Joachim Splichal has been a master chef for years, helming one of Los Angeles’ most iconic restaurants, Patina, and he currently oversees 65 restaurants worldwide. So perhaps it should not be a surprise that he has turned to making his own wine from his native France, specifically a Provence-style rose’ … Read the rest
Reviews
Wine of the Week: Wrath 2016 Syrah
The Grapes of Wrath
Fortunately, Wrath Wines are not angry, but they are specific. Case in point, this single vineyard Syrah out of Monterey, the San Saba Vineyard, will benefit from a little decanting before drinking. It’s a big boy but has class, allowing the deep rich fruit to open … Read the rest
Wine of The Week: Frank Family 2017 Pinot Noir: 92 Points
Frank Family is celebrating over 25 years in the wine business, a feat owner Rich Frank might not have thought possible given the fierce competition out there. But what their 2017 Carneros Pinot Noir shows is that truly wonderful wines always have an audience. I’ve had Frank Family wines over … Read the rest
2014 Bootleg Red Blend: Illicit Quality
Though to “bootleg” means to hide contraband, or illegally make something, the 2014
Bootleg Red Wine offers nothing but transparency. A kitchen sink blend of Syrah,
Merlot, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Verdot, the fruit is mainly from Napa
with about 13% of it coming from Mendocino. There’s a … Read the rest
Bonfort’s Wine of The Week: 2013 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon, 95 Points
Josephine Tychson became the first female winemaker on record in the Napa Valley
when she established what would become Freemark Abbey in 1886. We don’t know for
certain how good the wines were then, but the 2013 Cabernet would make her proud.
Pulled from five different vineyard sites, all located … Read the rest
Summer in a Can
Barefoot Moscato Spritzer: Sometimes, simplicity is best. Barefoot’s line of canned spritzers are in that vein, simple beverages but delightfully executed and quite tasty.
The Moscato uses Muscat of Alexandria and Chenin Blanc along with carbonated water then adds natural flavors of peach, tangerine and honey making this wildly drinkable. … Read the rest
Wine of the Week: : 2016 Murrieta’s Well The Spur, 90 Points
Though Livermore Valley has a long and enviable wine history dating back to the 1840s when grapevines went into the ground, it nonetheless has been overshadowed by its northern neighbors. That oversight is being corrected with a slew of exceptional wines.
Murrieta’s Well traces its heritage back to 1884, and … Read the rest
Ragged Branch Wheated Bourbon, 92 Points
Ragged Branch Wheated Bourbon Whiskey is the four-year-old brainchild of Alex Toomy (owner of Ragged Branch) and the late, great distiller, Dave Pickerell. The whiskey was released in September of last year and since then it’s received its share of positive reviews from consumer and trade journals. And it’s about … Read the rest
Levendi Legacy 15th Anniversary Edition, Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, 97 Points
Levendi Legacy 15th Anniversary Edition, Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, 97 Points
This deep cherry colored wine, with the most subtle hint of amber makes for a wonderful pour. We let this breathe for a bit and it paid off in spades. Blueberry, blackberry, and currant turn to subtle licorice on … Read the rest
Levendi Sweetwater Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016, 96 Points
Levendi Sweetwater Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016, 96 Points
Dark cherry red in color, this wine sparkles, adding to the appearance of any restaurant dining table. First impression on the nose is clove (in careful measure). Dry delivery to the palate, dark fruit aromas, followed by restrained mocha. This … Read the rest
Levendi Estate Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2016, 93 Points
Levendi Estate Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2016, 93 Points
Stunning clarity, in a straw crystal clear appearance, this chardonnay epitomizes what Napa fans hope for. Abundant ripe fruit on the nose in the form of dried pineapple is met with less-ripe flavors of apple to alert the senses that something wonderful … Read the rest
Bare Bone Vodka, 96 Points
The case is made time and again. A vodka must have something different to justify its space on the already overcrowded shelves at on- and off-premise. Why take down one vodka to make room for another? The answer is always the same: flavor profile. Bare Bone Vodka is proof that … Read the rest
Bonfort’s WOW, Groth 2015 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
It was 1981 when Dennis and Judy Groth purchased a 121-acre parcel of land in Napa and from that day to this the focus has been on producing a handful of wines but specializing in Cabernet Sauvignon. Their 2015 Reserve Cabernet is such a comprehensive Cabernet, allowing the fruit to … Read the rest
Hertelendy Vineyards 2014 Signature Mountain Blend – 96 Points
A beautiful example of high mountain fruit, the 2014 offers a deep and complex nose that shows the high-quality fruit at its peak flavor. Deep black in color, the fruit shines through with a well-balanced but subtle wine with character. Impressive and balanced tannins, with dark stone fruit, blackberry and … Read the rest