Is Zinfandel Misunderstood?
The infamous ZAP festival of Zinfandel descended on San Francisco recently, and this year I skipped the cattle call grand tasting in favor of something a little quieter, and more education. The “Flights” event, hosted by Ravenswood’s Joel Peterson, took Zin enthusiasts through three sets of wines, 16 bottlings in all. The conceit: Split the…
Review: Jameson Black Barrel Select Reserve Irish Whiskey
Jameson is one of the big darlings of the whiskey world right now — Irish is currently the fastest growing spirits category, and Jameson is at the top of the sales charts. We’ve long loved Jameson’s various incarnations, and now it’s out with a new one. Jameson Black Barrel is mostly pot still malted and…
Review: L.A. Burdick Robert Burns Collection
What do you give a whisky lover as a romantic gift? Well, you can give him whisky… or you can give him whisky-infused chocolates. Recently it was suggested (or rather I was accused) of enjoying whisky chocolates more than the whisky itself (not true, I swear), and reader John Bratincevic turned me on to this…
Review: Twisted Pine Ghost Face Killah
Touted as “the hottest beer this side of Hell,” Twisted Pine’s Ghost Face Killah takes a style of beer unknown to many (chile beers) and smashes any semblance of tame spice. Ghost Face Killah is brewed with six different types of peppers – including Anaheim, Fresno, Jalapeno, Serrano, and Habanero – but the calling card…
Review: Gordon & MacPhail Linkwood Cote Rotie Finish 1991 and Caol Ila Hermitage Finish 1997 Scotch Whiskys
We love Gordon & MacPhail around here. One of the biggest and most reliable independent Scotch whisky producers, its selection is insightful and its releases are utterly vast, with perhaps more than 100 bottlings on the market at any given time. Keeping up with G&M would be impossible even if it wasn’t incredibly expensive, but…
Sauvignon Blanc Worldwide: What’s the Difference?
Sauvignon Blanc is a grape that is grown almost everywhere in the world. And while the basic wine is almost always the same — unoaked, lots of acid, tropical fruit flavors — different regions spin this grape in different ways. Here’s a short and sweet look at world Sauvignon Blancs. 2010 Justin Sauvignon Blanc Paso…
Review: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked (2012)
Like Maker’s Mark before it, Woodford Reserve has been known for producing one whiskey and — it’s annual, limited edition, special release whiskeys notwithstanding — one whiskey only. Then Maker’s launched Maker’s 46, leaving Woodford the only solo shop. Now Woodford is joining the club with Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon. It’s a complicated process,…
Review: 2009 Les Clos de Paulilles Banyuls Rimage
We last visited this wine with its 2007 vintage, but first a word on Banyuls. What is Banyuls? This is France’s version of Port, lightly fortified wines with alcohol added to stop fermentation while sugar is still in the system, leaving the wines sweet. Banyuls is less alcoholic than Port (this bottle is at 16%…
