Review: 2017 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Russian River Selection
A tart and lovely pinot noir, Gary Farrell’s 2017 release drinks beautifully from the start. Iconic notes of cherry, tea leaf, and baking spice mingle beautifully on the tongue, with just a hint of chocolate on the back end. Ample acidity works well to counteract the sweeter elements in the wine, leading to a lush…
Visiting Chimney Rock and Black Stallion Wineries in Napa, California, 2020
Along Napa’s Silverado Trail you’ll find a pair of wineries which are pushing their offerings, especially cabernet sauvignon, toward the higher end of the category. We spent a day visiting both Chimney Rock and Black Stallion, both of which are worthwhile to visit. Chimney Rock was founded in 1980 and its architecture is unique for…
Book Review: The Mixology of Astrology
Looking for elevated cocktail recipes? You needn’t look past the title of Aliza Kelly Faragher’s The Mixology of Astrology to know you’re not getting it here. Still, it’s a quirky enough idea to at least merit a flip-through if you’re zodiacally inclined and wondering if there are cocktails that pair better with your star sign.…
Review: Glenfiddich 12 Years Old
We’ve covered over a dozen Glenfiddich releases — both mainline and special editions — but one we’ve somehow never formally reviewed is likely its biggest seller: Glenfiddich 12 Years Old. Aged in mix of bourbon and sherry casks, it’s designed for sipping straight, mixing, or giving as an affordable but much appreciated gift. So, how’s it…
Review: Fonseca Bin 27 Port
Like Graham’s Six Grapes and Sandeman’s Founders Reserve, Fonseca Bin 27 is a widely available and top-selling ruby Port wine with wide availability, produced by one of Portugal’s most notable producers. We last encountered Bin 27 in an informal review with Taylor Fladgate group CEO Adrian Bridge way back in 2012. A fresh, more refined…
Review: Red River Texas Bourbon and Rye
Red River is being billed as a “relaunch,” but I can’t exactly tell where or what it’s being relaunched from. What I do know is that it’s part of the Shaw Ross Importers portfolio, which puts out a large collection of rum, tequila, whiskey, and other spirits, wines, and sakes. As an importer, it may…
Review: Wines of Flat Top Hills, 2020 Releases
Flat Top Hills is a new line of wines from another member of the Mondavi family, Angelina Mondavi, marking “the first time a member of the ‘G4,’ the fourth generation of the family, has been involved in winemaking under the family-owned and family-run company banner.” Unlike many Mondavi-driven wines, these are designed to be easily…
Review: Maker’s Mark RC6 2019 Limited Release
It may be hard to believe, but Maker’s Mark’s first, true limited-edition offering only just hit shelves this past fall. Stave Profile RC6, or RC6 for short, is the latest release in Maker’s Wood Finishing Series (everything that’s not standard Maker’s Mark), and it continues the tradition set out by Private Select, and Maker’s 46 before it,…
