2015 Seven Hills Klipsun Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of a new month, which means it's time for me to raid the cellar and open a bottle at least a decade in the making!  Tonight it's a special selection from one of my favorite Walla Walla wine makers, the 2015 Seven Hills Klipsun Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a perennial favorite harvested from some of the oldest vines in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine has matured!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of prune, leather and earthy basalt as it opens up.  The first sip is a blast of black fruit, ripe plum, cherry and currant, intermingled with earthy minerality and peppery spice that sings with mature notes.  The tannins are still vibrant with a strong backbone for the lingering dry finish that will have you pleasantly surprised at this mature wine.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it seems to be just hitting its stride.  This wine would pair perfectly with fall, as the hearty structure of this wine is ideal for chilly temperatures and hearty meals, like beef stew, braised short ribs or big steaks.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a big porterhouse grilled rare, with some steamed asparagus and a baked potato.  Cheers!

2022 Helix Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It's been a busy week and now I am ready for a nice dinner and glass of wine!  Tonight, I am opening a bottle from a recent shipment from one of my long-time favorite wine makers in Walla Walla, the 2022 Helix Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  Helix is the second label from Chuck Reininger, highlighting the quality of Columbia Valley red wines, so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, a classic Cabernet look.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of blackberry, raspberry and cherry, amid undertones of lavender and white pepper spice.  The first sip is a rush of ripe fruit, with some inviting blackberry, cherry and currant with undertones of tartness and some earthy peat and dusty limestone.  The whole experience with this wine is a graceful dance of earthiness and ripe fruit that will have you enjoying the show from your favorite lounge seat.  The finish is graceful and very dry, a classic new world style that will quickly have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very nice Cabernet that is priced to enjoy on an everyday basis.  This wine would pair well with a range of dished, from hearty pasta and fall stews, to steaks and barbeque.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare pan seared New York Strip over sautéed onions and mushrooms along with steamed asparagus and hollandaise.  Cheers!

2022 Woodward Canyon Estate Cabernet Franc

Happy Sunday!  Today was full of yard work, laundry and preparing for classes tomorrow, so now it's time to relax with a nice bottle of wine and Sunday dinner!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from the spring wine club shipment from Woodward Canyon, which seems fitting since the fall club shipment arrived on Friday.  The 2022 Woodward Canyon Estate Cabernet Franc was harvested from vines in the Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard planted nearly two decades ago, so let's see how this latest vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, classic for this typically blending varietal.  The nose presents aromas of blueberry, blackberry and plum, intermingled with some interesting floral notes of lavender and violet amid earthy notes of leather and tobacco.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit, with ongoing floral undertones amid evolving notes of black licorice and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing the ideal backbone for the long, smooth dry finish that will have you quickly reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the best examples of Cabernet Franc I've had the pleasure of tasting.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, but I think it's highest and best use might be to accompany a standard cheese course, just before dessert.  Of course, I rarely have either cheese courses or desserts, so tonight I am enjoying this wine with some Italian sausage with onions and peppers and some classic spaghetti.  Cheers!