Bastille Day Special: Classic France, Unbeatable Values

France is the soul of fine wine, and no day better honors that legacy than Bastille Day. From the regal bubbles of Champagne to the sun-soaked reds of the Southern Rhône, the mineral purity of Chablis to a Médoc sleeper from a banner vintage, today’s newsletter celebrates the glorious diversity of French terroir. Each pick comes straight from the K&L team—Gary, Keith, Alex, and Ryan—offering their top choices to toast la belle France. Raise a glass with us this weekend and discover what makes these bottles so timeless and essential.

• Celebrate Bastille Day with Champagne
• Southern Rhône Shines for Summer Reds
• Chablis Charmers: The 2023s from Samuel Billaud Are Top Notch
• A Banner Vintage at a Yesteryear Price: 2014 Tronquoy-Lalande
• What I'm Excited About This Week: Direct Import Champagne Darlings

Nothing is more fitting for celebrating France than a bottle of Champagne—and nothing pairs better with July weather than cold bubbles. We have three delicious options at three different price points, perfect for this festive occasion. Read in-depth notes on these wines On the Trail, or if you're in the mood to taste, reserve your spot at our upcoming Champagne Tasting, hosted in all stores this Saturday, July 19th!

Southern Rhône reds are the essence of summer flavor. One of my favorite wine categories overall, these bold-yet-balanced wines are tailor-made for outdoor gatherings and anything hot off the grill. There’s something magical about the way ripe, sun-drenched fruit meets savory spice—it pairs effortlessly with smoky, charred flavors.

Burgers or sausages? Reach for a juicy Côtes-du-Rhône. Grilled ribeye? A powerful Châteauneuf-du-Pape rises to the occasion. Smoked ribs or pork shoulder? Gigondas delivers with its depth and spice.

Fire, smoke, and Rhône reds—a summer trio that never misses. Read more about Keith's summer picks here!

Domaine Samuel Billaud has definitely entered the discussion about top domaines in Chablis. They are definitely shoulder-to-shoulder qualitatively with Droin, Fevre, Pinson, Billaud-Simon, Christian Moreau, and Louis Michel.

Samuel Billaud struck out on his own in 2009 after being the winemaker at Billaud-Simon for several years. Thanks to a new winery facility and newly purchased vineyards, Samuel Billaud was in a position by 2015 to fashion some amazing Chablis. Only the Grand Cru sees new oak, about 15%, while the rest age in small stainless steel tanks. 2023 was an exceptionally warm vintage and the wines are loaded with deep, pure orchard fruit notes while retaining excellent acidity and salinity. Learn more about these in stock stunners here.

Back in 2006, the Bouygues family—of Montrose fame—acquired one of their nearby neighbors, ushering in a new era for Château Tronquoy-Lalande. Long known for producing impressive wines, the estate was on the verge of realizing its full potential, thanks to its enviable terroir just northwest of the renowned Super Second. The Montrose team, never short on ambition, began investing heavily—building new facilities in 2010 and revamping the winemaking process to match their exacting standards.

Since then, the château has continued to evolve, rebranding simply as “Tronquoy” and debuting a new white-and-blue label. Still, the classics from the Tronquoy-Lalande era hold a special place in our hearts—particularly the 2014, a standout vintage in the northern Médoc. Many regard Montrose as the wine of the vintage in 2014, and the Tronquoy-Lalande that year clearly benefited from the same deft handling of the growing season. It’s been a longtime go-to for us. The only downside? It’s become so delicious and affordable that corks continue to be pulled—and finding more has become a challenge. Keep reading about this incredible bottling here.

I've always felt that Champagne is one of the most transformative wines we have. What better way to turn a dinner into a celebration than by popping a bottle of Champagne? How do we best celebrate major milestones and holidays? With a bottle of Champagne. Maybe it's the ritual of opening the bottle—slowly unfastening the cage, keeping a thumb over the top (or, even more properly, a serviette), and then easing the cork out. Sometimes you prefer to just go for it and, after pointing it away from everyone you love, use your thumbs to give it that cheerful POP—and then a little cheer when you don’t even lose a drop.

Champagne Buyer Gary Westby took us through a few different Champagne houses at our staff tasting, including some of our most important grower-producers. Here's what I came out most excited about:

-Aaron Hughes, K&L Wine Specialist