Review: 2010 Montes Alpha M
Here’s a gorgeous release from Montes, the (almost) top of the line of the well-regarded Alpha line, Montes Alpha M. This 2010 bottling is a blend of 80% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc, 5% merlot, and 5% petit verdot. A “Chilean first growth,” this wine has all the hallmarks of a Bordeaux blend, offering dense currants…
Tasting Report: In Pursuit of Balance, 2015
If you like good pinot noir, there’s one wine tasting experience you don’t want to miss: In Pursuit of Balance, a consortium of producers who eschew overblown, extracted wines in favor of more delicate, nuanced wines that show off what pinot (and its Burgundian cousin, chardonnay) can really taste like. Only pinot and chardonnay are…
Tasting the Wines of Round Pond, 2015 Releases
The brother-sister team of Miles and Ryan MacDonnell have grown grapes at their Rutherford property in Napa as part of their family’s business since 1983 and began running the Round Pond Estate together in 2003. In 2002, Round Pond branched out from growing grapes into making its own wine, and today the family continues to…
Review: Freaker Bottle Koozies
That foam canister is boring. Next time you need to keep a beer (or other beverage) cold on a hot day, check out a Freaker. Freaker Koozies are knit like socks and are emblazoned with everything from sports logos to drinking-centric memes. “Forget Me Not” makes your beer look like a prescription pill bottle. My…
Recipe: 2015 Cinco De Mayo Cocktails
Another trip around the sun, another year of back-to-back celebrations of the Kentucky Derby and Cinco De Mayo. As such, there’s plenty for everyone to drink, and we’ve got more than a few recipes for your consideration. Party, Karamu, Fiesta, Forever. Spicy Cerveza Cocktail 1 1/2 parts Hornitos Plata tequila 1/3 part lime juice 3/4 part…
Review: The Manhattan: Barrel Finished Cocktail from Jefferson’s and Esquire
I don’t necessarily think bottled, fully-made cocktails are lazy. I use them a lot when entertaining or when I’m short on fresh ingredients. Some of them are really well made, too. The jury is out on whether The Manhattan: Barrel Finished Cocktail is taking things a bit too far afield. This collaboration between Jefferson’s Bourbon and Esquire…
Bar Review: Third Rail, San Francisco
Here’s a cute idea: A bar that specializes in custom cocktails… and bespoke jerky. Third Rail, in San Francisco’s Dogpatch region, is a cozy little joint where you can get a small beer, shot, and a bit of jerky all for 10 bucks during happy hour. This seemed like the most popular choice among the post-work…
Tasting Report: Wines of Duckhorn, 2015 Releases
Noted California winery Duckhorn has become quite an empire of late, with operations under a number of brand names spanning all over California and stretching up to Washington state. The winery recently put together a tasting of virtually every wine it has now in current release, almost all of which we sampled — poured by…
