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Just a sampling of what our editors and contributors are drinking. We were almost all wine this week… until I had to mess it up with a big New York-brewed beer. Evan Dawson: Raymond Usseglio 2001 Chateauneuf-du-Pape As the referee in a weight-loss contest for two friends — a contest recently ended in swift and decisive fashion — my task is to select a half case of wine for the victor, paid for by the non-victor. I have my regional marching orders, so I'm enjoying the research required to make good selections. This wine might make the cut. More than…

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief Usually our band of intrepid "drink local" editors and contributors can be counted on for at least one local libation. Not so this week, with New Orleans, South Africa, Portual and yes, even California (but not wine) represented. Enjoy reading what we've been enjoying drinking: Lenn Thompson: Graham Beck NV Brut (South Africa) We had a day-long (and over-night) sitter over the weekend, so Nena and I spent Saturday tasting on the North Fork. We had some 'interesting' and diverse tasting room experiences (keep an eye out for a post this week) but also sampled some…

It's a holiday Monday, but we didn't want to let the day go by without sharing some of our favorite libations from the past week. This week we have wine, beer and a mixed drink — a fairly typical mix with our motley crew. Andy is down in New Orleans for Mardi Gras this week — so I'll bet he has something interesting to write about next week. Evan Dawson: Oremus 2000 Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos, Hungary Some parents like to buy wine for their newborns to drink on a 21st birthday. It's a nice idea, but how many of…

This week, our intrepid Niagara correspondent chimes in with her first contribution from South Africa, so she gets top billing. But, this is one of our better editions of WWD with some old wines, some poorly-rated-but-tasty wines and (of course) a couple beers. Julia Burke: Blaauwklippen 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon and 1999 Pinotage We don’t see a lot of aged South African wine in western New York – I think the oldest I’ve tried was a 2006 Cape blend. So when our assistant winemaker whipped out five aged Blaauwklippen wines on Thursday afternoon and asked us to try…

This week's WWD is a bit shorter than usual, but I'm sure we'll be back with more taking part next week. By Andy Freedman: Kluge Estate 2004 Albemarle 'Simply Red' Selecting my WWD this week was no easy task. I had some amazing beers, including a bottle of Tröegs Nugget Nectar and a Magic Hat Big 100 IBU IPA, and we also drank several great value wines from New Zealand, Argentina and Spain.  But by far the most interesting wine I drank was a 2004 Albemarle 'Simply Red' from Virginia's Kluge Estate. Yes, Virginia.  I just learned a couple of…

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief We have an almost even split this week — two three beers and two wines. And most fun of all, neither of the wines is younger than 14. Tom Mansell: Brooklyn Brewery Manhattan Project I've been into Manhattans lately. After enjoying a well-made perfect Manhattan at Pixel Lounge (see Super Mario Bros. 3 in the background), I decided to try out this beer, which has apparently been crafted to taste like a Manhattan.  It includes some rye in the brewing process and is aged in rye casks. It also includes herbs used in bitters and vermouth,…

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief This week's What We Drank is a good one for two reasons. First, almost everyone on the team chimed in with something noteworthy. Second, it really shows that we're as big of beer geeks as we are wine geeks. Enjoy! Evan Dawson: Max Ferd. Richter Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese 2006 If this were a Finger Lakes riesling it would be labeled "semi-sweet." My feeling is that critics and perhaps more fanatical consumers stay away from that designation in the Finger Lakes; I've heard people say it's a riesling line to please the sweet wine drinkers. Perhaps…

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief For this, our first WWD of the new year, we have one old old bottle, and a few value wines that were enjoyed over the holidays. For me, my drinking over the last week has been mostly local, so those notes will be published as stand-alone and "Tasting Table" posts. Evan Dawson: Alain Graillot 1989 Crozes-Hermitage La Guiraude In a blind setting, this wine convinced the table it was a syrah — likely from the northern Rhone. But more experienced tasters were pegging it at 15 years old, and if you follow Northern Rhone winemaking, you…

From Bryan Calandrelli: Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2008 I'm usually picky when it comes to syrah. In the past I've pretty much stuck to Northern Rhone, Washington State or Chilean efforts. For better or for worse I've avoided anything called shiraz just because I'm as close to a cool climate snob as anyone I know. This bottle of Porcupine Ridge 2008 Syrah from South Africa isn't something I would normally pick up, but our fellow correspondent's (Julia's) plan to intern a South African grape harvest made the region much more interesting. Although this one listed at 14.5% ABV, I gave it…

By Lenn Thompson, Editor-in-Chief We only have two contributions to What We Drank this week, but they teach us two important lessons: don't ignore wines from poor vintages and don't give up on a wine too quickly if its corked. From Lenn Thompson: Roanoke Vineyards 2003 Blend 2 I have a confession to make — as much wine as I drink, I tend to be a hoarder of special bottles. My cellar is filled with "last bottles" of many wines that I've enjoyed and purchased over the years. It's terrible, especially considering many of them aren't going to get much…