2023 Helix Tempranillo

Happy Sunday!  I spend the past seven hours blowing and raking leaves in my yard and now I am about to pass out!  At least there's wine and food, so I think I'll survive.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from the latest wine club shipment from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, Reininger Winery, this wine from the Columbia Valley label, Helix.  The 2023 Helix Tempranillo is harvested from Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  This wine is a perennial favorite, so let's see how it's shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from this varietal.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, vanilla caramel and hints of earthy graphite.  The first sip is a rush of ripe red fruit, cherry, raspberry and currant that ease into some notes of cedar, leather and forest floor midpalate.  The tannins are assuming a strong supporting role in the background for the long, smooth dry finish, with a reprise of sweet cherry at the end.

Overall,.I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's about as solid of an example of Tempranillo you could expect outside of Ribera del Duero.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty fall dishes, from beef stew to yankee pot roast, hearty pasta to braised lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a last gasp of summer, with barbecued bison back ribs, hatch chile mac and cheese and baked beans.  Cheers!

2014 Padis Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the magical first Saturday of a new month, which means it's time for me to raid the cellar for a bottle at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I am opening a bottle that's only been in my cellar for a couple months as I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out in September.  The 2014 Padis Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic Napa Cabernet from the Oak Knoll District of the Napa Valley AVA.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up a dozen years from harvest.

The wine is a classic inky black at the center and a deep garnet along the edges, just what you'd expect from this wine.  The nose is a pronounced combination of prune, black cherry, cassis and leather amid undertones of earthy minerals.  The first sip is a classic Napa Cabernet at first, with big bold fruit, blackberry, plum and cherry that ease into some earthy notes of graphite and limestone midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a remarkably smooth dry finish, without the usual acidity that can characterize a Napa Cabernet.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a really ideal example of a powerful Napa Cabernet with the minerality and structure that is so characteristic of the Oak Knoll District.  This wine would pair well with aged cheeses, charcuterie, classic braised short ribs or lamb, but what it really begs for is a big steak!  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with the opposite, a pan seared petit filet mignon with bearnaise, roasted purple potatoes and brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2020 Castelgreve Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Sunday!  I spent the day indoors, as it was gray and drizzly today, but at least I got some work done and finished my laundry.  And now that it's pitch dark at 6 pm, I think I deserve a nice glass of wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2020 Castelgreve Chianti Classico Riserva is a blend of Sangiovese (90%) and Merlot (10%), so let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, somewhat heavier than your typical Chianti given the impact of Merlot in the blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, green grass and hints of savory herbs.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry, black plum and blackberry that ease into some earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are firm but well integrated, providing for a smooth dry finish that lingers just a bit, as a classic Italian.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a very pleasant drinking and food friendly wine that was a terrific bargain at just $13!  This wine would pair well with a range of meals, from grilled steak to rack of lamb, hearty pasta or Italian sausage with onions and peppers.  Tonight, I have taken a trek across the Ionian Sea to enjoy a Greek herb crusted pork tenderloin stuffed with feta, artichokes and roasted red peppers with some brown butter sage mashed sweet potatoes and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts for a perfect taste of fall.  Cheers!