Review: CalNaturale 2009 Chardonnay and 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
+Get rid of glass and you can jam much more wine into the same amount of space. CalNaturale uses Tetra Pak cartons to put one liter of wine into a compact and sturdy package — essentially a boxed wine, just in a much smaller box than the usual 3-liter container. For good measure, both of …
Review: Two Muscadet Wines – L’Aubiniere and Michel Delhommeau, 2010 Releases
You may not realize it, but you’ve probably had wine made from Melon de Bourgogne grapes, and probably more than you realize. That’s because all wines from the Muscadet region of France’s Loire Valley are made from Melon de Bourgogne, though you will likely never find the name of the varietal on any wine label.…
Review: Bruichladdich Organic 2003, Links 15, Oloroso Sherry Edition 1998, and Peat
Islay’s Bruichladdich keeps pumping out whisky faster that I can drink it. Here’s a look at four recently-released expressions from the vaunted distillery. Bruichladdich Organic 2003 – A young whisky — it’s unclear exactly how young since the spirit carries no age statement, but it’s 7 years old at most — this light spirit is…
Review: Azuñia Tequila Platinum Blanco
This new tequila hails from fields near the town of Amatitan in Jalisco. Available in all three traditional expressions, we sampled Azuñia Platinum Blanco. 100 percent blue agave of course, this tequila is twice distilled and unaged, then bottled at 80 proof. The nose is full of agave, a blast of herbal character that leaves…
Review: Luksusowa Potato Vodka
Polish potato vodka, what could be more classic? This triple-distilled vodka is far smoother than its budget price tag would indicate, offering a light sweetness, a light to moderate medicinal body, and a touch of vanilla on the finish. There’s some charcoal in the nose — a by-product of the filtering, to be sure —…
Review: The Cedar Door Mexican Martini Mix
As a longtime Austin resident, I cut my teeth on Mexican Martinis, a variant on the Margarita which uses a little more tequila, a little more triple sec, and an olive garnish. Served on the rocks or on the stem — and typically with another drink in a small shaker placed next to your glass.…
Review: 2006 Jean-Maurice Raffault Chinon “Clos de Capucins”
Not knowing exactly what this Loire Valley red was made of, Jean-Maurice Raffault’s Chinon, from the Savigny-en-Véron village, “Clos de Capucins” label, generated quite the argument here at Drinkhacker HQ. Guesses ranged from Syrah to Cabernet Sauvignon. Had we known more about the Chinon AOC, we would’ve known it was all Cabernet Franc. Who would’ve…
Review: Johnnie Walker Complete Lineup (2010)
Here’s a great gift idea for Father’s Day: One each of the five expressions that the whisky legends at Johnnie Walker. You don’t actually have to buy him five full bottles (what dad is worth that kind of expense?). Instead, JW has a nice little set of 200ml bottles of four of the five expressions…
