Tasting the Wines of Vin de France, 2017 Releases
Back in 2009, France created a new categorization to cover wines sourced from all over the country. The so-called Vin de France wines are a mixed bag of grapes and styles (as the restrictions are few), but the overall goal with the category is to create single-varietal wines or blends, sourced from anywhere in the…
Review: Wines of Frank Family Vineyards, 2017 Releases
It’s never a bad day when Frank Family Vineyards’ annual releases show up for review. Today we look at a field of four wines from this delightful Napa producer. 2015 Frank Family Vineyards Chardonnay Carneros – A solid expression of chardonnay sourced from 65% Carneros-Napa and 35% Carneros-Sonoma (as the appellation spans both regions), bold and buttery…
Review: Oak & Cane American Craft Rum
Given the relative ease and speed of making rum instead of whiskey, it’s surprising that more craft distillers aren’t pursuing this spirit. Oak & Cane, produced in Florida, is an exception to that rule. It’s also made with much different methods than your typical bottle of grog. To wit: What sets Oak & Cane apart?…
Boozy Popsicles Put Some Chill Into Your Summer Fun
Most of us have enjoyed a popsicle or two in the summertime ever since we were young. They’re just a part of being a kid — and if you have children, they quickly become a staple in your freezer. Who says we have to outgrow these treats? Instead, just give yours an adult twist by spiking…
Attention SoCal: Drinkhacker and Lucid Absinthe Want Your Absinthe Cocktails!
This April, we landed in Austin, Texas to see what bartenders in the region could do with absinthe — you know, outside of pouring it into a glass with sugar and water. The results were dazzling. I’m still dreaming about some of the winning concoctions the contestants came up with, particularly Chris Morris’s inspired Sogni…
Review: Wines of Lake Sonoma Winery, 2017 Releases
My hunch is that you can figure out where Lake Sonoma Winery is based — but you might not know that this under-the-radar operation makes wine from all over the county, not just near the lake. We tried six new releases from the winery, with almost unanimously impressive results. Thoughts follow. 2014 Lake Sonoma Winery…
Review: Proyecto Garnachas de Espana – Salvaje and Olvidada, 2017 Releases
Proyecto Garnachas de Espana — or the Spanish Grenache Project, if you will — is a curious series of wine releases meant to celebrate the grenache wines of the Ebro Valley. A project of Spanish wine company Vintae, the idea is to showcase different vineyards in the Aragon region, to show how terroir and microclimates…
Review: Santo Mezquila
Why would someone want to blend mezcal and tequila into the same spirit? I’m not entirely sure what the motivation was, but Sammy Hagar (Van Halen) and Adam Levine (Maroon 5) decided this might be the next big thing, and Santo — aka Santo Puro — has now arrived. The tequila used is 100% blue agave, and…
