2009 Tertulia Cellars Sobra

Well here we are a week into Washington Wine Month and I have been woefully slacking!  This is only my second WA wine review in a week!  Well tonight I've decided to open a bottle from a producer I was unfamiliar with, Tertulia Cellars, a winery with locations in Walla Walla and Dundee, Ore. and run by a pair of guys that are both named Ryan.  But that aside, I have opened a bottle of 2009 Sobra, a nice Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (76%), Merlot (12%), Cabernet Franc (10%) and Petit Verdot (2%), with fruit sourced from Pepper Bridge, Blue Mountain, Lonesome Spring Ranch and Phinny Hill Vineyards.

The wine has a nice inky dark color at the center that bleeds to a bright ruby along the edges, very classic for a heave Cabernet Sauvignon blend.  The nose is very interesting, with aromas of leather, ripe plum and spruce, which open up into some lovely hints of vanilla and black cherry.  The taste is very smooth, with timid flavors of cherry cola, cocoa powder and black pepper married over a bedrock of dusty limestone.  The soft tannins are well integrated, creating a long, smooth and velvety finish that seems to last 30 seconds or more, making for a very nice sipping wine.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a classic Columbia Valley blend that begs to be shared with friends (good thing Tertulia is Spanish for "a social gathering of friends").  It was also a terrific value, as the regular price is $20, but I picked this one up from Wines Till Sold Out for only $12!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a nice dinner of whole wheat penne with spicy marinara and fresh Italian sausage and a nice arugula salad with aged balsamic.  The subtle fruit and smooth flavors offer the perfect balance for the spice of the sauce.  Cheers!