Review: Wines of Chloe, 2014 Releases
Chloe is yet another wine brand designed to appeal to the I-need-a-cutely-named-wine-with-a-cute-bottle-to-take-to-the-dinner-party crowd. Not to be confused with Chloe Wines (a Seattle importer), the Chloe Wine Collection is a new offshoot of The Wine Group, a California-based mega-bottler. Chloe is starting up with three wines — two California bottlings and an Italian white. Thoughts on each…
Review: Six Ciders from Tieton Cider Works
It’s time for a gaggle of apple ciders from Tieton Cider Works, based in Tieton, Washington. TCW makes at least 10 different products. Here we review a half dozen, all spins on the classic apple cider formula, and arranged from dryest to sweetest. Enjoy. Tieton Cider Works Tieton Blend Cider Dry – English style cider,…
Review: 2012 Natura Cabernet Sauvignon and 2012 Novas Sauvignon Blanc
We may have missed the “Earth Day” timing of these affordable, biodynamic, sustainably produced wines from Chile’s Emiliana Winery, but it’s safe to say you’ll find them for sale pretty much year-round. Anyway, we love to hear stories about Earth-friendly wines being made… but if you’re serious about sustainability, perhaps you should be drinking local…
Review: Wines of Belle Ambiance, 2014 Releases
A new brand from DFV/Delicato, Belle Ambiance has a rock bottom price combined with appealing, upscale packaging that’s certain to drive some sales. Launching out of the gate with a collection of six wines, we tried three for review. Not entirely sure I’m buying the “family vineyards” claim on the label, given that all of these wines…
Review: The Exclusive Malts Batch #4 – Linkwood 1999, North Highland 1996, Bladnoch 1992, Glencadam 1991, Bowmore 2001
Five more tiny-production, very rare, Scotch whiskys are about to arrive on our shores, courtesy of the independent malt whisky bottlers at Exclusive Malts. As always, total bottles produced tend to number in the low hundreds, so if you see something you like, get it now. The Exclusive Malts Linkwood 1999 14 Years Old – This Speyside…
Review: Tawny Ports of Croft, Fonseca, and Taylor Fladgate, 2014 Releases
Even seasoned wine enthusiasts often get confused over the world of Port, and who can blame them? Bottled both in vintage-dated and non-vintage but “xx years old” varieties (and in ruby, tawny, white, and other versions), the topic quickly gets complicated — when all you want to do is enjoy something sweet with dessert. What’s…
Review: American Born Moonshine – Original, Apple Pie, and Sweet Tea
Moonshine continues to grow as a category, and this Nashville-based producer, founded in 2012, is getting its first products on the market in its home state, plus four others. Featuring mason jar bottles with a custom pouring system built into the lid, the company aims to class up an (often intentionally) unsexy industry. Purportedly made…
Review: 2011 Uproot Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Last week we reviewed the initial releases from boutique winery Uproot, a pair of Sauvignon Blancs. Now the company is expanding with the de rigueur Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa-sourced and priced for collecting. Thoughts: It’s seductive, with red berry notes on the nose. Very light tannin, with some sweetness evident even before the first sip. On…
