Tasting Report: Brunello di Montalcino, 2020 Releases
Like Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino is made in Italy from sangiovese grapes. What’s the difference between the two wines, then? Location: Chianti hails from Tuscany, while Brunello is born in Montalcino, about 60 miles to the south. The weather and the soils are both different here, and the warmer climes around Montalcino give Brunello more…
Review: Twisted Alchemy Cold-Pressed Juices
There’s no substitute for fresh-squeezed juices in a cocktail… or is there? Twisted Alchemy attempts to raise the bar on ready-to-mix juices, all cold-pressed, unpreserved/unpasteurized, and ready for use. The juices are sold (and must be kept) refrigerated. To keep them from spoiling, Twisted Alchemy exposes them to “high pressure simulating 60 kilometers below sea…
Review: Islay Mist Blended Scotch 8 Years Old
Islay Mist is a fairly unique whisky: It’s a blended Scotch that, as the name implies, is fairly well peated. Created in the 1920s, it’s the only blended Scotch in the world that is permitted to use the word “Islay” in the name. The whisky is made at the Laphroaig Distillery, where it is blended…
Review: NV Korbel Prosecco DOC
Korbel is best known for its affordable California sparkling wine, but now it’s spreading its wings — to the east. Per the company, “Korbel tasted its way through Italy’s Prosecco DOC region and brought home an Italian sparkler of its own.” That’s right, Korbel Prosecco, from Italy! To be honest, aside from the label, there’s…
Review: McClintock Distilling Bootjack Rye and Matchstick Bourbon
We recently reviewed some of McClintock Distilling’s clear spirits offerings, but what about the whiskey!? Well, they’ve got it, but it’s in short supply. Bootjack Rye and Matchstick Bourbon have seen only two small releases since the distillery opened in 2016, and both of those sold out quickly before they could hit many liquor store…
Review: 2017 Tablas Creek Esprit Blanc de Tablas
Tablas Creek is an icon of Paso Robles, and it’s best known for its Rhone-style blends. Surprisingly oaky, this white blend brings together a collection of grapes some of which are almost unheard of in the U.S. (roussanne, grenache blanc, picpoul blanc, picardan, and clairette blanche). The blend coalesces into a wine that is both…
Tasting Report: Bordeaux and Sauternes, 2017 Vintage
The arrival of 2017 Bordeaux brings with it the inevitable nervousness over quality. It was a year where spring frost caused moderate damage and summer heat created a different type of problems. While some producers have learned how to manage extreme weather conditions, some wines aren’t showing their best. Sure enough, this tasting was fairly…
Review: NV Bricoleur Vineyards “Flying by the Seat of Our Pants” Brut
Bricoleur Vineyards is a new Sonoma-based winery and “hospitality retreat,” and clearly the proprietors have a sense of humor. The winery’s nonvintage sparkler (63% chardonnay, 34% pinot noir, 2% “Reserve Wines,” 1% pinot meunier) is called “Flying by the Seat of Our Pants,” a reference to the English translation of the winery’s name. Made in…