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Taylor's Picks

Great Plains 18 Year Brandy Cask Whiskey  Alberta, Canada

Tasting Notes: For the first batch of the brandy casks, this whiskey has collected over four awards- including Gold in the 2020 Canadian Whiskey Awards. Locally owned and operated, Great Plains Craft Spirits are located in Calgary, Alberta. 91.5 % corn and 8.5% rye mash aged for 17 years in bourbon barrels then 12 months in Jerez brandy barrels from Spain. Finished at 54.5% ABV and 109 proof, this whiskey is bold and well-layered with fire, cinnamon spice, and orange peel on the nose with port, tobacco, and dried fruit flavor notes. Pour your way and enjoy.

Price: $124.99

 

Taylor's Picks

Smoke Wagon Bourbon  Las Vegas, USA

Tasting Notes: New fact for me, bourbon does not have to be exclusively from Kentucky and the Smoke Wagon is a great example of one from Las Vegas. Winning gold in both the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Ascot Awards just two years after its release, this bourbon is exactly what you expect of something out of Vegas- big and powerful but also quite smooth and complex. Although its name might say otherwise, it is not very smokey but rather full of the caramel and honey with a long peppercorn and toasted nutty finish curtesy of its high rye mash. 46.25% and 92.5 proof, this award winner is great however you drink your whiskey- it makes its presence well known!

Price: $61.49

 

Taylor's Picks

Summerhill Grüner Veltliner 2022  Okanagan Valley, Canada

Tasting Notes: Following a trip to Summerhill's estates, I discovered that their grüner veltliner is the most interesting white wine I have ever had! Deliciously light and complex at the same time, the grüner veltliner has notes starting with ripe pear and white peach followed by follow blossom and yellow apple. My favorite part of this wine is the pink peppercorn finish that ties the flavor palette up perfectly. This is an easy drinking patio wine while also being a great addition to dinner. Pair with rich and creamy foods like brie, miso dressings, and as Summerhill suggests- sour cream and onion chips! While this grape is primarily grown in Austria, Summerhill planted the vines in their organic vineyard in Kelowna back in 2011. In addition to its organic certification, Summerhill takes pride in their Demeter Biodynamic status which means treating their whole farm as an ecosystem by prioritizing engendered life and diversity in the soil, in the ground cover, and in nature preserves on the farm. Summerhill is a fantastic winery known for their wine and environmental impact which makes supporting their Canadian owned and operated winery all the more important!

Price: $27.49

 

Taylor's Picks

Clos de Los Siete Malbec Blend 2019  Mendoza- Argentina

Tasting Notes: An incredibly complex Bordeaux style wine from Argentina with a precise blend of 50% Malbec, 24% Merlot, 11% Syrah, 7% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. As it is Argentinean, the Malbec is truly the star of this wine but the blended grapes really make their presence known with each vintage. The 2019 vintage allows the Cabernet Franc to show off more than the other vintages due to the hotter climate. Winemaker, Michel Rolland, uses the green harvesting method, that is commonly seen in Bordeaux grand cru classé harvesting, as an essential practice alongside their double guyot pruning and drip irrigation practices that allow for the perfect ripening of the grapes. Matured for about 7.5 months in French oak and 3.5 in vats. Fantastic wine with so much information on the making processes available from the winery. This wine is deep purple with vanilla, tobacco, smoked wood, pepper, blackberry, green bell pepper... I could keep going. I enjoy this wine with big foods like steak and burgers. The price of this wine is incredible for its quality- pick one up to impress your dinner guests or even just yourself, you will not be disappointed.

Price: $29.99

 

Taylor's Picks

Feudo Maccari Olli Grillo 2020  Italy - Sicilia

Tasting Notes: Warm weather equals patio wines! This wine is perfectly balanced for easy sipping on the deck or to unveil its complexity with dinner. A lot of similarity to sauvignon blanc but very unique in its own way. The grillo grape is more often used in the blending of marsala but this wine showcases what the grape can do on its own. Now I am a huge lover of all things lemon and this wine is all that. Lemon and apple on the nose with grass and pineapple on the palette with a long lemon and almond finish. I enjoyed it on its own but paired with acidic Mediterranean meals would elevate this wine incredibly.

Price: $22.99

 

Taylor's Picks

Noble Vines 2020 446 Chardonnay  Monterey, California, USA

Tasting Notes: The sunny weather in April has reinspired my love for chardonnay and this one from Noble Vines does not disappoint. The straw color displays its 5-6 months of time in French and American oak barrels. Grown in a cooler climate within the Monterey region of California, this wine brings vanilla, lychee, and bright citrus to the nose. Creamy and complex flavors starting with vanilla, pineapple, and peach followed by flower blossom, marshmallow and melon to finish. Long finish balanced with slight minerality, this wine has it all. Great value for its price, this is a wine to have on the table or sip on the deck all summer long!

Price: $19.99

 

Taylor's Picks

Tarima Hill Monastrell  Spain

Tasting Notes: I am a big lover of big wines and this monastrell from Tarima Hill does not disappoint. Full of blackberry, blueberry and over-ripe raspberries, with vanilla and minerality on the finish. This wine has incredible complexity that develops with each glass. Smooth to drink on its own but incredible with bold dishes like steaks, aged cheddars, and my favorite- braised short ribs. Incredible value for the price, pick one up soon you will not regret it!

Price: $22.99

 
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