On Saturday the actor Jonathan Majors was arrested in Manhattan over what the NYPD called a “domestic dispute.” He was charged with strangulation, assault, and harassment involving a 30-year-old woman.
A representative for Majors claimed he had “done nothing wrong,” adding, “We look forward to clearing his name and clearing this up.”
The incident occurred as Majors’ star was rising. He currently appears in two films on the box office Top 10: as Kang the Conqueror, the MCU’s new big villain in Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania, and as the adversary in Creed III.
News of the arrest sent shockwaves about the industry and on social media. It also caused the U.S. Army to pull new ads featuring the performer.
“The U.S. Army is aware of the arrest of Jonathan Majors and we are deeply concerned by the allegations surrounding his arrest,” they wrote in a statement. “We recently released two ads in which Mr. Majors appears. While Mr. Majors is innocent until proven guilty, prudence dictates that we pull our ads until the investigation into these allegations is complete.”
Majors also appeared in the recent Sundance hit Magazine Dreams, in which he plays a bodybuilder looking to find connection in the world of celebrity.
Every single week, our TV and film experts will list the most important ten streaming selections for you to pop into your queues. We’re not strictly operating upon reviews or accrued streaming clicks (although yes, we’ve scoured the streaming site charts) but, instead, upon those selections that are really worth noticing amid the churning sea of content. There’s a lot out there, after all, and your time is valuable.
In case you gave up on this show due to the more muted than usual vibe of Professor Jonathan Moore, Stalker Joe does grow more interesting by the season finale. Netflix has already announced a fifth season renewal, so at least you know by that sentence that Joe is alive and well at the end of this round. That’s all we will say, however, and may Joe forever be haunted by all of his victims, even if the Internet refuses to stop lusting over him.
TIE: 10. Lucky Hank (AMC series streaming on AMC+)
Bob Odenkirk is already back on TV, even though Better Call Saul will always be missed. In this show, he portrays a professor who’s either going to have a meltdown or a midlife crisis. Maybe both. This is a darkly comedic joint, although with a decidedly different tone than the super-bleak humor found in Saul and Breaking Bad. And naturally, those are tough acts to follow up on, but Odenkirk must relish digging into a different TV character after giving us so many shades of Slippin’ Jimmy for so long.
You know what to expect here: high drama and behind-the-scenes accounts from the performers and crew associated with the adult film realm. Activists get in on the fun, too, while examining what role that the site in question has to with several controversies. Allegations will fly, and this documentary does get into the ugly, nitty gritty of things, so approach it all with a Trigger Warning.
8. Cocaine Bear (Universal Pictures film streaming on Amazon Prime)
A bear swallows up a mountain of cocaine, and he’s high and ragey as hell. Blood will spill! This film is everything that you are expecting, and that works in its favor. Praise Elizabeth Banks for taking on and directing this project, and enjoy one Ray Liotta’s final performances, along with the presences of Keri Russell, Christian Convery, Alden Ehrenreich, and (last but certainly not least) Margo Martindale.
The hit Jon Favreau series with Pedro Pascal and Baby Yoda brought back a franchise favorite who finally got his due. As well, the show intuitively knows how to best balance the cuteness and the adventure that this show’s audience demands. At this point, this show is the undisputed standout of the Disney+ streaming realm thus far, so there’s no reason why this joint cannot carry on indefinitely.
Not to be outdone by Taylor Sheridan’s vast assembling of many Paramount shows (both of the Yellowstone variety and not so much), 50 Cent’s Power universe continues past the original series with a whole lot of drama to clean up in this third season. That includes an accidental killing and a car accident, all with Tariq St. Patrick attempting to mop up life and leave the game. However, he will soon end up back in business, which will complete his plans to regain trust and his family. Betrayal and a R.I.C.O. investigation will do that, unfortunately.
5. John Wick (Summit Entertainment film streaming on Peacock)
With Chapter 4 now in theaters, it’s only natural that people would want to watch the dog-inspired debut where John Wick’s anger all began. Get ready for the tears to flow, as well, while reliving Lance Reddick’s contributions to the franchise, which shall live on forever, quite frankly, as one of the greatest action franchises of all time. Go relive the incredible glass-box-busting scene of Chapter 3 while you’re at it. Tick tock.
Bathroom showdowns went down in the most recent installment of what is probably Jason Sudeikis’ final outing with the AFC Richmond gang in this impossibly but irresistibly chipper series. Naturally, the audience shall await word of a spinoff or a change of heart from Sudeikis and his fellow producers, but also, there’s so much new TV coming out these days that we can’t be too mad about the shows that are deciding to go out on top this year.
This show came in like, well, a swarm, and of course, everyone was staring right at Beyonce’s overzealous fandom while watching. Naturally, this show takes things much further than reality, and Donald Glover has another buzzy yet controversial show on his hands. Watch out for a certain jump scare and be impressed at Billie Eilish’s acting turn after an entire season dropped at once on Prime Video for the binging.
2. Yellowjackets (Showtime series streaming on Paramount+)
This season had a tough act to follow up on while also risking going in too hard. Fortunately, the darkness wins and the show maintains its careful balance of intense characterization and intense happenings. This week, a musical moment and a gory moment will capture much attention, and we should all revel in how Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Christina Ricci, and Juliette Lewis have are all pulling off the roles of their lifetimes. It took long enough, but it’s finally happening. Also, watch out for Lottie Matthews because the “Antler Queen” is back like she never left the building.
Series patriarch Brian Cox’s recent interviews have been full of f-bombs like usual, but he also seems ready to close out this series, which is off to a roaring return with the Roy kids — Kendall, Shiv, and Roman — reeling from the betrayal of the most recent season finale. Tom somehow ended that round of episodes at the top of the pile, but that cannot last. Logan Roy won’t let anyone stay comfortable for too long under his tenure, but I am still rooting for Gerri to pull a full-on coup and take out everyone. After that d*ck pic scandal and what she’s been through for this family, she deserves the ultimate win.
Entering Saturday, the UConn Huskies looked the part as arguably the hottest team in college basketball. UConn won each of its first three NCAA Tournament games by double figures, including a total destruction of Arkansas in Sweet 16, and the Huskies showed signs of living up to the promise of a 14-game winning streak to begin the 2022-23 season. Still, Dan Hurley’s team faced what appeared to be a worthy adversary in the Gonzaga Bulldogs in a highly-anticipated Elite Eight matchup in Las Vegas.
While the first half was highly competitive, UConn asserted itself coming out of the locker room and, in the end, it was an exceedingly comfortable 82-54 victory for the Huskies to earn a trip to Houston for next week’s Final Four.
UConn established itself first, zooming out of the gate with a 9-2 run with the help of a slow start from Gonzaga’s normally high-powered offense. The Bulldogs missed eight of their first nine shots, including a pair of airballs, and UConn’s physicality was immediately evident. The Huskies hit a rough patch of their own soon after, though, and the two teams combined to shoot just 15-for-39 from the field through more than 12 minutes of action.
The scoring pace picked up from there, as Gonzaga took its first lead of the evening on a three-pointer by Malachi Smith with 6:33 to go before halftime.
Later in the half, Gonzaga star Drew Timme picked up a second foul, forcing him to the bench, and the Huskies took immediate advantage. Gonzaga continued its poor shooting with a miss in the lane and, on the other end, UConn secured back-to-back offensive rebounds to set up a three-pointer by Jordan Hawkins that gave the Huskies a seven-point edge.
That seven-point advantage mirrored the margin at the halftime break with a hat-tip to UConn’s Andre Jackson and Alex Karaban. Jackson made a beautiful, heads-up play to set up Karaban for a three-pointer on the last possession, giving the Huskies a bit of extra cushion.
While UConn was already in a favorable position heading into halftime, the Huskies created more separation with haste to begin the second half. Timme picked up his third foul in the first minute and, immediately, UConn padded its lead with five straight points, including a triple by Hawkins to force a timeout.
The Huskies have taken their largest lead of the game #MarchMadness
Making matters worse for Gonzaga, Timme was then whistled for a very questionable fourth foul with more than 17 minutes remaining. The whistle removed the perennial All-American from the floor for several minutes, and it turned out to be a death blow for the Bulldogs.
As soon as Timme went to the bench, UConn put the pedal down, scoring the next eight points. That gave the Huskies an 18-point lead and, even with more than 16 minutes on the clock, UConn appeared to be in complete control.
A run never materialized for Gonzaga, as UConn continued to dominate the proceedings. If there was any remaining doubt, it evaporated with a 13-4 run that pushed UConn’s lead to 31 points with fewer than eight minutes on the clock. That spurt was capped by the fifth three-pointer of the night from Jordan Hawkins, with the celebration undoubtedly beginning from Hartford to Storrs and beyond.
For Gonzaga, it was an ill-timed moment to have a shockingly disappointing offensive performance. The Bulldogs were always likely to struggle to stop an explosive UConn offense, but Mark Few’s team entered the night as the No. 1 offense in the country by adjusted efficiency and came off a night in which it scored comfortably against an elite UCLA defense in the Sweet 16. The Bulldogs struggled to find rhythm throughout the evening, visibly bothered by UConn’s physicality and unable to convert shots in what became a 33 percent shooting night from the floor and a miserable 2-for-20 showing from three-point range.
UConn, on the other hand, was a well-oiled machine. The Huskies scored 1.17 points per possession on offense, secured 13 offensive rebounds, and committed only eight turnovers. UConn’s balanced attack gave Gonzaga fits throughout the evening, led by Hawkins with 20 points and six triples. That offense, coupled with a valuable, multi-faceted effort from Andre Jackson (eight points, ten assists, nine rebounds) to key things on both ends, yielded impressive results.
The Huskies will now square off against the winner of Sunday’s matchup between Texas and Miami on Saturday in Houston. Regardless of opponent, UConn is expected to enter the Final Four as the betting favorite and, given the team’s performance to this point in the tournament, that placement in the pecking order makes complete sense.
Ben Simmons has not played for the Brooklyn Nets since before the All-Star break, and it sure seems like he’s not going to take the floor again this season. According to Nets coach Jacque Vaughn ahead of the team’s game against the Miami Heat on Saturday night, Simmons is unlikely to return to the team for the duration of the 2022-23 season as he deals with a nerve impingement in his back.
“For me as a coach, there’s some things that I can control, some things that I can’t control,” Vaughn said, per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. “What I can’t control is the impingement. What I can control is getting this group ready to play. And then in all honesty, the realism that he’s probably not going to join us for the rest of the year … certainty will come once he continues to be looked at by specialists.”
The Nets announced that Simmons had a nerve impingement on Friday. He’s missed all 16 games the team has played in the second half of the year, and after Saturday’s game against Miami, Brooklyn will only have eight more games left in the regular season.
When he has played this year, Simmons has struggled to find the All-Star form from earlier in his career. The former No. 1 overall pick has averaged 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.3 steals in 26.3 minutes per game this season.
The Florida Atlantic Owls’ magical NCAA Tournament run is heading to Houston. FAU took on Kansas State in the Elite Eight on Saturday evening in Madison Square Garden, and by the time the final horn sounded, the Conference USA champions and 9-seed in the East Region earned their first-ever berth in the Final Four with a 79-76 victory.
The story of the first half was Markquis Nowell and Dante Sills leading the Wildcats against a more balanced attack for the Owls. Nowell’s 15 points and 7 assists led both teams, as he was doing all his usual floor general stuff — all nine of Sills’ points, for example, came off of assists by his backcourt mate from New York City.
— CBS Sports College Basketball (@CBSSportsCBB) March 25, 2023
And yet the brilliance of Nowell was not enough, in part because Keyontae Johnson was limited to only eight minutes in the first half due to foul trouble. As a result, Florida Atlantic held a 42-38 edge at the break. Alijah Martin’s nine points led the way, and Bryan Greenlee pitched in eight. But it was two other players, Vladislav Goldin and Johnell Davis, who stuffed the stat sheet — the former had eight points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, while the latter went for six points, four rebounds, four assists, and a block.
Kansas State found something early on in the second half, as Nowell continued to do his thing while Johnson got into a groove. They opened the frame on a 14-5 run to take a lead, but with 14:32 left in the game, Johnson picked up his fourth personal foul.
With his standout teammate sidelined, Nowell kept doing everything he could to keep the Owls at bay, whether that was distributing or pulling up from Yonkers and knocking down threes.
It wasn’t enough to bury Florida Atlantic, which always seemed to have an answer from either its arsenal of perimeter scorers or Goldin. They chipped away any time Kansas State started to open up a lead, and with just over six minutes left, they pulled back in front on a dunk by the big man.
A 13-1 run by the Owls at the exact right time, mixed with Johnson picking up his fifth foul, appeared to give them the sort of breathing room they would need. Two free throws by Martin in the aftermath of Johnson’s foul capped off the run and gave them a 72-64 lead with just under three minutes remaining, but with the shoe on the other foot, it was the Wildcats’ turn to continuously chip away.
Nowell and Cam Carter both hit threes, Nowell and Ismael Massoud were nails from the free throw line, and with 23 seconds remaining, Kansas State got the Florida Atlantic lead down to one point. FAU’s Michael Forrest got it back to three points at the charity stripe after the Wildcats started playing the foul game, and on the ensuing possession, Nowell found Nae’Qwan Tomlin for a quick two.
The decision to play the free throw game did not work out the way Kansas State wanted. After Forrest hit both of his attempts at the line, the Wildcats could not even get a shot off on the game’s final possession, with Nowell and Massoud getting hounded by the Owls defenders and, eventually, Davis stripped the ball as the clock hit zero.
Four FAU players — Martin, Greenlee, Goldin, and Davis — scored in double-figures, while the team shot 26-for-54 (48.1 percent) from the field and 9-for-23 (39.1 percent) from three. Nowell’s 30 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists stole the show for KSU, but other than Tomlin’s 14 points, there wasn’t much else consistently going right for the Wildcat offense.
Florida Atlantic will play either San Diego State or Creighton in the Final Four.
Donald Trump has a habit of turning relatively obscure public officials into household names. You’d probably never have heard of Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s secretary of state, had he not refused to help him overturn the 2020 election. And you probably wouldn’t know Alvin Bragg if he wasn’t currently maybe about to indict the former president over a hush money case. Bragg and his team do not appreciate Trump’s meddling in the case, including falsely predicting when he’d get arrested (then pilfering from his own supporters). And his staff doesn’t like GOP congressional staffers clogging up their phone lines.
As per The New York Post, a staffer on the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee got an earful after repeatedly calling Bragg’s office. It’s unclear what they sought, but by the second time they rang the office up, an annoyed staffer finally let them have it.
“Your committee has no jurisdiction over us. You’re wrong,” they reportedly told the congressional employee, adding, bluntly, “Stop calling us with this bullsh*t.”
The House Judiciary Committee, under new leader and MAGA bozo Jim Jordan, has been trying to derail Bragg’s case. Bragg and team aren’t having it, with their general counsel, Leslie Dubeck, calling their investigation “an unprecedented inquiry into a pending local prosecution.”
That said, it’s not like they’re against cooperating with the committee at some point. Dubeck said that they “request an opportunity to meet and confer with committee staff to better understand what information the DA’s Office can provide that relates to a legitimate legislative interest and can be shared consistent with the District Attorney’s constitutional obligations.”
Jeff Goldblum And The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra has finally released their new EP, Plays Well With Others. On the EP, Goldblum and his band cover songs which Goldblum considers to be among the best ever written.
On one of the EP’s six songs, Goldblum And The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra teamed up with Kelly Clarkson for a cover of “Don’t Fence Me In” by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters mashed up with an instrumental rendition of “Strollin’” by Horace Silver.
On the song, Clarkson delivers her impeccable vocals, while maintaining a happy, carefree demeanor over breezy instrumentation.
Goldblum actually manifested this collaboration months ago, when he was a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show. He explained that he has a band, and would like to collaborate with Clarkson.
“If you would sing on our next little recording,” he said
Clarkson then replied, “If you would ask me.”
Goldblum then presented the idea of covering “Don’t Fence Me In,” though, at the time, Clarkson admitted she wasn’t familiar with the original song. But thankfully, she was up for a challenge that proved worthwhile.
You can listen to “Don’t Fence Me In / Strollin’” above.
Kelly Clarkson is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
For many American wine consumers, a cheap bottle of red from California kicked off their drinking trajectory. But if we’re being completely honest, most sub-$30 red wine coming out of the Golden State is… actually not that great. The reason? First and foremost, the land is expensive AF, meaning that simply finding land to grow grapes on already creates a high price point. In order to keep final costs as low as possible, many wineries use mass-production techniques, which naturally sacrifice the quality of the wine in bottle. These techniques range from using unsustainably-farmed fruit, as well as adding coloring agents, oak chips/oak powder, and a number of other chemical ingredients to the “wine” in question.
Don’t freak out just yet. There are still plenty of hidden, sub-$30 gems to find in the Golden State, it’s simply a matter of knowing where to look. When seeking out budget-friendly wines from California (or anywhere, really), we recommend starting with producers who work with organic, biodynamic, or sustainably-farmed fruit, as well as those who take a more low-intervention approach in the cellar—meaning that not a whole lot is added or taken away. This may require doing a quick Google search on a winery or producer’s website first, but hey, this is stuff you’re going to put into your body after all. It’s worth the effort.
After scouring (and tasting) hundreds of sub-$30 California reds, we can confirm that there are still some great gems to be found. Most of these wines are available on a national level and can be acquired via retailers who ship nationally. Pro tip: If you find a bottle you love, be sure to explore the other wines within said winery’s portfolio, as you’ll already know that the quality is there—you might love them too!
10. Broc Cellars Love Red
Artisan Wine Shop
ABV: 12.5% Region: North Coast, California Price: $20.99
The Wine:
Broc Cellars’ main mission is to highlight naturally made, “unsung hero” grape varieties at an affordable price—and their Love Red is a great place to start. The blend here is Carignane, dominant (about 50%), with some Syrah, Valdiguié, Mourvèdre, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Grenache Noir peppered in.
Tasting Notes:
On the palate, flavors of ripe dark berries, raspberry, bramble, dried herbs, and hints of rhubarb lead to a bright, acid-forward finish. The was aged in a combination of French oak barrels and concrete tanks, which adds a variety of textures to the wine’s overall flavor profile.
The Bottom Line:
Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon get all of the love, but it’s truly the overlooked grapes—think Carignane, Valdiguié, and Petite Sirah—that play a huge role in California’s legacy. This is like drinking history with a modern twist.
9. Monte Rio Cellars Petite Sirah
Vivino
ABV: 13% Region: Lodi, California Price: $22.99
The Wine:
Monte Rio Cellars was founded by sommelier Patrick Cappiello back in 2018. Similar to Broc Cellars, Cappiello seeks to shed light on California’s historic grape varieties, which are often overshadowed by more consumer-friendly varieties. This peppery, whole cluster-fermented Petite Sirah shows a more elegant side to this often jammy variety.
Tasting Notes:
Thanks to the use of carbonic maceration (that’s the signature intracellular fermentation technique used in Beaujolais), this Petite Sirah is vivacious, acid-forward, and peppery. Expect flavors of blackberry, red plum, oregano, and hints of black olive to lead to a balanced, ever-so-slightly grippy finish.
The Bottom Line:
The majority of wines made from Petite Sirah are massive, bold, and oftentimes flabby. Cappiello’s expression shows the light, bright, and easy-drinking side of this historic variety.
8. Foxglove Cabernet Sauvignon
Giannone Wine & Liquor Co.
ABV: 14% Region: Paso Robles, California Price: $18.99
The Wine:
Foxglove was founded by Bob Varner in 1991, with a mission to highlight the often-overlooked growing areas of California’s Central Coast. While many California Cabs are aggressively aged in new oak, Varner ages his expression entirely in steel to preserve the natural freshness and fruit flavors found in the wine.
Tasting Notes:
Full-bodied yet fresh, this steel-aged wine really lets the Cabernet Sauvignon speak for itself. Expect notes of jammy red and dark fruits, hints of cassis, and undertones of milk chocolate, tobacco, and earth to lead to a lasting finish. Hints of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc bring added oomph and peppery notes (respectively) to this well-rounded wine. It’s a steal for the price!
The Bottom Line:
There’s truthfully not a lot of sub-$30 California Cabernets that we’d recommend, as much of it is mass-produced and generally lackluster. Foxglove’s expression is a rare and welcome exception.
7. Cline Ancient Vines Carignane
Beverage Warehouse
ABV: 15% Region: Contra Costa County, California Price: $18.99
The Wine:
Drinking Cline’s Carignane is like drinking history—literally. Contra Costa’s sandy soils prevented phylloxera from destroying the area’s vines, meaning that vineyards planted here are some of the oldest in the United States. Cline’s Carignane vines were planted in 1906 and 1925, meaning they’re basically 100-120 years old.
Tasting Notes:
If juicy, fruit-driven reds are your thing, then this varietal Carignane promises to please. On the palate, concentrated flavors of blackberry jam, bramble, raspberry coulis, plum, and hints of cinnamon lead to a polished, palate-coating finish.
The Bottom Line:
Remember the whole historic grape variety thing mentioned above? Carignane is one of them, and Cline Cellars’ affordable (and seriously well-made) expression pays homage to its centuries-old trajectory. Oh, and the wine is delicious.
6. Lioco Pinot Noir
Vivino
ABV: 12.6% Region: Mendocino County, California Price: $24.99
The Wine:
Lioco is a small family-owned project spearheaded by Matt and Sara Licklider. The duo sources fruit from a number of vineyard sites across Santa Cruz, Sonoma, and Mendocino, then vinifies them at a cooperative facility in Santa Rosa. Overall, the couple is most interested in working with old vines planted to heritage clones in historic areas.
Tasting Notes:
According to Lioco’s site, the 2021 vintage of this wine “punches above its weight class,” and upon first taste, we’re confident you’ll agree. On the palate, flavors of black cherry, wild berries, violet, dried mushroom, and hints of black tea lead to a savory finish.
The Bottom Line:
Similar to Sonoma and Napa, Mendocino also makes up part of California’s North Coast. However, wines of similar quality that come from the former two growing areas are generally more expensive. Meaning that this is a serious bang for your buck pick.
5. Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc
Lang & Reed
ABV: 14.1% Region: Sierra Foothills, Sonoma, and Napa, California Price: $26.99
The Wine:
Founded in 1993, Lang & Reed is the brainchild of John and Tracey Skupny, two passionate wine industry folks with a desire to showcase Cabernet Franc’s potential in California. After stints at some of the state’s biggest wineries, including Caymus and Clos du Val, the duo pursued their dream.
Tasting Notes:
Fruit for this 100% Cabernet Franc comes from a handful of sites across northern California, which are planted to the same clone used in the Loire Valley. On the palate, herbaceous flavors of strawberry, blueberry, star anise, pine, are finished with hints of baking spice, thanks to 14 months of aging in seasoned French oak.
The Bottom Line:
Although we generally look to the Loire Valley when reaching for varietal Cabernet Franc, this pioneering expression from Lang & Reed is a seriously good alternative. Do a side-by-side with your favorite Loire producer and see what you think.
4. Stolpman Vineyards Love You Bunches Sangiovese
Vivino
ABV: 12.5% Region: Santa Barbara, California Price: $24.99
The Wine:
For decades, the Stolpman family has been highlighting the unique growing sites of Santa Barbara County, specifically within Ballard Canyon. Although generally known for their numerous (and super tasty) Syrah bottlings, this unique Sangiovese is definitely a must-try.
Tasting Notes:
This wine gets its name, Love You Bunches, from the fact that grapes undergo carbonic maceration (the method used in Monte Rio’s Petite Sirah above), which incorporates allowing the fruit to begin fermentation in bunches rather than post-crushing. The resulting wine is vivacious, high-toned, and laden with flavors of red jolly ranchers, raspberry jam, and hints of rhubarb. The family describes the bottle as a “fun, happy wine” and we couldn’t agree more.
Serve slightly chilled for maximum enjoyment.
The Bottom Line:
Sangiovese is rare in California as it is, and the Stolpman family may just be the only ones making it with carbonic maceration. If you love Beaujolais, this wine needs to be on your radar (and the name is cute as hell).
3. Bedrock Old Vine Zinfandel
Vivino
ABV: 14.4% Region: Sonoma County, California Price: $26.99
The Wine:
Based in Sonoma, Bedrock Wine. Co is a small wine company focused on highlighting historic vineyard sites across California. Since its founding in 2007, Bedrock’s flavor-packed, terroir-focused bottles have continued to capture the hearts of consumers and industry folk alike—and the only thing better than the bottles’ taste is their wallet-friendly price.
Tasting Notes:
Dark-hued in the glass, Bedrock’s Old Vine Zin jumps with aromas of red fruits and cracked black pepper. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, juicy, and laden with flavors of black cherry, strawberry jam, pepper, and hints of damp earth. Lengthy and fresh, the wine is drinking beautifully now and will continue to do so over the next few years.
The Bottom Line:
Forget the negative connotations you may have with Zinfandel—especially those conceived from associations with White Zin. This complex, full-bodied wine is absolutely worth seeking out.
2. Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Pinot Noir
Unwined
ABV: 13.45% Region: Santa Barbara, California Price: $24.99
The Wine:
Jim Clendenen, the late founder of Au Bon Climat, was an absolute legend in California winemaking. While many producers catered to the overripe, overly oaked style of wine that consumers were buying by the masses during the late 20th century, Clendenen advocated for an acid-driven, more balanced style of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Tasting Notes:
While Clendenen is no longer with us today, Au Bon Climat’s wines continue to upkeep the style that he so passionately advocated for. On the palate, flavors of strawberry, red cherry, and hints of clove mingle with hints of baking spice and smoke. Acid-forward yet supple, the wine is drinking beautifully now and will continue to do so for about 5-7 years after the vintage stated on the bottle.
The Bottom Line:
Santa Barbara County is where it’s at. This southerly, Pacific-influenced region experiences large diurnal temperature swings, meaning warm days allow for fruit to ripen, and significantly cooler nights keep the grapes’ natural acidity high. The result? Refreshing, flavor-packed wines that can go the limits.
1. Presqu’ile Winery Santa Barbara County Syrah
Presqu
ABV: 13.2% Region: Santa Barbara, California Price: $22.99
The Wine:
Located just 16 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Presqu’ile’s 29 hectares of sustainably-farmed vines are planted to a number of diverse grape varieties, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah—the latter of which is truly one of the best value wines to coming out of California today.
Tasting Notes:
Wine shops, sommeliers, and journalists alike frequently use the term Old World meets New World, though few wines embody the phrase as well as this one. Vinified with 35% whole clusters and aged for 17 months on the lees, this textured, palate-coating wine shows flavors of red and black fruits, violets, black pepper, and dried herbs, with hints of cured meats and leather coming in on the finish.
The Bottom Line:
If you love Northern Rhône wines, this bottle is an absolute must—and the fact that it clocks in at under $25 is the cherry on top! Think of it like Saint-Joseph meets sunny California in the best way possible.
The beef between Donald Trump and acolyte-turned-rival Ron DeSantis has been heating up, even though one of them hasn’t even formally thrown his hat in the ring that is the 2024 presidential election. DeSantis’ attacks have been pretty low-key thus far. Trump, though, has predictably gone all-in. He doesn’t reserve his ire for the Florida governor either. He’s also started sticking it to his employees.
As per Insider, the former president has reportedly banned anyone who works on DeSantis’ campaign from working in his administration.
“It’s a time for choosing,” a source with close ties to Trump told the conservative site RealClearPolitics. “If you work for Ron DeSantis’ presidential race, you will not work for the Trump campaign or in the Trump White House.”
Of course, no one currently works on DeSantis’ campaign because, again, it does not yet exist. One day it almost certainly will, though, and those who go to work for it will, the source said, be “persona non grata” to Trump.
It’s yet another example of Trump’s demand for utmost loyalty — although he doesn’t go as hardcore that way as he claims. Just ask Tucker Carlson, who was caught trashing him over personal texts in late 2020, but whom Trump has since forgiven after he pledged fealty to him once more. Perhaps someone who goes to work for DeSantis 2024 will simply have to kiss the ring to win Trump back.
The Dallas Mavericks couldn’t defend their home court on Friday night against the Charlotte Hornets. In a game they desperately needed to win as they continue to fight for postseason positioning in the Western Conference, Dallas lost, 117-109, to fall to 11th place and out of the play-in tournament altogether. Perhaps even worse than the fact they now sit 36-38, the Mavs are now 3-7 in games where both Luka Doncic and prized midseason acquisition Kyrie Irving play together.
Unsurprisingly, Dallas fans weren’t happy with the performance, and they let their emotions be heard by booing in the third quarter as they trailed by as many as 18 points. After the game, Jason Kidd empathized with the fans, and said that he thought they should have expressed themselves a little earlier.
“Probably should have been booed in the first quarter,” Kidd said, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN. “Just the effort in the play, they have a right, they pay to see a better show. It wasn’t there until the second half. We can’t come out like that, especially this time of the year, but I thought, again, the guys at halftime, we made the adjustment, and we fought and put ourselves in a position to get back in the game.”
Kidd’s sentiment about getting booed was not shared by one of his stars, as Irving struck a different tone.
“So? So what? Just the way I feel about it,” Irving said. “I’ve been in New York City, so I know what that’s like. You obviously want to play well, but it’s only five people on the court that can play for the Dallas Mavericks. If the fans want to change places, then hey, be my guest. Got years of work ahead to be great enough to be on this level. But our focus isn’t necessarily on the boos. It should be on our performance and just being there for each other.”
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