DEFENDANT: Hannibal Lecter

EVIDENCE: Frescobaldi Castiglione Chianti DOCG

SCENE OF THE CRIME: Chianti, Tuscany, IT

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Hey friend — grab a glass and pull up a chair. In this cozy, spooky episode of True Crimes Against Wine, Judge Topher and Judge Rachel uncork a breezy Chianti (Frescobaldi’s Castiglione DOCG) and take you on a trip through vineyards, vintage trivia, and one of cinema’s creepiest minds: Hannibal Lecter.

We wander through Italian wine regions, decode what “Chianti” really means (it’s a place, not a grape), and chat about Sangiovese — the grape whose name literally translates to “blood of Jove.” We taste pomegranate, raspberry, and gentle tannins, debate decanting, and marvel at how much character can come from a $15–$20 bottle.

Then the episode pivots into pop-culture mode: an affectionate, spoiler-rich deep dive into The Silence of the Lambs — Jodie Foster’s Clarice, Anthony Hopkins’ unnerving Hannibal, the iconic Buffalo Bill scene, and why the film still gives us chills. We toss in juicy behind-the-scenes bits (the director charming a singer in drag, casting what-ifs, and Ted Levine’s dance-prep), a playful Hannibal wardrobe breakdown, and a trivia quiz filled with booze-fueled misfires.

It’s intimate, funny, and a little bit creepy — like a perfect Halloween hangout with old friends who love wine and true crime-adjacent pop culture. Come for the Chianti, stay for the chilling movie talk (and the questionable life choices). Cheers — and maybe don’t let strange men into your hatchback.

Join us for a candid, no-filter breakdown of the recent Sydney Sweeney ad for a sports betting app — the one everyone's talking about. We dig into the ad’s over-the-top sexualization (yes, it looks like porn), the predatory nature of online sports gambling, and the hypocrisy of moral posturing from conservative corners. We also talk about how celebrities profit from male-gaze-focused branding, why this kind of content is alarming when it airs during family TV viewing, and the broader advertising culture that allows it to exist. It’s part critique, part bafflement, and a whole lot of "did that just happen?" Tune in as we vent, joke, and try to make sense of this rancid dumpster fire together.

DEFENDANT: M. Night Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense

EVIDENCE: Michael David Winery 6th Sense Syrah

SCENE OF THE CRIME: Lodi, CA

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Hey friend — pour yourself a glass and settle in. This episode of True Crimes Against Wine pairs a bold California Syrah called Sixth Sense with M. Night Shyamalan's classic twist-filled film, The Sixth Sense. We chat about the Michael David Joint Winery (the creative minds behind Freakshow), their Lodi sustainability rules, the wine’s ripe-plum, chocolate-cherry flavors, and that sneaky 15.5% alcohol that keeps things interesting. Then we dive into movie talk: wigs, red color cues, Toni Collette’s heartbreaking performance, Haley Joel Osment’s unforgettable presence, and how the film still holds up as more drama than horror. We trade ghost stories, dream up spooky-season outfits, debate whether ghosts are real or just our imaginations, and spill some ridiculous ideas — like a Sixth Sense musical and a Jane Austen crossover. Spoilers abound, vibes are cozy (even if it’s 96 degrees outside), and we get hilariously sidetracked by Halloween decor, husband behavior, and what kind of ghost we’d want to be. Come for the wine notes, stay for the grief, humor, and the endearing feel-good chills. Cheers!