News Briefs for February 22, 2024
February 23, 2024•Napa Valley-based Cliff Lede Vineyards is introducing two new offerings, a 2021 Cliff Lede “Rhythm” Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District (retailing at $125) and a 2021 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($80). Rhythm Cabernet is a single-vineyard bottling from Cliff Lede’s Stags Leap District estate, complementing the winery’s existing flagship Cabernet from its Poetry vineyard. The Napa Valley-appellated bottling includes fruit from the company’s 20-acre vineyard in Calistoga at the base of Diamond Mountain, and its 87-acre vineyard in Carneros.
•Constellation Brands’ High West has released its first Bottled-in-Bond whiskey, a spirit distilled and aged entirely at High West’s Utah distillery. The 50% abv whiskey is made from a blend of 80% rye and 20% malted rye distilled in the second half of 2018. The rye is 5 years old and carries a suggested price of $80 a bottle. High West’s Bottled-in-Bond release is now available at the brand’s distillery and in retailers across the U.S. High West reached an estimated 180,000 cases in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank.
•Tequila and Tequila-based RTD brand Casa Azul has named industry veteran Dennis Carr as CEO. Carr brings over 30 years of experience, including leadership roles at Hotaling & Co., Gallo, C. Mondavi & Family, and Boston Beer Co. In addition, Casa Azul has launched the Playa Pack, a new Tequila Soda variety pack featuring two existing—Lime and Grapefruit—and two new—Pineapple Coconut and Spicy Margarita—flavors. All four are at 5% abv and contain 100 calories per 12-ounce serving. The brand is also known for its celebrity partnerships, aligning with actress Eiza González, and athletes like Travis Kelce, Michelle Wie West, and Brooks Koepka.
•Ron Barceló is debuting three new expressions, Barceló Imperial Porto Cask, Imperial Mizunara Cask, and Imperial Maple Cask, as part of its ultra-premium Rare Blends Collection of rums. Imperial Porto Cask ($60), which sees additional aging in Tawny 10 Port barrels, kicks off the series, launching nationally at select retailers. It will be followed later this year by Maple Cask, which is made through a distillation process using maple wood, spends 8 to 10 years in ex-Bourbon casks, and is finished for an additional year in maple staves. Also forthcoming will be Mizunara Cask, which sees aging in virgin Japanese oak barrels. Ron Barceló is imported by Shaw-Ross and has U.S. volume of approximately 76,000 cases annually, according to Impact Databank.
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