Cheaters sometimes prosper

At least when they’re introduced to a bottle of wine like the Innovac!ón Malbec Tempranillo

There’s something to be said for deprivation, and that’s that deprivation totally sucks. Regular readers will remember that just three weeks ago in this very space, I announced that I was temporarily giving up wine. I’m happy to announce that the cleanse was a success. Mostly, that is.

Monday, April 23,2012
Bottle Rocket

Boom Boom! did not go out with a bang

The Charles Smith 2010 syrah lacked intense boldness

By Anders Wright

Smith’s a former rock ’n’ roller who sports a giant blond afro and a lot of character, and, in the past, I’ve enjoyed his wines. This one, however, was not my new favorite.

Monday, March 26,2012
Bottle Rocket

The 2010 Acordeón Malbec

Make sure you pair it with the right food

By Anders Wright

I drank it with a fairly light dish, which was a mistake, in retrospect. This is a wine that would go down easy with a thick slab of red meat or a strong, stinky cheese—or, even better, one on top of the other.

Monday, March 5,2012
Bottle Rocket

This Chronic Cellars blend truly lives up to its name

Be careful, the 2010 Sofa King Bueno will overpower most food

By Anders Wright

First, pretty much everything Chronic Cellars does is the opposite of snooty. The label has a great design, and if you say Sofa King Bueno fast, you’ll see what they’re going for.

Monday, February 13,2012
Bottle Rocket

Every day should be Drink Wine Day

Until then, here’s a rundown of commemorative vino events around tow

By Anders Wright

Yes, Feb. 18 is the big day, dedicated to drinking the good stuff, and there are a number of ways to celebrate here in San Diego.

Monday, January 23,2012
Bottle Rocket

Peachy Canyon’s 2008 Incredible Red

OK, maybe not ‘incredible,’ but pretty darn good

By Anders Wright

Yes, it’s OK to be suspicious of a reasonably priced wine you can pick up in a variety of grocery stores in 49 out of 50 states, but Peachy Canyon is made not too far away, up in Paso Robles, by a winery that’s still family owned.

Monday, January 2,2012
Bottle Rocket

Layer Cake Shiraz is a solid bottle of wine

The bottle looks nice and the price is right

By Anders Wright

Aside from that brief flirtation with vegetarianism back in college, I’ve eaten turkey on Christmas day every year of my life. Well, until this year, when we mixed things up, opting for both salm

Monday, December 12,2011
Bottle Rocket

Wine kegs

Taps aren’t just for beers anymore

By Anders Wright

Let’s be honest: Most of us are suspicious of wine that comes in anything other than a bottle. I certainly am—it reminds me of that rancid box wine my parents used to serve at parties when I

Monday, November 21,2011
Bottle Rocket

Getting to know the 2009 Barbera from Dobra Zemlja

An evening of Muppets, loud music and a casual, Croatia-inspired red

By Anders Wright

There’s nothing quite like leaving a screening of The Muppets just before hitting up WineRave, one of the first events of this year’s San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, to make you feel really, really old.

Monday, October 24,2011
Bottle Rocket

Time well spent with the Sextant 2008 Chardonnay

Every neighborhood should have one of these block parties

By Anders Wright

Like he does every year, Bruce was more than happy to say what he knew of each wine. He’s an amiable guy, and he’s hosting blind tastings on a monthly basis at Wine Cabana in Old Town.