Review: 2005 Graffigna Malbec Grand Reserve
We’ve expressed our fondness for Graffigna’s pinot grigio previously. Now we turn our attention to one of the company’s reds: An Argentinian classic, malbec. With this 2005 Special Reserve Malbec, Graffigna has created a quite enchanting wine. Intensely floral — Graffigna says it’s “violets” but I can’t place what kind of flower we’re dealing with…
“Consistent” Ratings: It’s Hard!
One day it’s a B-, a week later it’s a solid A. Rating wine, spirits, and just about anything else is a dicey affair, and assigning consistent scores day in and day out is nearly impossible. That’s not just anecdotally true, the science backs it up: A four-year study published last week in the Journal…
Review: Templeton Rye (2009)
If they were drinking whiskey this good back in the Prohibition days, I don’t feel so bad for them after all. Templeton was a purported favorite of Al Capone and “the center of his bootlegging empire,” Templeton Rye is a killer whiskey that — if marketing is to be believed — has been being produced…
Tasting Report: Today’s Bordeaux, 2009 Releases
Spent some of the afternoon tasting “today’s Bordeaux,” which it turns out is a lot like yesterday’s Bordeaux, only cheaper. Hit hard by the worldwide recession, the days of $1000 bottles of Bordeaux are rapidly coming to an end. And while the first growth chateaux still command hefty prices (just not quite as hefty as…
Review: 2008 Graffigna Centenario Pinot Grigio
I enjoyed Graffigna’s 2007 Pinot Grigio and, sure enough, its 2008 is nearly as compelling. Grapefruit is the predominant character in this Argentinian Pinot Grigio, with mineral, grass, and herbal notes following close behind. Again, this wine is crisp and easy to drink, and it goes well on its own or with food. And also…
France to (Finally) Raise Drinking Age to 18
Sorry, les enfants! At long last, it looks like France — where you can drink beer and wine as young as 16 years old — is going to raise its drinking age to 18. The good news: As has always been the case, no one is likely to ask for ID. From the AP story:…
Review: Red Stag by Jim Beam Black Cherry Bourbon
I don’t know what deer have to do with cherries, but you try coming up with a name for you black cherry-infused whiskey, OK? Red Stag — which is Jim Beam bourbon “infused with natural flavors” (predominantly black cherry, one would assume) — is as good a name as any for what Beam has come…
Review: Jameson Irish Whiskey
Come Tuesday, many of you will be picking up a bottle of Irish whiskey to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and for most of you, it’ll be either Bushmills or Jameson. Can’t blame you, both are solid Irish brands and you can often find them for about $16, especially this time of year. Some more detailed…
