Valentine’s Day is almost upon us and that means bringing your best game to the table — including wine, spirits or beer. This is not the time to cut corners, experiment or dabble with dodgy labels or make branding mistakes. Count on the wines, spirits, and beers that won’t diminish …
Though Santa Barbara County is known for Pinot Noir, it is typically from the coastal Santa Rita Hills AVA. This 100% Pinot Noir however comes from its brethren, the inland Los Alamos and Santa Maria valleys, so it presents a different fruit style. Spending nine months in neutral French Oak. …
The problem with some malbecs today, even the pricier ones, is that they are one dimensional wines, and that’s not fun to drink, is it? Lorimar’s 2015 Malbec is a welcome respite from some of the dull and mundane lazy bottlings out there, offering a hard-to-resist invitation upon pouring, with …
In many cases a wine is greater than the sum of its parts and this holds true for the 2016 iteration of MacRostie Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, utilizing fruit from five different sites. To keep that fruit in prime expression this wine was whole cluster pressed, after which 15% of the …
Wine: Beronia Crianza Variety: 88% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha, 2% Mazuelo Vintage: 2014 Country: Rioja, Spain ABV: 13.5% Score: 89 Harmonious notes of vanilla, black plum and creamy oak flow from the glass with a base of baking spices, cloves and cinnamon. There’s a sensuous dark fruit that lingers with liquorice …
Wine: Deutz Champagne Variety: Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir Vintage: N.V. Country: Champagne, France ABV: 12% Score: 95 Showcasing an equal share of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, this quintessential gem showcases the utmost elegance and grace. A substantial amount of Grand Cru and 1er Cru grapes go into …
Wine: Txomin Etxaniz Txakoli Blanco 2016 Variety: Hondarrabi Zuri 85%, Hondarrabi Beltza 15% Vintage: 2016 Country: Spain ABV: 11% Score: 90 As one of Spain’s most eye-catching wines, Txakoli isn’t just vibrant in ambience. The palate showcases an energetically refreshing acidity with fresh juicy green apples, pears and a distinct …
Wine: Tempranillo Elaboración Especial Variety: Tempranillo Vintage: 2015 Country: Spain ABV: 14% Score: 93 A striking example of Rioja and a testament to Tempranillo production by Gonzales Byass. This special production showcases a divine and exuberant nose of black cherries, sweet vanilla cocoa and fresh tobacco alongside a dominant dark plum …
Wine: Finca Constancia Selección Variety: Tempranillo, Petit Verdot, Graciano, Shiraz/Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc Vintage: 2013 Country: Spain ABV: 14% Score: 92 This full bodied, dense berry delight offers a plethora of ripe red berries, black berries and a delicate floral element on the nose. The palate is balanced by …
Wine: Beronia Rueda Variety: Verdejo Vintage: 2016 Country: Spain Score: 91 A pale golden hue sits in the glass, showcasing notes of ripened pineapple, pear and succulent apples. Floral aromas of blossom and jasmine begin to emerge over time as a slight salinity and minerality take hold. The nose is …
Wine: Beronia Rosado Variety: Tempranillo Vintage: 2016 Country: Spain Score: 91 Rose petals and sweet ripening red cherries shine through on the nose with a little cranberry and redcurrant hiding in the background. Aromas of candy floss and Turkish delight continue to open up this vibrant rosado. The palate offers …
Wine: The Black Pig Prize Shiraz Winemaker: Fuse Vintage: 2016 Variety: Shiraz Price: £19.99 Buy Now: Virgin Wines A big bulky Shiraz, with a powerful bouquet and wonderfully extracted flavours of inky dark fruits, vanilla, liquorice and leather. Incredibly intense, with grippy, almost wild tannins, a bit of a mouthful for sure and …
