It’s not every day you walk into a vodka tasting and find winemaker Randall Grahm sitting at the table. But then, it’s not every day you taste vodka that’s been distilled from wine (Grahm’s Bonny Doon, naturally) and cut with water captured from real, live San Francisco fog. That’s the
Strawberries and cherries form the backbone of the dry, delicious Rosé. The pinot noir shines through, with hints of earth and depth. The mouth-feel is pure silk, the complexity charming. Drink with pork loin and enjoy. Highly Recommended. 92 points. DBH WHO: Martin Ray Vineyards & Winery WHERE: Sonoma County, California WHAT: Pinot
This stunning French single malt whiskey is made from organic barley and aged in ex-Cognac casks, ex-white Rhone wine barrels, and some new oak. Malt just sings on the nose. On the palate it is silky soft, gently malted and buttery, incredibly round and mouth-filling, and bite-free. Warmth comes on
This wonderful Armagnac is made from four casks, from 1990, 1981, 1978, and 1973, and blended and bottled in 2015. Fig and toffee aromas absolutely fly out of the glass. On the palate, brown sugar, dates, and espresso flow seamlessly into deep earthiness, which lingers along with a nutty background. Warmth
As soon as it’s poured into a glass, warm red fruits and a hint of chocolate greet the nose. With a hefty mouthfeel, some of the fruit and cocoa continue on the palate along with coffee and cedar. Big fine tannins appear in the finish, with bit of the fruit peeking through. A good
Interesting aromas of herbs and grasses – a Mediterranean-style garrigue introduction to this Californian wine that continues on the palate where fruit takes second place to herbs and tannins. A hot, longish finish showing a little undeveloped tannin as expected. Because, though you can drink this now, it would be better to wait 1-5 years. RECOMMENDED (with age).
You've seen Sideways. You know Santa Barbara County. It's for Pinot Noir, right? Santa Ynez Valley vintner Fred Brander thinks that will change. "I think in 10 years, Santa Barbara County is going to be better known for Cab than Pinot," he says. "Because that's where the money is. Around
When first poured, the familiar Bordeaux-like aroma envelopes your senses. And sure enough, this wine is a blend of four of the main Bordeaux grapes – dominated, in this case, by cabernet sauvignon (77%). Both aroma and flavor exhibit refined red fruit against a backdrop of fine tannin. Well-balanced tannin, fruit and