Drink the Bottles

Five generations. Historic vineyards. A family committed to preserving Napa Valley. And three wines that tell a remarkable story.  But this story is not only about the wines. Some wineries make exceptional wine.  A select few become part of the history of the place they call home.  Ghost Block Estate Wines belongs to that rare group. When three bottles from Ghost Block arrived at Drink The Bottles—the 2019 BW9 Red Blend , the 2022 Ghost Block Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon , and the 2024 Elizabeth Rose Pinot Noir —I knew I was receiving something special.  But what I didn't expect was the story behind the labels. Because before there was a bottle of wine, there was a family. Before there was a vineyard, there was a commitment to the land.  And before Napa Valley became one of the most celebrated wine regions in the world, families like the Pelissas were quietly planting roots, farming the soil, and helping shape the future of California wine.  The wines are...

One of the things we've always appreciated about Penelope is that they aren't afraid to experiment.  In fact, some might argue that they paved the path for many other distilleries for blending and creating unique spirits.   In an era where every new whiskey release seems to promise bigger proof, older age statements, or increasingly exotic finishes, Penelope has managed to find a balance between innovation and drinkability. That philosophy is on full display in the Cooper Series, a collection that allows the brand to explore unique finishing techniques while still keeping the whiskey approachable and enjoyable. Enter Riviera .  Part of Penelope's popular Cooper Series, Riviera takes a blend straight bourbon and 8-year American light whiskey and finishes it in rosé wine casks. On paper, it sounds like a whiskey designed for warmer weather and outdoor gatherings. In the glass, it turns out to be exactly that. The Cooper Series has become one of the more interesting pro...

  The Schlatter family has owned Merryvale Vineyards for about three decades and this property is rich in history.  The iconic winery was the first winery built in Napa after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933.  The European and Bordeaux-inspired wines are the heart of the brand, resulting in rich and luscious Cabernet Sauvignons.  That is certainly the case here with the  2021 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley . Smaller yields were the result of a second year of drought in Napa Valley, creating more robust flavors and highly concentrated wines.  Overall, the 2021 vintage is highly rated with exceptional wines.  This wine is raisin colored with eggplant streaks.  Juicy blackberry, dried spices, stewed plum and flower bouquet on the nose.  The full bodied mouthfeel is immediately noticeable with solid tannins and balanced flavors of black cherry, tomato leaf, clove, blackberry and freshly sawn cedar plank.   This wine spent 16 ...

Bardstown, KY ( May 26, 2026) - Instead of leaving annual volume loss to the angels, Bardstown Bourbon Company has found a way to fill the empty space in its latest Distillery Reserve.  Distillery Reserve Mars Single Malt Japanese Blend , is a pioneering release that bridges Kentucky bourbon and Japanese whisky traditions in an entirely new way.  It is available in extremely limited quantities beginning May 29, 2026.   Developed in collaboration with Japan's Mars disilleries, this limited release represents a first-of-its kind co-aging proces, uniting two distinct whisky cultures within a single barrel. Japanese single malt whisky from Mars Komagatake and Tsunuki distilleries was shipped to Bardstown, Kentucky, where it was introduced into barrels containing mature bourbon.  Rather than a traditional finishing approach, the Japanese whisky and Kentucky bourbon were aged together in-barrel.  This allowed the spirits to fully integrate and evolve, emerging tw...

Some bottles earn attention because of age statements. Others because of rarity or allocated status. Then there are bottles like Charbay Doubled & Twisted — a whiskey that immediately makes you stop and ask, "Wait… they made this from what?" Charbay has built a reputation around doing things differently, and this bottle might be one of the clearest examples of that mindset. While many distilleries spend years refining a traditional formula, Charbay seems perfectly comfortable stepping outside the lines and creating something that doesn't fit neatly into familiar categories.  And after learning the story behind the distillery itself, that approach starts making a lot more sense. Charbay isn't a new craft distillery chasing trends. The Karakasevic family traces its winemaking and distilling roots back to 1751 in Europe. Multiple generations were involved in the family trade long before Charbay ever existed in California. Founder Miles Karakasevic eventually brought ...

There are bottles you plan to open for a special occasion, and then there are bottles that somehow disappear into the cellar, only to resurface years later at exactly the right moment. The 2021 Fraternity Red Blend from Baldacci Family Vineyards became our “lost bottle” — misplaced after arriving from a collaborative partner, then recently rediscovered and finally poured. As it turns out, some bottles are worth the wait. What makes this one even more personal for us is that Baldacci was one of the very first wineries we visited during our inaugural trip to Napa Valley back in 2009. Long before Drink The Bottles existed, we still remember the warmth of the experience, the beauty of the property, and the feeling that Napa wine country was something truly special. Revisiting Baldacci all these years later through this bottle felt unexpectedly nostalgic. The 2021 Fraternity Red Blend pours a deep garnet with rich ruby undertones, dense in the glass with slow, elegant legs, hinting at s...

There’s a certain kind of wine that feels reserved for special occasions—the kind you open, pour carefully, and overthink a little too much.  This isn’t that wine. The 2022  Cline Rock Carved Cabernet Sauvignon is the kind of bottle that fits into real life. Not just the dinner table, but the kitchen. Midweek. Music on. Sauce simmering. Glass already poured. And honestly, that’s where it shines. Right away, this wine gives you exactly what you want from a California Cabernet—rich dark fruit, plenty of structure, and just enough depth to keep things interesting. But it doesn’t overwhelm you.  That's the beauty of Alexander Valley and Sonoma.  Immediately approachable and smooth.  Easy to come back to. What makes this bottle stand out isn’t just what’s in the glass—it’s how naturally it fits into the moment. You don’t need a perfectly set table or a formal pairing. This is a wine that works while you’re cooking, not just once you sit down. Tomato sauce on the sto...

We love deliciously unusual collaborations and unique products.  This collaboration is a marriage of Bourbon Whiskey and Armagnac from Raj Peter Bhakta.   Why do you know that name?  Bhakta revolutionized rye whiskey with the WhistlePig  brand before discovering a literal treasure trove of Armagnac.  The Armagnac lead to the popular BHAKTA Spirits  brand, which eventually lead to this union that is now Hogsworth .   This non-distilling producer is expertly crafting really tasty and fun-to-drink bottles and this is the  Hogsworth Blend #9 Bourbon Whiskey & Armagnac .  This bottle has an average age of 9.3 years and is made up of the following impressively aged spirits: 2009 Bourbon (42%) - Aged 4 years, 9 months - Tennessee 2009 Bourbon (18%) - Aged 5 years, 4 months - Minnesota 2013 Armagnac (17%) - Aged 11 Years - France 2011 Armagnac (18%) - Aged 13 Years - France 1982 Armagnac (5%) - Aged 42 Years - France The result?  B...

Old Hillside Bourbon Company might be one of our favorite new brands (to us) for 2026.  In just six short years, this young company with huge ideas has carved a path not only for their brand, but to honor the legacy of incredible African American jockeys and war heroes.  North Carolina natives and friends founded Old Hillside Bourbon Company and they haven't looked back.  In fact, they're always looking to the future. One thing that likely makes this company so successful in its early stages is the approach they have towards the business.  Courtney Tucker, co-founder and COO, says, "This business is not about us.  We're just playing a part.  This is higher than us."  And that is evident by every bottle that pays homage to what would have been a long-forgotten great American and their stories that need to be preserved.  The company even created a limited release Straight Bourbon Whiskey for Hillside High School (hence the name, Old Hillside) and pr...

  Whether you have heard of Spring Mountain Vineyard or not, it's a magical place with a storied history and a bright future.  With over 150 years of adventures under their care, this winery actually placed fourth in the "Judgement of Paris" international wine competition in 1976.  It's not too often that we get to taste a wine that has been bottled for over a decade, so we are honored to bring this gift to you today. We should start by stating that Spring Mountain Vineyard has one of the most extensive wine libraries not only in Saint Helena, but all of Napa Valley.  They have several tasting experiences available including wines from the last three decades.  This is a unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience for the oenophile who has "done it all".   The 2013 Spring Mountain Vineyard Elivette Napa Valley Red Wine features estate fruit and is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon (57%), Cabernet Franc (17%), Merlot (10%), Petit Verdot (8%), and Malbec ...

  The Pacific Northwest is one of the most highly producing agriculture regions in the United States.  The cool evening climate from the Pacific ocean along with the unique multi-layered terroir creates a farmer's dream.  Back in 1934, however, locals noticed that there was an over abundance of pears and apples from the area that were going to waste, and they decided to take matters into their own hands.   Hood River Distillers has been a staple in Oregon for over 90 years, first creating fruit wines and brandies, and eventually branching out into bourbon, whiskey, tequila, gin, vodka and more.  The company distributes across the US and produces nearly 1,000,000 cases annually.  The Forthwest Whisky label currently offers four distinct expressions and three of those are flavored.  The bottle we are tasting today is Forthwest Whisky , an 80 proof blended Canadian whisky. First of all, lets talk about the packaging and specifically the bottle. ...

We are suckers for age-stated whiskeys so when we received a sample of this Barrell Craft Spirits 12 Year Bourbon French Oak Finish we leapt at the opportunity!  It's no secret that we have been fans of BCS for several years, way back when we dubbed Seagrass Rye in our top 5 favorite rye expressions - ever.  The concensus was that we suspsected this bottle would be nothing short of incredible, and we were not disappointed.  This whiskey was distilled and sourced from Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee and Wyoming and then finished in French Oak barrels with varying toast levels. Aged copper penny in appearance, this bourbon immediately oozes ageworthy aromas of well-weathered saddle leather, antique butter churn, dried herbs, cinnamon stick and fresh baked bread.   There is so much going on here, and between both of us tasting this bottle, we probably came up with close to twenty separate aromas, but had to settle on the aforementioned as we felt they were most d...

  Located in the Jamieson canyon region of Napa Valley are some vineyards producing some very tasty and affordable wines under the Maldonado Family Vineyards label and also a second label dubbed Farm Worker.  Owner and winemaker Hugo Maldonado created this Mexican-American family owned winery was previously a vineyard manager at Newton, providing him the tools of the trade to eventually leave his footprint in the valley. The 2021 Maldonado Family Vineyards Proprietary Red Wine is a secret blend of reds and it provides a satisfying and extremely approachable expression for those who tend to shy away from a 100% bolder Cab.  This one suggests that it is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, but the important thing here is how this wine makes you feel.  Scarlet red in the glass with shades of plum skin, the aromas of juicy plum, marzipan, petrichor, flower boquet and spice dance together wonderfully.  We gave this some time in the glass without de...