Rob Theakston

Rob Theakston is a contributing editor to Drinkhacker.

Review: 2020 DeLille Cellars Red Willow Malbec

By Rob Theakston | August 15, 2023 |

A 100% Malbec from Washington’s Yakima Valley, one of the numerous vineyards owned by DeLille. Similar to other Malbecs from the region, this tends to favor the traditional French profile at first, leading with classic notes of raspberry and cherry on the nose, oscillating back and forth until earthy aromas of leather and mushroom make…

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Review: 2021 Patricia Green Cellars Mysterious Pinot Noir

By Rob Theakston | July 30, 2023 |

Burrowed entirely within the Willamette Valley, Patricia Green Cellars (PGC) resides in the Dundee Hills AVA about 30 miles southwest of Portland. While they release a modest amount of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, the majority of wines from PGC focus on Pinot Noirs from vineyards around the area. There are offerings at a wide range…

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Review: Wines of Baldacci Family Vineyards, Summer 2023

By Rob Theakston | July 27, 2023 |

Summer is not the most ideal time for a visit to Napa, as it can be hard during the middle of a rather punishing heat wave to muster up excitement about indulging in big, burly reds. However, Baldacci’s Stags Leap Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon proved itself to be one of the top bottles I have…

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Review: Capetta NV Asti DOCG and 2021 Braida Vigna Senza Nome Moscato d’Asti

By Rob Theakston | July 26, 2023 |

The Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti wine regions hold importance in the world of Italian wine, with both regions carrying a reputation for venerable sparkling and sweet wines. Located in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, at the foot of the Alps, but still somewhat close to the coast. As well, the landscape of Langhe…

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Book Review: Champagne Magnum Opus

By Rob Theakston | July 25, 2023 |

Weighing in at a hefty 7 lbs. and 446 pages is Richard Juhlin’s… well, magnum opus… Champagne Magnum Opus, which will not only exercise your forearms and biceps in a healthy resistance training exercise but also your mind as you skim through one of the most expansive books ever written on the subject. Now in…

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Review: 2020 True Myth Cabernet Sauvignon

By Rob Theakston | July 12, 2023 |

Operating out of the Edna Valley in the Paso Robles region of California, True Myth and its various affiliated labels have been offering up sensibly priced Chardonnays and red blends since the early 1970s. But for now, we’re pouring a glass of its Cabernet for consideration. A blend of 85% cabernet sauvignon, 10% syrah, 5%…

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Review: Cameron Hughes 2020 Lot 905 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2021 Lot 887 Petite Sirah

By Rob Theakston | July 11, 2023 |

For those unfamiliar with the premise behind Cameron Hughes’ operations, it goes a bit like this: Cameron and company scour the world sourcing a wide range of wines from vineyards, bringing them to market under their own label at financially feasible price points. Today, we’re pouring two reds to complement summer grilling, a Sonoma Valley…

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The Top 10 Whiskeys of All Time (According to ChatGPT)

By Rob Theakston | June 30, 2023 |

For better or worse, one thing folks agree upon is that the future of publishing will be influenced by the use of artificial intelligence and software such as ChatGPT. But just how good is it at developing a list of the greatest whiskeys of all time, and then reviewing them? We (Rob and Chris) took…

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Review: 2021 Raeburn Cabernet Sauvignon

By Rob Theakston | June 29, 2023 |

Raeburn Winery is nestled in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, where it’s making a habit of delivering affordable wines at a level of quality above suggested price points. The vineyard’s inaugural Cabernet Sauvignon is no exception to firmly established trends. Constructed from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.5% Petite Verdot, and 9.5% Syrah and aged 12 months in…

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Review: Wines of Domaine Bousquet Gaia, Summer 2023 Releases

By Rob Theakston | June 23, 2023 |

Carrying on with the release overview of Domaine Bousquet’s output for this year, this time taking a closer examination of its Gaia portfolio. So, what differentiates the Gaia line from its siblings? First and foremost, they are 100% organic. The grapes are grown at a cooler altitude (1,200 meters) by the foothills of the Andes…

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