2022 "The Grappler" Red Wine

Happy Saturday!  I did a bit of yard work today and set up my new fire pit to enjoy a cool evening fire.  And now it's time for dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a rather fun bottle that I purchased a few weeks ago from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2022 "The Grappler" Red Wine is a primarily a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma County.  I could not get over the various masks on the label, so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry and peppery spice that matches the label well.  The first sip is a rush of peppery spice intermingled with warm fruit, cherry, blackberry and cassis, that transitions to some earthy tar and mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are rather subdued, but still provide a nice foundation for the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's not spectacular, but represents a solid value at just $15, making this a prime everyday drinking wine.  This wine would pair well with a range of casual dishes, from tacos to barbecue, pasta to pizza, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled bone-in ribeye with a bit of cranberry horseradish, grilled asparagus and garlic stapes (my favorite season is here!) and oven roasted root vegetables.  Cheers!

2023 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Memorial Day!  I spend the day planting flowers at the cemetery for my family, and now it's time to enjoy the classic cookout that we all enjoy.  Before I get to grilling, it's time to open a nice bottle of wine. Tonight it's a recent wine club shipment from a Walla Walla favorite, Pepper Bridge!  The 2023 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red Wine is a blend of Merlot (37%). Cabernet Sauvignon (27%). Malbec (27%) and Petit Verdot (9%) all harvested from the Pepper Bridge Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this latest vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with great clarity. A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, cherry and leather with undertones of oak.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, blackberry and currant that transition easily to some notes of charred oak and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.  

I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant red wine, ideal for meals or just sipping on the patio with family and friends.  This wine would pair well with braised short ribs, rack of lamb or hearty pasta, but what it really wants is a big honkin' steak!  And we are in luck, as I am enjoying this wine with a prime tomahawk ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare on a bed of sautéed onions and mushrooms with fresh grilled corn on the cob and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

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!