It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Saint Helena’s Smith-Madrone wines, especially their dry Riesling, and have been reviewing them for a few years now. When I received their latest emailed promotion for a six-bottle pack of their new Chardonnay, Riesling and Rose, I snatched them right up! (Note on the photo: In all…
Aged in first-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks, the new permanent expression brings a sweetness derived from oak and malt forward, in balance with Lagavulin’s unmistakable smoky character ISLAY, Scotland, /PRNewswire/ — Few places in the whisky world match the intrigue of Islay, an island in the Western Hebrides of Scotland, where whisky-making is in the fabric of…
Another spirit I discovered at the recent WSWA Access Live event was Campesino Rum, and its founder Hatton Smith. I only had a few moments with Hatton but in that time I easily picked up on his enthusiasm and dedication to crafting his spirits. I happily took a bottle of his Campesino Silver home for…
This private tour and wine tasting was made possible as part of the exclusive Distinctive Voyages package provided by travel advisors associated with Travel Leaders Network to their clients. During our recent nine-night Atlas cruise from Lisbon to the Canary Islands, we had the great luck to make some amazing friends that included Julie and…
Winemaker Gerard Zanzonico may very well be the first winemaker I interviewed when I began writing about wine in February 2012. I had sent an email to the winery he was with for many years, Del Dotto in Napa, and someone agreed to let me meet with him. From our first meeting to what I…
Two barrels of Bourgogne Côte d’Or Chardonnay “Secret de Famille,” vintage 2024, set sail aboard the cargo ship Grain de Sail II. One of the first wine houses to take the plunge, Albert Bichot ventures into a unique sensory expedition, with mineral and saline notes. Saint-Malo, January 16, 2025Firmly moored to the deck, the two 228-liter…
Today I’m sharing reviews I did with fellow blogger Ashley of SipWithMeLV of the “recently launched award-winning Hedonistas de la Fe Mezcal…Having just won Gold and Silver medals at the SIP Awards 2023…(these) deep, rich and complex mezcals crafted from proprietary recipes handed down from four generations.” Below are our collective notes, and below that is a portion of…
If you’ve been following my reviews for any length of time you know that I started sharing my wine notes well over ten years ago, about the same time I first met winemaker Gerard Zanzonico at Napa’s Del Dotto. We’ve shared many wonderful wines of Gerard’s over the years, and when he finally retired to…
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…
The use of wood, whether it is French oak, or Slavonian, whether it is barrels of different dimensions, the time of aging, the various toasting, because of all these details, it demands attention and respect. The mastery is the wise and equilibrated use, to create a perfect balance between the wine that ages in and…
