
2013 Faustino V, Reserva, Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain
Deep red color with ripe fruit on first nose. More ripe stone fruits, blackberries, and jam make this a well-developed and ready to drink now wine.
90 Points
2017 Dueling Pistols, Dry Creek Valley Red Blend, Sonoma
Gorgeously dark and brooding scarlet in the glass. Full bodied and bold with a sweet and savory nose. Tons of dark fruits, spices, and soft tannins with each sip. Soft and well-balanced, but full bodied. This is a fruit forward, inky, and earthy win… Read the rest
2016 Dueling Pistols, Dry Creek Valley Red Blend, Sonoma
Delightfully dark inky color. On first nose, dynamic fruit and earthiness. Well-rounded and velvety tannins and a hearty mouthfeel with a touch of acid. Lots of stone fruits, jam, and savory goodness.
92 Points
2017 Dueling Pistols, Red Blend, Paso Robles
Deep and inky purple in color with lively fruit and spice on the nose. Ripe blackberries, plums, and a hint of spice on first sip. A smooth and polished finish make this a wonderful wine. An absolutely delicious and supple blend of 50/50 Petite Sira… Read the rest
2016 Dueling Pistols, Red Blend, Paso Robles
Lovely deep black plum color with pepper and black cherry notes on first nose. A well-rounded and integrated blend of Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Soft and ready to drink out of the bottle, the mouthfeel is silky smooth and voluptuous with bl… Read the rest
2016 Campillo, Crianza, Rioja, Spain
Deep red color and well-balanced fruit to oak on the nose. Deep and rich with a touch of sumptuous dust that gives it a lush mouthfeel. Traditional black fruits and berries create a well-structured and pleasing wine. Open and let sit for 30 minutes.… Read the rest
2018 Portia Rueda, Verdejo, Spain
Bright floral with melon fruit notes jump out at you. Delightful, well balanced body with excellent acid and structure. A refreshing and thoroughly pleasing wine.
93 Points
Weed Cellars Creates New Category in Alcohol Space
Weed Cellars, a wine brand located in Los Angeles, California, is kicking the alcohol industry off its laurels. Only a couple of months after the label launched (July 2019), it’s already situated in 20 states, and it looks like it will be in the rema… Read the rest
My Favorite Neighbor Releases New WIne, Harvey & Harriet
My Favorite Neighbor Vineyards of Booker Winery has released a new wine, Harvey & Harriet. Officially released earlier this month, the 2017 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon blend is the latest addition to the range of premium wines in the leading Paso… Read the rest
Smoother, Purer Spirits in 20 Minutes
“Good enough” is rarely good enough anymore. The distilled spirits market is changing, driven by consumers with increasingly sophisticated tastes. Any product that doesn’t measure up, gathers dust on the shelf.
With demand for smoother, richer produc… Read the rest
Time For A New Ritual
Sometimes a cocktail is more about the moment than the buzz. Just because you’re dieting, driving, downshifting, making a baby or training for a marathon shouldn’t mean you have to be satisfied with just club soda. Consumers now have a ne… Read the rest
8 Tips On Starting A Spirits Brand
In 2015, Jan and Marsh Mohktari risked it all to start the Golden State Distillery, with their first spirit being Gray Whale Gin. Going into this new venture neither Jan nor Marsh had a background in distilling or the spirits industry, but they dove… Read the rest
Discus Announces Inaugural Conference Date
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), an advocate for the U.S. spirits industry, today announced it will host its Inaugural Conference on Feb. 17-19, 2020, at the Omni Hotel in Louisville, KY.
“For the first time in our history… Read the rest
Brady’s Wine Warehouse Partners With Drizly in Louisiana
Drizly, one of the nation’s largest alcohol e-commerce marketplace, announced that it is available to New Orleans residents in the Orleans parish starting today, following the states approval of a bill legalizing online alcohol sales and delivery in… Read the rest
How To Do The Beer Salt Thing Right
Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner and that means get-togethers with old friends, spicey food and Mexican beers. Those of us who are organized will remember to buy Mexican beer, but domestic will do just as well in a pinch. Either way, the salte… Read the rest
4 Reasons Why Muscadet Is Getting More Popular
What’s the trendy, affordable, up-and-coming wine of the summer? Muscadet, according to The Absinthe Group’s Wine Director Phillip Acquafresca.
Muscadet is a growing wine region located in the western Loire Valley and is the only region in the… Read the rest
Three Olives Launches Rosé Vodka For Millennials
Three Olives Rosé Vodka is a new flavored vodka that combines the refreshingly fruity taste of rosé wine with signature smooth, crafted vodka. To celebrate the great taste and mixability of Three Olives Rosé Vodka, the brand has teamed up with Betche… Read the rest
Mastering The Cocktail Salt Rim This Cinco De Mayo
That moment when ten customers ask for salt and rocks margaritas at the same time #seriously? Pat Trevino of Twang, the leading beverage salt manufacturer in the country, says get ready and know which salts you plan to use, way ahead of time! Not all… Read the rest
Whole Foods Names Pacific Highway Wines 2017 Supplier For Outstanding Innovation
Pacific Highway Wines & Spirits received the Whole Foods Market 2017 Supplier Award for Outstanding Innovation, recently. The 6th annual Supplier Awards are Whole Foods Market’s highest honor for producer partners who embody its mission and value… Read the rest
#CIROCSummerSquad Re-releases Colada Bottle
Sean “Diddy” Combs and the makers of CÎROC Ultra Premium Vodka announced the return of Summer Colada, the first flavor named as part of the 2018 CÎROC Summer Collection. Originally released in 2017 as a limited edition, CÎROC is relaunchi… Read the rest
Gilles Bogaert Appointed CEO of Pernod Ricard EMEA and LATAM
Gilles Bogaert, Managing Director in charge of Finance, IT and Operations, has been appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pernod Ricard EMEA & LATAM. A Comex member, he will report to Alexandre Ricard.
Gilles, a graduate of ESCP Europ… Read the rest
Fladgate Declares 2016 Vintage Quality, First in 5 Years
The Fladgate Partnership officially announced the declaration of three 2016 Vintage Ports: Taylor Fladgate 2016 Vintage Port, Croft 2016 Vintage Port and Fonseca 2016 Vintage Port; each will be available nationwide beginning in September of this year… Read the rest
New Managing Director for Baron Philippe de Rothschild’s Branded Wines
Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A., announced the arrival of Véronique Hombroekx as Managing Director of the Branded Wines division.
After a successful career within several internati… Read the rest
Lafite Through The Lens of He ChongYue
He ChongYue is one of the most esteemed contemporary artists in the circle of Chinese photographers today.
More recently he interpreted the cellars at Lafite in this stunning assembly of insightful imagery.
Born in Beijing in 1960, he took up photogr… Read the rest
Jean-Marie Heins CMO At Broken Shed
Broken Shed Distilleries, Inc. announced that Jean-Marie Heins has been named Chief Marketing Officer. In this role, Heins will be responsible for the overall marketing strategy and implementation for Broken Shed Vodka, and will report to Samuel A. B… Read the rest
Gran Passione Returns to Veneto Roots
Gran Passione announced the return to its Veneto roots to focus on north-eastern Italian selections beginning this month. The core wines, all imported by Winesellers, Ltd., Gran Passione Rosso Appassimento Veneto IGT, Gran Passione Bianco Veneto IGT… Read the rest
JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset
All Photos Credit: Jeremy Ball
JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset has expanded with the launch of JCB Spirits — three vodkas (classic, caviar infused and truffle infused) and a gin distilled from a wine-base made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced from… Read the rest
Yeungling Launches First Year-Round Beer in 17 Years
D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc., America’s Oldest Brewery, is adding a new beer to its iconic core product portfolio, Yuengling Golden Pilsner, a modern pilsner crafted with the perfect balance of hop and malt character for crisp, smooth refreshment.… Read the rest
Belvedere Releases Ginger Zest
Belvedere Vodka just launched a new flavor, or maceration, Ginger Zest. The liquid is a refreshing blend of tangy ginger and juicy spring lemon with a touch of grapefruit. It’s perfect for the season and warmer months ahead, with a unique flavo… Read the rest
The Mezcal Collaborative National Cocktail Competition
The Mezcal Collaborative and Panorama Mezcal announced The Mezcal Cocktail Mission, a multi-city cocktail competition with Pelotón de la Muerte, aiming to develop an original cocktail that belongs to mezcal using only four ingredients. As the cocktai… Read the rest
Buffalo Trace Releases 3 Vintage Bourbons, SRP $2,500 Per Bottle
This spring Buffalo Trace Distillery will unveil three new O.F.C. Vintage bourbons. These rare bottles are each vintage dated according to the specific year in which the bourbon was distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery. This vintage release includes… Read the rest
Elevating Canned Wines With AOC Sourcing And Haute Design
Multi-award winning rosé wine brand Mirabeau en Provence, takes a bold step introducing premium, appellation-specific Pure Provence rosé in cans this spring. Pure Provence is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Cinsault, sourced from Coteaux Varois en Pr… Read the rest
Last Drop To First Port
The Last Drop team has introduced its very first Port release—The Last Drop 1870 & 1970 Centenario “Old Colheita” Tawny Port Duo— an exquisite debut spanning 100 years of port that expands the company’s distinctive portfolio to… Read the rest
D’USSÉ Cognac’s Social Hashtags Reach Broad Audience
In an era when everything can be delivered at the push of a button, ultra-premium cognac D’USSÉ™ has partnered with leading on-demand alcohol delivery service Saucey to deliver the authentic cognac in a completely new way. For those over 21 yea… Read the rest
Woodford Reserve’s $1000 Mint Julep
Woodford Reserve, the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky Derby, has revealed its $1,000 Mint Julep Cup available at the Kentucky Derby benefiting the Jennifer Lawrence Arts Fund. Now in its thirteenth year, the 2018 Cup pays tribute to Kentucky by of… Read the rest
Braiden Albrecht Made Winemaker at Mayacamas
Mayacamas, the historic Napa Valley vineyard and winery is pleased to announce the promotion of Braiden Albrecht to winemaker. Braiden manages the winemaking process, under the tutelage of renowned consulting winemaker Andy Erickson. Together they ar… Read the rest
Box Distillery To Change Name To High Coast Distillery
The Board of Directors of Box Destilleri AB plans to change the company’s name following the discovery in 2017 of a brand collision. Bacardi-owned whiskey company Compass Box drew attention to the confusion that could arise among whiskey consumers du… Read the rest
Lux Row Distillers Opens on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Nearly two years after breaking ground, Lux Row Distillers marked its grand opening with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on its 90-acre property in the heart of Bardstown, Kentucky. Joined by Dick Heaton, the mayor of Bardstown, and a crowd of comm… Read the rest
Symington Family Estates Declares 2016 Vintage Port
Symington Family Estates, the Oporto, Portugal based wine group renowned for its Vintage Ports, officially declares 2016 a Vintage year. This is the fourth Vintage declaration for all of its Port companies since 2000. Each of its long-established Por… Read the rest
Craft Whiskey Spurs Growth for Jesse James America’s Outlaw Whiskey And Bourbon
Craft Whiskey and Bourbon is booming. It’s not just craft beer that is pushing sales up in the liquor category. From millennials to baby boomers, the craft drink movement is growing by double digits. Born in the south, whiskey and bourbon still have… Read the rest
Crystal Head’s Memorial Day Packaging
Show your pride for the U. S. of A this Memorial Day and 4th of July with the new and limited Crystal Head Vodka miniature multi-packs.
In beautifully colored glass bottles of red, white, and blue, Crystal Head Vodka delivers the same ultra-premium,… Read the rest
Hawaii Wine Supports Young Female Athletes
Na Wahine O Kalani is a new nonprofit scholarship fund, founded recently to support the spirit and success of Hawai’i’s emerging female athletes ages 12-18 who compete in any athletic medium. “We have the most incredible young athle… Read the rest
Baggetts Announce The Alpha Omega Collective
Vintner Robin Baggett, managing partner of Alpha Omega winery in Napa Valley and Tolosa winery in San Luis Obispo, and vintner wife Michelle, have unveiled the Alpha Omega Collective, a new umbrella brand for those two enterprises and their Spanish w… Read the rest
Karen Hoskin, Owner of Montanya Distillers, Takes Over Interim Leadership of Ladies of American Distilleries
Seven years ago, a group of women in the craft distilling industry banded together, with leadership from Samantha Unger Katz of New York Distilling Company, to form Ladies of American Distilleries (LOAD).
This month, Samantha Unger Katz has announced… Read the rest
District Distilling’s Premium Released in Austin and Houston Stores
Checkerbark American Dry Style Gin, Checkerbark Barrel Rested American Dry Style Gin, and WildJune Western Style Gin will are making their debut into the Texas marketplace this month. All three gins feature wild-foraged Texas junipers, which are han… Read the rest
Jura Launches Two More in The Series
Jura Single Malt Whisky is set to launch two new single malt whiskies into the US market, as part of its new range of remarkable whiskies – the Jura Signature Series. Jura 10 which launched exclusively in the US in January 2017 will be joined b… Read the rest
New RTD Cocktails From Half-Seas
Half-Seas Sparkling Cocktails has three “true” ready-to-drink canned cocktails to offer. The Bramble, Daiquiri and Paloma are made with real spirits, rather than malt or other fermented alcohols, and a touch of effervescence for craft cocktail qualit… Read the rest
A. Smith Bowman Distillery Introduces Tinkerman’s Gin
Smith Bowman Distillery is announcing a brand new line of signature gins, called Tinkerman’s Gin, produced by the Distillery’s own “tinkerman” Master Distiller Brian Prewitt.
Smith Bowman Distillery, known for producing award-winning spirits, will be… Read the rest
Sulfite Purifier Goes Retail
Inspired by this aunt’s sensitivity wine, 28-year-old (now 31) entrepreneur/scientist James Kornacki created an innovative product that filters out what an estimated three million Americans are sensitive to…sulfites.
Üllo is a wine purifier tha… Read the rest
Brewery Ommegang and HBO Announce Game of Thrones-Inspired Collection This Spring
As Game of Thrones approaches its final season, Brewery Ommegang and HBO Global Licensing are planning to launch the Royal Reserve Collection, a collectible series of four special, limited release beers, each designed and brewed as an homage to one o… Read the rest
Allagash Brewing Company Releases James Bean
Coffee + Tripel + bourbon barrels = James Bean. James Bean – Allagash Brewing Company’s Belgian-style golden ale that’s aged in bourbon barrels and blended with cold-brewed coffee from local roaster, Speckled Ax – is now shipping. It feat… Read the rest
Montelobos Mezcal Supports Wolf Conservation For Lobo Week
Montelobos Mezcal has partnered with the @WolfConservationCenter for Lobo week that is now until 3/30 to bring awareness to the Mexican gray wolf, aka the lobo. Montelobos is named for the “Mountain of the Wolves” that overlooks Palenque in Santiago… Read the rest