Review: 2015 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County
Not to be confused with the 2015 Sonoma Valley cabernet from Louis M. Martini, this is the softer side of Louis, a kinder, gentler cab with an abundance of fruit that provides a lush, lightly sweet body. Full of plums, currants, and blackberries, the wine layers in vanilla and toasted marshmallow notes, leading to a lengthy,…
Review: Nikka Super Rare Old
In Japan, anything with a name like “Super Rare Old” is considered “old man whiskey.” That’s definitely what “Super Nikka,” as it’s known colloquially, is, though not in the same way that many austere whiskeys can be. Super Nikka, which was introduced in 1962, is a blended whiskey, and the company doesn’t provide any real…
Review: 2016 Castello Trebbio Chianti Superiore DOCG
Imported to the U.S. by Sonoma’s Cline family, Castello Trebbio is the center of a 350-hectare, organic winemaking operation that includes this Chianti Superiore. Soft for Chianti, the wine offers a significant graphite note, atop a dark but quite dry cherry base. Slightly tart, with notes of black pepper and some vague, dried spice notes,…
Wine and Whiskey Tasting in California’s Paso Robles, 2018
Paso Robles, in the northern part of San Luis Obispo County, has a storied past: a history of habitation by the Salinan Indians that we can trace back thousands of years, a change of hands to Mexican ownership (before and after the Mexican-American War ,when the U.S. annexed California) and an eventual purchase from a…
Review: J.H. Cutter Whisky
Hotaling & Co. (formerly Anchor Distilling) has launched a new whiskey, inspired by a San Francisco brand so old they called it whisky, a tweak that Hotaling keeps intact for this release. Some details on what’s in the juice: In the mid- to late-1800s when A.P. Hotaling’s liquor warehouse was the talk of San Francisco,…
Cocktail Recipes for National Rum Day, 2018
August 16, 2018 is National Rum Day. Celebrate this versatile spirit with us by making these cocktails — some sweet and unique, some traditional. Also try our Nutty Chocolate Rum Truffles; they’re the perfect pairing for any of these cocktails. Havana Café 2 parts Havana Club Añejo Clásico Rum 1/4 part demerara sugar 3/4 part…
Review: Port Askaig 8 Years Old and Bourbon Cask 14 Years Old
As we established when Port Askaig 110 Proof first made it to the U.S. last year, there is no Port Askaig. Rather, Port Askaig is a brand name for single malt whiskies sourced from all over Islay. Each release may hail from a different distillery, but different distilleries’ whiskies are not batched together. Port Askaig…
Review: 2017 J Vineyards Pinot Gris California
Boldly biscuity on the nose, this initially floral pinot gris from J Vineyards offers notes of citrus and spice, but features a rather gummy body with caramel sauce at its core. Much less dry than last year’s vintage, it’s a fair enough summer sipper but lacks the delicacy that would elevate it beyond picnic wine…
