Pinot Noir by Meyer Family Vineyards (2023) - 4 ⭐ Pepper, tobacco, cherry, leather, plums - a pungent nose. Lots of black currant after it airs and the leather goes away.... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #canadianwine @winesky.app

User testing surfaced something we didn't expect: most people don't photograph labels. They remember the wine later — at home, in a shop, halfway through conversation about a different bottle. So we built around that. 🧵 1/2

CODE Pinot Noir by Code Wines (2022) - 3 ⭐ Soft black currant, raspberry, light plums, cinnamon. Very light, with an initially wild node that threatens that it’s going to be a natural, but ends up being rather drinkable.... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #canadianwine @winesky.app

Phantom Creek Estates Cabernet Franc by Phantom Creek Estates (2022) - 3½ ⭐ Plums, pepper, black berries, wee bit of black currant. Somewhat surprised at the ratings, as it was neither great value nor particularly interesting.... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #canadianwine @winesky.app

Jackson-Triggs Proprietors' Selection Sauvignon Blanc by Jackson-Triggs (N.V.) - 3 ⭐ Apricot, sweet lemon, and not much else. Surprisingly drinkable for the price, particularly once we consider the average BC wine price, so squeaks in at a 3.... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #canadianwine @winesky.app

Charme de L'Ile by Unsworth Vineyards (N.V.) - 3 ⭐ Ripe apple, juicy, with a hint of sweetness and just a bit of bone. The sweetness picks up if it’s not perfectly chilled.... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #canadianwine @winesky.app

So far BC wine remains underwhelming.

Viña Zorzal Golerga by Viña Zorzal (2024) - 4 ⭐ Smooth as a baby's ass. Nice shoe polishy thing on the nose. Dark as blood. Black, deep cherries; roasted sweet potato; red fruits and spices. Then maraschino cherries, clove, and a concentrated,... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #spanishwine @winesky.app

ADEGA ON45TH MALBEC by ADEGA ON45TH ESTATE WINERY (2020) - 3 ⭐ Fruity note. Black currant, bit of tobacco, then leather. Some vanilla. Not crazy about the price, but I’m kinda spoiled. Red Wine from Okanagan Valley via @winesky.app 🍷 #winesky #canadianwine #okanaganvalley #malbec

Marismas de Macharnudo Bajo by Bodega Viña Santa Petronila (N.V.) - 4 ⭐ Salt, sea shells, calcium, overripe lemon that's about to go over a cliff, stone, slate, a hint of flint. Bit of balsamic, maybe brine on the back. Crisp A.F.... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #spanishwine @winesky.app

Imperial Brown Stout Whisky Barrel Aged by The Kernel Brewery (N.V.) - 4 ⭐ Coffee, dark chocolate, and something toasty. Lovely and packs a punch, while not being as overwhelming as others I tried on this trip. Stout - Imperial / Double Beer from England via @winesky.app 🍺 #beersky #england

Mills & Hills by Fyne Ales (N.V.) - 5 ⭐ Green dates, coffee cherry, cashew fruit. Dark as a wolf’s mouth - Gmork beer. Closest parallel I can think of is the Malandrin Bobo VT. A sensational night closer. Imperial Stout Beer from Scotland via @winesky.app 🍺 #beersky #scotland

Venom Hell by Holy Goat Brewing (N.V.) - 2½ ⭐ I can see where you are going with this sour fruit juice, and how determined you are to get there, but I’m not joining you. Mixed Fermentation Sour Beer from Scotland via @winesky.app 🍺 #beersky #scotland #blueberries #hibiscus #vanilla

8th Birthday Danish Pastry Imperial Stout by Polly's Brew Co. (N.V.) - 4 ⭐ Streaks out with the color of soy sauce and a taste that makes me think or our old times caramel packets that came with hit supermarket flan.... 1/2 🍺 #beersky @winesky.app

Alright, just pushed a @winesky.app feature: sharing a review now creates an app.winesky.review record alongside the app.bsky.feed.post one. Because of course that's what you do before a long-haul flight. Details below. 🧵

Nightfall by Two Flints Brewery (N.V.) - 4½ ⭐ Coconut, brandy and then some, dark chocolate. Looks as if an espresso had bled to death. Imperial Stout Beer from England via @winesky.app 🍺 #beersky #england

Woodland Creatures by Left Handed Giant Brewing Co. (N.V.) - 3½ ⭐ Pistachio, dark chocolate, something like rum. Softer than my usual skew but tasty. Milk Stout Beer from South West via @winesky.app 🍺 #beersky #southwest

Deconstructed Barrel Caribbean Chocolate Cake by Siren Craft Brew (N.V.) - 3½ ⭐ Chocolate-covered frozen bananas and bourbon. It came across a bit sweet at first blush. Tropical Stout Beer from England via @winesky.app 🍺 #beersky #england

MANA Raspberry Blueberry Cherry & Coconut by Azvex Brewing Company (N.V.) - 4½ ⭐ Woha, this was something else. Raspberry, coconut, something like strawberries. If you’d given it to me blind I’d have thought it was some health bar smoothie. Smoothie Sour beer via @winesky.app 🍺 #beersky

Stoutzilla Bourbon BA Imperial Stout by UnBarred Brewery (N.V.) - 4 ⭐ Ok now THIS is dark and stormy. Chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, chocolate-covered maraschino cherries. Notes of roasted cashew later.... 1/2 🍺 #beersky @winesky.app

Parabellum Milk Stout by Gun Brewery (N.V.) - 3½ ⭐ Coffee, chocolate milk, something nutty. Light and drinkable, even if on beer I skew to the dark and stormy side. Milk Stout Beer from East Sussex via @winesky.app 🍺 #beersky #eastsussex #barley #oats #wheat

I’ve been mostly offline trying a ton of beers the last few days. Back to our regularly scheduled wine programming soon.

Color Field by GRIMM Artisanal Ales (2023) - 3 ⭐ Could have sworn it was a light, decently-tasting natural wine instead of a beer (even if that only confirms my suspicion that most naturals are meant for people who don’t like wine,... 1/2 🍺 #beersky @winesky.app

Base Ejection by Gun Brewery (N.V.) - 3½ ⭐ Much softer than I expected on the palate, after the bourbon nose. It does have a light smoky finish though. Smoked Rye Beer Beer from East Sussex via @winesky.app 🍺 #beersky #eastsussex #rye

COQUIN DE SORT by La Ferme du Pasteur (2023) - 4 ⭐ Delightful pink-reddish color. Strawberry zest, vanilla flowers, something like cinnamon and cloves. Solid length. I may need to get a bottle. Rosé Wine from Rhône Valley via @winesky.app 🍷 #winesky #frenchwine #rhonevalley #grenachenoir #syrah

Monte Pío Albariño by Bodegas Casa Monte Pío (2024) Lime, some other citrus, and a nice minerality... but I picked a different wine for the pairing, so no rating. I'll need to try it again. White Wine from Galicia via @winesky.app 🍷 #winesky #spanishwine #galicia #albarino

Percheron Shiraz Mourvèdre by Boutinot (2022) - 3½ ⭐ Coffee, thick on the palate; then plums, prunes, chocolate, dark chocolate. A hint of something like morcilla achorizada. Needs a big, fatty steak.... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #southafricanwine @winesky.app

Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc by Domaine Guiberteau (2024) - 4 ⭐ Hay, barn, a strong acidity - almost like a fine Verdejo. Smooth, yet it fills your mouth, and the unexpected lemoniness of it just keeps on going.... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #frenchwine @winesky.app

This week I wrote about a brilliant marketing campaign by Andalusia's tourism board and its lessons for anyone looking to be the kind of visitor that Spaniards welcome. open.substack.com/pub/brendybo...

We just pushed some internal changes to Winesky. You shouldn't see any obvious difference, but if you encounter any issues, do let us know! (There have been some updated recently that we haven't showcased - we should get around to that)

Rosa Pálido by Nicte (2021) - 3½ ⭐ Raspberry, watermelon, some apple, bit of raspberry (an impression that’s reinforced by the bottle’s bottom), and something tangy and tropical I can’t place.... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #spanishwine @winesky.app

PANORÁMICO RIOJA by Vinos del Panorámico (2020) - 3½ ⭐ Light red fruits with a nice acidity, pepper. Juice, just there, not overpowering or bold. Bit more pepper, almost like sprinkled on grass.... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #spanishwine @winesky.app

“The idea that only the upper class can make a place attractive is nothing but class contempt dressed up as taste.” Perfect quote right there (and the name of Bouazzouni's book is the cherry on top).

Crémant du Jura Brut Zéro by Domaine de Montbourgeau (N.V.) - 3½ ⭐ Green apples, talcum, chalk. Bone dry - so crisp it crackles. Lemon, if it gets cold enough. Doesn't fuck around when it comes to fat. Cuts right through cold cuts - from Spanish... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #frenchwine @winesky.app

Rito by Consulado Oscuro (2024) - 4 ⭐ My initial notes on the Rito were "mild - not bad for a first try - fine, but you can do better, even if I'm always happy to support a small producer". Then it got interesting.... 1/3 🍷 #winesky #spanishwine @winesky.app

Superior by Malandrin (2018) - 4 ⭐ Shoe polish, prunes, plums, cranberry, something almost like marzipan. Could have swore from the nose it was a Pinot Noir. Lighter on the palate than the kick you get on the nose at first,... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #spanishwine @winesky.app

Baumard Carte d'Or Coteaux du Layon by Domaine des Baumard (2024) - 4½ ⭐ Slight quince, sweet lemon, green quince, lemon grass, herbs, elderflower. Too interesting as a dessert wine to throw in a dessert as a distraction.... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #frenchwine @winesky.app

Malahierba Rufete by Malahierba Vinos (2023) - 3½ ⭐ A Crianza on cherry wood! Soft nose, floral, almost like a light Mencía. Cherry, but just there, then rosemary. Perfect for some razor clams we had it with - brought out some sweetness in the sauce... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #spanishwine @winesky.app

Thoughtful and a bit challenging, definitely worth a read.

Moraima Albariño by Viña Moraima S. Coop. Galega (2024) - 4 ⭐ Fresh peaches, with some - just a bit - of cream, from the 7 months it spent in lees. Fresh, sweet lemon, hay, bit of green apple. Nice body, not sticky at all on the palate. White Wine... via @winesky.app 🍷 #winesky #spanishwine

Le Bouquet des Garrigues by Le Clos du Caillou (2023) - 3½ ⭐ Black currant, pepper, juice, licorice, black currant again, coffee. Had it too late in the night to do any justice to it and it still caused a solid impression,... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #frenchwine @winesky.app

Domaine Pignier Cellier des Chartreux Chardonnay by Domaine Pignier (2019) - 4 ⭐ Petrol. Smells like a dry Palonimo Fino or a Riesling, despite being 100% Chardonnay. Soft, not as penetrating as I'd expect, but still reminiscent of sherry.... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #frenchwine @winesky.app

Altún Tempranillo by Bodegas Altún S.L. (2023) - 4 ⭐ Cherry, red fruits, fresh and light. Clove? Quite light-tasting for 14%. More black currant a few minutes later. Deep cherry, too, and a bit of coffee.... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #spanishwine @winesky.app

Looking into @winemaps.com ... am I understanding this correctly, that the only wineries and bars listed are the ones that subscribed and paid? Doesn't seem to be a way to add a place otherwise.

Licinia Oro by Bodegas Licinia (2019) - 4 ⭐ Deep purple. Shoe polish, leather, licorice, black cherries. Cacao-ish, after it gets some air. 4 stars on my first pass in a while (I'd tried it before, but didn't take any notes). I need to revisit it. via @winesky.app 🍷 #winesky #spanishwine

La anguila europea se encuentra al borde de la extinción. El 17 de febrero las comunidades autónomas rechazaron por tercera vez la propuesta del @miteco.gob.es para elevar el régimen de protección de la anguila en España. ✍️ @chikichanka.bsky.social (@ebdonana.bsky.social)

This reads like a hamfisted parody of a terribly work environment.

L'Enclos de Peralba Pét-Nat de Cal Manuel by L'Enclos de Peralba (2025) - 3 ⭐ Bone, chalk, an orangey spritz on the tongue, followed up by light orange and sweet lemon. I'm torn - I'd say 3.5 with the right pairing, but I'm not much of a Pet Nat guy. via @winesky.app 🍷 #winesky #spanishwine

Jilbo Tinto by Malandrin (2021) - 4 ⭐ Pepper, cherries, with a hint of black cherries, just there, and then something fresh and herbal - not quite mint, but almost. Ripe black currant after a lot of air.... 1/2 🍷 #winesky #spanishwine @winesky.app

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