Mix & Match

Every time we pour from a bottle, it doesn’t have to be wine – although most times it is.

But at the end of the day – and usually at the end of The Dozen – we often sneak in a taste or two of something that is a bit more spirited. In this Double Dozen, we will even start with spirits – a couple of whiskies from High Wire distilling in Charleston, S.C.

Which explains the photo above – ears of Jimmy Red corn grown locally and once the source of Carolina moonshine, the distillers explain.

We invite you to pour a couple of fingers to sip neat. Okay, a few drops of cold water will be permitted. Then we’ll make our way through a new batch of wines.

High Wire “Jimmy Red” Straight Bourbon Whiskey ($90). A sweet mash coming in at 100 proof with very granular cracked corn flavors, light sweetness and a good bite with a few dusty notes. Excellent, civilized sipping.

High Wire “New Southern Revival” Rye Whiskey ($55). Very aromatic with distinctive green herbal aromas and tastes, almost like an aperitif from southwest France. Different, in a good way.

2022 Seven Hills Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($20). Light, creamy with a little sweet fruitiness and a delightful mélange of green fruits in the finish.

2021 The Prisoner “Unshackled” California Chardonnay ($20). Weedy aromas with apples and corn oil (oak?) flavors and a lightish body.

2021 The Prisoner “Unshackled” California Sauvignon Blanc ($20). Pretty good, more like a Bordeaux Sauvignon with its creamier textures but still with lightly tangy kiwi and lime flavors.

2023 Archery Summit “Vireton” Willamette Valley Pinot Gris ($24). This is our rave wine for this Double Dozen – well-rounded, almost creamy mint and pear flavors with lots of freshness and acidity. Buy a bunch.

2023 Idlewild “Lost Hills Ranch” Yorkville Highlands Arneis ($36). A California look at the Piemonte standard with flavors of apple and ginger – fresh minerality, medium body, crisp finish.

2022 Beringer “Private Reserve” Napa Valley Chardonnay ($50). A very nice, but big, Chard with lots of apple fruit, a kiss of toast, some green notes and a long finish.

NV Pasqua “Hey French” Veneto Bianco ($53). A multi-vintage blend of white grapes whose flavors are mostly green fruits and lime, with good acidity in the finish, more refreshing than sharp.

2022 Overshine “Gap’s Crown Vineyard” Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($55). A lean Chard with lots of apple fruitiness – like a good Macon from Burgundy.

2023 Archery Summit Dundee Hills Chardonnay ($65). Very smooth, but light on fruit – instead enjoyable, food-friendly, minerally tartness in the finish.

NV Arlow “Low Alcohol without Compromise” California Rosé ($22). I’m not sure what “no compromise” means exactly, but the low-alcohol wine is very, very tart, like an unsweetened cherry soda.

2023 Idlewild “Flora & Fauna” North Coast Rosé ($25). Pleasant orange flavors, a little fat in the mid-section, but a crisp finish.

2021 Miguel Torres “Cordillera de los Andes” Maipo Andes Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($21). An enjoyable, warm, red-berry wine with rounded but granular texture and herbal savory notes in the finish,

NV Arlow “Low Alcohol without Compromise” California Cabernet Sauvignon ($22). Thin and very, very tart with blackberry flavors.

2022 Raeburn “High Flyer” Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($28). A best buy – medium body, good flavors of cherries and cherry skins, somewhat lean, a little smoky in the finish and long on the palate.

2022 Pine Ridge “Traveler’s Series” California Cabernet Sauvignon ($35). Nice everyday Cab with rich, sweet cassis fruitiness, some savory notes, good acidity and a touch of high-alcohol heat.

2019 Château de Pez “2^nd Pez” Saint Estephe ($38). Light in body – almost silky – with light fruit and an emphasis on garrigue-like herbal notes.

2020 Doña Paula “Seleccion de Bodega” Gualtallary Malbec ($49). Tart red berry flavors, lots of tannins and good savory notes, but could be a bit more generous with the fruit.

2021 Davis Bynum “River West Vineyard” Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($65). Very elegant with juicy cherries, great length and a finishing dollop of sweet fruit.

2019 Rodney Strong “Alexander’s Crown” Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($90). Blackberry flavors with good savory notes, but a bit lean and spare.

2021 Brion “Ecotone Vineyard” Napa Valley Proprietary Red Wine ($325). Out of the bottle it is lovely, lean and a little leathery with lots of savory qualities, and with a few hours aging or decanting it turns into a creamy blanket of purple fruit while still retaining the savory notes.

2021 Brion “Oakville Ranch” Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon ($368). Lovely blend of soft, dark berries with lots of savory notes and loads of dusty tannins. Tuck this one away for a few years.

NV Graham’s “Six Grapes” Reserve Ruby Porto ($29). A good substitute for a young vintage Port with a very smooth blend of deep purple fruits with some brownie-like chocolate and smashed blackberries in the finish.

Prices listed are generally SRP or from wine-searcher.com. As more wineries are now shipping direct-to-consumer, check the winery website if you can’t find a bottle in your retail store.