Review: Wines of Edna Valley Vineyard, Late 2017 Releases

Earlier this year we looked at Edna Valley’s white and rose releases for 2017. Today we tackle three reds, all sourced from Central Coast grapes. 2015 Edna Valley Vineyard Pinot Noir Central Coast – Lots of tobacco and pencil lead on this one, a surprisingly dense rendition of pinot noir, considering its price tag. The…

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Review: Haikara Momo Asian Peach Sake

Flavored sake? It’s coming to our shores, starting with Haikara’s Momo, flavored with Asian peach juice. Some details: Umenoyado produced Haikara Sake in effort to embrace America’s increased appreciation of Japanese culture & traditions while adapting the way Americans see and drink sake. Haikara’s flavor profiles as well as the packaging was created for a more…

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Review: Redemption The Ancients Collection Rye 18 Years Old

Diageo doesn’t have a monopoly on “orphan barrels,” it turns out. Redemption, which continues to turn out well-aged American whiskey, has launched a new collection of spirits called The Ancients, including an 18 year old rye (reviewed here) and a bourbon that, at 36 years old, stands as the oldest American whiskey I’ve ever even…

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Review: 2015 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley

Martini’s lower-end cabernet doesn’t have the nuance of its Napa bottling, but as everyday reds go, it’s approachable enough to work on a typical Tuesday night. Intense flavors of red raspberry, cherry, and plum lead to a semi-sweet finish that is a bit candy-coated, with quite a chocolate-cherry-fueled finish. Best with food, which can cut…

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Review: Diageo Orphan Barrel Project Entrapment Canadian Whisky 25 Years Old

Crown Royal is undoubtedly one of Diageo’s biggest brands. It only makes sense that some of this classic Canadian whisky would make its way to the company’s Orphan Barrel Project, a collection of oddball lots — usually very, very old — that receive a limited release once or twice a year. Some details from Diageo…

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Review: Firestone Walker Inferos

Firestone Walker offers a third release in its “Leo v. Ursus Chronology”: Inferos, an unfiltered imperial rye IPA made with 25 percent rye in the mashbill and 4.7 pounds of hops per barrel. “The remainder of the malt bill includes ESB from Gambrinus malting, as well as Weyermann Carafa malt. Carafa is a specialty malt…

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Review: Watershed Distillery Four Peel Gin and Bourbon Barrel Gin

Watershed Distillery got its start in Columbus, Ohio back in 2010, and today the operation is pumping out vodka, gin, bourbon, nocino(!), and a bottled Old Fashioned. Today we look at the company’s two gins, an unaged version with modern styling, and a bourbon barrel aged expression. Watershed Distillery Four Peel Gin – Distilled from…

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Review: 2015 Smoke Tree Pinot Noir Sonoma County

The name is apropos: This wine brings together intense fruit and a smokiness that laces up the sweeter elements into a surprisingly cohesive whole. Cherries up top and a leathery underneath — this is a wine that cries to be paired with a nice piece of salmon or duck. B+ / $25 / smoketreewines.com Related posts:…

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