2021 Helix Cabernet Franc

Happy Saturday!  It's been a hectic week, but now it's time to relax with a nice dinner and glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from one of my favorite Washington producers that has been in the cellar for more than a year.  The 2021 Helix Cabernet Francis a 100% Cabernet Franc from the Weinbau Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up a half decade into its life!

The wine is a deep ruby color, with an inky black at the center, just as you might expect from this traditional blending varietal.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of leather, baking spice, blackberry and currant, a wonderfully earthy identity that will have you thinking of Bordeaux.  The first sip is a rush of warm ripe fruit, blackberry, currant and plum intermingled with earthy spice notes and smoky charred oak that will have you waiting for another sip.  The tannins are subdued, creating a nice base for a long dry finish, with a reprise of dark spice and smoke.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking wine that would be welcome at a range of occasions.  This wine would pair well with a variety of roast meats, stews and hearty pasta dishes as you transition from winter to spring.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with an ideal dinner transition between the seasons, a grilled bone-in ribeye with some oven roasted sweet potatoes with julienne green peppers and steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers! 

2023 Woodward Canyon Estate Reserve

Happy Easter!  I hope you are enjoying this sacred day with you families and enjoying a nice ham or lamb or whatever you choose on this special holiday.  As for me, I am opening up a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Woodward Canyon to enjoy with my rather subdued holiday dinner.  The 2023 Woodward Canyon Estate Reserve is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Cabernet Franc (16%), Malbec (11%), Petit Verdot (9%) and Merlot (9%) from the Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this new vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a testament to the heavy hand of the varietals in the blend.  The nose reveals aromas of lavender, black cherry, earthy basalt and hints of vanilla bean that will have you hankering for a sip. That first sip is a refreshing cascade of ripe fruit, cherry, blackberry and raspberry that transition easily to some notes of dusty limestone, tawny vanilla bean and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are integrated but subdued, providing for a velvety smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just an ideal Bordeaux style blend that the Walla Walla Valley is renowned for.  This wine would pair well with a range of Easter dishes, from braised leg of lamb to an herb crusted rack of lamb, classic ham to a prime rib roast.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with an easy dinner of a grilled ribeye steak with cowboy crust, steamed asparagus and oven roasted Yukon gold potatoes.  Cheers!

2006 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Chase Creek Merlot

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of a new month which means it's Cellar Saturday, that magical time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight is a special Cellar Saturday, as this wine has not been in my cellar long, but it has been brewing for double my decade requirement, this one being 20 years in the making, thanks to a recent purchase from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2006 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Chase Creek Merlot is a blend of Merlot (77%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (23%) from the Chase Creek, which lies between the S.L.V. and FAY vineyards in the Stag's Leap District of Napa Valley.  So, let's see how this wine has been spending the last two decades!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with hints of amber along the edges, just as you'd expect from a mature Merlot.  The nose presents aromas of leather, black cherry, rich spices and toasted oak that have you immediately thinking of an Ivy League library.  The first sip is just a rambunctious affair with a rush of tart cherry, blackberry and currant that ease into some earthy mineral notes, caramel and vanilla bean notes midpalate.  The tannins are well structured and still vibrant, leading to a wonderful lingering dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as this is a classic Merlot that has every element which that stupid movie lacks!  This wine would pair well with a midafternoon cheese platter, rustic beef stew and classic grilled lamb.  Tonight I am taking the road less traveled and enjoying this wine with a pan seared salmon with steamed basmati rice topped with smoked paprika and steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers!