2021 DaMa Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy Sunday!  It's been a gorgeous day here, sunny and 75 degrees.  I did a bunch of yard work, including digging up a couple buckets of dandelions, trimming some branches from a spruce tree, and transplanting a maple tree, then I went for a bike ride and then relaxed on the porch before dinner.  I am ready for a mild taste of summer with my dinner tonight, but first I'm opening a nice bottle of wine from the recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2021 Walla Walla Valley Merlot from the First Light Vineyard.  I am a big fan of Merlot, so let's see what Mary and the crew have done with this release!

The wine is a lovely ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of sweet cherry, blackberry and vanilla bean, creating a lovely, rich aroma that beckons you to take a sip.  The first tastes is a wonderful rush of ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry and cassis, that transition to some lovely dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are supple and somewhat subdued, providing for a velvety smooth finish with lingering fruit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking Merlot that would pair nicely with a broad range of dishes, but would also be a fine wine to sip on the porch with friends on a summer evening.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse, marinated with some Japanese barbecue sauce and topped with some sunflower sprouts, grilled leeks, grilled corn on the cob and some maple bacon Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2020 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Petit Verdot

Happy Sunday!  I had a matinée performance today, but that gave me some time to get my dinner in the oven between Church and heading to the theater, so I feel as though I accomplished a lot today!  So as I relax on this Sunday evening, I am ready to enjoy some wonderful comfort food for Sunday dinner, along with a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a Bordeaux varietal from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, the 2020 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Petit Verdot.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from this often blending grape.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, leather and oak, amid undertones of violet and lilac.  The first sip is an adventurous ride between fruit and spice, with a rush of black cherry, blackberry and currant dancing amid baking spice, vanilla bean and anise before easing into some tawny spice midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully vibrant, providing for a lovely backbone to the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a perfect balance of sweet ripe fruit and earthy dryness that makes this an ideal wine for enjoying with food or just sipping with friends.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to beef stew and hearty pasta.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some braised short ribs, served over roasted garlic mashed potatoes and red wine reduction, with oven roasted broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2023 DaMa Wines Grenache Blanc

Happy Easter!  It's been a wonderful day of celebration of the risen Christ and the culmination of the holiest week in Christendom, and I admit I've been cooking most of the day, starting with breakfast frittatas for the worship team at church, then when I got home I started preparing dinner, which cooked all afternoon (more on that in a moment).  Today is also the last Sunday of the month, which makes it Dinner in the Diner Sunday, and I picked a surprising recipe from the Missouri Pacific Railroad, which used to run behind my uncle's house when I was growing up.  As for the wine, I picked a nice white wine for this meal, one that I received last week in my wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2023 Grenache Blanc.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a crazy pale gold color in the glass, making this a truly white wine!  A swirl of the glass reveals captivating aromas of ripe pear, honeysuckle and a hint of citrus.  The first sip has your mind racing to Asia, with a rush of sweet fruit, pear, white peach and hibiscus dancing around your palate, before easing into some modest minerality midpalate.  The finish is dry, crisp and refreshing, an ideal wine for sipping on the summer patio.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as even though I'm not a big white wine enthusiast, I'll make an exception for this one.  This wine would pair well with a variety of summer salads, Asian dishes, or lighter fish dishes like a roasted branzino.  Tonight, I am pairing this wine with a "Curry of Lamb, Indian Style" recipe from the Missouri Pacific Railroad dining car, though I took some liberty in braising lamb shanks with the curry broth, before adding some additional veggies and the coconut milk and rue to thicken this delicious sauces, served over steamed basmati rice and garnished with fresh pea tendrils.  Cheers!