2025 Seven Hills Rosé

Happy Saturday!  It's Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to summer and the unofficial start to rosé season!  Tonight I happened to open a bottle of wine from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, Seven Hills Winery, and my happenstance someone called and convinced me to order a case of this for the upcoming summer, so let's taste the 2025 Seven Hills Rosé, a wine composed primarily of Cabernet Franc, so let's see what's going on!

This wine is a lovely pale peach color in the glass, just what you'd like to see from a summer rosé.  The nose presents aromas of bright citrus, pomegranate, pineapple and hints of white floral.  The first sip is a mouthful of summer, with notes of green grass, lemon chiffon, pink grapefruit and some bright citrus acidity that will have you drifting to the patio to finish the bottle.  The tannins are crisp yet unobtrusive, providing for an elevated, crisp dry finish that leaves you satiated on a summer evening.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the best rosé wines I've sampled in several years.  This wine would pair well with a range of summer dished, from caprese salad to fish tacos, salmon ceviche to black and bleu salad.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing, sesame crusted tuna steak with citrus wasabi dipping sauce, wild rice blend and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2025 DaMa Wines Grenache Blanc

Happy Sunday!  This is indeed a rare occasion as tonight I am opening a bottle of white wine to enjoy with my dinner.  I recently received this wine in a wine club shipment, and I am excited to try it with a Sunday dinner that really calls for a white wine.  This wine is a 100% Grenache Blanc from the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington, so let's see what this new wine has to offer.

The wine is a crystal clear white in the glass with hints of white grapefruit color.  The nose presents aromas of bright citrus, pineapple and a hint of pear, surely as the winemaker suggests, sunshine in a glass!  The first sip is a rush of tropical fruit intermingled with green apple, course mineral notes and ample vibrant citrus that transitions to some notes of white floral midpalate.  This finish is crisp and dry with plenty of acidity along the way, a perfect sip for a warm and humid evening on the patio as I am experiencing tonight!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it seems to be altering my perception of white wine, and I could see myself enjoying this throughout the summer!  This wine would pair well with such a broad range of dishes, from spicy Thai or Indian, to seared sea scallops or pan seared halibut.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic Midwest Sunday dinner of bourbon crusted chicken thighs, steamed asparagus and corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2023 Punch Winery Napa Valley Red Blend

Happy Saturday!  Today was Graduation at Saint Maty's College and I have so many emotions as I saw some of my dearest young ladies step forward to become the prominent leaders of women in business, I feel pride, anxiety and joy as I know they will make my accomplishments look small in comparison to what they will do, but for now I will celebrate with them with a bottle of wine and a great meal!  Tonight, I have opened a bottle of wine that is a recent purchase from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2023 Punch Winery Napa Valley Red Blend is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Merlot, all harvested from the Napa Valley AVA of California.  Let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, just as you'd expect from a Napa Valley blend.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, raspberry compote and toasted oak, just as you'd expect from the Valley.  The first sip is a rush of black fruit that eases into some earthy notes of dusty limestone, toasted oak and spicy pepper midpalate,  The tannins are well structured and vibrant, lending a firmness to the long, smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's an excellent red blend comparable to those of Bordeaux, but easily approachable.  This wine would pair well with a range of grilled steaks, braised short ribs, or grilled rack of lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse with some grilled asparagus. Cheers!