into detail, precision, and balance. What emerged is less about ripeness and more about architecture—wines that feel built to last, with energy, nuance, and a compelling tension.

I’ll be one of the first to admit that I had my doubts when tasting during En Primeur. But when I taste the wines now, after a few years in bottle, I taste wines that feel muscular but balanced, richly layered without being overt, alive with terroir as well as texture. The human hand is clear—but so, too, is the place. You can taste the intention: terroir over flash, rigor over opulence, purpose over vanity. Read more about these in-stock standouts here.

One of the quiet reasons the fine wine world is struggling is that there are simply too many great wines. This may sound counterintuitive, but the more I think about it, the clearer it becomes: so many bottles now overdeliver at their price point that some of the traditional powerhouses feel less essential. Plenty of cult labels, lacking true scarcity, raised their prices dramatically over the past decade—while some deserved the acclaim and rewards, others pushed their customers to look elsewhere. And that “elsewhere” has gotten so good, it’s hard to go back.

Bordeaux has a bit of this problem too—prices on many wines climbed too fast. But unlike most regions, Bordeaux’s hierarchy is relatively fixed: there’s only one Château Margaux, while elsewhere a handful of producers break ranks every year. Still, Bordeaux shares the same floor-raising trend seen across the wine world—the wines keep getting better across the board, with first-class experiences now available at everyday prices. Unsurprisingly, we have some of the market’s best examples, all in stock: Read more about these picks On the Trail.

Built for the cellar and offered at compelling value, this lineup spans Left- and Right-Bank heavyweights from the standout 2016, 2019, and 2020 vintages, with multiple 98–100 point releases and many stars of their respective vintages. Expect age-worthy structure and benchmark pedigree, capped by a sweet finish for dessert lovers—smart additions to any long-term collection.

World-class Bordeaux, side by side. This focused tasting offers a rare chance to compare Left and Right Bank benchmarks across the remarkable 2022 vintage, with multiple 97–100 point highlights and outstanding values that belong on any savvy buyer’s shortlist. From St-Emilion up-and-comer Laroque to 2022 Pichon-Lalande, these bottlings deliver textbook typicité at every turn. Seats are limited—join us for a deep dive into structure, style, and cellar potential.