Have You Seen This Armenian Brandy?
Like the Scooby-Doo gang, I love a good mystery. And so, when I was presented with this bottle (see photo below) of purported “Armenian whiskey,” I had to sample it and give it a little ink. The owner knows nothing of the bottle and asked if I did. The clues are limited: Only his statement…
Review: Tequila Ocho Plata Rancho Los Corrales 2010
Tequila Ocho continues its quest to turn in single estate, vintage-dated tequilas, and recently it has launched the first of its 2010 line, this one from Rancho Los Corrales. This is a distinctly subdued tequila. Compared to the 2009 Rancho Las Pomez, which is also still available, it’s a quiet, brooding beast. On the nose,…
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…
