Elegantly perfumed fruit with subtle spice and a discreet scent of oak on the nose, shifting towards supple sour cherry flavour with some dark plum, stiff dry tannins and brisk acidity. Best with a bit more time in the cellar.
The Bierzo appellation is gaining attention for the potential of the native red Mencia and white Godello varieties. This one is almost black in the glass, with dark ripe but broodingly intense fruit on the nose, backed up by hints of fig, clove and cinnamon. Powerfully concentrated ripe blackberry, dark plum, firm tannic grip and lots of weight in the mouth, finishing with a splash of dark chocolate, offsetting tannic dryness and a touch of alcoholic heat.
Try reaching for a dark lager this spring, they’re toasty and roasty but still easy-drinking and refreshing. Dam dark lager from Thornbury Village Brewery pours a deep brown with reddish highlights with rich aromas of dark caramel, roasted malt and a wisp of grassy hops. On the palate are flavours of milk chocolate and dark fruit with a dry, very light bitterness.
Clear, deep plum-red. Strong nose of black cherry with herbal aromas from the dominant Merlot in the blend. From a plot of land that used to be part of Château Angelus, it is traditional in style, full-bodied and highly structured with prominent tannins and high alcohol backing up dark red berry flavours. Well-balanced and a long finish. Will repay more cellar time by softening and becoming more approachable.
Looking for something different in your bubbles? Try sparkling sake. MIO (named after the Japanese term for iridescent spray-trailing cruise ships) sparkling sake offers red apple, sweet pear, strawberry cream and some earthy/mushroom “out there” aromas and a medium-sweet palate that showcases a delicate fizz highlighting pear and apple nuances. At a mere 5% ABV, it’s a perfect weekend brunch washdown.
This beer is all about the haze, pouring a juicy fluorescent orange with a mousse- and latte-like foam. The sip starts off with papaya and guava moving to pineapple and a seedy passion fruit centre. A low but persistent orange-rind bitterness balances the sip. This hazy brew is tough to find — you can only buy it at some wine and beer stores in Illinois, but it is worth the hunt as it won gold at the 2018 Great American Beer Festival for Hazy, Juicy IPAs.
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Tempranillo shouts “Australia!”. Opaque plum-red, with a prominent nose of plums, cherries and spice. In the mouth we have cherry jam accented with a suggestion of amaretto. Long finish. Lots of tannins, but don’t delay drinking; this is at its best now.