Review: 2016 Lusco Albarino Rias Baixas
Very tart for albarino, this Spanish white from Adega Pazos de Lusco exudes lime zest and grapefruit rind, built atop a core of lemon and pear fruit. Racy with acidity, it’s almost sour at times, puckering the lips on the intense finish while clinging to the back of the throat. If you’re looking for a…
Review: 2016 Luca Bosio Arneis Langhe DOCG
From the southeast of Piedmont in the Roero region comes this Arneis wine, a tropical affair with a touch of anise and a slight greenness around the edges. A slightly vegetal character eventually gives way to some savory spices, though the notes of both fresh and dried mango are tough to tamp out. B+ /…
Review: Kentucky Peerless Straight Rye 2 Years Old
Kentucky Peerless — aka just “Peerless” — isn’t just any old craft whiskey startup in Louisville. While the operation makes bourbon, the bigger focus is on rye — not sourced from parts unknown, but made on site, reportedly in line with recipes that have been handed down for more than 100 years. Some details: When…
Review: 2016 Hahn SLH Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
Hahn’s latest releases from its SLH line are here, both made with estate fruit from the Santa Lucia Highlands. 2016 Hahn SLH Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highands – Surprisingly sweet on the attack, with an overload of red berries, sweet cream, tangerine, and some spice notes. While it carries some interesting flavors, the whole thing…
Review: Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
Over the years we’ve reviewed a whopping 12 varieties of Captain Morgan rum — but never the original spiced variety. That finally changes today as part of our quest to fill in any holes in our database. Captain Morgan Original plays its cards close to the vest. Described as a “secret blend of Caribbean rums,”…
Review: Wines of Geyser Peak, 2018 Releases
Geyser Peak’s spring releases of its boldest wines — all based around cabernet sauvignon — have arrived. Today we look at three releases from this essential California winery. 2014 Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley – Though now four years old, this still drinks with ample youth, boldly forward with blackberry notes and lots of…
Review: Endless Summer Rum
If you’ve never seen The Endless Summer, it’s a movie about surfing. (Sorry, spoiler.) There’s probably not a much more appropriate theme to tie a bottle of rum to — and the label even evokes the key art for the movie. Endless Summer Rum is distilled in Barbados, “using a blend of rums from two…
Review: NV Apothic Brew Red Wine Infused with Coffee
I’m not going to lie: I’ve been dreading pulling the cork on this since the day it arrived. But finally it had to be done, and I forced myself to experience what the marriage of red wine (reportedly Rhone style grapes, but Apothic doesn’t say) and cold brew coffee is like. Apothic is no stranger…
