K&L Newsletter: Bordeaux 

Bordeaux enters 2026 with rare momentum. Pricing has softened across the region, quality remains exceptional, and collectors are finding real opportunity at every level of the market. This month’s newsletter reflects that moment in full. We look back at a demanding but productive year at K&L, share the latest arrivals that set the tone for the new vintage cycle, highlight where Bordeaux still delivers some of the world’s best values, and revisit the wines and moments that defined 2025. You’ll also find a deep bench of pre-arrival standouts, in-stock classics ready to drink, and a full calendar of tastings that bring these wines to life in our stores. Whether you’re buying for the cellar, the table, or both, Bordeaux continues to reward attention right now.

• State of K&L: A Turbulent but Resilient 2025, and a Golden Anniversary
• Starting Strong: New Additions for the New Year
• Best Buys: Brilliant Value in Bordeaux
• A Year in Bordeaux – Highlights of 2025
• Upcoming Bordeaux Events

It’s easy to look back on a year with a sense of exhaustion once all is said and done, and 2025 certainly qualifies. The year began with devastating fires in Los Angeles, from which recovery has only just begun to take shape. We experienced incredible volatility with the implementation of tariffs and higher costs of doing business. But it’s also important to pause and take stock—and when I do, I’m still a bit in disbelief at what K&L has accomplished this past year. We refocused on building genuine connections with our clients and our products, launching two new tent events, hosting more tastings than ever before, presenting signature winery dinners, and rolling out our on-demand Open Cellar program. In that same spirit of investing in our clients, we delivered container after container of tariffed pre-arrival commitments without charging anything beyond the original purchase price. Keep reading On the Trail.

-Ryan Moses, K&L Bordeaux Buyer

There are more great wines than ever coming out of Bordeaux these days. Combined with downward pricing pressure in the region, it’s a terrific moment for collectors to load up—and for wine lovers of all kinds to turn to Bordeaux for their next great bottle. Our new arrivals exemplify this perfectly. Keep reading On the Trail.

Great Bordeaux should have the ability to age gracefully, convey terroir, deliver a classic and nuanced expression, pair beautifully with food, and—most importantly—be undeniably delicious. None of this requires high prices, as the region remains one of the world’s great sources of value, which we hunt relentlessly for. Here are some of my current favorites.
Keep reading On the Trail.

Sometimes it feels like the year flew by. But when I think about battling tariffs, air-freighting cases, and sweating over every next container that may or may not beat the deadline, it feels like ages ago. Maybe it’s the fact that those events aged me so dramatically that they now feel ancient. Keep reading On the Trail.

• Friday January 23rd – Inside Château Phélan Ségur: Four Vintages, One Estate (SF)
• Friday January 23rd – Bordeaux Without the Ceremony (Redwood City, Hollywood, Culver City)
• Saturday January 24th – New Year, New Arrivals from Bordeaux! (All Stores)

We at K&L Wine Merchants are thrilled and deeply honored to once again serve as the Bay Area retail partner for Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB) — this time for our big event on January 22, 2026. What makes this year especially momentous is that it coincides with our 50th Anniversary.

We’ve been hosting the UGCB tasting in San Francisco since the 2005 vintage— a partnership that now spans two decades, and mirrors our longstanding love affair with Bordeaux. Our co-founder, Clyde Beffa — whose deep passion for Bordeaux helped build K&L’s reputation — would be proud to see how those early relationships have flourished. Today, our dedicated team, led by Bordeaux buyer Ryan Moses, continues that legacy, bringing the finest vintages and château connections from Bordeaux to the Bay Area and the rest of California.

At the January event, we are especially excited to preview the 2023 vintage for our guests. It’s more than a tasting — it’s a celebration of heritage, expertise, and half a century of sharing great wine with you. We look forward to seeing you there.