What I’m Drinking

If I’m going to be honest (and I am at least 31% of the time), I’ve only been a moderate fan of Petite Sirah in the past. Typically, the massive tannins, which are a signature of the varietal, overwhelm the fruit. Now, if I’m sitting down for a dinner consisting of a can of lard and a spoon, Petite Sirah is the perfect pairing.

The Erickson & Caradin Bloom & Bramble is Sonoma County Chardonnay just the way you love it: crisp, dry, delicate, and refreshing, with hints of (all the high-falutin’ sommelier words inserted here). And the last of it is available at an insanely low price.

Why do Spanish wines have one of the best quality-to-price ratios available? Is it terroir? Winemaking? Government subsidies? All of the above?

You may remember Hawk and Horse, as I espoused the virtues of their Cabernet not long ago. Now, along comes their petite sirah, which is equally worth ranting about.

DRNK is a small family-run operation started by winemaker Ryan Kunde with his wife Katie and her parents. Together their initials spell DRNK – hence the name. Ryan is a die-hard RRV guy who tends to each block in his vineyards with insane detail.

What do you get when you cross a couple of Major League ballplayers, some exquisite Rutherford juice, and a rock star winemaker? Two Old Dogs, apparently.

Hawk and Horse Vineyards Red Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon shows up to the interview with the perfect resume. Beautiful AVA, rock star winemaker, glowing critical reviews. Alright, you’ve got the job already, buddy. Now get in my mouth.

DRNK Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley is an everyday chardonnay that doesn’t assault the mouth with butter and oak, forcing you to call the Malo Police.

When the good folks at The Wine Spies sent this wine for me to try, I was hesitant at first. As you probably surmised from my glowing review of the Beekeeper Zinfandel, I like my zins spicy, not syrupy. So when they told me, “this is not an intellectual wine,” I took it as code for, “this is not a good wine.”