Staff Picks - What to Drink this Week
Try these special, staff-selected libations!
Mars 'Komagatake 2022 Edition' Japanese Single Malt - $299.99
The annual releases from Mars Shinshu distillery, situated between two alpine mountain ranges in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, showcase both the seasons of their location, and mark another year in over a century of distillation practices. The very limited 2022 edition is a blend of mostly unpeated malted barley, with a minute amount of peat (to the tune of 3.5 parts per million), aged between 3 and 5 years in ex-bourbon, sherry, and port casks. It has a remarkable depth of flavor that comes up in tension with the delicacy of its dried fruit, honey, citrus peel, and soft oak notes. A perfect whisky for any discerning dad this Father's Day.
-Nicholas J. Shaw
2022 Domaine Faillenc, Sainte Marie Rose des Glacieres - $21.99
A rosé for BBQ! From the Corbieres region in the south of France, just a few miles away from the ancient city of Carcassonne, this rose is 100% Syrah from old, organically farmed vines. Dark in color with raspberries and blackberries in the glass, with enough structure to stand up to meaty dishes, this is the perfect pairing with BBQ ribs. The vibrant color is striking and will make a rose drinker out of Dad to pair with whatever he is grilling this weekend.
-Angie
2019 Wildmakers, Brisas de Guarilihue, Cinsault, Itata Valley, Chile - $19.99
The young owners and winemakers at Wildmakers are part of a progressive movement to revive the distinctive qualities of some of Chile's oldest vines that for generations yielded harvests only for mass production of jug and boxed wine. The vineyards of the cool southern region of Itata, in Chile, are some of the oldest in the New World. Grapes like Cinsault were originally planted by the Spanish in the early 16th century. This bottling is 100% Cinsault and the viniculture is entirely organic and natural with almost a year of aging in clay amphorae (Chilean Tinajas). Floral aromas of cherry blossom, mint, and rosemary open up to fresh plum, pomegranate, and red cherry wrapped around subtle and smooth tannins for a lifted and juicy finish. This will pair nicely with pork sautéed with fresh herbs.
-Patrick
2020 Jean Jouffreau, Clos de Gamot, Cahors - $27.99
This is one the best Cahors I have ever tried. It is organically farmed by the Jouffreau family. The Clos de Gamot vineyard is a unique Malbec vineyard consisting of gravel and flint soil planted on river terraces. The wine shows aromas of violet notes and rich dark fruit and the full bodied palate delivers rich cherry fruit and wild herbs with beautifully integrated tannin that is the least aggressive I have ever had in a pure Malbec from Cahors. This wine would be perfect with Cassolette, but in the summer months it would be excellent with a grilled steak.
-Rob
Miller High Life, 6-pack 16oz cans - $8.49
No, this isn't a joke. Since I always try to review some fancy or new product, I thought this would be a nice change of pace. High Life is an incredibly solid beer, especially for the price. There is nothing surprising about the flavor, yet it is a reliable and consistent American lager. The biggest draw of this beer is certainly the price. There are virtually no craft beers in today's market that you can get for such a steal, and there are plenty of reasons for that. The purpose of this review isn't to be dismissive of craft beer or try to make High Life out to be the greatest lager known to man, but rather to encourage you to indulge in my favorite budget beer.
-Nick N
2022 Pratsch, Rose, Niederösterreich, Austria - $17.99
Alright, rosé season has arrived in full and here is an early contender for best bang for your buck. The Pratsch vineyards are an amalgamation of two historical family vineyards. The wines are vegan and have been farmed fully organic for 30 years. The wine is lightly extracted and fresh and lively from start to finish. Slight spice and fresh fruit abound but but the focus is on minerality and refreshment
-Dave
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