Tasting Report: Taste of Mendocino 2010
Who knew there was this much wine in Mendocino? When I strolled into this event 45 minutes before it was set to end, I expected to see maybe a dozen winemakers pouring, not 58 producers, some with a dozen wines on their table. Is Mendocino really this big? I guess so, and it also produces…
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…
