Four Great Barrel Aged Spirits from Philly
This article was originally published in 2015Whiskey & RumI love my brown spirits, in particular the whiskies and rums. Pour white spirits into a charred oak barrel, roll it into a warehouse …
Top Rosé Wines
Villa Des Anges “Old Vines” Rosé, Pays d’Oc Here’s a pretty little folly from winemaker Jeff Carrel of the Languedoc-Roussillon. Bright and wild strawberries on the nose, with a plume of …
Growing Grapes without Irrigation
In 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown issued an executive order mandating a 25% reduction in water use. Not surprisingly, the news went national; this was a first in America. Future of …
French & Spanish Wine Reviews
Spanish Wine ReviewsAnecoop Casa L’Angel Old Vines, Valencia (SP)This bottle smells like a pirate ship: aromas of ocean air, old wood, and gun smoke. It’s another story for the palate, which …
Wine Ratings
Clos du Val Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley (Cali)For 40 years, this vineyard in the valley has been bottling top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon and their mature craftsmanship shows. The same winemaking finesse shows in …
Philadelphia Inquirer: Try a slug of this with your pizza
The story was originally published by the Philadelphia Inquirer on May 4, 2008. Inqlings: Try a slug of this with your pizza Author: Michael Klein Mike Schmidt hit 548 home runs in …
California Wines Reviews
Terlato “Devil’s Peak” Cabernet Franc, Pope ValleyThe wine is bright, ruby, and shows no bricking with medium color concentration, no sediment, and medium-minus viscosity. Aromas of blueberry, smoke, and hints of …
Bootlegger’s Bible (Cocktail Recipes)
French 751 ounce Gin1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice1/3 ounce whiskey sugar syrupice cubes1 1/2 ounces sparkling wineThe drink was created in 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris. Felt like …
Wine Reviews
Victor Vineyards Roadside RedFun little Zinfandel-based bottle from the town of Victor in California’s Central Valley. Red fruit, port-y raisins, licorice, and milk chocolate notes. My current “house red” for everyday drinking.Callabriga DaoA serious …
Say No to Wine Snobs
Wine Snobs or Wine Ninjas?We should probably be sad about the emotional state of Wine Snobs, but we aren’t. Admittedly, we’ve made a few of them cry. But we don’t train those types …
Wine Reviews
The top wines from our wine tasting classes. These are the bottles that excited and challenged us this year. And these aren’t just the expensive bottles, either: there are plenty here in the …
Sonic Decanter: The New Wine Gadget Demystified
Sonic Youth Decanted, or how we ended up in the Washington Post On December 10th, we were featured in a Washington Post Online article disputing the claims made about the Sonic Decanter. The …
Feudi di San Gregorio 2007 Serpico
Aglianico Wine Review Aglianico is an essential wine, creating some of the most expressive, complicated, and massive wines one can experience. I have reviewed the Serpico’s little brother the “Rubrato recently, and …
Recipes for Food & Wine Pairings
A few recipes from our Food & Wine Pairing classes. Truffled Parmesan Polenta with Caramelized Onions 4 cups chicken stock 2 cloves minced garlic 1 cup stone-ground cornmeal 1 tablespoon fine salt 1 bay leaf …
Sella and Mosca 2005 Marchese di Villa Marina
Sardinian Wine Review This bottle of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from 2005 is an excellent example of a beautifully aged red. While in it’s youth, this bottle offers massive amount of fruit and …
Lanciola 2009 Le Masse di Greve Chianti Classico
Chianti Wine Review A hedgehog playing in a pile of autumn leaves. This bottle starts off with a very specific wet fur-and-oak-leaf aroma that was both surprising and delightful. There is …