K&L In-Store Tastings: Champagne, CA feat. Mayacamas, Argyle

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!

Founded in 1987, Argyle is a winery that encompasses the pioneering spirit and innovative soul of the Willamette Valley. Producing both elegant and approachable sparkling wines and focused, terroir-driven still wines when most wineries specialize in one or the other, Argyle Winery is a true staple of Oregon Wine.

From Mayacamas, whose storied vineyard and winery has produced some of Napa Valley’s greatest wines since 1889, to Hirsch’s timeless Pinot Noir and Piedrasassi’s groundbreaking Syrah, California is home to some of the top wine producers in the world. The state’s diverse topography and climate allow talented winemakers and growers to produce wines that compete with the best of Champagne, Burgundy, Rhone, and Bordeaux. Whether new projects by winemaking legends, classic producers with over a century of history, or two brothers exploring the far reaches of the Sonoma Coast, these are some of California’s Grand Cru producers.

Capable of citrusy freshness, intense minerality, and toasty opulence, the great grape of Chardonnay is the focus of this month’s Champagne tasting in all its sparkling glory. From the small but precise family cellars of Damien Hugot and Aspasie to the culty, collectible Franck Bonville and Agrapart, to some of the greatest wines that the houses of Champagne have to offer with Billecart-Salmon and Tattinger, this is a tasting not to miss.

Join us and special guest, actor, and proprietor of Losope, Aisha Tyler, to try her New Margarita. This hand-crafted, organic, sustainably-sourced ready-to-drink gem was the result of painstaking perfectionist work between Tyler and co-founder James Kim. The result is pure and absolutely delicious - all you have to do is add the ice.

Join us at Musso & Frank Grill on Wednesday, 9/4 from 7 - 10 pm for a delightful occasion! K&L Spirits Buyer, David Othenin-Girard, will be hosting what's bound to be an exceptional event.

As you arrive, we'll welcome you with a Balvenie cocktail and an appetizer, setting the tone for the evening ahead. Next, you'll be served a flight of three standout Balvenie spirits that are sure to impress. We'll then move on to a sit-down dinner followed by a dessert course paired with the exquisite Balvenie 25 Year.

Each guest will also receive a bottle of Balvenie 21 Year (MSRP $300).

Adding to the excitement, Brett Bayly, the knowledgeable Balvenie Brand Ambassador, will join us for the occasion. Look forward to an engaging presentation led by Brett, complementing the spirits on offer.

K&L is thrilled to be hosting an exclusive dinner with legendary New Zealand winemaker Helen Masters, the driving force behind Ata Rangi, New Zealand's most prestigious producer of Pinot Noir. Serving as winemaker since 2003, Helen has ushered this tiny Martinborough producer to global acclaim. In 2010 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir, along with Felton Road, was honored with the inaugural Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa, or 'Grand Cru of New Zealand,' the only two recipients of said honor.

Helen's dedication to excellence has earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious title of 'Winemaker of the Year' by Gourmet Traveler WINE in 2019. Beyond her accolades, Helen is an active member of the global wine community, working to promote New Zealand wines, sustainable viticulture practices, and women in wine.

Please join us for an intimate dinner where Helen will taste guests on a lineup of Ata Rangi vintages, as well as premiere their new line of acclaimed single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, which dinner guests will get first access to. This dinner is welcoming to fans of the estate, as well as those curious or interested in learning more about New Zealand Pinot Noir. We can’t think of a better person than Helen to bestow some New Zealand wisdom.

Tasting will feature the following wines:

• 2018 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough JS96, SK97
• 2019 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough JS98, DC97, VN97
• 2020 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough JS98, NV96, JR17/20, DC94
• 2020 Ata Rangi "McCrone Vineyard" Pinot Noir Martinborough JS97
• 2020 Ata Rangi "Kotinga Vineyard" Pinot Noir Martinborough JS96
• 2020 Ata Rangi "Masters Vineyard" Pinot Noir Martinborough JS97, DC95

Lineup subject to change. Tickets inclusive of dinner, tasting, & gratuity. Please specify any allergies or dietary restrictions when making your reservation. We cannot accommodate requests or changes submitted after 9/14.