Wine, Food and Fun with the Lumpy One...
Sunday, April 28, 2024
2021 Forgeron Cellars Grenache
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
2021 Bledsoe Family Winery "The Mac" Red Wine
Happy Tuesday! I thought it was about time for a random wine post in the middle of the week, so here we go! Tonight I've opened a bottle of an inaugural release of a new wine from the Bledsoe Family Winery. The 2021 "The Mac" red wine is named for Drew Bledsoe's father and is a blend of Syrah (36%), Merlot (34%) and Petit Verdot (30%) all sourced from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington. So, let's see how this wine is starting out!
A deep ruby color, and a gentle swirl of the glass get us started on this adventure, with green grass, ripe cherry, dusty limestone and floral undertones on the nose. The first sip is an explosion of disparate fruit, tart cherry, blueberry, currant and marionberry that wash across your palate painting images of the mountain west. The tannins are well balanced, providing a depth and complexity that will have you contemplating the experience as you reach for another sip.
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a delightful example of an unusual combination of varietals that truly express the whole that's greater than the sum of its parts. This seems like a very food friendly wine that would pair with anything from steaks and chops to hearty pasta, barbecue or burgers. Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic Northwest pairing of pan seared sockeye salmon with a lemon dill cream, steamed rice and asparagus with hollandaise. Cheers!
Sunday, April 21, 2024
2021 Mark Ryan Winery Lonely Heart Cabernet Sauvignon
Happy Sunday! It's been a very busy few weeks for me, with work, the theatre and just trying to keep up with household chores, I haven't had much time to post! Yesterday I finally picked up my lawnmower from being repaired and today I got to mow for the first time this year as well as digging up a 5-gallon bucket of dandelions! And now it's time to relax with a glass of wine and a nice dinner. Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2021 Mark Ryan Winery Lonely Heart Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Quintessence Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington. So, let's see how this wine is tasting!
The wine is an inky black at the center with deep ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a pure Cabernet. A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of black cherry, leather, oak and a hint of marionberry, with undertones of vanilla and tobacco. The first sip takes your breath away with a lush expression of ripe black fruit, boysenberry, cherry and currant, with a gravelly underbelly. The tannins are perfectly structured providing for a velvety mouthfeel and a classically smooth dry finish with just a hint of mint at the end.
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wine that would pair well with some of the biggest of dishes but keeps it's composure just sipping on the patio. This wine would be ideal with big steaks, rack of lamb or braised short ribs. Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with an Asian barbecued ribeye served with grilled leeks, oven roasted fingerling potatoes and maple bacon Brussels sprouts. Cheers!