Cosmopolitan Magazine Names MYX Light Wines the Best Celebrity Wine

December 4, 2021 by evebushman

NEW YORK, NY – Cosmopolitan Magazine has named MYX Light the Best Celeb-Owned Wine, featured in the November 2021 issue, “The Only Awards You’ll Care About This Season Are the Cosmo Wine Awards.”

According to Cosmopolitan editors, “The flavor of MYX Light is gentle, sweet, and, dare I say…fun?! Plus the can is petite, cute, and pairs well as an accessory for any Friday-night outfit, on or off the red carpet.” https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a37793128/cosmo-wine-awards-2021

“We are delighted to receive the recognition and award from COSMOPOLITAN Magazine, for Best Celebrity-Owned wine. Their audience is exactly right for MYX Light wines.” says Peter Reaske, CEO of MYX Fusion Beverages.

MYX Beverage LLC, (with investor Nicki Minaj), introduced a new, lower-calorie wine in portable single-serve cans this summer, after many years of success with low alcohol MYX Fusion Moscato and Sangria.

“The MYX Fusions team collaborated with the winemaker in Italy to produce these amazing wines. They represent a milestone in winemaking, using age-old methods of early harvest and creative innovation. MYX Light offers consumers what they are demanding—two high-quality wines with great flavor, fewer calories, and less guilt, all packaged in convenient 4-packs of cans,” adds Reaske.

MYX Fusion Light Rose and Light Chardonnay in portable cans are ideal for holiday entertaining, with delicious and refreshing wines that are easy on the waistline. Serve them at holiday parties and dinners, or gift them as stocking stuffers for wine-loving friends and family.

MYX Light Chardonnay is a slightly dry wine with fresh, crisp notes of apple, Romagna pear, and lemon. MYX Light Rosé is delightfully refreshing and made from Barbera grapes showcasing hints of strawberry, raspberry, and citrus.

75 calories per serving (5oz serving)
125 calories per 250ml can
13g total carbs per 250ml can
5% alcohol by volume
Sold in 4-packs of 250ml cans
Imported from Italy
Gluten-free, Kosher OU-certified
$12.00 per 4-pack SRP

About MYX Beverage LLC

MYX Beverage LLC was formed in 2013 in New York. The company is comprised of strategic partners committed to taking the growing wine industry by storm. Get in the Myx and follow MYX everywhere at @MYXFusions and https://www.facebook.com/myxfusions. MYX Fusion Beverages are certified OU- Kosher.

BEST CELEB-OWNED

“The flavor is gentle, sweet, and, dare I say…fun?! Plus the can is petite, cute, and pairs well as an accessory for any Friday-night outfit, on or off the red carpet.”

MYX Light Chardonnay, $12

How To Start With Wine

December 3, 2021 by evebushman

The question I’m asked most often is how did I get into wine and spirits? Well, over 20 years ago when I was a community columnist for my local newspaper and the editor of our weekly entertainment section asked what else I could write about. At that time I had been in a few wine clubs, and a book club, so I offered to do book and wine reviews. Pretty quickly I started receiving unsolicited bottles of wine on my doorstep for review, as well as invitations to wine dinners and wine events. No one sent me any free books, and the rest, is history.

What I want to share with readers today is how you can get into wine. I will share two simple ideas that should get anyone, aficionado or beginner, further into exploring and understanding wine.

Sensory Class

How are people able to describe aromas and flavors like fruit and spice in their wine? Why do they say things like, “This reminds me of milk chocolate-covered cherries”? No, there aren’t any cherries added into your glass of red wine, only a memory of a particular fruit. Your memory has to be either fresh, or well worked like most sommeliers through practice/a lot of tastings. So how can you do it? Let me tell you.

A few years back I was a guest at J. Lohr in Paso Robles. Besides a tour and tasting our group of wine writers/sommeliers were offered a sensory experience, led by red winemaker Steve Peck, which was meant to help us describe aromas. Peck had several small glasses of different Torani syrups, the same syrups you see in coffee bars, and the identity of each was written on a card, placed upside down in front of each. We were to sniff each syrup and guess what the flavor was, then reveal the card to see how we did. Immediately following this exercise we swirled and sniffed a few wines, and as you may have guessed, were easily able to call up the recent memories.

I emailed Torani after this eye-opening experience and they sent me about a dozen bottles to do my own classes, which I enjoy doing often. I also add glasses with items from my spice cabinet, honey, coffee, flower petals, earth, tree bark, tobacco, chocolate…you name it and I’ve probably put it in a cup. So you don’t have to have the syrups, you just need to take a trip through your house and garden. And then think about the smells.

Learning About One Variety At A Time

Years ago Eve Wine 101 Staff Writer Rusty Sly introduced “Grape of the Night” in one of his blog posts. He invited wine lovers to meet him at a local wine bar, with a bottle of the one variety of wine that he pre-chose. So say one month Rusty suggested a wine like Grenache and people then brought their favorite bottle of Grenache – which of course meant wines from all over, including Spain where the wine is called Garnacha. Then Rusty would read from his notes, about the history of the particular varietal, where it’s most popular and of course, the flavor profile. Guests would sample each – I know this part well as he roped me into serving most often – and describe the aromas and flavors they found. They were literally educating their palate on one variety at a time, and looking for small nuanced differences in each bottle.

Now, what will you do next to delve further into your wine journey?

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Montecucco, Tuscany: The 2021 Harvest Is Over, With Expectations For An Excellent Vintage

November 23, 2021 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – The Montecucco Consortium announced the end of the harvest and released its 2021 harvest report, which indicates an average quantity decrease of 20–25% compared with 2020 but excellent quality for the Sangiovese that arrived in the cellar.

The 2021 growing season was difficult. The April frost was a serious challenge for the region, in particular for wineries below 200–240 m ASL. A cold May caused an irregular budbreak, and summer drought stress contributed to further reducing harvest volumes. The unusual drought persisted as a problem from January to September: 204 mm of rain compared to an average of 450 mm annually during the last 20 years.

But favorable sunny weather conditions accompanied the flowering and the ripening of the grapes from June through September. During the latter month, there were significant day-to-night fluctuations in temperature with variations as high as 15–16° C, significantly helping tannins soften and enhancing the aromatic profile of the wines.

Montecucco producers did their best to minimize the water stress conditions on the vines by controlling excessive vegetation and working the land almost daily to ensure a sufficient water supply. Some wineries were able to intervene with emergency irrigation systems. Thanks to this diligent management, producers reached the yield of 70 quintals per hectare required by the Montecucco Sangiovese DOCG regulations and 90 quintals per hectare required by the Montecucco DOC regulations. Montecucco winemakers were able to evaluate and manage the situation successfully, dividing the harvest into several phases according to the particular needs of each plot.

“We’re expecting the Sangiovese wines to age for a long time,” said Giovanni Battista Basile, president of the Montecucco Consortium. “We’re more than satisfied with the excellent health of the grapes that arrived in the cellar, with no traces of either downy mildew or powdery mildew. The ‘clean’ work in the vineyards that is in the DNA of our territory—with 85% of wineries certified organic—encouraged these results and helped make the vines more resistant. Our winegrowers have made a significant effort to implement earth-friendly practices such as organic pest management and the use of natural and organic products, as well as engaging in innovative studies and research projects on environmental sustainability, in partnership with important institutes and university centers.”

# # #
About the Montecucco Consortium (Consorzio Tutela Vini Montecucco):
Founded in 2000 and representing 68 wine producers, the Montecucco Consortium is committed to the stewardship, protection and promotion of the Montecucco wine denomination. The consortium ensures high quality through a set of formal production guidelines for the entire winemaking process, from cultivation to bottling, including a strict traceability system that allows consumers to know the origin of each wine purchased. The consortium’s ability to provide day in and day out support to local growers, assist in brand promotion and focus on the quality of the end product have earned the organization the trust of numerous leading estates and attracted some of Italy’s most renowned producers. For more information visit conosorziomontecucco.it

Eve Finds Perfect Taste Balance with this Perfect Pairing: Piave DOP Cheese and Spumante Garda DOC

November 19, 2021 by evebushman

Well this was a new one: Being offered a selection of Italian sparkling and still wines, the cheeses to pair them with and all coming from the same part of Italy! Not something I get delivered every day so I said yes. Below I’m sharing the invitation, my tasting notes and further information:

Fall is here, and everyone is ready for a new tasty experience: Europe’s Perfect Pairing is here to be your next favorite pairing partner. If you are interested in tasting the perfect pairing of Garda sparkling wine and Piave cheese, I would be happy to send you samples… (of) convenient, delicious, and authentic northern Italian products for your Autumn gatherings.

For the Tasting

Use your next dining occasion to explore some of these styles, laying out a spread of delicious Piave cheeses. Taste the fresh and mild flavors of subtle Mezzano D.O.P. (61/180 days) and rich Piave Stravecchio (aged more than 12 months), the bright and vibrant Garda Spumante DOC will cleanse their palates between bites. Removing Piave cheese from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving, will allow for it to be at the perfect temperature to enjoy.

Garda Spumante DOC wines are just as delicious as easy to drink as well; simply pop the cork, pour, and enjoy. The elegant, refreshing flavors perfectly complement the richness and intensity of your Piave DOP cheese board, and vibrant, fun-loving bubbles add just the right touch to a casual or festive gathering.

My Notes on the Garda Wines, Cheeses and Pairing

Collezione Riondo Brut NV: Pretty sea glass green glass bottle is very eye-catching, the wine itself is a very pale gold with a slight silvery-green sparkle on the edge. Aromas that wafted up through the tiny bubbles included candied pears, French baguette, apple pie, talcum powder and wet sand from a freshwater beach. In the mouth I got lively green apple, honey, lemon and sugary limeade.

Pjafoc Vino Spumante Extra Dry White: Palest yellow of all in color, with tiny bubbles hanging onto the edge of my glass for a very long time. Aromas reminded me of creamy butter, fresh cut cucumber for crudité, white peach, biscuit and overturned dry earth. For the taste I noted that lemon-lime again, pineapple, freshly cut apple slices and a general sense of coolness. A wine to enjoy outdoors on a hot day. The wine had a creaminess as well as a medium acidity, and a very long length on the palate.

2020 Azienda Agricola Prendina Pinot Grigio: The color was a soft yellow with some sparkle, then I noted bruised apple, dust, stone fruit, dry earth and freshly cut pears on the nose. Tasting the wine I was reminded of fruit cocktail in juice, just peeled orange, tangerine, lime zest and lingering citrus fruits.

2020 Cantina Colli Morenici Chardonnay: Light yellow in color, then on the nose there was some sweet Meyer lemon, unsalted butter, grapefruit and ash followed by bright flavors of yellow apple, lemon-lime soda, a nice round mouthfeel, mild acidity and medium finish. I really liked the freshness on this one.

Mezzano D.O.P. (61/180 days) described as fresh and mild.

With the Collezione Riondo Brut NV: Taking a sip of the Riondo first, then taking a bite of the cheese, it was indeed mild, but then rinsing the wine over the cheese, the cheese grew much sharper, nuttier and creamier for me in the mouth, which made the pairing interesting and elevated the pairing. (Note: I’ve had bubbles and cheese before. I either wasn’t paying attention – which I now will do – or this is specific to these cheeses and these sparkling wines!)

With the Pjafoc Vino Spumante Extra Dry White: Doing just as I did above, rinsing the wine over the cheese, I found the pairing similar, maybe not as sharp but certainly sharper with the wine than alone. And again, the pairing elevated the whole experience.

Piave Stravecchio (aged more than 12 months) described as bright and vibrant

With the Collezione Riondo Brut NV: Even though a younger cheese it had a bit more layers on the palate – nutty, salty, briny – then with the wine I noted salt was really heightened, which was nice with the bubbly wine.

With the Pjafoc Vino Spumante Extra Dry White: The saltiness and nuttiness came out in the cheese with the wine, again, as it did with the Riondo. As an observation, these are both hard cheeses, so when you roll the wine over the cheese it also softens it. Again, making the experience something to linger over.

More

After spending too much time cooped up indoors, everyone is ready to take their gatherings and meals to a new tasty level, and Europe’s Perfect Pairing is just begging to be your next favorite pairing partner. Hailing from beautiful northern Italy, Piave DOP cheese and Spumante Garda DOC wines share distinctive origins, deep history, and authentic production techniques—and they are the perfect palate complements for one another. Simple and portable, yet utterly delicious, elevate your taste buds with this sparkling and cheesy dynamic duo.

With Garda DOC wines, there’s no corkscrew required: Covering 10 historical appellations on the shores of Lake Garda, this DOC centers around sparkling wine production. Gentle, rolling hills curve around the southern end of the large lake, where cool breezes and abundant sunshine produce perfectly ripened grapes with freshness and acidity. White Garda Spumante DOC wines are typically based on Chardonnay, Garganega, Pinot Grigio, and Trebbiano, while rosé Garda Spumante is based on Pinot Noir, Corvina, and Merlot, and both may be made in the traditional or Charmat method.

In the beautiful alpine province of Belluno, the intensely flavored Piave DOP cheeses are made. A hard cow’s milk cheese, Piave DOP is named after the Piave River, which traces its way from mountaintops to the plains, winding its way through the land used to create these distinctive cheeses. A long tradition of dairy and cheese making has been passed down through the generations in this area, and modern cheesemakers use these traditional methods to craft five age designations of Piave DOP cheese…

About the Partner Organizations

THE GARDA DOC was founded in 1996 to underline the value of the varietal wines of the 10 historical appellations of the Garda area between Lombardy and Veneto. www.gardadocvino.com

Consorzio Di Tutela Del Formaggio Piave DOP

The Consortium for the Protection of Formaggio Piave (Consorzio per la Tutela del Formaggio Piave in Italia), with offices in Busche di Cesiomaggiore (BL), was established in 2010 to protect the PDO (DOP in Italian) from misuse, counterfeiting, and unfair competition. The Consorzio also has the task of protecting the

typicality and the peculiar characteristics of Piave cheese, promoting it on all markets – both national and international – and upholding it by providing product information to consumers. www.piavecheese.com

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

A New Hero Rises in WhistlePig’s The Boss Hog VIII: LapuLapu’s Pacific

November 14, 2021 by evebushman

SHOREHAM, VT. (PRWEB) – WhistlePig is pleased to reveal the eighth edition of The Boss Hog: LapuLapu’s Pacific. Like each edition of The Boss Hog before it, WhistlePig explores uncharted territory in the world of Rye to create a whiskey that is powerfully complex, distinctly unique from anything they’ve done before, and – keeping true to The Boss Hog’s promises as introduced by WhistlePig’s founder – stupendous. LapuLapu’s Pacific is not only the eighth edition of WhistlePig’s most sought after annual limited edition, but also the sequel to The Boss Hog VII: Magellan’s Atlantic, released last year and awarded Best Rye Whiskey at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Continuing the epic circumnavigation voyage across the Pacific, The Boss Hog VIII features Straight Rye Whiskey aged for nearly 18 years in new American Oak, followed by a double finish in high toast barrels that previously held small batch, single island, aged Philippine Rum.

Photo: One More Dram

The Boss Hog VIII draws inspiration both historically and symbolically from the Philippines where Magellan met his fate at the hands of Filipino hero LapuLapu during the battle of Mactan. Magellan’s journey ended in the Philippines on April 27, 1521, when the local victory dispelled the Spanish fleet. Five hundred years later, LapuLapu is celebrated as a symbol of strength and independence – his likeness captured in the hand-made, collectible pewter pig that crowns The Boss Hog. For avid collectors, no home bar is complete without The Boss Hog VII and VIII sequel.

The Philippines is one of the world’s lesser-known Rum producers. The Rum barrels for The Boss Hog VIII make their own long journey from a small island just southwest of Cebu, where the famous battle occurred. They previously held small batch Rum for between seven and ten years. Just like Rye Whiskey, extended barrel aging enriches Rum’s vanilla, caramel, and oak notes, mellows the profile, and adds layers of complexity to the final spirit. A high toast profile imparts another dimension of toffee and spice flavors.

“On the heels of Magellan’s Atlantic, it was a great challenge to find the perfect finish for the most special Rye barrels in our warehouse. We were already tracing Magellan in depth, and when we discovered LapuLapu’s story we knew we had to track down the best Philippines Rum barrels we could for the sequel. Before maturing Rum for 7-10 years, the barrels were coopered from American Oak and originally held bourbon. In this way, they’ve made their own circumnavigation from American whiskey to the Philippines, and back again to us in Vermont,” says Meghan Ireland, Blender, WhistlePig Whiskey.

“The whiskey rest first in 7-year-old small batch Philippine Rum casks, followed by a shorter finish in 10-year-old small batch Philippine Rum casks. The older rum is darker and bolder, requiring less time for its barrels to impart notes in the whiskey. The end result is an amazingly unique and delicious whiskey.”

“Like all of our boldest experiments, this one was not without its trials,” adds Ireland. “We actually attempted to send the whiskey itself around the world to Spain, to finish in the place where just one ship from the original fleet finally returned. Those barrels have yet to come back to us, so for the most daring collectors out there, the hunt is on.”

On the nose, lush vanilla aromas give way to delicate tropical notes including underripe bananas, freshly picked lemon and molasses. Upon tasting, LapuLapu’s Pacific offers an abundance of fresh ground cinnamon with citrus zest, butterscotch, and lights notes of toffee. The finish is rich with tanned leather, light brown sugar, nutmeg and allspice with a long-lasting black pepper rye spice.

The Boss Hog VIII: LapuLapu’s Pacfic is available in a 750ml bottle and is bottled at proof, between 104.8 – 106.5 (52.4-53.3% ABV), with a suggested retail price of $499.99. Like the other editions of The Boss Hog before it, LapuLapu will be sold at a variety of premium liquor stores, bars and restaurants across the United States and is now available for sale at shop.whistlepigwhiskey.com.
About WhistlePig Whiskey

Founded in 2007, WhistlePig has become the #1 distiller in the ultra-premium and luxury Rye Whiskey category in North America, featuring the bold and often untapped flavor of Rye. WhistlePig is leading a surge of innovation in the emerging field of North American whiskey. As the most decorated Rye whiskey – having received the coveted ‘Best in Show Whiskey’ title from the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, WhistlePig is widely viewed as the world’s finest Rye. With the opening of its distillery on its 500-acre Vermont farm in the fall of 2015, WhistlePig has also become one of the leading farm-to-bottle Rye whiskeys in the world.

Indigenous Grapes From Southwest France: A Tasting

November 12, 2021 by evebushman

I love French wines – Bordeaux, Rhônes and Champagne – so when I got an invitation to taste three wines from Southwest France I accepted the challenge as I was very curious about tasting wines from grapes and wineries I may not be as familiar with. Information on each wine is from their technical sheets are below, followed by my tasting notes and finally more information on the wines from Southwest France.

DOMAINE DU MOULIN

GAILLAC MAUZAC 2017 FRENCH SPARKLING WINEbubble

REGION Southwest France

APPELLATION Gaillac

GRAPES Mauzac

VINTAGE 2017

TASTE

Gaillac’s local Mauzac grape lends itself extremely well to this medium-sweet style of wine. Full of spice and apple flavors, the wine is delicious as an aperitif. (The méthode ancestrale involves bottling a partially fermented wine which then finishes its fermentation in bottle.)

PRODUCER

Jean Paul and Dominique Hirissou took over the family winery in 1976. As soon as they arrived, they chose to focus on increasing the quality of their wine with each vintage by sourcing the best soils in the area, building a new winery adapted to produce wines of great quality, and opening the doors for wine tourism. Nicolas Hirissou, their son, is now in charge. Upon returning from his studies in 2002, he was handed the keys to the winery and granted the ability to take control of Domaine du Moulin wine production.

My Notes: Bubbles furiously – and for a long time – worked their way to the top of a golden-hued colored wine. Fruit cocktail in heavy syrup, pears, cling peaches and banana – tons of fruit – with just a hint of jasmine tea wafted to my nose. My mouth was coated with that same fruit, now honeyed, crisp and lasting. Very interesting wine.

DOMAINE DUFFOUR

CÔTES DE GASCOGNE BLANC

REGION Southwest France

APPELLATION Cotes de Gascogne

GRAPES Gros Manseng, Ugni blanc, Colombard

VINTAGE 2020

TASTE

Notes of melon, clean, pure flavors of citrus fruit, an engaging herbaceous note, and a pleasingly dry finish.

PRODUCER

Domaine Duffour resides in the small town of Lagraulet-du-Gers, and since the early 1980’s proprietor Michel Duffour has dedicated himself to producing quality red and white wines. Since taking over his father’s property, he has entirely replanted the vineyards with Gros Manseng, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat, having kept the old Colombard and Ugni Blanc vines that he also uses for the production of armagnac.

My Notes: Shiny gold with a slight green in color, with aromas of white peach, lime zest, vanilla ice cream and a rocky riverbed. Tasting the wine reminded me of lemon-lime soda, pear, green apple, white pepper; with a soft minerality, fresh and very clean, acidic and yet round in the mouth. Super different, and I really liked this wine.

NATURE SECRETE SAINT MONT RED “Nature Secrete”, 13% alcohol.

REGION Southwest France

APPELLATION Saint Mont

GRAPES 70% Tannat, 15% Pinenc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

VINTAGE 2018

TASTE

Generally characterized by a beautiful concentration of flavors, often revealing notes of red and black fruits such as blackcurrant.

PRODUCER

The Saint Mont appellation combines 200 wine growers who cultivate 1,200 hectares of vines. “The wines of Saint Mont are still very young, having been awarded AOVDQS status (Superior Quality Wine with a Designation of Origin) in 1981, and unanimously granted AOC status in 2011,” explains Eric Fitan, a wine grower and President of the Appellation.

My Notes:

Opaque and very dark purple was my observation of the color. The nose delivered notes of sweet stewed black and blue fruits, rich earth, black licorice, coffee bean and pipe smoke. On the mouth I was reminded of dried blueberries, crushed blackberries, black pepper, spices, a rich mouthfeel, dry and tannic with a medium finish.

About Southwest France Wines

Southwest France is the leader in grape diversity with up to 300 discovered grape varieties and 130 indigenous grape varieties, all of which produce a large array of outstanding wines in every color.

Home to the grapes that started it all, nearly half of the varieties in the region are indigenous. Some famous grapes such as Malbec and Cabernet Franc originate from the region. Known for its strong cultural roots and rich history unique to the terroir, these native varieties embody the legacy of Southwest France’s particular geography and centuries of careful selection. Southwest France invites you to discover its genuine pool of biodiversity and to discover true originally born from historic origins.

About Interprofession des Vins du Sud-Ouest France 

Interprofession des Vins du Sud-Ouest (IVSO) is a professional organization of wine producers, cooperatives, and trading companies in the Southwestern corner of France. The organization represents 16 Protected Designation of Origin and 12 Protected Geographical Indication in this region of France bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, and Spain and the Pyrenees Mountains on the south, while other official organizations manage the remaining appellations of the Southwest France region. Headquartered in Toulouse, the IVSO is actively building its membership and increasing its promotion of the wines of Southwest France around the world.

For more information on the Wines of Southwest France, please visit their website.

Les Légendes Bordeaux Wine Tasting

November 5, 2021 by evebushman

The latest wines sent to me for review had a unique twist: They were from several different areas of Bordeaux, under one winery name, and all made by the same winemaker – but the real twist is that the brand, Les Légendes, is under the Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafitte) brand and their winemaker Diane Flamand. I was getting excited, and it turns out my excitement paid off. Below are my tasting notes, and below that information from Les Légendes.

-Les Légendes Bordeaux Blanc 2020 – $19

85% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Semillon. Pale yellow in color, and the aromas reminded me of yellow apple, lemon zest, limeade, wet river rocks and a hint of local honey. Expecting a crisp palate…and the wine delivered, with that same lemon-lime acidity, cantaloupe melon, pears and I felt that the wine would be perfect for a cool breezy night after a hot day. Very lively and refreshing.

-Les Légendes Bordeaux Rouge 2018 – $19

Aromas of sweet ripe plums, milk chocolate, blackberry jam, black peppercorn, delicate red roses, some spice but in a nice balance with the fruit. The palate delivered dry dark cherry, blueberry, blackberry, delicious charred steak, peppery, lots of spice coming through and medium tannins. Pretty amazing for its youth and price point.

-Les Légendes Saint-Émilion 2018 – $40

The nose gave off waves of blue fruit, grilled mushroom, tri-color peppercorn, toasted oak and Indian spices; while the taste reminded me of a bowl of dark red cherries, peppery – but again in a very nice balance with the fruit – and also dark chocolate, soft raisins, with a nice long finish.

-Les Légendes Médoc 2018 – $26

Again I got that very dark plum, crushed berries, tobacco smoke, forest floor, green peppercorn and milk chocolate covered cherries. On the mouth I noted multi layers of dry dark fruit – as well as a hint of red fruit, mild pepper, chewy tannins and an incredible length. Again, I’m thinking a great tasting wine for a great value.

-Les Légendes Pauillac 2017 – $54

Very dark garnet color may be due to its age, opaque. Stewed red fruit, perfumy, toast, mint and something that reminded me of black licorice on the nose followed by flavors of bright red fruit, crushed blueberry, earthy, a rich mouthfeel, bracing tannins and another incredible length.

From Les Légendes

Légende offers consumers a journey through the different terroirs and tastes of the heralded Bordeaux region through the eyes of one of the region’s most prestigious producers, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). “It all started in the nineties. We wanted to offer our consumers a discovery of the different terroirs and tastes of Bordeaux. A name had to be found. A name that could live up to the expectations. A hint to the Rothschild family and the rich history of Château Lafite. A légende was born.”

Crafted by long-time Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) winemaker, Diane Flamand, Légende wines demonstrate a remarkable balance between tradition and modernity. With a product range that includes each of the five major appellations in Bordeaux: Bordeaux Rouge, Bordeaux Blanc, Médoc, Saint-Emilion and Pauillac, Légende wines have an approachable style, inspired by every day drinkability and enjoyment.

Les Légendes

Tasting Casa Mexico Tequila

October 29, 2021 by evebushman

Received some interesting tequila from Casa Mexico for review, what made it interesting you may ask? Well, for one the two aged expressions, the Reposado and Añejo, benefitted from time in new American oak barrels that weren’t “tainted (by) the flavor of old whiskey” and char – which I couldn’t wait to sample for myself.

Tasting:

(The quoted sections are from Casa Mexico)

Blanco

“The Blanco tequila is a straightforward expression without any aging.”

Toasted corn, cream, vanilla bean, citrus, mown grass and without any nose burn at all; tingly mouthfeel, some of the same notes from the nose on the taste – the cream, vanilla and citrus – with an extra-long finish. Highly sippable.

Reposado

“The Reposado ages for a minimum of six months…in new American White Oak Barrels…The new American oak barrels allow a truer expression of the tequila to shine through without tainting the flavor with the char of old whiskey.”

A bit sweeter nose than the Blanco, with aromas of Kettle Corn, vanilla icing, dates and figs; and again no burn. The taste was smoother than the Blanco, but spicy on the palate, with background flavors of white pepper, vanilla yogurt and dried citrus fruit – and an even longer finish. Pleasantly quaffable on its own.

Añejo

“Añejo ages for a minimum of 12 months…in new American White Oak Barrels, a twist on traditional aging methods.”

Nose: Vanilla bean ice cream, sweet cream, incense, no pepper or spice and that clean American oak simply resonating throughout. Flavor: Extremely smooth, reminded me of a sweet rye whiskey, pepper and hard butter toffee candy. Extremely pleasant. Made a Añejo Old Fashioned with this one. (Build over ice in a Martini shaker: two ounces Casa Mexico Añejo, one dash aromatic bitters and ½ teaspoon simple syrup or agave. Shake, pour into iced Martini glass, garnish with orange peel.)

From Casa México:

Founded by Mexican-American Eric “Don Buccio” Buccio, Casa México was born from a dream to create a high-quality tequila that celebrates his family’s Mexican heritage and rich traditions while supporting its farmers and creators. The brand is now championed with fellow Mexican-American partners, actor Mario Lopez and boxer Oscar de la Hoya.

Based in Los Angeles, CA, each tequila is crafted from 100% estate-grown blue agave from red volcanic soil in the Los Altos highlands region of Jalisco, Mexico, ensuring the highest quality possible. The tequila is created at Hacienda Capellanía in Jalisco, a farm and distillery boasting more than 100 years of jimador history, including several generations of family farming.

With a deep passion for the traditional distilling process, each of Casa México’s three tequilas are made using a traditional organic process with specific attention to eco-friendly measures. The water used for the distilling process is from a natural underground spring and gray water is repurposed to water the peaches, avocado and other crops grown on the estate. Hacienda Capellanía employs around 50 workers, paying fair wages with full benefits for employees to ensure their community and its families are taken care of.

Casa México Tequila currently boasts a trio of tequilas: Blanco, Reposado and Añejo. The Blanco tequila is a straightforward expression without any aging. The Reposado ages for a minimum of six months and Añejo ages for a minimum of 12 months – both in new American White Oak Barrels, a twist on traditional aging methods. The new American oak barrels allow a truer expression of the tequila to shine through without tainting the flavor with the char of old whiskey.

Casa México Tequila can be found in California, Nevada, Texas, Colorado, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Florida, and Illinois. Distribution and expansion are growing quickly, with several other states in the pipeline including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Louisiana, Georgia, New Hampshire, and more. Additional national expansion throughout the United States is planned for 2022 and beyond.

Casa México Tequila

Watkins Is Feeling Sweet About New Bitters Launch

October 28, 2021 by evebushman

The heritage spice and extract company breaks into bitters category with two classic flavors to elevate cocktails and mocktails this holiday season

WINONA, Minn.,/PRNewswire/ — Just in time for holiday toasts and seasonal sips The Watkins Co. is bottling everything it has learned from 150 years of perfecting flavor and bringing it to liquor stores and cocktail/mocktail lovers across the U.S. Watkins Bitters are crafted from natural, high quality ingredients to create complex flavor profiles in two classic varieties: Aromatic and Orange. They are the perfect holiday complement to top shelf liquor selections or as a flavor boost to winter mocktails.

Watkins breaks into bitters category with two classic flavors to elevate cocktails and mocktails this holiday season.

The new Watkins Bitters are made with premium-grade quality fruits and spices, with no artificial colors or flavors:

Watkins Aromatic Bitters are crafted with Watkins vanilla beans and flavors derived from natural ingredients like dried tart cherries, hibiscus flowers and quassia bark.
Watkins Orange Bitters combine the sweet zest of orange with Watkins flavor favorites clove and cardamom in this classic cocktail enhancer.

A trusted brand in home kitchens for generations, this new offering is a natural step for Watkins who saw an opportunity to bring its at home flavor expertise to a growing number of home cocktail and mocktail enthusiasts. Both bitters come in 4 fl. oz. and 11 fl. oz. glass amber bottles with a beautifully-designed label to add a note of distinction to any home bar.

“It is not just home cooking that saw an upward trend this past year; we now have quite a few home cocktail enthusiasts who have been perfecting their mixology skills,” says J.R. Rigley, president, The Watkins Co. “Our focus has always been on providing consumers with the very best at home flavor experience, so moving into the beverage category and meeting a need for bitters carefully crafted with natural ingredients is a great opportunity for us—and great news for home bar aficionados looking for accessible, high quality flavorings.”

All Watkins products are Non-GMO, free from dyes, high-fructose corn syrup, added MSG and other artificial ingredients. Watkins Aromatic Bitters and Watkins Orange Bitters are now available online at Watkins1868.com, amazon.com and at select liquor stores nationwide. The MSRP is $8.99 (4 fl. oz.) and $14.99 (11 fl. oz.).

About The Watkins Company
Crafted in the USA since 1868…Naturally.™ Watkins is committed to making gourmet flavoring products from high-quality ingredients, meaning they have no artificial flavors and colors, GMOs, corn syrup or gluten. From the bluffs high above the Mississippi River in Winona, Minnesota, comes the purity of The Watkins Company. Our tried-and-true products have been good and natural through and through since 1868.

Five Prestigious Napa Valley Mountain AVAs, One Extraordinary 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon

October 26, 2021 by evebushman

What happens when the highest quality fruit from Napa Valley’s 5 prestigious mountain AVAs are blended together? You get 1 extra special and unique Cabernet Sauvignon! “The Five Peaks of Napa Valley” 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from The Vice Wines is finally ready to make its debut. 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, “The Five Peaks of Napa Valley” – ($150.00 / 2 x 750ml bottle set)

Napa Valley produces 4% of California’s wine, and only 5% percent of Napa’s wine production comes from mountain fruit harvested from 5 prestigious AVAs: Atlas Peak, Mount Veeder, Diamond Mountain District, Howell Mountain, and Spring Mountain District.

In 2018, an outstanding vintage, The Vice founder/winemaker Malek Amrani harvested grapes from each of these 5 uniquely different mountain AVAs and set out to craft an extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignon. Each small batch was aged in select New French Oak barrels for 22 months, blended and barrel rested for a further 2 months and aged in the bottle for 12 months.

A powerful young Cab. Dark, ripe, intense and deeply concentrated. Even with an additional year of bottle aging in our cellar, this one is years from peaking. Leather, game meat, hickory and licorice are currently wrestling one another, backed with waves of blackberry, fig, boysenberry and black currant. The massively tannic mid-palate shows the strength to age. The back half kicks in with apple wood, dark cacao and cedar that linger into a lengthy finish. – Malek Amrani, The Vice Founder/Winemaker

Open and decant it to enjoy now, age it for years to come, or wrap it up for the holidays—the silk-printed gold bottle alone makes it gift-worthy.

The ABV is 15.00%. 384 cases were produced. All wines by The Vice are low in sulfites, made with sustainable farming and winemaking practices and are certified vegan.

About The Vice Wine

The Vice is a Napa Valley luxury wine brand made in small batches. Each batch is crafted from single grape varietals sourced from hand selected vineyards that best express the grape varietal and the region that it comes from. The Vice is a result of passionate labor, sustainable farming, a long expertise of the wine industry and a current understanding of the consumer’s wine trend. The Vice is about as personal of a brand as it gets. Everything is done by the founders. We drive the truck to get our fruit, we crush, bottle, label; we do everything by hand when possible. We design the labels, work the market, and sell the wine. We believe that the best wines in the world aren’t the most expensive ones. We thrive at providing the best quality wine at the best value. For more information visit thevice.com and follow on @thevicewine.