Browsing CategoryWhat We Drank

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…

From Tom Mansell: Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards NV Red Cat Not every wine experience has to be mind-blowing.    Sometimes you're in a hurry and you just want a good, cheap quaff.  My friends and I enjoyed this before heading to our department holiday party, where I knew the wine would be much worse.  It's grapey but not overwhelmingly so, with nondescript fruit at first and a tart cranberry finish (it's tough to nail down descriptors when you're drinking from a red plastic cup.) And when it's ice cold, it's pretty refreshing.  Red Cat is traditionally a blend of Catawba (which I…

For this week's edition of What We Drank, our contributors share some of their favorite libations from the Thanksgiving weekend. As per usual, it's a diverse grouping of delicious sips. From Julia Burke: Leonard Oakes Estate 2008 Frontenac and Heart & Hands Wine Company 2006 Pinot Noir My actual Thanksgiving meal could be charitably described as "underwhelming". Grandma insisted on our first-ever restaurant Thanksgiving, and the place we chose lost points quickly in my book for having no New York wine (or any really interesting wine), mediocre food, and — unforgivably — no cranberry sauce. My immediate family being one…

From Evan Dawson: Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke 2001 Riesling Spatlese When I think of the very best rieslings I've ever had, this one is in the conversation. With a nose that reaches out of the glass and delivers a right hook, and a with a finish that unfolds almost endlessly, it's a gorgeous bottle of wine. But more than anything, this wine is the prime example of balance. It brings perhaps 4% RS (that's a guess). At no point would anyone speak of this wine as being cloying or overly sweet. Instead, it's rich and pure. I try not to get…