K&L Tastings: Non-Alcoholic Sips, Bordeaux Values, & New Arrivals!

Join us for an intimate evening in downtown Los Angeles as we welcome Dr. Rachel Barrie—Master Blender of The GlenDronach—for a guided exploration of one of Scotland’s most historically rooted Highland distilleries, paired with a multi-course dinner at Redbird. This intimate and indulgent evening will be made even more memorable with a take-home bottle of GlenDronach 21yr, included with each ticket.

Guiding the evening is Dr. Rachel Barrie, whose career spans more than 30 years across some of Scotland’s most significant distilleries. Raised near The GlenDronach and introduced to the whisky through her family, she brings a deeply personal perspective to her work. Dr. Barrie has focused on exploring the interplay of light and dark elements within The GlenDronach’s sherry-matured style, shaping each expression through thoughtful blending decisions rooted in cask character and time.

Our setting for the evening is Redbird, housed within the historic Vibiana complex in the heart of downtown LA. Led by Chef Neal Fraser and his wife Amy Knoll Fraser, the restaurant has become a defining presence in the city’s dining scene, known for its modern California cooking, seasonal sourcing, and striking architectural spaces.

Pentire’s non-alcoholic range is built around distilled coastal botanicals native to the shoreline of Cornwall, England, offering an alternative drinking experience grounded in the natural character of its plant ingredients. The formulations highlight bright, refreshing flavors and botanical complexity that invite exploration on their own terms or mixed with tonic or soda for a thoughtful sip. Rooted in a botanical distillation tradition rather than fermentation or aging, these coastal-inspired beverages reflect a different approach to spirit-like drinks that complements outdoor-oriented and low-alcohol lifestyles.

This tasting explores Bordeaux through wines shaped by specific places and practical decisions, including both classic and off-the-beaten-path appellations that share the same bedrock as their more famous neighbors. These wines show that Bordeaux remains one of the few historic wine regions where long-established vineyard sites, multi-generation estates, and traditional blends still appear in bottles that can be opened now or set aside for later. Several selections come from estates with deep local histories, as well as second labels and négociant projects that draw fruit from established vineyard sites while emphasizing earlier accessibility and transparent sourcing. Together, the lineup offers a grounded look at Bordeaux wines that are often overlooked despite their direct ties to the region’s core traditions.

This tasting focuses on new arrivals, direct from Bordeaux! This compelling lineup includes a second wine from Château Giscours produced during its 2022 vintage, a year that received broad critical attention across Bordeaux alongside another strong highlight, “Alter Ego de Palmer”, from Château Palmer’s biodynamically farmed vineyards. Also featured is a Right Bank bottling from Beau-Séjour Bécot, a Pessac-Léognan red shaped by Domaine de Chevalier’s gravel-and-forest-adjacent vineyards, and two wines from the Barton family cellars in St-Julien, an estate that has remained under family ownership since the 1820s. Together, these wines examine how established properties translate high-profile and classically styled vintages through consistent estate practices.

K&L Wine Merchants is once again honored to present the 2023 vintage of Bordeaux Grands Crus in partnership with the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB). Come and taste alongside 65+ château owners and distinguished estate representatives, offering an insider’s glimpse into the newest chapter of Bordeaux’s storied legacy. Be among the first to taste these wines straight from the heart of the region and hear the winemakers tell the stories of their estates. This is truly the pinnacle of Bordeaux tasting experiences.

This year’s event will take place at the City View at the Metreon in San Francisco, a beautiful backdrop for an evening devoted to discovery. Come taste, learn, and celebrate the 2023 Bordeaux vintage. This event sells out every year—secure your tickets early to ensure you don’t miss this extraordinary night!

LINEUP (subject to change)
Batailley ~ Beaumont ~ Beau-Séjour Bécot ~ Beauregard ~ Beychevelle ~ Branaire-Ducru ~ Brane-Cantenac ~ Cantenac Brown ~ Cantemerle ~ Carbonnieux ~ Citran ~ Clerc Milon ~ Clinet ~ Clos Fourtet ~ Cos Labory ~ Coufran ~ Coutet ~ Dauzac ~ de Fieuzal ~ de Pez ~ d’Armailhac ~ Doisy Daëne ~ Domaine de Chevalier ~ Duhart-Milon ~ Fourcas Hosten ~ Gazin ~ Giscours ~ Gloria ~ Grand Mayne ~ Grand-Puy Ducasse ~ Grand-Puy-Lacoste ~ Haut-Batailley ~ Kirwan ~ La Cabanne ~ La Tour Blanche ~ Lagrange ~ Langoa Barton ~ Larcis Ducasse ~ Larmande ~ Lascombes ~ Larrivet Haut-Brion ~ Le Gay ~ Léoville Barton ~ Léoville Poyferré ~ Lynch-Bages ~ Lynch-Moussas ~ Malartic-Lagravière ~ Ormes de Pez ~ Pavie Macquin ~ Petit-Village ~ Phélan Ségur ~ Pichon Baron ~ Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande ~ Prieuré-Lichine ~ Rauzan-Ségla ~ Rouget ~ Saint-Pierre ~ Siran ~ Smith Haut Lafitte ~ Soutard ~ Suduiraut ~ Talbot ~ Valandraud ~ Villemaurine