Wine Each Week – 2015 Neyen

Most of Chile’s best reds are actually a blend of Carménère and Cabernet Sauvignon. This far south of the equator, these two grapes seemed destined for each other. For the 2015 vintage the blend is 55% Cabernet, the rest Carménère, from over 100 year old vines farmed with organic practices. The result is a velvety wine with mild black cherry, blueberry, blackberry and sweet vanilla-oak, caramel. Whereas the oak is noticeable (14 months barrel aging), it nevertheless does not pull focus from the fruit, nor the mild tannic structure or acidity. This wine is also appealing because if you love Cabernet, but don’t want a massive California-style slap in the face Cabernet, the Carménère here mitigates the Cabernet quite well, restraining it and providing a very pleasurable drinking experience.

ORIGIN: Apalta, Chile

ALCOHOL: 14%

PRICE: $59.99 (750ML)

SCORE: 92 POINTS

NEYENWINE

A Fifth for the 4th - Hand Made Hooch in the USA

What makes America great is the potential for discovery, a willingness to explore and delve into the unfamiliar. Our forefathers were not shy about ignoring boundaries and seeking adventure. Since George Washington made whiskey, let’s celebrates the founding fathers with wines, spirits and beer you can only find in the USA. This is all American made booze - under the radar, small batch and relatively unknown. The flag used as a backdrop once flew over the Kennedy White House. So go forth and drink your Independence Day!  (NOTE: This article originally appeared in The Hollywood Reporter).

Ale: AleSmith Brewing Co. San Diego is home to more military bases (seven, count ‘em) more than any other county in California, not to mention the rest of the U.S., and that means there are a lot of people who crave beer. But not just any beer. AleSmith, located in San Diego, excels at barrel-aged brews. Their Wee Heavy is a Scottish ale aged in bourbon barrels, full of toffee, caramel, with notes of hops, roasted rye, brown sugar and a whiff of the bourbon casks. This is a very complex aged beer that offers up a boatload of scents and aromas with a not so wee heavy mouth feel. ($30, alesmith.com)

Cabernet Sauvignon: Frank Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Patriarch. No mater where you go Cabernet is king, and Rich Frank (former President Walt Disney Studios, producer Royal Pains) knows how to assemble various parts to make a compelling whole. His motivation was to honor his dad, World War II veteran Hy Frank, who landed on Omaha Beach four days after D-Day, then drove support vehicles for General Patton’s Third Army. Frank presented the first release of Patriarch to his father on his 98th birthday. There are just 500 cases of this stunning wine. It’s smooth as velvet, seductive, a seamless mix of light oak, black berry, a near cranberry, supple pepper spice and black cherry with an earthen back note and mild acidity. This is the patriarch of Napa Cabs. ($225, frankfamilyvineyards.com)

Carménère: Niner 2012 Carménère: The Niner family from Paso Robles is not only helping to define the Paso wine scene, but they are making unique and cool wines like Carménère, though just a mere 138 cases. Like many of our Founding Fathers, owner Richard Niner was a farmer, originally in West Virginia, then migrated West ending up in the Paso Robles region where he planted Carménère on Bootjack Ranch, a plot of land that was once an ancient seabed. With a judicious oak treatment this wine results in black cherry, black berry and blueberry with hinter notes of cinnamon, vanilla and spice on the finish. ($60, ninerwinery.com)

Gin: 209 Gin. San Francisco is one of the most beloved cities in the U.S. and was actually the capital of California for a brief four months in 1862. The 209 Distillery located at Pier 50 offers a sweeter profile than most gins and is ripe with citrus and mint, all the better to make your cocktails more complex. And this is a flavor powerhouse; more potent than most gins on the market so a little goes a long way. Using in part juniper berries from Italy, lemon peel from Spain, and Coriander from Romania, it’s ultimately all American. They also make a Kosher iteration for Passover. ($35, distillery209.com)

Merlot: Buty 2012 Conner Lee Vineyard Merlot & Cabernet Franc. Washington was admitted to the Union in 1889 but was known to have grapes in the ground in the 1820s. Second only to California in terms of wine production the Washington wine scene is rapidly evolving and doesn’t want to play second fiddle, and this wine is one of the reasons why. Taking Merlot and Cabernet Franc and blending them is nothing new; what is new is the expressiveness of the mere 315 cases this 2,000-foot vineyard produces. Sure you get the bramble, black cherry, pomegranate and blackberry you’d expect, but you also get a delightful acidity you don’t often get from red wines. This Buty is a beauty, and California may want to check their rear view mirror. ($45, butywinery.com)

Nebbiolo: Wofford Acres 2013 La Mancha. The Sierra Foothills was where gold was discovered in January 1848 and is the birthplace of California wine, though Spanish missionaries were making wine in the 1790s. Theses days the new rush is on wine and some are as elusive as gold. Wofford Acres La Mancha from El Dorado is only 113 cases, and is a blend of Nebbiolo, Petite Sirah, and Cabernet Sauvignon resulting in pomegranate, huckleberry, plum and cedar with enough bright fruit and acidity to ensure it goes with any meal. There’s a pleasant rustic quality to this meaning it’s not a polished Napa wine, this is a tad rough around the edges, just like our forefathers, and the 49ers after them. ($35, wavwines.com)

Pinot Noir: On Point 2013 Christinna’s Cuvee: With only 198 cases of this wine you’ll be hard pressed to find a Pinot Noir of this quality and value. Hailing from the Anderson Valley in Mendocino, itself a slice of American life in that the region had its own micro language called Boontling (“frattey shams” meant grape vines), this Pinot Noir is supple, soft and with a enough acidity to make it stand up to picnic foods. Earthy spice, bright strawberry and dark cherry meld for a seamless wine that is on point as to how Pinot Noir should be. In spite of the oak barrels and the Pommard clone being undeniably French, Mendocino makes this a truly American iteration with a forward, lively wine. ($36, fulcrumwines.com)

Roussanne: Adelaida Vineyards 2013 Version White. The tiny region of Adelaida, originally settled in the 1890s by Mennonite farmers, is inside the larger Paso Robles region, and is making its mark with Rhone grapes. Here a blend of Roussanne, Viognier and Grenache Blanc showcase the best of the area: soft tropical fruits, honey, mango, apricot, sweet resin, and lemon verbena bookended by judicious new French oak. White Rhone blends are not favored by many people in part because people haven’t tried them, but since this is all about discovery, all the more reason to seek this sleek wine out. ($35, adelaida.com)

Riesling: Left Foot Charley 2013 Missing Spire. This patriotic beauty hails from, ahem, Michigan. Surprised that Michigan is making wine? Well, fasten your seatbelt - wine was first made in 1679 when French explorers noticed grapevines growing along the Detroit River. Today the state, and regions like the Old Mission Peninsula, is home to over 100 wineries. Left Foot Charley, and this region as a whole, excel at making both dry and sweet iterations of under appreciated Riesling. This lightly sweet version is packed with subtle tangerine, peach, lavender and honey. It’s a beautiful example of just how compelling a balanced Riesling can be and will cause you to rethink the grape. ($18, leftfootcharley.com)

Sparkling: J Vineyards Brut Rose. There’s nothing more festive for the 4th than bubbles, and pink bubbles at that. From Sonoma’s Russian River Valley (so named for the actual Russians who attempted a foothold in the Northern Sonoma region specifically at Fort Ross) this dry sparkling rose is comprised of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The strawberry, lemon cream, raspberry and tangerine notes and deft carbonation make this a poised wine, perfect for your picnic - think fried chicken and potato salad - and just a hint of sweetness which results in a beautifully balanced sparkling wine that even a comrade would crave. ($38, jwine.com)

Syrah: Presidio Winery 2011 Artistic License: America was predominately agrarian when the country was founded and farming is still the backbone of this country feeding an astounding number of Americans and dozens of other countries. The beauty of this small lot wine is the fact that it puts nature and farming first. Made from certified organic and biodynamic grapes, this farm-friendly Syrah is rich with boysenberry, blueberry, black cherry, and a spicy earthy undertone that carries though the entire palate. Soft charred oak from resting in barrel for 24 months while hanging out in Santa Barbara completes the package. ($39, presidiowinery.com)

Vermentino: Tessa Maria 2014 Vermintino: She’s the granddaughter of actor Fess Parker (TVs Daniel Boone, and Davey Crockett, how much more American can you get?) and continues the wine tradition with her own label out of Santa Barbara, now the third generation of Parker’s to make wine. Her 2014 Vermentino is a discovery of happy proportions and she bottled just 138 cases. This wine is ripe with honeydew, tangerine, lemon-lime, butterscotch, and honeysuckle. All stainless steel fermented and aged, there is no oak treatment, so this is a delightfully light, crisp and very refreshing wine that will make you salute. In a historical twist, the fruit comes from Camp 4 Vineyards, owned by the Chumash Indian tribe. ($24, tessamariewines.com)

Vodka: Loft & Bear. When you think of vodka you think, Russia, probably Poland, but not Los Angeles. However LA was lively during prohibition, from parties on Catalina Island, and scores of Angelinos flocking to Tijuana to get their booze fix, to bootlegging happening in plain sight near City Hall. There are still miles of tunnels underneath the dirty LA streets where illegal booze flowed freely. Today downtown is hip and above board and Loft & Bear Vodka honors LA’s past with this vodka made from winter wheat, and Northern California water. Sweeter than typical vodka this offers a smooth and viscous palette weight with a citrusy heat, a clean nose and refreshing feel, and it’s distilled in a downtown loft. ($35, loftandbear.com)

Whiskey: Jack Daniels Sinatra Select. Frank Sinatra was known to favor Jack Daniels as his social lubricant, so this iconic American distillery decided to honor the Chairman of the Board with his very own whiskey. Made in “Sinatra barrels,” (they have deeper grooves cut on the interior of the barrel allowing more extracted wood and whiskey interaction) this special bottling leaps out on the nose with caramel, clover honey, tangerine, brown spice and is super smooth with a viscosity other whiskies can only hope for. There’s the faintest whisper of a citrus bite on the end, preceded by cedar, sweet resin, mint and a rustic woodiness. Start spreading the news. ($185, jackdaniels.com)

Zinfandel: Dueling Pistols: No, it’s not the name of a band, it’s a reference to a famous duel between then Vice-President Aaron Burr and Federalist Alexander Hamilton on July 11, 1804 in Weehawken, NJ. The Veep shot Hamilton dead that day but by today’s standards Veeps do not wield such unrestrained power, with the exception of Julia Louis-Dreyfus. This blend of Zinfandel and Syrah from Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley is way more easy going than either of the duelers and it offers notes of cedar, blackberry, blueberry, anise, and black cherry with mild tannins and a temperament that is smooth and forgiving. ($35, http://terlatowines.com/new-wines/california/federalist

Foreign Pressed: What to Drink While Watching the Golden Globe Awards

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has been passing out, er rather passing out awards, for 70 years. What makes watching the Globes gripping is that our favorite actors drink during dinner at the Beverly Hills Hotel, which means that anything might be possible. So I scoured the real golden globe and found the best foreign-made booze to help keep the show and your attention moving. My pick of 10 wines and spirits from countries with nominating members and representation in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to help keep your head and the globe spinning. (NOTE: The original version of this article was first published in The Hollywood Reporter. As a former actor – Young and the Restless, 3^rd Rock from the Sun, Grace Under Fire – I miss my acting days, but I think I like writing about booze better.)

Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage:

Moet has been the official Champagne served at the Golden Globes for 24 years. I love the idea that celebs get loopy in public and that TV and feature film folk come together to talk, drink, and drink while talking, making for the only awards show to be truly entertaining and revealing. For the 2015 awards show Moet is pouring their 2004 Grand Vintage Brut Rose and is made up of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier into a dry style which is a delightful mix of fine pinpoint bubbles, pomegranate, currant, subtle black cherry, green apple and a crisp acidity. ($70, moet.com)

Alsace, France - Helfrich 2012 Pinot Gris:

If there is truly a Theory of Everything, then Alsace would be the center of everything wine. Though it is now part of France, it was formerly part of Germany, and part of the Roman Empire if you go way back. Good thing the wines from this region only care about bringing pleasure across borders, like a Sony-North Korea reunion tour. If you assume Pinot Gris is an insipid white wine then you’ve never had a true iteration. Helfrich produces a terrific wine of weight and flesh with apricot, orange, sweet cherry and a creamy viscosity, all grown on one of the oldest vineyards with a history dating back to 589 AD. ($25, helfrich-wines.com)

Austria – Feindestillerie Plum Schnapps:

The tiny village of Stanz in Austria is the schnapps capital of the world, and if The Sound of Music cast were drinking this while filming near here the songs might have made more sense (there is an Edelweiss schnapps too, by the way). Authentic schnapps is not the crappy version you bought at your local liquor store at 2 a.m. for a fast and furious buzz. Owner and distiller Christoph Kossler has won plenty of awards for his pure unadulterated schnapps, which is simply just distilled fruit, or sometimes roots of plants. Therefore the sugar plum schnapps tastes exactly like plum, with the kick of a lot of alcohol. Typically schnapps is served after dinner as a digestive, something you might need to digest when the studio bumps your film’s release date…again. ($40, edelbraendtirol.at)

Canada - Inniskillin 2013 Vidal Ice Wine:

Canadian Ice wine is an ideal after dinner wine not only because it is one of the quintessential dessert wines of the world, but like any reputable studio exec it literally has ice in its veins. Ice wine is harvested in the dead of winter and once pressed the grapes offer merely a drop or two of highly concentrated juice and frankly Jane the Virgin would not be one if she was drinking this. Sweet honey and apricot and a silky sweet/tart nectar of mango, apricot, clover honey, sweet vanilla, with a subtle but properly focused acidity makes this like velvet going down – insert your own joke here. ($55, inniskillin.com)

Chile - Santa Rita Triple C:

Santa Rita Winery was founded in 1880 in Chile’s Maipo Valley, long before Chile’s first feature film was made in 1910. The Triple C takes Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Carménère and blends them together in appropriate, but unequal amounts, much like star, director and producer. To honor the Globes this wine is best consumed with friends and partners; a pleasant wine in which to bask in your signed contract, assuming the ink is dry. This wine offers black cherry, pomegranate, blackberry, a hint of cedar and tobacco. ($40, santarita.com)

China - Jian Nan Chun Baijiu:

Baijiu (pronounced bye-joe) has been consumed in China for ages and the Jian Nan Chun iteration first started distilling around 800 AD, about the time Cecil B. DeMille was born. So what exactly is baijiu? Though there are different recipes across China, you need to go Into The Woods to find a mix of distilled sorghum and various grains like rice, wheat and corn. Baijiu is a sipping, celebratory drink, used most often at Chinese New Year and for toasting (Presidents Clinton and Nixon sipped this in China) so this is ideal if you win big at the Globes. The clear liquid presents an explosion of anise, licorice, and eucalyptus and a slight funk – think blue cheese and you’re on track. ($60, baijiuamerica.com)

England - London No.1 Gin:

If the good folks of Downton Abby were more chic and less uptight the Crawley’s and their servants might be drinking this classic British gin (though the show did win Golden Globes in 2012 and 2013). Using 12 botanicals from across the globe like juniper from Croatia, cinnamon from Sri Lanka, and proper British grain from Suffolk and Norfolk (northeast of London), this lightly colored aqua marine gin offers up a nose of orange and lemon peel, cinnamon which translates to licorice, all spice and coriander. Long live the queen, and gin! ($40, thelondon1.com)

Japan - Yoshinogawa Winter Warrior Saké:

Everyone’s heard of Saké, also known as rice wine, but most people have not actually tasted Saké, the good kind anyway, so it’s time to think nice about rice. The Yoshinogawa Winter Warrior is from the fifth oldest brewery in the world, longer than most awards shows have been around. From the semi sweet nose of muted citrus to the tropical notes on the palate of lightly floral fragrances and restrained musty flavors, this is a Saké for at least seven of your favorite samurai to enjoy. ($27, sakeone.com)

Mexico - Del Maguey Vida Single Village Mezcal:

Yes George Clooney has his own branded tequila, but the newlywed may want to consider Mezcal, considered the parent of tequila. Mezcal is made from the agave plant, just like tequila, but it comes from a different part of Mexico in Oaxaca and was first created by the Aztecs. This organic mezcal, one of 18 iterations they produce, is distilled twice in copper pots over wood and flame and offers a specific nose of campfire smoke and sweet tangerine. The smokiness and tart/sweet combination of citrus, resin and cherry fills the mouth ending with a slight bite and a woody aftertaste. ($40, delmaguey.com)

Scotland - The Macallan 12 Single Malt Scotch:

Though Scotland voted down cessation - they “missed it by that much” as Maxwell Smart would have said - it still leads the world in terms of whisky. The Macallan 12 Year Old, is a single malt aged in Sherry casks from Spain, and has a nose of pure caramel, butterscotch vanilla and cedar. But this 12 year old also hits the palette with, citrus, resin and a little bite. A dash of water brings forth apricot and orange rind. Great for sipping or cocktails, this is that long-term quiet drink, meant to be nursed over time, most likely ideal for when the Globes are over and you wonder why you weren’t nominated this year. ($60, themacallan.com)

The Best of 2013

As a wine and spirits writer for a variety of publications like The Hollywood Reporter, The Tasting Panel, IntoWine.com, Draft, Fine Wine & Liquor (China) and others, I taste through a lot of booze in a given year. 2013 was a good year, but not a great year, for new discoveries. I’ve listed the top 5 wines and the top 5 spirits I rated this year. If you get the chance, I suggest you put them on your dance card. And for 2014, don't be afraid to try something new...and let me know about it!

2013’s Top 5 Wines

Croft 2011 Vintage Port (91)

2011 was a declared Vintage year and this Port shows why. Viscous and rich with hefty black cherry, slightly smoky wood, dusty cinnamon, suburb tannins and proper acidic undertones – this is why people drink port – not to get a sugar rush, but to bask in the rich, opulent, smooth wine which is just so damn fun to drink. $120

Halter Ranch 2010 Ancestor (91)

Coming from Paso Robles on California’s Central Coast the Ancestor has great notes of cedar, blackberry, dark cherry, cinnamon and raspberry, a lush, rich wine which always calls for a 2nd bottle. It is seamless with its tannins, use of oak, pop of fruit and its smooth finish. $50

LaZarre 2012 Vin Gris (90)

Rose needs more love and for this little jewel there's a nice little acidity perfect for food with flavors of cranberry pomegranate and to a lesser degree, strawberry. It has an almost earthy, smoky quality to it and it’s lean and clean. $18

Vina Ventisquero/Grey 2011 Carménère (90)

From Chile comes this outstanding example of this unknown grape. This happy little number has a boatload of rustic zesty black cherry, rich red and black fruit, spicy pepper, and a slight acidity. $23.99

Robert Hall 2010 Merlot (90)

Paso Robles is Cabernet country, but Merlot is best expressed by Don Brady and his devotion to this grape. I’ve tasted though various years of his Merlots and they always work. Earthy, rustic, clean and soft tannins. $18

2013’s Top 5 Spirits

Herradura Reposado Tequila (90)

This reposado really intrigued me with its smooth caramel and resin flavors, sweet oak and a stealth citrus back note. Clean and viscous, there's a slight burn and a beautiful butterscotch aroma. $40

Stone Barn Brandyworks Coffee Liqueur (89)

Available only in Oregon, sadly, this this is a blend of coffee from El Salvador and Yemen. They infuse a house-distilled Pinot Noir brandy and pear/apple spirit with fresh roasted coffee. Toss in some Madagascar vanilla, cinnamon and invert the sugar to make the liqueur and, voila! $27

Bully Boy White Whiskey (89)

USDA certified organic white whiskey therefore it’s clear and lacking the caramel and wood flavors. There’s a smooth viscosity to this, a little burn but the liquor is rounded inside the mouth. This is clean, with near mint overtones, and it presents a cooler vibe not hot and alcoholic, medium bodied and subtle. $28

Hornitos Lime Shot (89)

Using blue agave, lime and salt this is cool, clean, minty, and yes, limey, and way too easy to drink. It's certainly drinkable on its own though it works better as a mixer. $18

Astral Tequila (88)

This tequila is produced from nothing but organic blue agave (I’m always a fan of organic if the end result is a better product). It has a cool clean nose of resin and eucalyptus and a spicy mint-ish vibe which grips the mouth. $34.99

50 Shades of Grey

Carménère. What you might ask? Carménère, the grape, the wine. There’s a cool little bottle available for you to try. Originally from the Medoc region of France, Carménère was always blended into other wines, and, like the classic middle child who craves attention, Carménère needs some time in the spotlight. And ta-da, its time is now here! One wine writer whom I have never heard of referred to Carménère as “the Alec Baldwin of forgotten grapes.” I have no idea what that means, but in some existential way it makes sense. Made by winemaker Felipe Tosso from Vina Ventisquero in Chile (you know, the country in South America?) this happy little number has a boatload of zesty black cherry, rich red and black fruit, spicy pepper, and a slight bitterness, frankly a lot of shades to this wine. Aged for 18 months in French Oak to soften the flavor and give some structure, yes, there is a slight vegetal element waaaaay in the back which normally I abhor (under ripe fruit and all) but weirdly it doesn’t detract from this wine. Carménère has softer tannins than Cabernet, but also a solid acidity which works so much better with food than a lot of heavily manipulated, or redundant Jolly Rancher-fruity Cab. It’s actually closer to Merlot, but with a rustic, edgy quality that makes this version actually fun to drink. Yeah, fun – as in Alec Baldwin fun. So try something new and find this baby. There are quite a few wines under the Grey label, but this is the only one I have tried, and it’s a beauty. It's imported by San Francisco Wine Exchange into the U.S. market.  VINA VENTISQUERO
ORIGIN: Maipo Valley, Chile (Block 5 from the Trinidad Vineyard)

PRICE: $23.99 / 750/ml

ALCOHOL: 13.5%

BOOZEHOUNDZ SCORE:  90 POINTS