O’leary Cabernet Merlot: More Palatable than its Namesake (if only slightly)
Kevin O’Leary is a man of many titles — businessman, millionaire, conservative leadership candidate and utter douchebag to name a few. And I suppose he felt it was high time to add wine maker (or, more accurately I’m sure, wine investor) to the list. Naturally,…
19 Crimes Shiraz is Criminally Good
I first spotted the dusky, opaque bottle of 19 Crimes Shiraz on the wine shelf of a friend’s house. It’s branding looked so good I was compelled to ask about it. They loved it — a wine they kept around for an occasion that called for…
Antinori Pèppoli Chianti Classico Makes a Pefect Meal Pairing
There are some who argue that wine is meant to be had with food. Others (including myself) believe some wines are best consumed solo. But, on occasion, a wine like Antinori Pèppoli Chianti Classico comes along that pairs so well with a meal, you wonder why you…
Mulderbosch Faithful Hound: A Love Story
Some wines you drink because they taste amazing. Some wines you drink for the nostalgia value – there’s a special memory or association attached to it. And sometimes, there’s that magic combination of both, something I’m pleased to have found in the wonderful Mulderbosch…
Bear Flag Smooth Red Is Solid Throughout
The use of “smooth” right in the title immediately had me worried. Smooth is the ultimate booze buzzword, which more often than not means “we didn’t even taste it, but we could likely justify it as smooth.” Nonetheless, once again, I was suckered in by…
Revolution Red is the Perfect Party Wine
Smoth’s Rating: PartyTime/10 I’m not sure if the vintner of Revolution Red would find my assessment of his/her wine flattering or insulting, but regardless here it goes — Revolution Red is a straight up party wine, as appropriate for a red Solo cup as for a crystal glass. But…
‘The Show’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a Wine That Shows Off
It’s rare to find a universally appreciable wine. Some prefer reds, some prefer whites and some prefer beverages other than wine. But The Show 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon challenges this notion by providing a wine so well-balanced and accessible, it’s able to be enjoyed by an incredibly diverse audience. I…
Catena Makes a Magnificent Malbec
Sometimes you find a wine, so delicious, so affordable, so consistent you can’t help recommending it for nearly every occasion, regardless of a person’s personal preference or snootiness level. Catena Malbec is that wine and more — it could arguably be my favorite “$20 and under” in…
The Importance of Aeration: 2006 Brunello Di Montalcino Principesco
Most people opening a wine are about as concerned with aeration as they are with the shape of the glass they’re drinking from — which is to say, very little. Sometimes, it’s not overly important, if you’re just popping a cheap-and-cheerful “drink now” wine. It’s…
Quality Rings True: The Rich, Delicious Ringbolt Cabernet Sauvignon
There are a few wines that hold a special place in my heart for introducing me to the finest of fluids — wines that transcended my beginner palate, and appealed to me before I could even stand the smell of whiskey. Inevitably, not all of…