Review: Wines of Villa Gemma and Marina Cvetic, 2023 Releases
Gianni Masciarelli was an icon in Italy’s Abruzzo region, and after his passing, his wife Marina Cvetic and their daughter Miriam Lee have continued to work to ensure this southern Italian region is a source of high-quality wines spanning the spectrum of styles. From fruit-forward roses to inky, dense reds, here’s a look at the…
Review: 4 Brewdog Non-Alcoholic Beers and Cocktails, 2023 Releases
BrewDog’s U.S. arm has been embracing non-alcoholic options for quite a while now, and the operation continues to up the ante on “AF” offerings designed to appeal to the sober-curious (and sober-certain). All four of the products reviewed below are part of a box set that includes four six-packs, one of each product, for $50.…
Review: 2 Sparkling Vouvray Wines, 2023 Releases
Vouvray is both a region in the Loire Valley and a wine, known for its high acidity drawn from the near-exclusive use of chenin blanc grapes. Sparkling Vouvray however is also a thing, particularly when cooler weather prevails. Here’s a look at a pair of sparkling Vouvrays to help power you through your January festivities.…
Review: Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon 13 Years Old (2024)
I didn’t realize it had ever left, but Baker’s 13 is back on the market, returning to store shelves to give drinkers a fresh taste of this classic expression with 6 extra years of age on it. Originally launched in 2019, it became an instant classic and a worthy upgrade to Baker’s 7 when more…
Review: 2019 Stags’ Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Limited Edition Reserve Napa Valley
Stags’ Leap produces a number of Cabernet Sauvignons that range from very good to outstanding, so it’s a pleasure today to have a chance to try their 2019 Limited Edition Reserve, which draws grapes from a number of their Napa Valley vineyards. This year’s bottling is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, and…
Review: La Maison & Velier Transcontinental Rum Line, 2023 Single Casks
La Maison & Velier — also known as La Maison du Whisky — recently launched a new series of rums called the Transcontinental Rum Line (aka TCRL). Complete with maritime labels, this line is “inspired by the historical journeys of rum barrels between the New World and the Old Continent,” and includes releases from all…
Review: Joyus Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine and Cabernet Sauvignon
Joyus — or rather, Jøyus — is a new entrant into the NA wine category, producing a spray of wines made by dealcoholizing real wine, then blending in water and grape juice to plump things back up. We received two expressions from the company, a sparkling white wine and a cabernet sauvignon. Joyus Non-Alcoholic Sparkling…
Review: Amaro Lucano Non-Alcoholic
Amaro Lucano is one of the many delightful amari of Italy, and it continues to make inroads in the U.S. market, where it only recently returned for sale. Now, consumers who want the bracing flavor of Lucano without the booze have a new option: Amaro Lucano Non-Alcoholic. How’s it made? I’m not sure. The details…
