Nothing says Boozeday Tuesday like 1 liter of gin! This is made in a wood-fired copper still, using grape spirit instead of neutral grain. Apparently, the Island of Minorca was a port of call for British soldiers, who got the locals to start making gin so the Brits didn’t have to import it in and it became a thing! Oily juniper notes on the nose with other notes of pine, spruce, and lemon zest. Definitely viscous on the palate with a lot of juniper oils, pine, and herbal notes. Best enjoyed in a Pomada - the local drink that’s mixed with a 2:1 ratio with lemonade.
41% abv
Island of Minorca, SPAIN
Another fun wine from Mexico! Plums, cherries red licorice, green pepper with a hint of sanguine and earthy notes on the nose. Loads of plums and cherries on the palate. Soft feel from the Merlot with nice acidity. Fruitier on the palate but less earthy than on the nose.
3/5 bones
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Mourvèdre (35%), Grenache (15%), Syrah (15%), Malbec (15%), Merlot (10%), Montepulciano (10%)
13% abv
Valle de Guadalupe, MEXICO
2020 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Parallèle 45
A lovely white blend from the Rhône makes little old me quite happy. Apple, pear, honeysuckle, peach, melon skin, and lemon rind on the nose. Apples, lemons, Asian pear, and lemon curd notes on the palate. Very nice!
4/5 bones
$
32% Grenache, 31% Viognier, 6% Marsanne, 3% Bourboulenc, 16% Rousanne, 12% Clairette
13.5% abv
Rhône, FRANCE
2015 Pascal Agrapart Venus Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut Nature Millèsime
Happy Mother’s Day to all the hardworking, super moms out there! My humoms has to put up with me everyday so she’s welcome for the honor of doing so. Celebrating her and all moms out there today with this Blanc de Blancs bubbly. Golden ripe apples, lemons, hint of shortbread, white flowers, and mint on the nose. Apples, lemon cookies, ginger snaps, and chalk on the palate. Really delicious stuff! Cheers!
4/5 bones
$$$$$
Chardonnay
12.5% abv
Champagne, FRANCE
2012 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame
It’s my barkday!! And like widow Clicquot of old and Yayoi Kusama, I am a GRANDE DAME indeed. So go ahead. Celebrate me. I sure did with this bubbly. Lemon, brioche, jasmine, and chalk notes on the nose. Nice mousse and laser-like acidity on the palate. Lemon, apple tart, brioche, candied ginger, and chalky notes all around. Cheers!
3/5 bones
$$$$$
Pinot Noir (90%), Chardonnay (10%)
12.5% abv
Champagne, FRANCE
2018 Sine Qua Non ‘Ziehharmonika’ Syrah
Happy Easter! The Easter bunny was generous this year - sharing a Sine Qua Non with me. Drank this guy too young, but loads of green and black olives on the nose with plum, blackberry, wood, and pepper notes. Wonderful acidity on the palate where it was more Zinfandel-ish. Definitely could use a LOT more age on this one! Happy Easter!!!
4/5 bones
$$$$$
Syrah
15.8% abv
Santa Barbara, California, USA
Feeling a little fancy with this rosé champagne from Pol Roger. A fun nose of raspberries, plums, red berries, linzer cookies, blood orange, and a hint of spice. Similar notes on the palate with a bit of a bite. Not my favorite coming out of Pol Roger but a nice tipple nonetheless.
3/5 bones
$$$$$
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
12.5% abv
Champagne, FRANCE
So this is very nice Bordeaux blend from a Chilean winery founded by Robert Mondavi and Eduardo Chadwick. Loads of Bordeaux notes - cassis, plums, fresh leather, cherries, and a hint of nutmeg on the nose. Cassis, dark cherries, and plums on the palate with lovely sweet spices to round it out.
4/5 bones
$$$$$
52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Carmenere, 12% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot
14% abv
Aconcagua Valley, CHILE
1998 Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real Gran Reserva
Pretty psyched about this 25-year old Rioja! Red cherries, plums, church pews, incense, dark wood, clove, and coriander on the nose. Despite its age, very ripe fruit on the palate with loads of plums and cherries. Salud!
3/5 bones
$$$$
Tempranillo, Garnacha
13.5% abv
Rioja, SPAIN
2019 Ghost Block Pelissa Vineyard Zinfandel
My humans constantly disappoint me but it’s hard to stay disappointed when I have a nice Zin on paw. Jammy mixed berry preserves, sticky blackberries, and macerated blueberries on the nose. Boysenberry jam on the attack on the palate followed by blueberry and blue raspberry notes.
3/5 bones
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Zinfandel
14.9% abv
Oakville (Napa Valley), California, USA
Follow my curly tail
1 2 q