Review: Wines of J. Lohr, Summer 2024 Releases
Situated in the Central Coast and Paso Robles regions of California, J. Lohr produces numerous varietals at a wide range of price points, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Today we are trying two of its Cabernet Sauvignons and a Syrah whose quality was an unexpected but pleasantly welcome surprise, especially for its asking price.…
Review: Blood Oath Bourbon Whiskey Pact 10 2024
Lux Row’s 10th edition of Blood Oath is here, this one double finished in two different wine casks. Details! Blood Oath Pact 10 combines some of the finest rare bourbons Lux Row Master Distiller and Master Blender John Rempe could find, including two well-bred ryed bourbons and one finished bourbon each complementing the others. In…
Review: Proseccos of Valdo, Summer 2024 Releases
Enjoying a bit of history has never hurt anyone and the number of folks who would be well served by taking up the pursuit with zeal is rarely in short supply. According to Valdo’s website: One of the first references to Prosecco in literature can be found in Pliny the Elder’s Naturalis Historia, a naturalistic…
Review: Ron Diplomatico Seleccion de Familia
Ron Diplomatico‘s Seleccion de Familia is an interesting blend of five different types of distillate — two column still styles, a semi-continuous distillate, a Barbet column distillate, and finally pot still distillate. Complicating things further, it is aged in ex-bourbon barrels and blended with some ex-sherry-aged stock. Let’s give it a whirl! The dark brown…
Review: A Trio of Merlot, Summer 2024 Releases
By now, complaining that the film Sideways damaged Merlot’s reputation and sales is as superfluous and exhaustive an exercise for wine scribes as the film’s actual declarations. This will be my first and final allusion to the topic when discussing this pleasant and inoffensive varietal. Today, we have three sturdy Merlots suitable to uncork for…
How Spirits Competitions Really Work: IWSC’s U.S. Plan to Curb Bias, Create Revenue, and Wash 10,000 Glasses
Bronze. Double Gold. Double Platinum. In the world of spirits awards, it’s tough for consumers to make sense of the accolades on a bottle. It’s difficult enough to differentiate one medal from the next, let alone among different competitions. Whether competitions purposefully or incidentally seem like walled gardens is up for debate. Some organizations may…
Review: Wines of Franciscan Estate, Summer 2024 Releases
Franciscan was founded in 1972 by Justin Meyers and Raymond Duncan, and was christened as such in tribute to the Franciscan Friars who brought viticulture to California. Since then, the brand has built a venerable reputation for consistency and quality without escalating costs. The label also produces a critically acclaimed Meritage Bordeaux-style red blend, but…
Review: Westward Single Malts – Vienna Malt and Vintner’s Cuvee High Proof
Portland, Oregon’s Westward Whiskey has dropped its first two two club releases for 2024, single malt special editions that are, as always, available direct from the distillery to members of its Whiskey Club subscription program (though you might also check at the distillery should you drop in for a visit). We got bottles of both…
