Recipe: The Drinks of Summer 2013 – Cognac and Iced Tea Edition
The dog days of summer haven’t quite hit us yet, although with the rapidly changing global climate who knows exactly when they’ll be here. In honor of two drinking holidays (Today is National Cognac Day and June 10th is National Iced Tea day), we present two refreshing recipes to help you keep cool. Stay tuned…
Review: 2011 Alto Cinco Garnacha
A lively wine from the Cariñena region in the north of Spain, this 94% Garnacha/6% Tempranillo bottling is loaded with character. Fresh fruit is at the core, with some tar and licorice notes underpinning it, particularly on the nose. Extended time with air brings out more earth and a rubber-like character. The finish remains fresh…
Review: James E. Pepper 1776 Bourbon, Rye, and 15 Year Old Expressions of Both
James E. Pepper is an old, old name in the whiskey world (Kentucky is plastered with the name), and the heritage of the Bourbon associated with the name is deep, rich, and (if you go to the whiskey’s website) fun to look back upon. In fact, Bourbon has been made under the James E. Pepper…
Review: Virginia Distillery Virginia Highland Malt Whisky
Eades Whisky broke ground in 2008 with the then-bold goal of growing, malting, and distilling its own barley to make single malt whisky in Virginia. Since then, the craft distilling movement has gone wild, and the idea of making whisky styled like single malt Scotch in the U.S. is no longer a wild one. Eades…
Review: Hermitage Brewing Company India Pale Ale Single Hop Series – El Dorado
When most beer is brewed, it’s made with a variety of hops, designed to add complexity and a variety of flavors to a brew. But Hermitage Brewing, based in San Jose, California, has a series of brews with a unique focus: Using one strain of hops per beer. As the name implies, this IPA is…
Review: Wines of MacMurray Ranch, 2013 Releases
Two new releases from Russian River-based MacMurray Ranch. Some thoughts: 2010 MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir Reserve Russian River Valley – Juicy, with tons of strawberry character. Overly jammy, actually bursting with character closer to Jolly Ranchers than anything else. Surprising in its lack of restraint, this is the kind of approach I expect from Zinfandel,…
Return to Press Club San Francisco
It’s been about a year since we last reported on Press Club in San Francisco, and at the time it was overhauling its menu and management with some excited changes. Well, how has everything turned out? Smashing. Wine Director Mauro Cirilli has been doing some amazing things, with a heavy focus on both beer and…
Review: 2011 Georges Duboeuf Clos des Quatre Vents Fleurie and Pouilly-Fuisse
Today we consider a couple of recently-released value bottlings from Les Vins Georges Duboeuf, one of the biggest producers in France’s Beaujolais region (and beyond). Thoughts on these wines, a red and a white perfect for summer drinking, follow. 2011 Georges Duboeuf Clos des Quatre Vents Fleurie – Ample fresh berry jam character, punctuated with…
