Boozehoundz’s Best of 2014!

With winemaker Aron Weinkauf--Spottswoode Winery & his dog Cashew

In looking back at 2014 Boozehoundz covered everything from various professional wine judging, to wine bloggers, to organic wines, Russian beers, interviews with winemakers and sommeliers and more. To re-cap the best wines and spirits I tasted through in 2014, with a score of 91 points or above (drum roll please), here are some clear winners, so, cheers and keep exploring new wine and spirits. If you’ve tried something awesome drop me a line and let me know. It might make it into a variety of publications I write for including Boozehoundz, The Hollywood Reporter, the largest wine/spirits magazine in China, or someplace else! Since I work for myself I do not write about anything I personally have not vetted and found to be to my picky standards. I get no kickbacks for recommending anything, just the satisfaction of you, the reader, finding something new! And remember, every Tuesday Boozehoundz posts all new info – so sign up for free to get this blog. Here we go…

Qupe 2011 Grenache (91 Points, $35) A stunning biodynamically made wine from San Luis Obispo grapes this offers soft black cherry, rhubarb and pomegranate, blackberry compote, mild oak and spice supported by a mild acidity and enough fruit to compliment your food without overpowering it. (Full Review HERE)

A Sake and cheese pairing I did

Citadelle Gin Reserve Solera 2013 (91 Points, $35) Using a solera method and aged in a combination of American casks, old Cognac casks, and Pineau des Charente casks (a French aperitif), it is softer, holds a slight woodiness and possesses a thicker viscosity. They use over 20 different botanicals as well, creating a multi- layered effect. The nose is clear juniper berry, soft mint and eucalyptus, coriander and dried thyme. (Full review HERE)

2012 Lava Cap Winery Chardonnay (91 Points, $18). Stupidly good and inexpensive and from the unlikeliest of places – El Dorado County in the Sierra Foothills, this impressive Chardonnay has terrific acidity and the new French Oak is all caramel, and a subtle smoky element with a touch of citrus. They perform a battonage on it – meaning after the yeast converts the sugars to alcohol, the tiny dead yeast cells are stirred up inside the wine barrel, which adds additional flavor and texture to a wine. I love the mouth feel on this and the slight bite at the end. (Full review HERE)

With asst. winemaker Bobby Donnell at Amici Cellars

Ventura Limoncello Crema (92 Points, $20) is all made by hand (I’ve visited his small production facility in an industrial section of Ventura) with no fake colors or flavors – this is the real deal. Only the top skin of the lemon is peeled which is more concentrated with the citrus oil, then soaked. It’s mixed with sugar and neutral spirits rather than vodka. It's ripe with lemon and lemon rind and stunningly balanced with the alcohol rendering it a smooth, viscous, decadent wonderfully piquant dessert liqueur. (Full review HERE)

The Top Scoring wine for Boozehoundz in 2014 was the stunning Goldeneye 2011 Confluence Vineyard Pinot Noir (93 Points, $80) from the Mendocino’s Anderson Valley is that type of Pinot Noir that makes you realizes why you love, or should love, Pinot Noir, because it has everything, a confluence of a deft acidity, black cherry, raspberry, mild strawberry, a hint of dark cola, spice, judicious oak, and it walks that line between being polite yet mysterious, an in-your-face attitude, and that indescribable intangible that just makes it taste so damn good. (Full review HERE)

Enjoying bubbles at Syncline Winery, Washington State