Review: 2012 Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha Calatayud
Spain’s Calatayud region is where this delightful, high-altitude Garnacha from Las Rocas is born, yet it comes to the U.S. at a remarkable price. This is a surprisingly gentle wine, mild in body but loaded with flavor. Gentle red plum and currant notes plus a bit of slightly sour cherry character attack the body, which is backed…
Review: Meletti 1870 Bitter Aperitivo
That bright red color and an Italian name can only mean one thing: Campari, right? Wrong! Introducing Meletti 1870, a bit of a Campari lookalike that’s designed to be used in Negronis and Americanos and other strong/bittersweet cocktails. Of course, you can sip it straight as an aperitivo, too, and in this fashion you will find this…
Review: St. Augustine Distillery New World Gin
A gin distilled from 100% Florida cane sugar? Flavored with just five botanicals — juniper, coriander, angelica, orange peel, and cassia bark — St. Augustine’s “New World Gin” is specifically designed to be citrus focused, in keeping with its Floridian heritage. On the nose, the citrus isn’t as strong as you’d think — angelica and coriander…
Review: 4 Albarinos from Rias Baixas, 2013 Vintage
Four new albarinos from the Rias Baixas region of Spain, each showcasing that classic acid-meets-the-tropics character… but each with a unique little spin on the theme. Thoughts follow. 2013 Paco & Lola Abarino Rias Baixas – A perfectly serviceable albarino, creamy with notes of peaches and tropical fruits, and a caramel-dusted finish. A juicy party…
Review: Balls Vodka
Well, at least Balls vodka isn’t trying to take the vodka category too seriously. There’s no story of frost-kissed grapes, diamond-filtration, or crystal decanters to contend with. This is bulk vodka with a pinup model on the label, and, in case you missed it, it’s called BALLS, which appears in great big letters. Even my…
Review: Skyy Infusions Texas Grapefruit Vodka
Skyy turns to the south for this latest flavored vodka: Texas Grapefruit. It’s very brisk on the nose with fresh grapefruit notes. It’s not overly candied or sweet, but appropriately tart. That carries through to the palate, a modestly sweet vodka that balances its sugar with dauthentic grapefruit notes, appropriately sour and tangy with a…
Review: Anaba 2013 Turbine White and 2012 Turbine Red
You’ll find Anaba in southern Sonoma, where it focuses on Rhone-style wines along with chardonnay and pinot noir. Today we look at two of the Rhoneish releases, both bottled under the “Turbine” moniker. 2013 Anaba Turbine White Sonoma Valley – 42% roussanne, 20% grenache blanc, 20% picpoul blanc, 18% marsanne. Slightly tropical, with lots of oak…
Review: Captain Morgan Grapefruit, Pineapple, and Coconut Rum
Is the world crying out for more flavored rum? Captain Morgan thinks so, and as such it’s released a trio of new tiki-friendly rums, each naturally flavored and beyond-intensely sugared. All three are bottled at 70 proof. Thoughts on each follow. Captain Morgan Grapefruit Rum – Strong grapefruit notes on the nose, with a slight…
