K&L Newsletter: Top Picks From the Loire Valley

I have long been a fan of Loire wines, well before I became the buyer for the category at K&L. The crisp, mineral-driven Sauvignon Blancs of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé were among the first wines I drank, even before I joined the wine industry. Back then, Pouilly-Fumé was the region to watch, driven by the cult producer Didier Dagueneau and the vibrant, smoky whites produced there. Sancerre was still a few years away from becoming the ubiquitous wine you now see on restaurant menus around the world.

For Chenin Blanc, my early experiences centered on Vouvray, with most bottles tasting off-dry—and I loved that style. Already a fan of German Riesling, I found Vouvray a gateway into a new category that scratched my itch for wines with acidity and a touch of residual sugar. You never quite knew back then what you were getting until you opened the bottle: Would it be dry, off-dry, or fully sweet? Luckily, most producers now identify their style using the terms Sec, Tendre, Demi-Sec, and Moelleux. I still do miss a bit of that mystery.

And then there is Cabernet Franc, now one of my most beloved red varieties, though our early relationship was complicated at best. So many vegetal tones, rampant Brettanomyces, occasional oxidation: these wines were all over the place. I could appreciate the black olive and tapenade flavors, even a touch of saddle leather, but roasted bell pepper and beef jerky were simply too much for my younger palate. Today, the wines feel far more precise and transparent, with fruit and structure taking the lead, and those traditional notes evolving into nuanced expressions of herbs, florals, and savory complexity. They’ve become part of the frame, not the entire picture.

Join me on this journey through the Loire as we highlight some of the best bottles on our shelves and hear from team members who share this passion for one of France's most diverse and exciting wine regions. Read More On the Trail.

— Keith Mabry, K&L Loire Valley Buyer

• The Soul of Chinon at Domaine de Pallus, iconic Cabernet Franc produced with patience and care.


• The Enduring Magic of Cabernet Franc from 1934 Vines, a staff tasting of long‑aged Cabernet Franc from Joël Taluau.


• Defining Expressions of Cabernet Franc from Saumur‑Champigny, classic wines shaped by tuffeau limestone.


• Muscadet: The Chablis of the Loire, why top Muscadet now rivals Chablis for value.


• Beyond Sancerre: The Loire’s Next Great Sauvignon Blancs, The Loire’s Next Great Sauvignon Blancs, exploring Pouilly‑Fumé and neighboring Sauvignon Blanc regions.


• Essential Sancerre, precision‑driven Sauvignon Blanc from leading growers.

Chinon remains one of the most iconic Cabernet Franc producing regions along the Loire, and few domaines capture its range and nuance as clearly as Domaine de Pallus. Sitting at the confluence of the Loire and Vienne rivers, alluvial soils layer over deeply buried limestone bedrock, and where you find yourself on the slope determines everything. Whether the alluvium above is loam, clay, sand, or gravel, the wines shift accordingly, from fruity and approachable to structured and cellar-worthy. One of the region's brightest stars is vigneron Bertrand Sourdais, a fifth-generation winemaker whose circuitous path through Spain only deepened his eventual homecoming. Read More On the Trail.

Vieilles Vignes Cabernet Franc from Joël Taluau comes from a single plot planted in 1934, so when they say “old vines,” they aren't just joshing around. These are wines that are made with high tannin and high acid to lay down and age in their air-conditioned cellar for decades. These are wines that are crafted to be aged longterm, bottled and then not touched or moved until they're ready to be released. I don't know the story of how Keith found these wines, but we are so fortunate that we have these. Thanks to their singular nature, there's nothing else quite like it in our store. We definitely have other aged wines and cellar releases, but a program like Joël Taluau created and now Thierry Foltzenlogel continues is special in a way that's hard to put into words. I hope that the discussion of the wines below helps explain the singular and special nature of this tasting. Read more On the Trail.

— Aaron Hughes, K&L Redwood City Tasting Bar Manager

Though Saumur Champigny, Chinon, and Bourgueil all produce Cabernet Franc near the Loire River, each region has its own distinctive expression. Saumur‑Champigny’s compelling version of Cabernet Franc is known for being polished and aromatic out of the gate, with vivid red fruit, florals, and an unmistakable mineral spine that rewards both early drinking and short‑ to mid‑term cellaring. Centered south of the Loire River around the town of Saumur, the appellation is defined by its tuffeau limestone soils, a porous chalk that gives these wines their signature lift, fine-grained tannins, and savory tension.

The wines in the following lineup showcase just how much range and nuance Cabernet Franc can achieve in the hands of top growers. From the terroir‑driven bottlings of Thierry Germain’s Roches Neuves and Château Yvonne, to the precision and clarity of Arnaud Lambert’s Domaine des Closiers and the classical elegance of Philippe Vatan’s Hureau Tuffe, these are benchmark examples of the appellation. If you want to dig into what makes Saumur‑Champigny unique, this set captures a sweet spot—serious wines that consistently deliver far more than their price tags suggest.

The title of this article might get me into hot water with some of my colleagues—especially our Burgundy buyer, Alex—but hear me out. I subscribe to the thesis that the new wave of Muscadet coming out of the Loire Valley can offer a strikingly similar experience to drinking classic Chablis—mineral‑driven, saline, and shaped by site—but at a far more competitive price. Read More On the Trail.

With its steep hillsides, clay-limestone soils, and legions of passionate devotees, Sancerre remains at the pinnacle of Sauvignon Blanc in the Loire, if not the world. This is the style of Sauvignon Blanc that has set the bar to which all other versions of that animated grape aspire. But hardly to be forgotten are the astonishing wines of its next door neighbor Pouilly-Fumé, where the silex soils lend subtle and engaging aromas of gunflint to the wines. Read more On the Trail.

— John Majeski, K&L San Francisco Loire Valley Specialist

At its best, Sancerre is Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc in its most articulate form. It’s driven by place, shaped by limestone and silex soils, and defined by growers who work with precision and intention. We’ve zeroed in on three of our favorite direct import producers, who have delivered consistent character and unmistakable Sancerre energy to our shelves for years. We’re also highlighting the wines of one of the appellation’s true stars.

From the crystalline wines of Aurore Dezat, to the authoritative bottles from Dominique and Janine Crochet, and the fan-favorite Insolite from Franck Millet’s, this is a snapshot of Sancerre firing on all cylinders. Anchoring it all is Vincent Pinard, a benchmark producer whose top cuvées remain some of the most compelling high‑end references in the region. Whether you’re restocking weeknight essentials or hunting bottles worth lingering over, these are Sancerres that remind us why the category never falls out of favor.

If you love Sancerre, be sure to join us for our Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc vs Bordeaux Blanc tasting on Friday, May 15, from 4 to 6 PM. This tasting will match Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc head‑to‑head with Bordeaux Blanc, revealing just how dramatically place and philosophy shape the grape. On one side: the Loire’s hallmark precision—driven by limestone, crackling acidity from its northern location, and a cool, linear minerality that fans of Sancerre crave. On the other: Bordeaux Blanc, where Sauvignon Blanc is often blended with Sémillon for a broader, more textured expression—riper fruit (grown farther south in France), subtle oak, and a savory depth that plays a very different game. Tasted side by side, the contrast is riveting, and the common thread even more illuminating. If you think you know Sauvignon Blanc, this lineup will challenge, sharpen, and reward your palate in the best way. Save the date: Friday, May 15!

Thursday, April 9^th – Blind Wine Tasting (All Locations)
Friday, April 10^th – Portugal Tasting (All Locations)
Saturday, April 11^th – Riesling Tasting (All Locations)
Saturday, April 11^th – Craft Spirits Cooperative (Culver City)
Sunday, April 12^th – Angel's Envy (San Francisco)
Thursday, April 16^th – Craft Spirits Cooperative: Manly & Bimini Gin (San Francisco)
Thursday, April 16^th – Kin A Peel Banana Liqueur (Culver City)
Friday, April 17^th – World Malbec Day (All Locations)
Saturday, April 18^th – Domestic Wine Tasting (All Locations)
Saturday, April 18^th – Craft Spirits Cooperative: Pisco (Culver City)
Sunday, April 19^th – Bird Snapper Non-Alcoholic RTDs (San Francisco)
Sunday, April 19^th – Angel's Envy (Redwood City)
Sunday, April 19^th – Zero Proof: No Buzz, All Vibes (Hollywood)
Thursday, April 23^rd – Wine & Food Truck Social (Hollywood)
Friday, April 24^th – Vintage/Aged Wines (San Francisco, Hollywood, Culver City)
Friday, April 24^th – Charles Heidsieck Champagne (Redwood City)
Saturday, April 25^th – Chile Wine Tasting (All Locations)
Sunday, April 26^th – Pursuit Spirits Whiskey Tasting (San Francisco)
Wednesday, April 29^th – Beer Tasting (San Francisco & Redwood City)
Thursday, April 30^th – Almare Spritz Aperitivo Italiano (San Francisco)
Friday, May 1^st – Italian White Wines (All Locations)
Saturday, May 2^nd – French Regional Tasting (All Locations)
Sunday, May 3^rd – Fuenteseca Tequila (Culver City)
Wednesday, May 6^th – The Eyrie Vineyards (San Francisco)
Thursday, May 7^th – Wine Club Tasting (All Locations)
Friday, May 8^th – Pouilly-Fuissé Tasting (All Locations)
Saturday, May 9^th – Champagne Tasting (All Locations)
Saturday, May 9^th – Casa Azul Tequila (Culver City)
Thursday, May 14^th – Blind Tasting (All Locations)
Friday, May 15^th – Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc vs Bordeaux Blanc (All Locations)

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