Review: Sparkling Wines of Domaine Carneros, 2020 Releases
Domaine Carneros’ latest sparkling wines have hit the market. We received a three-pack of the winery’s most noteworthy new bottlings. Thoughts on each of these expressions follow. 2016 Domaine Carneros Ultra Brut – The minimal dosage on this rare expression hits just 0.5 grams of sugar/liter, making it an absolutely bone dry experience. Notes of…
Review: D. George Benham’s Vodka (2020)
Three years ago, Sonoma’s Graton Distilling released a kitschy “vodka-flavored vodka” as its entry into the category. The product never saw national release, however, and recently Graton relaunched its vodka, billing it without the “Vodka Vodka” name. The product has not just been rebranded, it’s also been reformulated — though it is still a blend…
Tasting Report: 2018 Burgundy from Bouchard Pere & Fils and William Fevre
Last year’s look at the upcoming Burgundy release revealed some amazing wines hitting the market, and the 2018 vintage again appears to be solid — though perhaps not quite the delight of ’17. Recently we visited with Bouchard Pere & Fils and William Fevre — the jewels of the Henriot Burgundy empire — to taste…
Review: Virginia Distillery Journey Cask Collection Britannia
When I visited Virginia Distillery Co. last year, I got the chance to sample the inaugural bottling of their Journey Cask Collection, a series of single cask single malts from all over the world that pays homage to the many whisky-makers that inspired and influenced Virginia Distillery Co.’s founder Dr. George G. Moore. That first…
Review: Hacker-Pschorr Weissbier
We’ve got a soft spot for the fellow “hackers” at Munich’s Hacker-Pschorr brewery, and now we’re even more excited now that Hacker-Pschorr Weissbier is available for the first time in cans after 600 years of operation. “The new lightweight can features an updated new look celebrating the brands unique heritage, tradition and superior taste,” says…
Review: Angel’s Envy Cellar Collection Tawny Port-Finished Bourbon
In 2019, Angel’s Envy launched the Cellar Collection, a new line in its portfolio to house experimental, limited edition releases. The first bottle in the collection was an oloroso sherry-finished bourbon, which was a bit of a departure from its standard, Ruby Port-finished offering. This year’s Cellar Collection seems more in line with the standard…
Review: Narragansett Fresh Catch
This “refreshing golden ale dry hopped with Citra” isn’t just one of the toughest beers to spell, it’s indeed one of the most enjoyable low-abv offerings in this category. Brewed in Rochester, New York (but based in Rhode Island), the Citra gives the beer a modest overtone of orange peel amidst a backdrop ample with…
Review: Tanteo Blanco and Pepper-Infused Tequilas (2020)
A lot has changed since we first covered Tanteo Tequila back in 2009. Back then, the company was focused exclusively on flavored tequilas, with offerings ranging from tropical fruit to chocolate. Recently, Tanteo dropped two of its three flavors and doubled down on peppers. In addition to its jalapeno flavored tequila, it rolled out chipotle…
