2021 Starmont Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

 

The first Starmont expression was produced over 35 years ago with a single varietal.  The label, which is part of the Merryvale family of wines, now produces four varietals under winemaker Jeff Crawford.  Crawford has been "all things Starmont" for ten years now and has been in the world of wine for twenty year.  2021 was an overall wonderful year for Cabernet due to the intense flavor of the berries despite generally smaller yields.  We have been tasting some really lovely Cabs from this year and this one is no exception.

The 2021 Starmont Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon (87%), Teroldego (7%) and Cinsault (6%).  The fact that Crawford chose the latter two grape varietals for this blend is nothing short of impressive.  No doubt the Italian Teroldego grape added exquisite colors to this bottle and helped promote those fruit forward notes upon entry.  The Cinsault helps add a tick of extra ripe berry aromas and textured tannins. For the United States, Cinsault is planted mostly in the North Coast AVA but can also be found in Yakima Valley AVA in Washington and the Texas High Plains AVA.  Crawford really went outside of the box here and it shows in the presentation of the package.

Deep red to maroon in the glass, this Cabernet opens with strawberry rhubarb pie, very ripe raspberries, Mediterranean spices, damp soil and tar.  It is immediately inviting and swirling allows those aromas to literally leap from the glass.  Raspberry, plum and pomegranate are introduced to the palate first, followed by floral pedals, tea leaf and a hint of minerality.  This has a very satisfying and tender finish.  We are really impressed by this bottle and it proves once again that you don't have to pay a ton of money to find a wine that is delicious and one that could be cellared for a number of years.  We think with a few years in the bottle, it may even be more remarkable.  Bravo!

ABV:  13.9%

North Coast AVA

Winery:  Starmont Vineyards

Suggested retail price:  $25.00

Drink The Bottles score:  91+/100

Seacrets Distiling Company Bourbon Whiskey

 

Ocean City, Maryland is a huge tourist town during the summer months and also the home of Seacrets Distilling Company.  Seacrets Distilling is the first distillery in Ocean City since Prohibition and it has become a destination spot for locals and out-of-towners alike.  The state-of-the-art distillery features antiques as part of the structure and features from 1933 (or earlier), which is the year when Prohibition ended.  They are currently producing handcrafted gin, vodkas, rums, whiskeys and today's selection, the Seacrets Distilling Company Bourbon Whiskey.

Every part of this bourbon is created in house - mash bill, fermentation and distillation.  The grains are locally sourced (MD and DE) and the mash bill of GMO-free corn, rye and barley helps create a uniquely flavored whiskey that is aged four years.  

The color is more harvest gold than your traditional amber and you immediately catch aromas of charred oak, grilling spices, dry wheat toast and earthy qualities.  The taste is a stark and pleasing contrast against the nose, presenting orange peel, maple candy, baking spices, leather and toffee.  The finish lingers for just a moment and you catch a hint of peppercorn and dried herbs on the back end.  We are going to try this in an Old Fashioned soon.  This bourbon is not overly sweet and would likely be a great marriage to the cocktail.

ABV:  45.0% (90 proof)

Distillery:  Seacrets Distilling Company

Suggested retail price:  $60.00

Drink The Bottles score:  90/100

 

2019 Prager Winery Aria White Port

 

In St. Helena, California sits an unassuming property that is sans the flashiness, bells, whistles and modern architecture of many of its larger and more popular neighbors.  But that doesn't mean that what is inside is any less special.  Prager Winery & Port Works has been in the Napa Valley for an astounding forty-five years, quietly making very special fortified wines of differing varietals.  This family owned and operated establishment is now run by the second generation of family and they are eager to greet you and show you their pride and joy - port wines!

The 2019 Aria White Port Wine is made of Napa Valley Chardonnay and it shows off honey gold colors in the glass.  Sweet on the nose with aromas of cooked pear, orange candy and baked apple crisp.  While most folks probably taste Port wines chilled, we opted to drink this at room temperature (about 67° F) from our favorite mini Beglian beer tasting glass.  The non-chilled tasting option allows for more flavors to introduce themselves like candied apple, marzipan, honey and wisps of citrus.  It's incredibly mouth-coating and would be an excellent pairing with shrimp cocktail and salty cheeses.

We don't get the opportunity to taste many White Port wines so this was a real gift for us.  Prager Winery & Port Works appears to have an idyllic setting, surrounded by the family members behind the label.  If you're looking to make a trip to Napa Valley and Port wine is your jam, we highly encourage you to check them out.  We are really looking forward to tasting their Vintage and Tawny Port wines soon.  If we could change one thing about this bottle, it would be to put a whiskey-style of stopper as the closure rather than a traditional wine cork.  That way it could be stored and enjoyed longer.  Overall, very well done!

FYI, the winery's website lists the 2020 Aria White Port available at the link above.

ABV:  20.0%

Napa Valley AVA

Winery:  Prager Winery & Port Works

Suggested retail price:  $65.00

Drink The Bottles score:  91/100

 

2021 Sullivan Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Coeur de Vigne

 

On the north end of Napa Valley in St. Helena, California sits a wine estate that until recently, has been unassuming for fifty years.  Sullivan Rutherford Estate was the dream turned into reality of James O'Neil Sullivan, a visionary who became passionate about wine in the 1950's when and his wife received a grape arbor as a wedding present.  Home winemaking eventually led to a move to Rutherford where Sullivan would plant roots - literally.

The 2021 Sullivan Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Coeur de Vigne wine consists of Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), Merlot (14%) and Petit Verdot (6%).  We initially did not decant this wine and allowed only "air time" in the glass.  A unanimous decision to decant for about thirty-five minutes made the difference with this one.  Homemade strawberry jam color solid to the rim.  This "heart of vine" Cabernet offers plum, graphite, wet gravel road, and toasted baguette on the nose.  The decanting brought the firm tannins alive and presented flavors of raspberry puree, violet, hints of oak,  and bits of cocoa.  Give this one some time to open up and it will reward you for the next 15 years or so.  In four or five years this could be teetering on perfection in a bottle!  If you're someone who enjoys a dry aged steak with your wine, this marriage would be impeccable.

Sullivan Rutherford Estate is now in the hands of managing partner, Juan Pablo Torres Padilla and we anticipate that this label will continue to produce incredible and cellar-worthy wines.

ABV:  14.8%

Napa Valley AVA

Winery:  Sullivan Rutherford Estate

Cases Produced:  2,600

Suggested retail price:  $80.00

Drink The Bottles score:  93+/100

2018 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

We are always delighted to taste and share Napa Valley wines from 2018 because that was overall an amazing and exceptional vintage across the board.  The 2018 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a prime example of the delicious juices that were born out of this vintage.  

To appreciate all that is Merryvale, you really need to understand the history and humble beginnings of what originally started out as Sunnyhill Winery in 1933.  The Mondavi family got their start here, running wines by rail cars to northern California and other industrious cities.  Sunnyhill later became a co-op and the name because Sunny St. Helena and the building then because a wine storage facility in the 1970's.  It wasn't until 1983 when a group of investors/partners created the first Merryvale label.  

In 1996, Switzerland navtive Jack Schlatter, who became a partner just 5 years prior, became the sole owner of Merryvale, along with his family and son René.  Eventually René would marry Laurence, whose family had been making wine in Switzerland for six generations.  This story would travel half way around the world and end up in St. Helena where the Schlatter family continues to produce distinctive wines at the historic property.

This expression is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), Cabernet Franc (17%), Petit Verdot (2%) and Malbec (2%) and the combination is married in wonderful unison.  Medium ruby red color with subtle blueberry pie, tobacco leaf, dried herbs and earthy undertones.  The mouthfeel is very much in balance with the medium acidic brightness against the ripe plum, oak, blueberry and savory finish.  The micro tannins are very welcoming and this wine is a stand out of the vintage.  Drink now or cellar this for 5-10 years; either way it is classic Napa and it is very lovely!

ABV:  14.5%

Napa Valley AVA

Winery:  Merryvale

Suggested retail price:  $74.00

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

Pine Bluffs Distilling Straight Rye Whiskey

Mutt here!  Most of you may not know this, but my family and I have been having a love affair with Wyoming for many years.  It is one of our "go to" destinations on vacation whenever we can - at least once a year.  It made perfect sense when I was given the opportunity to taste this revolutionary straight rye whiskey.  It is Pine Bluffs Distilling Straight Rye Whiskey from where else but Pine Bluffs, Wyoming.

Pine Bluffs, Wyoming is about as far southeast as you can go without landing in neighboring Nebraska and their "Farm to Flask" approach is both honorable and impressive as they meticulously oversee every single step from growing grains to bottling.  When we first discovered Pine Bluffs and saw the John Deere equipment adorning their website, we knew these were good people!  They are currently producing a half dozen whiskies, a gin and a vodka.  Today we're checking out the straight rye whiskey.

This bottle was really a nice surprise.  Pine Bluffs Distilling tells you bottle is "what the devil sold his soul for" but to me, it tastes more like angelic tears.  Yes, it has that spicy side, but it is so much more than your typical peppery rye.  The dark honey color in the newly designed bottle is inviting and the mash bill of 68% rye, 14% malted white wheat, 14% malt and 4% oats initially gives off an earthy vibe combined with cinnamon and dill.  This bottle from Batch 10 was opened about 15 minutes prior to tasting neat in a Glencairn.

First tastes gave me spearmint and dill flavors and the mid-palate spice settled down to a nuttier profile of almonds and pecans.  The finish really lingers for minutes and this is a GREAT introduction into our world of Pine Bluffs Distilling!

Check out Mutt's 3 minute YouTube video and inital thoughts!

ABV:  49.5% (99 proof)

Distillery:  Pine Bluffs Distilling

Suggested retail price:  $49.00

Drink The Bottles score:  91/100

 

Pine Bluffs Distilling Ryed Bourbon

Jeff here.  Mutt and I tag teamed the bottles we received from Pine Bluffs Distilling out of Pine Bluffs, Wyoming and we were super impressed by everything from the packaging, their website and of course, the whiskey.  Today I'm tasting and discussing Pine Bluffs Distilling Ryed Bourbon, a high corn mash bill that consists of corn (60%), rye (20%) and malt (20%).  

When Chad and Theresa Brown set out to build their dream in southeast Wyoming, the distillery was a pipe dream from the creation of home distilling.  The unassuming, state-of-the-art distillery "in the middle of nowhere" now supports the local community with everything from purchasing local grains to providing local jobs for people passionate about whiskey and other spirits.

The first thing I noticed about this Batch 11 Ryed Bourbon was the bottle.  If you've been around here long enough, you know how I feel about the importance of smart packaging from the top to the bottom and the front to the back.  The WYOMING FARM TO FLASK embossing, the weight of the bottle and the simple but effective label round out the package.  But enough about that.  Let's get into it.

You'll notice when you pour this into the glass that it is not necessary crystal clear.  Pine Bluffs Distilling does not chill filter their spirits, so you're are likely going to get that raw haziness that comes from leaving out that process.  Respectable.  Dark caramel color with a sweeter nose that encourages roasted corn, vegetable garden, honeysuckle and cinnamon aromas.  Incredibly smooth and full-bodied feel that coats the mouth with flavors that resemble the nose.  After a couple of sips I picked up additional flavors of herbs, pumpkin, roasted sweet potatoes and the finish.  If you're a lower proof fan or are just looking for something to sip neat, this bottle deserves your attention.  It's delicious!

Jeff's YouTube video review of Pine Bluffs Distilling Ryed Bourbon

ABV:  46.0 % (92 proof)

Distillery:  Pine Bluffs Distilling

Suggested retail price:  $45.00

Drink The Bottles score:  92/100

 

Town Branch Overproof Kentucky Straight Whiskey

 

Lexington Brewing & Distilling Company produces some of our favorite products from both the brewing and distilling sides of things.  Their bourbon barrel ale is an absolute game changer in the beer arena.  So far, every one of their whiskeys have resonated with us and our readers, and this one is no exception.  This is the Overproof Kentucky Straight Whiskey under the Town Branch label.  

This is a smart blend of four Kentucky straight whiskeys:  Bourbon Whiskey (70%), Wheated Bourbon Whiskey (10%), Double Oak Whiskey (10%) and Rye Whiskey (10%).  At just 10% Rye and the remaining liquid Bourbon, this is incredibly smooth and flavorful with a finish that is literally mouth-watering.  The mash bills on these whiskeys is:  Bourbon (72% corn, 15% rye, 13% barley), Wheated Bourbon (70% corn, 22% wheat, 8% barley), Double Oak (72% corn, 15% rye, 13% barley finsihes in 90% rye, 5% corn, 5% barley barrels) and Rye (90% rye, 5% corn, 5% barley).  The whiskey ages from four to eight years old.

Those are a lot of numbers to digest, so lets get to the important stuff.  What did we think?

Tasted from a small sample bottle (you can see that in the video below), we tasted this three ..... yes THREE times!  After filming, we finished this bottle because we kept finding new descriptors and the last tasting was after we let this sit in a Glencairn (neat) for about 45 minutes.  Initially we discovered cotton candy, sweet hard candy, fig Newtons and clove on the nose.  There was a nicely balanced proportion of sweetness up front that carried through to the chewy and savory flavors.  Golden raisin, flavored honey sticks, baking spice and pumpkin pie spice rounded out the layers palate-pleasing goodness.  Another bonus about this bottle?  It is an incredible value!

Check out our 3 minute YouTube video!

ABV:  52.0% (104 proof)

Distillery:  Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.

Suggested retail price:  $39.99

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

Row 94 Straight Bourbon Whiskey

It's no secret that sometimes celebrity-endorsed products don't work out.  The celebrity walks away with a sack of cash and the company behind the madness is stuck trying to convince consumers that the product is worth spending their hard-earned money.  Unfortunately, the result is often having an abundance of non-selling product sitting on shelves for months upon months.  That will NOT be the case here.  We tasted and thoroughly enjoyed Row 94 Straight Bourbon Whiskey, distilled by Green River Distilling Company and endorsed by country and bluegrass superstar Dierks Bentley.  The name comes from Nashville's Music Row and the year that Bentley fell in love with country.  The Thunderbird logo represent his album Riser.

When we first popped this cork, we knew we were in for a ride.  Gold-orange in the glass, this bourbon is full of orange marmalade and sweet chocolate aromas.  In the mouth is a savory and bright candy bomb, framed by chocolate covered orange cookies, Italian sweet chocolate, Biscoff cookie butter, island fruits and toffee.  The mash bill is 70% Kentucky grown corn, 21% rye and 9% malted and row barley.  We are huge fans of Green River Distilling, so we had a sneaky suspicion we were going to be instant fans of this bourbon.  And we are.  And you will be too. 

Gimmick?  Hardly.  Flavorful and worth the price?  No doubt.  Will Bentley and Green River produce additional expressions?  Time will tell.  But, if they do, we will be first in line to try them!

Check out our YouTube review of Row 94!

ABV:  47.0% (94 proof)

Distillery:  Green River Distilling Company

Suggested retail price:  $49.99

Drink The Bottles score:  91/100

 

2019 Hedges Family Estate La Haute Cuvée

 

The Red Mountain AVA of Benton County, Washington produces some of the finest grapes of the region, cultivating into wines that have unique expressions and Old World charm.  The 2019 Hedges Family Estate La Haute Cuvée is a fine example of terroir and the feel of a wine that could be cellared for 15+ years.  Winemaker Sara Goedhart has nearly 10 years as head winemaker at Hedges Family Estate and her twenty plus years in the business is evident in the bottle we have today.

Gorgeous, deep eggplant color that oozes to the edge of the glass.  This wine was not decanted but it was provided about twenty minutes of air time in the glass prior to tasting.  The first thing we noticed about this wine was how herbaceous it is and not the fruit bomb we may have been expecting.  Again, Old World style here all the way.  Fresh blackberries, dark chocolate shavings, pencil lead, mocha and leather blended effortlessly, each trying to take their turns to shine but not overpowering one another.  On the tongue is a satisfying, mouth-coating offering that offered more black fruits, baked Shiitake mushroom, garden herbs, fennel and damp earth.  

This is one of those wines that surprised us, but in the loveliest way possible.  It spent over 2 years in oak and the tannins are refined and minute.  Our recommendation?  Buy a half or whole case of this wine, open a bottle per year and see how it continues to develop.  We think there could likely be fifty more descriptors that could come out of this bottle.  It's a real treat.

ABV:  13.5%

Appellation:  Red Mountain AVA

Winery:  Hedges Family Estate

652 cases produced

Suggested retail price:  $75.00

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100 

William Larue Weller 2024 Bourbon

 

While we can't say for certain that the 2024 release of William Larue Weller is the best BTAC bottle, it sure put a smile on our face and made us really take notice.  It's not often that we get to taste the hard-to-find releases from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, but this was very exciting for us and we had heard grumblings from several sources that this year's expression was delicious.  They weren't wrong.

At just over 12 years, this bourbon aged in barrels on the lower levels of the rickhouse after entering at 114 proof before the long and important nap.  Fruit basket, floral notes with oak and homemade caramel candies on the nose.  "Wow" was the first thing that Mutt said and he picked up shoe leather, toffee, spice and sweet tobacco.  Jeff called this a fruit bomb with caramel and a nice lingering spice along with chocolate covered candies.  Honeysuckle, orange rind and chocolate nose.  Both guys agreed that the orange marmalade and chocolate really shined through on the tongue.  Lightly toasted marshmallow comes through on the finish and you feel the higher proof come through to give you that welcoming and warm Kentucky hug.  While we wouldn't pay crazy secondary or museum prices for this bottle, we would snag this all day long if we happened to find one close to MSRP.  It's lovely.

Check out our YouTube video review!

ABV:  62.90% (125.8 proof)

Distillery:  Buffalo Trace Distillery

Suggested retail price:  $149.99

Drink The Bottles score:  95/100