Best Buys $10 And Under

Scotland- Peaty nature with a unique expression, and is quite different to the usual style of Highland whisky. "Torfa" refers to the Old Norse word peat, has a brooding, smoky character. Natural color and bottled at 100 pf. 3rd place at Int. Spirits Comp. in Best Peated Whisky Category.

"This oft-overlooked Speysider has been frustratingly variable in the past, but now seems to have hit greater consistency. Worm tubs and weird stills combine to give a complex malt, but one that needs help from oak to blossom fully. There are hedgerow aromas: black currant leaf, hawthorn berries, and lots of honey. A chestnut note continues on the tongue where, on the finish, a hint of smoke lurks." Whisky Advocate, 43% abv

The Corralijo Blanco a pure distillation of fruity agave creating a rich and characterful spirit despite its lack of aging. Color: pure and clear, Aroma: peppercorns with herbal undertones, Taste: Agave and spearmint. 40%abv

Nose - the smoke is calmed by a marine character with aromas of thyme, heather, ginger and nutmeg.

Palate - there is a noticeable delicacy and softness in texture and style with notes of vanilla, honey and smoked oysters. The finish is smoky, of course, but there is a sweetness that recalls orange, mango and apple. - Rich and Peaty -

"The unabashedly briny opening bouquet is all peat, sea salt and salted focaccia; time in the glass serves to bring out a refined Sherry scent. In the mouth, it?€?s lean, surprisingly sweet and acutely resiny. Ends pine-like, resiny, moderately salty, fruity." - Wine Enthusiast

Berentzen Icemint is an authentic 100 proof German schnapps. Crystal clear and bold, this SUPER MINT flavored spirit is best served chilled as a shot or mixed to create ultra-cool cocktails.

Distiller Notes
2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Gold.

The Original Ten encapsulates the signature smooth and multi-layered character of Benriach. Three cask matured for at least ten years in bourbon barrels, sherry casks and virgin oak, to create layers of luscious orchard fruit, sumptuous honeyed malt and toasted oak, all interwoven with a subtle trace of smoke. The perfect introduction to our signature style and richly layered Speyside Single Malt.

Clean, spicy with sweet fruitiness in the background. Exceptionally well balanced, no bite or burn. Smooth, light with a clean tingle. Lingering white pepper, finishing clean and cool. Silver medal - 2003 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

CAN

This Camus XO Cognac is crafted using eaux-de-vie from the very small Borderies cru, matured in oak barrels for many, many years. Gloriously floral with oaky cinnamon spice, nutty qualities and fragrant fruit - an excellent example of Borderies Cognac!

The 2009 is one of the greatest Leoville Las Cases I have ever tasted, which is saying something given the many compelling wines that have been made at this estate. A final blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 9% Cabernet Franc has resulted in a wine that appears to be a hypothetical blend of the 1982, 1986, and 1996. Its 13.8% alcohol is perhaps the only thing that sets it apart from those vintages, which had nearly a full percentage point less. The high alcohol is barely noticeable in this 2009, which boasts an inky/purple color, monumental concentration, and great clarity and purity of creme de cassis, black cherry, spice box, graphite, and wet rock characteristics. Extremely full-bodied with a boatload of sweet tannin nearly concealed by the wine-s power, glycerin, and awesome fruit concentration, this intense effort never tastes heavy or tiring. This remarkable St.-Julien should be accessible in 3-4 years, and will evolve for 40-50. (Tasted once.) - WA96-100

92pts Wine Advocate:
"The 2004 Dalmau Reserva is sourced from a single 50+ year old plot within the 300 hectare Ygay estate. Made from a blend of 86% Tempranillo, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Graciano, the wine was aged for 21 months in new French barriques. Dark ruby/purple-colored, it reveals an aromatic array of toasty new oak, spice box, mineral, blueberry, and black currants. Considerably more powerful than its traditionally made siblings, on the palate if is full-bodied, firm, layered, and quite concentrated. The spicy flavors fall on the dark side of the spectrum with blackberry, plum, and black currant in the forefront. The wine has at least a decade of aging potential and will be at its peak from 2015 to 2030 although it can be enjoyed now with a charcoal-grilled ribeye."

"Thirty years after the vintage the two 1976 Gran Reservas still fully express the qualities of their unique terroirs. The outstanding 1976 Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva offers a multitude of tertiary nuances in its suggestions of leather, licorice, coffee beans, earthiness and dried prunes on a medium-bodied frame of notable elegance. It is sweeter and riper than the Bosconia Gran Reserva, with a resonating note of alcoholic warmth that frames the long, lingering finish. 92/Anticipated maturity: 2006-?" 92pts WA

Tasting Notes:
Inviting and elegant tropical aromas give this wine a stylish personality before even tasting it. A storyteller on the palate, this World Class Sauvignon Blanc has brilliant fruit concentration, rich texture, bright acidity with an entertaining long and smooth finish.

Winemaker Notes:
The 2014 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has an opaque crimson color with a purplish hue. The alluring nose draws you in with notes of cassis, black cherry, pipe tobacco, salted caramel, cocoa beans, and fresh strawberry. This full-bodied wine enters with a depth of flavor and offers mouth-coating, velvety tannins, and flavors of cream soda and red fruit. Black currant and vanilla notes crescendo through the palate to the lengthy finish. This wine is drinkable upon release, but given proper cellaring conditions can be enjoyed through 2040.

Blend: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.6% Merlot, 6.7% Cabernet Franc, 2.1% Petit Verdot, 1.6% Malbec

The 2005 is bottled and made in a rich yet elegant style, with loamy currant, spice and dried berry with a touch of cedary oak and a hint of graphite. It?€?s very tight and young now, but well-balanced and fairly typical of the 2005 vintage for Napa Cabernet. - WS

Limited release, artwork by Morgan Winter. Solstice is a juicy, clean, and apple-forward cider with a subtle hint of funk. Minimal sulfur use, Unfined, Unfiltered. 110 Cases. 6.87% abv

Apples: Porter's Perfection, Dabinett and Northern Spy

Tasting Notes: This wild-fermented cider undergoes three partial fermentations, each carefully interrupted at the perfect moment to preserve the fresh apple character while still adding many layers of complexity. The scent of Dabinett is very prominent, and this vintage was sweeter than past vintages.

An intensely aromatic and scintillating Sauvignon Blanc from one of the best vintages ever in Paso Robles. Scents of ripe pear, grapefruit, lemon and freshly cut grass meld seamlessly with suggestions of key lime zest, guava, melon and tropical rain forest. The palate is lush, clean and balanced with generous flavors of kiwi, quince, Granny Smith apple and passionfruit. Trailing accents of Crenshaw melon, lemongrass and nectarine flood the mouth with juicy elegance, while a clean, exuberant finish lingers with lovely nuances of white peach, green apple and Asian pear.

Organic

92 points Wine Spectator??
A graceful rose thats lacy and airy in texture, with finely knit acidity enlivening the flavors of ripe cherry and strawberry fruit and lemon chiffon, accented by hints of smoke and spice. Drink now through 2022. 400 cases imported.

91 points Wine Advocate??
The NV Brut Rose is very, very pretty. This is a fresh, energetic wine that impresses for its length and persistence. The wiry finish suggests the wine will drink well for a number of years, perhaps more if the fruit fleshes out.

Limited release, artwork by Rosemary Vanns. Lurra is a cider drinker's cider made with bittersweet and bittersharp crab apples and cider apples and undergoing two partial fermenations. Minimal sulfur use, Unfined, Unfiltered. 78 cases. 9% abv

Apples: Herefordshire Redstreak, Kingston Black and Ellis Bitter

Tasting Notes: This cider is lightly carbonated and golden hued with copper highlights. Its aroma is complex and sweet, a delightful blend of fresh and dried apple, apricot, peach compote, and umeboshi plum. The pallet is dry, tannic and mineral-driven, bursting with more stone fruit, lime zest and ending on a crisp and refreshing finish.

Limited release, artwork by Keya Tama. With a name meaning crab Basque, this cider was barrel-aged for 6 months in neutral oak barrels to complement the Manchurian Crab's grippy tannins. Fermentation started spontaneously and then white wine yeast was added to complete the fermentation. Minimal sulfur use, Unfined, Unfiltered. 175 Cases. 8.5% abv

Apples: 60% Manchurian Crab, 30% Brownsnout Crab and 10% Northern Spy

Tasting Notes: Txangurro boasts enticing aromas of ginger, orange zest, and sherry. It has a juicy, apple-forward palate with hints of salted lemon, unexpected minerality and refined tannins. It also has a slight touch of effervescence and textural complexity thanks to a partial malolactic fermentation.

Organic