Review: Cambria Benchbreak 2014 Chardonnay and 2013 Pinot Noir
Two new wines from Cambria and its Benchbreak series, a line of sustainably grown wines from the Santa Maria Valley. Thoughts follow. 2014 Cambria Benchbreak Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley – Intensely oaky and meaty on the nose, this chardonnay — which is otherwise lightly bodied and quite fruity — takes the butter and pushes it…
Review: Jackson Morgan Southern Cream Salted Caramel
Cream liqueurs are on the rise — and here’s a new one that’s made from Tennessee whiskey… in Kentucky! No, irony isn’t one of the six flavors available — which include Whipped Orange Cream and Bread Pudding(!) — but we did get a taste of the Salted Caramel expression of Jackson Morgan (named after the two…
Review: Redbreast All Sherry Single Cask Irish Whiskey
The name speaks for itself: This lot of 576 bottles of 16 year old, completely sherry-cask-aged whiskey is the first ever single barrel bottling of the Irish single pot still classic, Redbreast. Here’s the gist, straight from the source: Redbreast Single Cask offers a unique take on Redbreast’s full bodied flavour profile, renowned for its…
Review: True Myth 2014 Chardonnay and 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon
True Myth is a new label from Edna Valley-based Niven Family Estates, inspired by the idea that “the one True Myth is Mother Nature.” Let’s tuck into the label’s first two offerings. 2014 True Myth Chardonnay Edna Valley Paragon Vineyard – Vibrant citrus on the nose, the oak element doesn’t emerge until you sip…
Review: 1792 Single Barrel Bourbon
Barton’s 1792 bourbon is on a line expansion tear lately, and it’s newest release is here: 1792 Single Barrel. Like Sweet Wheat and Port Finish, it’s a limited edition so grab it while you can. Nothing tough to understand about this one: These are standard-production, single barrel offerings, with no other specific information provided. Naturally,…
Review: Wines of Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve, 2016 Releases
Four new wines in the KJ stable have recently been released, all in the Vintner’s Reserve line, the second (from the bottom) level in the five tiers that Kendall-Jackson produces. Thoughts on these wines, all reds, follow. 2013 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Merlot Sonoma County – As inoffensive a wine as anyone could hope for, this…
Tasting Affordable Bordeaux, 2016 Releases
Bordeaux means money, pure and simple. Or is it? There’s plenty of affordable Bordeaux out there, and while quality can be hit and miss, if you take the time to sift through the market, you can find some gems. Here’s a sampling of five affordable Bordeaux wines — two whites and three reds. Affordabordeaux? No?…
Tasting 2016’s Octomore 7 with New Bruichladdich Master Distiller Adam Hannett
When Jim McEwan left Bruichladdich last year after 50 years in the business, many wondered how a legend like McEwan could be replaced. The answer: You can’t, really, but the Islay distillery’s Adam Hannett is on his way to filling some mighty big shoes. Hannett recently visited San Francisco as part of a U.S. “get…