Kalinda
Kalinda
North Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Love this. My favorite domestic sav blanc this year so far. Super dry, mineral, saline... crisp...the color is pale pale - k and l wines shop label. I guess it's real good fruit from a source that must remain nameless — 4 years ago
Kalinda
Reserve "Clone 828" Pinot Noir 2013
K&L wine club selection. Concentrated flavor but balanced. — 6 years ago
Kalinda
North Coast Pinot Noir
NV gift from Dunns. Tannic and complex. — 7 months ago
Kalinda
Lot 2 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Don’t walk, run to buy at least a case of the 16 Napa Lot 2 Kalinda Cabernet. At $22 a bottle, it’s delicious at pop & pour (not to try & sound like @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher Bum) and I can’t wait to experience it’s rounded complexity in 5-7 to years.
I don’t know which Napa producers juice K&L Wine Merchants bottled or had make their 2016 but, it’s delicious. They’ve bottled a Kalinda Cabernet every year since 1984 and have not missed on any bottling that wasn’t worth two or three times + what I paid for it. The 16 is absolutely one of their best.
On the nose, ripe & slightly candied; kirsch cherries, blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, some plum and hues of blueberries. Incense, bright vanillin, cinnamon, clove, smoke, dark, moist soil, limestone minerals and bright dark, red & blue florals.
The body is rich and leaning towards full. Tannins are dusty big. The length, tension, structure and balance are beautiful now and will evolve over the next ten years. Kirsch cherries, dark cherries, blackberries, blueberries, plum, strawberries, big vanillin cream, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, incense, dark spice with heat, licorice/cola, limestone minerals, crushed rocks, dark, rich moist soils, soft leather, wood shavings, cigar, bright, dark & red bright florals, waterfall acidity and a very, rich, long, elegant, well polished & balanced finish that lasts minutes. A steal @ $22. Don’t miss it.
Photos of, the K&L tasting bar in San Francisco, racks of wine in their SF store, Owner of K&L-Clyde Beffa and the marquee Napa sign all tourist stop to take a photo. — 3 years ago
Kalinda
Reserve St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
So this wine beat Harlan, Bond, Colgin, Scarecrow in a blind tasting, scoring in the top bracket with Dalla Valle Maya. Wow! Of all those others, I've only had the pleasure of Colgin. And expert taster though I am not, I also found this comparable to that experience. Speaks classic California Cab to me - nice structure of dark red fruit followed by some cigar/tobacco and finishing with long silky tannins. I volunteer for next blind tasting of this against Screaming Eagle, Harlan, et al.!!! — 6 years ago
Kalinda
Bourgogne Blanc Chardonnay 2016
Tonight’s bottle a little better than when we had it in June last year.
K&L is a three store Wine Merchant with a store in San Francisco, Redwood City & Hollywood. They have been in business since the early 80’s.
For their Kalinda label, they turn to quality producers they’ve had long term relationships with to make their Kalinda wines. They either buy juice from a quality producer or purchase fruit and have them make their wines & it’s sold under the Kalinda label. Kalinda wines are nice to very good in the $21.99 to $25.99 range...always over achieving on QPR.
The Kalinda name is derived from two women in the owners family circle, Kay & Linda.
The nose reveals; bright yellow & spring florals, slightly sour lemons, green apple, just ripe, green melon, lime zest, understated, pineapple juice, some white peach, touch of unsalted butter cream, vanilla, hints of honey, white spice, toast, nice, soft, chalkiness, sea fossils, grey volcanics & limestone.
The body is medium full and glides across the palate with elegant mouthfeel. slightly sour lemons, green apple, just ripe, green melon, lime zest, understated, pineapple juice, some white peach, touch of unsalted butter cream, vanilla, a little more honey on the palate, caramel notes, white spice with soft palate heat, toast, slivered almonds, nice, soft, chalkiness, sea fossils, grey volcanics & limestone that penetrate the palate perfectly giving it a very good mineral backbone with yellow & spring flowers in mixed greens. The acidity is round and nicely done. The long finish is rich, lush, elegant, well balanced & polished with nice persistence for minutes.
Photos of, sunset over a Burgundy vineyard, the K&L Library wine section in SF, their SF tasting bar and classic Burgundy scenery. — a year ago
Kalinda
KB Cuvée Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2014
For those of you that may have not seen me post Kalinda, it’s a private label for K&L Wine Merchants. This one is extra special. They bottle other people’s juice or have them make juice for their private label. This one’s had some time to settle in. On the nose; It’s sweet & sour macerated lemons, overripe pineapple, butterscotch, honey notes, melted butter, orange citrus/marmalade, soft volcanic minerality and yellow lilies. The body is rich, round and thick...a little sticky. It’s sweet & sour macerated lemons, overripe pineapple, butterscotch, honey notes, melted butter, orange citrus/marmalade, touch of ginger, soft volcanic minerality and yellow lilies. The acidity is round and beautiful. The length, balance and long, beautiful finish lasts over a minute. The best thing about their Kalinda, it prices around $25 or less on their Chardonnays. If the KB on the label has anything to do with who made this Chardonnay, I might have a guess as who’s producers juice is in the bottle. I will also say that I’ve done business with just about every major wine retailer in the country and these guys are the best in the business! I also like to remember one of their staff members who worked at the Redwood City store for 30 years. Jim passed away at the end of December after a near two year struggle with cancer. I can’t say I’ve met many better nicer people than Jim. Also, few who equaled his love and passion for wine. Jim worked full time there and spent many of those 30 years either making wine and or tending to his Pinot Noir Vineyard in the Anderson Valley outside of his of his work week. I will miss our wine chats and his amazing demeanor. He will be missed by countless others that knew him. RIP Jim. Hopefully, with with an endless glass of great wine! Peace & Cheers! — 4 years ago
Kalinda
Cuvée Réserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
So, it's K&L private label night. The 07 Kalinda is more complex than the 07 Kirkham Peak. Black and blue fruits dominate the fore palate. More woody than the 07 Kirkham Peak,l. Tobacco leaf, nutmeg, array of additional spices, leather, good minerality and long finish. The K&L private label is an extreme value. You just have to hold it 8 years plus for it's too potential. — 6 years ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
This is K&L Wine Merchants private label wine. Named after family, Kay & Linda.
It is always a mystery who’s juice they bottled or who they bought fruit to and made the wine. Regardless, it always over delivers at $21.99.
Might have waited a couple years too long to get its best. Need to let it settle on palate before sharing more thoughts. Starting a little lean on the palate but, what a floral nose. We’ll see what a longer decant and palate coating brings.
As I mentioned, the nose is singing with ruby, candied florals that are; dark, red, purple & blue. The fruits are a little stewed; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries and blueberries that hover. Mid, soft, dark spice, light baking spices of; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mid berry cola, black & red licorice, caramel, dark chocolate, mocha, steeped fruit tea, dark, rich, moist soil with dry leaves, older tobacco, soft leather, saddle-wood, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry, river stones, shades of dry herbs, ambers, touch of savory meats & black pepper, & tomatoes with leaf.
The nose is more captivating than the body. It’s complex but at the same time flatter. The palate shows; ripe, stewed & candied fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries, pomegranate and blueberries on the backend. Mid, soft, dark spice with just the right amount of heat, cherry kirsch, light baking spices of; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mid berry cola, black & red licorice, caramel, dark chocolate, mocha, steeped fruit tea, dark, rich, moist soil with dry leaves, older tobacco, soft leather, saddle-wood, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry, river stones, moist to dry clay, shades of dry herbs, ambers, touch of savory meats & black pepper, & tomatoes with leaf. The acidity is a cool Colorado stream. The finish is; well knitted, balanced fruit & earth elegant, lush, despite its complexity, a little hallow yet persisting minutes, falling onto dry soils & spice.
As I stated, still enjoyable but, at its peak two years ago from my secondary storage. However, the longer I sip it, it pushes 9.0 on the long set. Time to start drinking a number of wines I’ve stepped over for bigger experiences & more notable producers.
Photos of, the K&L store in SF, tasting bar & two different photos of K&L Bordeaux Dinners we’ve attended with Owner Clyde Beffa Jr. — 6 months ago