Sheldrake Point Waterfall Chardonnay 2007 Varietal: Chardonnay ABV: 12.5% RS:Dry Price Point $12 Notes: Looks: Pretty pale yellow with hints of green Nose: A little bit of freshly lit match (sulfur dioxide, a topic for another time), metallic pineapple, green apple, and slight herbal component i can’t quite nail down Palate: lively acidity, good...
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Jameson Irish Whiskey ABV: 40% Malt: Blended Price Point $28 for 750 mL Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I figured as a little sidebar on this day, I’d taste some whiskey. Yes, I know Jameson is on the low end of the Irish whiskey spectrum and mass-marketed, but, like its beer counterpart Guinness, it has...
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I actually found out about Sheldrake Point’s “Ices of March” event from facebook, which is interesting from a marketing perspective.  Anyway, I thought this was a unique opportunity to taste several ice wines, a specialty of cooler climates like the Finger Lakes, and one benefit to our cold temperatures.  The {vertical tasting} ($20, including...
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JanKris Picaro 2004 Varietal: 50% Zinfandel 25% Merlot 25% Cabernet ABV: 13.8% Appelation: Paso Robles, CA Price point: $8 (bought a 5-pack from wine.woot for $40 plus $5 shipping) Notes: Looks: The label. It is so purple!  And gold!  Plus, it looks like the Girl Scouts logo.  It probably doesn’t go too well with...
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Louis Jadot Beaujolais 2007 Varietal: Gamay noir, the Beaujolais grape Alcohol by volume: 12.5% Residual Sugar: Dry Appelation: Beaujolais Price point: $10 Notes: Looks: nice cranberry-sauce color (I mean the purple stuff in the can) Nose: cherry* on the nose and the slightest hint of vanilla, not altogether complex. Palate: nice acidity, it’s definitely...
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Long Point Zinfandel (Reserve) 2006 Varietal: Zinfandel (not to be confused with “white zinfandel”, a wine made in a rosé-style from Zinfandel grapes, and usually drunk by moms.) Alcohol by volume: 14.8% Residual Sugar: Dry (supposedly) Appelation: Only to be sold in NY (more on that later) Price point: $24 Notes: Looks: Dark violet...
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Bellwether Original Hard Cider Varietal: Apples! Apparently they use around 7 varieties for their original, probably including Liberty, Northern Spy, Tompkins King, Baldwin, English and French cider apples. Price Point: $9.50 Alcohol by volume: 6.5% Residual Sugar: unknown, but my guess is about 2-3%. Notes: Looks: Nice golden color.  This sparkling cider has a...
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