Review: Wines of Lula Cellars, 2017 Releases
We’ve been fans of Mendocino’s Lula Cellars since discovering their pinots and zin last year. Now the winery is out with two new single-vineyard pinot noirs from the 2014 vintage. Thoughts follow. 2014 Lula Cellars Pinot Noir Costa Vineyard Mendocino – Like the 2013 bottling, this single vineyard pinot is a knockout, pretty and restrained…
Review: West Cork Irish Whiskey Black Reserve and Barrel Proof
West Cork, still a new distilling operation in Ireland, is already out with two limited releases, both of which we were excited to put to the test. These whiskeys mark the rollout of new labels for West Cork, as well, so don’t get too confused… West Cork Irish Whiskey Black Reserve – Indeed, quite dark…
Review: 2016 Dark Horse Pinot Grigio California
A $10 pinot grigio really doesn’t inspire thoughts of greatness, but Dark Horse’s 2016 expression of this grape is surprisingly approachable and ready to enjoy, filled to the brim with notes of fresh peaches, white flowers, and, to a lesser extent, tropical fruit. At the same time, it’s gentle and high enough in acidity to…
Review: One Eight Distilling Ivy City Gin (2017) and Untitled Gin No. 2
As in many cities across the country, craft distilling in Washington, D.C. has taken off in recent years. Since 2011, no fewer than nine distilleries have opened their doors. One of the pioneers of this group is One Eight Distilling. The distillery gets its name from Article One Section Eight of the Constitution, which among other…
Review: Ron Diplomatico Planas and Mantuano
Our friends at Ron Diplomatico are releasing two new expressions, part of the company’s brand new “Tradition Range” and both a little lower down the price totem than the flagship Ron Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, and each with a different purpose. These Venezuelan rums couldn’t be more different from one another… so read on for some reviews.…
Review: American Born Bourbon, Peach Whiskey, and Apple Whiskey
American Born is a new line of bourbon and flavored whiskey from Milestone Brands, an Austin-based company founded by the minds behind Deep Eddy Vodka. These new whiskeys are sourced spirits bottled at 83 proof, which “pays homage to the recognition of the country’s independence in 1783.” Hmmm. Note that the spirits are all bottled in…
Review: Bridlewood Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, 2014 Vintage
Bridlewood is a relatively big operation in California’s Central Coast, and the winery offers bottlings up and down the food chain. Today we look at two new releases on the lower end of the scale, a pinot and a cabernet from the 2014 vintage. 2014 Bridlewood Pinot Noir Monterey County – Lightly meaty at first,…
Review: Nine Single Barrel Tequilas from the New Hampshire Liquor Commission – Patron, Herradura, and Casa Noble
In case you missed our previous reviews, New Hampshire — the Granite State — is one of the most enthusiastic consumers of private label, single barrel spirits in the world. Recently the state’s liquor commission loaded up on 15 barrels of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, the biggest single barrel purchase of JD ever made. Tired of…
