Terroirs of Chile – 12 Wines Evaluated, 2012 Releases
Chile is a strange country. End to end it is 2700 miles long, much of it mountainous. Pretty much from top to bottom wine is made in this country… and yet when we think of “Chilean wine,” a certain character comes to mind — namely cheap Cabernet. Of course, this is folly. The wine made…
Review: Smirnoff Iced Cake and Kissed Caramel Vodkas
The company that brought us Fluffed Marshmallow vodka is back with more flavors that would have Rasputin rolling in his grave. Here’s what will be haunting beach bars in 2013. For what it’s worth, my wife enthused about the dessert-drink worthiness of both of these concoctions, and in modest proportions, she might be right, although…
Review: Olmeca Altos Plata (2012) and Reposado Tequila
We last encountered Olmeca Altos in our preview of its silver tequila in 2010, but this Euro-focused brand has only now finally started its expansion into the States. We took a fresh look at both the Plata and the Reposado (there’s no Anejo yet). Both have refreshed packaging but the agave and methodology (read about…
Review: Tallarico Vodka
Tallarico is the brainchild of Giancarlo Tallarico, a Beverly Hills-based entrepreneur with his eyes on his own vodka (and a $45 price tag). Distilled from common rye and white winter wheat, this vodka (tagline: “Imbibe Elegantly.”) comes in a monolithic and mostly opaque, black decanter that fades to clear at the bottom. On the nose,…
Review: Tapatio Tequila Blanco
Tequila Tapatio (no relation to the hot sauce) has a cult-like following in Mexico (and among frequent visitors to those parts), and now it’s coming north of the border. Made from 100% Highlands blue agave, this brand has been around for 75 years. Imported by the Charbay family, it is (at least for now) only…
Review: 2010 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay Napa Valley
Yes, this is the wine. The one that in 1976 beat down all the French Burgundies in the famous Judgement of Paris with its 1973 vintage Chardonnay. It’s easy to see the charms in this wine. It is fresh and fruity, full of big apple, pear and lots of lemon notes. It is both creamy…
Review: Peligroso Tequila Anejo
Peligroso Reposado has been as close as there is to a “house” reposado at Drinkhacker HQ for some time, and I’ve been bugging Peligroso to send the Anejo expression, figuring if the reposado was this good, the anejo had to be even better. Peligroso Anejo is made from 100% Highlands agave and aged 12 to…
Domaine Carneros “Le Reve” Restrospective, 2006-1992
Eileen Crane has been called “the most experienced sparkling winemaker in the United States,” and her 35 years at Domaine Carneros are proof that she’s doing something right. Hired by Claude Taittinger in 1987, Eileen has been making Le Reve, a $95 (almost)-all-Chardonnay sparkler since the 1992 vintage. In celebration of 20 years of producing…
