Tasting Report: Wine Spectator Grand Tour Las Vegas 2010
There are monster wine events, and then there is the Grand Tour, Wine Spectator magazine’s celebration of its highest-rated wines and an event of unparalleled opulence. The list of wines being poured — each winery gets just one bottling at the table, none of these dozen-to-choose-from affairs — makes it almost impossible to know where…
Review: Arta Tequila, Complete Lineup
Recently I was chastised for spending too much ink on product packaging. But Arta Tequila, a new brand, has “art” right in the name and its slogan is “The Art of Tequila,” so how can I not talk about these bottles? With their unique triangle base, Arta fits on the shelf like no other tequila…
Review: 2009 Acordeón Torrontés Cafayate Valley
One of the best torrontés (torrontéses? torronti?) I’ve ever had, Acordeón’s torrontés is not just a lovely wine, it’s an amazing bargain, too. The peach and apricot character here is hefty, giving this wine a moderate to big body that offers astounding gravitas. Some mineral notes in the finish and a gossamer yet clearly present…
Review: Milagro Tequila Select Barrel Reserve Silver (2010)
60 bucks is a lot to pay for a silver tequila, so it better be good, right? Well, even if it’s not, it helps if it’s a work of art. Milagro’s Select Barrel Reserve line come in some of the most gorgeous bottles I’ve ever seen, amazingly crafted with a glass rendition of an agave…
Tasting Report: Toast of the Town San Francisco 2010
While the heat inside the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House made this year’s Toast of the Town, a Wine Enthusiast event, a bit of a toasty affair (get it???), a memorable evening of wines from all over the world and food from all over San Francisco was had by all. I spent more time…
Tasting Report: Spanish Wine Cellar & Pantry 2010
What, no jamon? That was the cry of many hoping to find good, semi-bootleg iberico ham at this year’s Spanish Wine Cellar and Pantry event in San Francisco. Sadly, the masses had to make do with smoked marlin, almonds, and olive oil galore… and lots of Spanish wine, much of it from producers looking to…
Review: Point Brewing 2012 Black Ale
The End of Days is coming, folks, but at least we’ll be well lubricated when they arrive. Point Brewing Company’s latest beer is named for the now-unavoidable year 2012, when the Mayan “Long Count” comes to an end and, depending on your credo, possibly takes the world along with it. The ale is indeed dark,…
Review: 2006 Hall Merlot Napa Valley
This newly released merlot needs lots — and I mean lots — of time to open up. Young and incredibly tannic for merlot on first blush, after some breathing room (hours if you can spare it), the 2006 Hall becomes quite the lush experience. Fragrant with violet-inflected raspberry and black cherry, the body offers milk…
