K&L In-Store Tastings: Rhys, Martinelli, Oregon's Exceptional '22s

Greetings K&L friends!

The rosters are set for this weekend's in-store tastings, so please mark your calendars for an evening (or two) of fascinating and fun exploration with your fellow wine lovers and our K&L staff. Read below for more details on this week's themes.

In addition to our weekend tastings, we regularly host or participate in other Special Tasting Events and Dinners. Also, don't forget, you can always explore in more depth on K&L's On the Trail blog with buyer/winemaker interviews, special reports, and more—straight from the vineyards!

When it comes to California winemaking, few names command the same prestige as that of Caymus Vineyards. Founded in 1972 by Chuck Wagner and his late parents, Lorna and Charlie, their family roots in Napa Valley stretch back to the 1850s. The result? A deep connection to the land and a remarkable ability to produce the region's highly coveted wines.

Nestled in Sonoma's Russian River Valley, Martinelli Winery carries a rich wine heritage that began in the late 19th century. Founders Giuseppe Martinelli and Luisa Vellutini planted their first Zinfandel and Muscat Alexandria vines on the hillsides now fondly known as Jackass Hill. Today, over 135 years later, it remains the steepest non-terraced vineyard in Sonoma, symbolizing their resilient spirit and a relentless commitment to the land.

Rhys Vineyards has built an enviable reputation for exceptional Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah since its inception by Kevin Harvey in 2004. Driven by a deep respect for the land and a desire to craft wines of grace and balance, Rhys has emerged as a quintessential player in American viticulture, often compared to the renowned domaines of Europe. The estate's dedication to terroir expression, judicious grape selection, and thoughtful winemaking, manifest themselves beautifully in each bottle, reflecting the unique landscape they originate from.

Tucked away between Burgundy and Switzerland, Jura is one of the most intriguing wine regions in France. With gentle rolling hillsides, distinctive seasons, and unique local grapes, this region has quickly become a favorite of Keith Mabry, K&L's French Regional Buyer, and many wine enthusiasts looking to step off the beaten path.

Oregon's 2022 vintage brought forth an array of exceptional wines, celebrated for their remarkable quality and scoring high amongst industry experts. Principle among these are stunning expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, sourced from some of the state's premium vineyards and crafted by visionary winemakers. Discover the finesse and complexity of these exquisite wines in our upcoming tasting session.

SLO de Vie is a craft distillery created by two business partners, Thomas da Rosa and Anatoly Rosinsky, who come from two very different geographic locations: Portugal and Russia. Both men grew up with families who distilled at home for personal consumption. The da Rosas made wine and aguardiente (a distilled spirit containing 29-60% alcohol) while the Rosinskys made vodka. When the two men became neighbors and friends in the heart of wine country, they shared their passion for making wine and spirits. They formed a partnership to launch the SLO de Vie Distillery in Grover Beach where they could follow old-world techniques to win over consumers’ palates with their grape-based spirits.

A group of our favorite artisanal grower/producers will be flying in from France to present their wines exclusively to K&L guests. Producers include Aspasie, Coutelas, Alexandre Le Brun, Baron Fuente, Boulard Bauquaire, Damien Hugot, Franck Bonville, Petiau, and Derot-Delugny. This is a rare opportunity to engage with the people that grow the grapes and make the wine, and to learn more about their approach to Champagne. We will also have many of the big-name producers on hand to present their selections. From the big houses we will have representatives from Pol Roger, Laurent-Perrier, Billecart-Salmon, Moët & Chandon, Krug, Bollinger, Drappier and more. This is a perfect way to sample bubblies for the upcoming holiday season. For $150 per person plus tax, you will be able to sample more than 50 champagnes.