2011 Laguna Ranch Vineyard Chardonnay

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
Formerly sold under the Gallo label, focus is now on the prime location, with grapes producing wine that is creamy, smooth, and lightly spiced, a very nice food wine. Fresh pears, asian spices, and vanilla come through on the nose. Pears, sweet cream, asian spices and shortbread come through on

2012 La Forge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
Black currant and tobacco leaf are on the nose. Plums show over black currant not he palate, with eucalyptus and tar on the mid-palate. Tannins are a little rough. This is an interesting, modestly priced rustic Cabernet. Pair it with blue cheese burgers. Recommended. 86 points. WHO: La Forge Estate WHAT:

2010 B Side Red Blend

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
The nose is filled with very dark aromas, blackberry, raisin, and powdered espresso, with a touch of tobacco leaf. The palate is even deeper, with blackberry jam, raisins, unsweetened chocolate and Cuban coffee. A few red fruit notes come out on the mid-palate, primary red cherry, with just a tiny

REDUX / Smells of Wine and Roses

Ryan Reichert
About
3 min read
I visited the International Rose Test Garden in Portland, Oregon, this summer, obsessed with sticking my nose into every multi-layered blossom. I had just finished my Intro Sommelier course and was determined to learn how to distinguish the aroma differences among all the different flower colors. We sometimes describe a wine as

2009 Bran Caia “Il Blu”

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
Anise, black cherry, cassis, and dry herbs all float up on the nose. Bing cherries and raspberries lead, followed on the mid-palate by black licorice, tar, thyme, and soy. Tannins are tight, from, and acids well in balance. Four years old now, and it could still use a few years

REDUX 2013 / Finding Our Way to Satisfy Mind, Soul, and Palate

Evan Dawson
Features
7 min read
Palate Press has selected our favorite stories from 2013 and will publish Redux articles over the holidays featuring Palate Press Columnists. The editorial board hopes you enjoy these highlights as we look forward to bringing you the best stories for your palate in 2014. ••• You are going to die before you have a

Ron Añejo Pampero Aniversario

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
This delicious blend of dark rums is aged two to eight years in oak barrels. On the palate it explodes with waves of different flavors. It starts with cocoa, butter, leather, and fiddlehead ferns. Cocoa and graphite flow over tropical fruit on the mid-palate. Cocoa lingers on the finish. This