Review: 2021 Booker Wines My Favorite Neighbor
We always get a kick out of the unique wines coming out of Paso Robles-based Booker, and My Favorite Neighbor is invariably a worthwhile experience. This 2021 cabernet sauvignon is surprisingly light on its feet and ready to go, a stark contrast to the 2018 expression we previously reviewed. Lush notes of cherries and currants…
Review: Westward Single Malt Whiskey Bottled in Bond
Westward Whiskey quickly established itself as one of the premier American single malt distilleries. The Portland distillery releases numerous excellent expressions for wider distribution, but saves some of its more limited and unique whiskeys for paying members of the Westward Whiskey Club. The newest offering for Whiskey Club members is a bottled in bond expression…
Review: 2018 Famiglia Pasqua Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG
Famiglia Pasqua’s wines are always exciting, whether you’re sipping on the luxe Mai Dire Mai Amarone or its more affordable Amarone della Valpollicella. It’s the latter we’re tasting today — the 2013 Amarone, which we reviewed last year, is still the current vintage. For the Valpolicella, we’ve skipped ahead from 2016 to 2018 — note…
Review: The Glenrothes 25 Years Old (2024)
In late 2023, storied Speyside single malt producer The Glenrothes announced a new bottling of their oldest core expression: 25 Years Old. It’s aged a full quarter century across first-fill sherry (“a high proportion,” according to the brand), American oak, and European oak barrels. We’ve reviewed The Glenrothes 10, 12, and 18 year releases before.…
Review: Papapietro Perry 2022 Chardonnay Peters Vineyard and 2021 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
Papapietro Perry doesn’t just have one of the liveliest company names in Sonoma, it also makes some of its best, under-the-radar wines. 2024’s releases include these two wines, both from the Russian River Valley which Pappietro Perry calls home. 2022 Papapietro Perry Chardonnay Peters Vineyard – Russian River Valley chardonnay, on point. Oak and vanilla…
Review: Blue Run Flight Series II Bourbon – Yosemite Pine
Coors-owned Blue Run recently dropped a new series of non-age-stated, sourced bourbons, the second edition in its “micro-batch” Flight Series. We missed out on Flight Series I, so we don’t have a point of comparison outside of other Blue Run releases, but here’s the scoop on what it’s all about. Blue Run Flight Series II…
Review: 2023 Justin Sauvignon Blanc and Rose
Justin is back with two new releases from its 2023 vintage, both fruit-forward wines designed for sipping as this long hot summer comes to a close. 2023 Justin Sauvignon Blanc Central Coast – Massively tropical, a contrast to last year’s more restrained wine. The big pineapple rush up front moves into coconut cream in short…
Review: Garrison Brothers Laguna Madre Bourbon (2024)
Garrison Brothers’ Laguna Madre release is its most prized whiskey, and three years ago Monica took our first look at the product, followed by a look at the 2022 version by Frank a year later. The annually released, limited edition is special because of its use of French Limousin oak as a finishing wood, in…