Review: Rebel Yell Bourbon, Rye, and American Whiskey (2016)
St. Louis-based Luxco (which also makes Ezra Brooks and Admiral Nelson’s Rum) is behind Rebel Yell, a line of value whiskeys which has recently begun to show up more and more in bars and on store shelves. What’s the haps about “The Yell?” The Rebel Yell line begins with its core product — old-school Kentucky…
Review: 2015 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
The freshest of the freshest wine is now in a supermarket near you. Georges Duboeuf’s 2015 Beaujolais Nouveau is here, and for once it’s actually worth seeking out. This ultra-young wine offers a nose of ripe strawberries and candied fruit notes, as always, but finds balance on the body in the form of some chocolate,…
Review: Goral Vodka
With its bottle design seemingly inspired by Sputnik, all chrome and curves and black and red lettering, you may be forgiven for assuming Goral Vodka hails from Russia. Not so, it’s Slovakian, where distiller Jan Krak says he has “dedicated his entire life” to mastering the creation of vodka. Goral is farily traditional in construct:…
Review: 2012 Bootleg Red Wine Napa County
Another Jackson Family Wines limited edition bottling, this one made by winemaker Brian Kosi, Bootleg is primarily a Napa blend of 36% Merlot, 28% Petite Sirah, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, and 4% Zinfandel — with a little Pope Valley fruit in there. Closed off at first, this 2012 bottling features aromas of blackberry and…
Tasting the Wines of Angela Velenosi, 2015 Releases
Angela Velenosi works the Le Marche region of Italy, east of Tuscany, to produce a fantastic assortment of wines bottled under the Velenosi Vini banner (also look for “Villa Angela” on the label). I couldn’t attend a lunch with her to taste through her wines, but she was kind enough to send a collection of…
Review: Old York Cellars NV Merlot and 2013 Sweet Riesling
Yes Virginia, they make wine in Virginia. Also New Jersey, where you’ll find Old York Cellars. These wines make for an interesting introduction to the styles you’ll find on the other coast. We tasted along with the winery during a web-based event. Thoughts follow. NV Old York Cellars Merlot – Nonvintage merlot, a distant cousin…
Review: William Grant New Releases 2015 – Girvan No. 4, 25 Years Old, 30 Years Old, Kininvie 23 Years Old, Annasach 25 Years Old, and Ghosted Reserve 21 Years Old
William Grant is the home of Glenfiddich and Balvenie, two of the biggest name in single malt whisky. But lately the Grants have been pushing some of their lesser-known offerings, including new bottlings from lesser known malt shops like Kininvie, single grain whisky from Girvan, and limited edition blends. Over a recent lunch, the company…
Review: 2010 Cenyth
Cenyth is a Sonoma County bottling from Jackson Family Wines, a Bordeaux style wine that offers a wildly different composition every year. For 2010 it’s 54% merlot, 34% cabernet franc, and 12% cabernet sauvignon. This wine is drinking very old – it feels like something from the turn of the century, not just five years…
