Review: 2019 Sonoma-Cutrer Grand Brut Rose Russian River Valley
This new sparkler is part of Sonoma-Cutrer’s Winemaker’s Release line and is composed of pinot noir and chardonnay grapes. There’s nothing not to like here, kicking off with a pretty and vibrant attack that bursts with floral notes, backed by hints of strawberry. Rose-infused vanilla notes linger on the finish, along with a touch of…
Review: Contraluz Mezcal Cristalino
Aged mezcal is hard enough to find. Now Contraluz has dropped a first for us: cristalino mezcal (in this case a reposado that’s been filtered to clear). The innocuous looking spirit — which is not quite clear but rather a very pale yellow — offers plenty of surprises in the glass. The nose sees plenty…
Review: Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Unforgotten
Twelve years ago (though I thought it was in 2013, 9 years back), Wild Turkey put out a whiskey that was pretty groundbreaking at the time, blending bourbon and rye and claiming it was all the result of a happy mistake. Forgiven has never been my favorite whiskey, but it did spur a whole lot…
Review: 2021 Tangent Albarino Edna Valley
No longer a single-vineyard wine since our last review, Tangent’s Edna Valley-sourced albarino remains on par with the 2018 release we covered a few years back. Specifically, it’s quite mild and gently sweet, offering notes of sesame oil paired with white flowers. Quiet throughout, with notes of guava on more white flowers on the finish.…
Review: Namazake Paul Sake Advent Calendar 2022
You know whiskey advent calendars and wine advent calendars and beer advent calendars. Now sake gets its due, courtesy of Namazake Paul, perhaps the most noteworthy online seller of sake in the U.S. Namazake Paul’s advent calendar — the only one of its kind — is quite the production, featuring 23 180ml cups of sake…
Review: Pendleton Directors’ Reserve Canadian Whisky 20 Years Old
Hood River Spirits, based in Oregon, has been slowly moving upmarket with its Pendleton Canadian Whisky brand, which we’ve covered at length. Recently it dropped its oldest expression ever, a blended whisky carrying the name of Directors’ Reserve and a 20 year old age statement. (The directors in question are the heads of Oregon’s annual…
Review: Ancient Peaks 2020 Merlot and 2019 Oyster Ridge
Paso Robles-based Ancient Peaks recently dropped two new reds for wintertime sipping. Let’s give them a try as the temperature starts to dip. 2020 Ancient Peaks Merlot Santa Margarita Ranch – Surprisingly pruny for merlot, with notes of blackberry jam and well-steeped tea informing a dusky, licorice-fueled body. Far more extracted than expected for a…
Review: El Tequileno Reposado Rare
For El Tequileño’s Reposado Rare expression the appellation “rare” is more fitting than meets the eye. By law reposados are required to be aged for less than one year, but El Tequileño circumvents these rules by maturing this limited edition tequila in a massive 25,000 liter American oak container known as a pipón for 6…
