2008 Arger-Martucci Vineyards Napa Valley Syrah

Well here we are, the last syrah of 2014...you love my puns don't you?  Anyhow, ahead of all the New Year's Eve festivities, I've decided to open a bottle of 2008 Arger-Martucci Vineyards Napa Valley Syrah to enjoy on the last evening of the year!  This wine has quite a pedigree, coming from the Atlas Peak appellation in the Odyssey Vineyard located near the well-known Antica and Stagecoach vineyards, the latter being home to many of Napa's greatest names, like Paul Hobbes, Decade 5 and Caymus.

The wine is a deep purple color at the center leading to a bright garnet color along the edges with just a hint of opacity.  The nose is quite nice, ripe black fruits and anise transition to some wonderful mineral notes.  The taste is very pleasant with some nice blackberry and cherry cola notes at the outset that transition to some lovely dark chocolate and mineral notes of dusty limestone and graphite midpalate.  The tannins are well rounded and supportive of the voluptuous, long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's easily one of the finer Syrahs I've had in a very long time, and it was an incredible value at just $15 from Wines Till Sold Out!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rather interesting pairing, some dungeness crab ravioli with some tomato basil cream sauce, as the earthy spice of this wine just does something magical with a rich dinner like this.  It would also do very well with barbecue or a simple grilled steak.  Cheers and here's to a wonderful 2015!

2009 DaMa Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

A little more than one day left in 2014, so enjoy it while it lasts!  Tonight I'm enjoying a nice wine from a producer that I discovered on my last road trip to Walla Walla back in 2013 (see my tasting post from back then: My final day in Walla Walla).  A couple weeks ago I received an e-mail from DaMa noting that they were offering a half-off discount on the last of their 2009 Cowgirl Cab (see my tasting notes here: 2009 Cowgirl Cab) and 2009 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, so I ordered a case or so of each.  It arrived last week, so now I get the chance to taste the 2009 DaMa Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which is actually a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), Merlot (10%) and Cabernet Franc (10%).

The wine is a nice bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose is a rich combination or black fruit, blackberry, cassis and a hint of prune overlaid with a nice bit of leather and earth.  The taste is very pleasant, with some rich fruit notes or blackberry and cassis up front that transition effortlessly to some wonderful flavors of dark chocolate and espresso midpalate.  The finish is warm and inviting, with well structured tannins that provide balance to the long, velvety dry finish that just beckons you to have another sip.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's an easy drinking wine that's also a great value, regularly $30, but this one was about $20 with the discount and shipping.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Cabernet paring, a rare grilled New York Strip, some grilled leeks and Brussels sprouts and a nice big baked potato with butter and sour cream.  The rich fruit and subtle earthy notes in this wine make it a perfect pairing for any steak, cheers!

2012 Shadowood Napa Valley Reserve Red Wine

Well 2014 is rapidly drawing to a close, so why not go out with a bang, or at least a few nice bottles of wine!  Having just returned from the gym and feeling mighty fine about myself, I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 Shadowood Napa Valley Reserve red wine that I got about a week or so ago from Wines Till Sold Out.  This wine is a blend that's heavy on Merlot (94%) with a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) and just a touch of Malbec (1%) to round it out.

The wine is a deep, dark ruby color in the glass which combined with the nose makes you immediately think of a high-quality Merlot.  The nose is a lovely combination of dark fruit, blackberry, cassis and plum with a lovely layer of leather and toasted oak.  The taste is such a treat, with blast of great fruit up front that remains crisp, not syrupy which transitions nicely to some vanilla and mocha flavors midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with lovely rounded tannins supporting a long, supple and exceptionally dry finish, just as you might expect from a nice quality Merlot.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a solid wine from a great vintage at an incredible value of just $13!  You know as I was sipping this wine earlier, I got to thinking how much press has been devoted to the spectacular 2012 Napa Valley vintage, and I have to admit that for Cabernets, I haven't been impressed with the 2012 Napa vintage, but every Merlot I've tried from the same vintage has been phenomenal!  As for pairing, I know everyone says to drink this with charred meat or some such thing, which I'm not opposed to by any mean, but tonight I'm in the mood for some comfort food, so I'm enjoying this wine with some lovely baked truffle mac & cheese made with a recipe I found on Epicurious (see this Mac & Cheese Recipe Link, though I added about 2 tbs of white truffle oil to the recipe).  The dark fruit and dryness of this wine is perfect with the richness of the truffle mac & cheese!  Cheers!

2007 Elk Cove Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Merry Christmas!  Yes, I know it's only Christmas Eve, but this is the night when I typically watch a whole bunch of Christmas movies while gorging myself on Chinese food, since it won't leave me too full for the real feast tomorrow!  I just returned from the gym, just to make me feel good about myself before the feast of obesity begins, all the presents are wrapped and I just placed my order at the Jade Garden, so I may as well open a bottle of wine to enjoy this evening, and tonight it's one of my all time favorite Oregon Pinots, the 2007 Elk Cove Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.  Now in all the time I lived in Portland, I never got into the Pinot scene like everyone else it seems, but I did find this one that appealed to me, a big bold Cabernet and Bordeaux drinker that wasn't the light, whispy Pinots that you often find in Oregon or Burgundy!

Now I'll admit I had a hard time finding this wine today, I tore the cellar apart, looking in case after case, knowing had to be there somewhere, and alas I found it in a half case of Languedoc!  So here we are, a beautiful deep garnet color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose is just a rush of Oregon Pinot memories, rustic earthy elements of peat, leather, blackberries and fresh herbs.  The taste is a burst of fruit, plums, black cherries and cassis, all of which blend together for some earthy mineral notes of limestone, cedar intermingled with Asian spice midpalate.  The finish is remarkably smooth, without the tannins and dryness that you can get from a Cabernet, this one is just all around pleasant to drink from start to finish!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely example of the fine Pinots coming from the Willamette Valley, but it's probably reached it's peak for drinking now.  As I mentioned, tonight it's Christmas Eve which means Chinese food, so I'm pairing this with some wonderful Kung Po chicken, steamed dumplings and spring rolls, some of my favorites!  Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

2010 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, 'tis the season to have lots of fun and good food, and since I was good today and went to the gym, I figured I deserved a treat for dinner, so I've opened up a very nice bottle of wine, the 2010 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon!

The wine is an inky black color at the center, leading to some bright ruby along the edges with nice clarity.  The nose is just lovely, with notes of black licorice, tarragon, blueberry and some Asian spice.  The taste is quite refined, with a some subdued flavors of cassis, blueberry and notes of espresso up front which transition to some elegant flavors of pipe tobacco, dusty limestone and white pepper midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with nicely structured and well integrated tannins supporting the long, lush, absolutely bone dry finish that just beckons another sip.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 9, with still more potential to improve with some cellaring over the next decade or so.  This is a perfect steak house sort of wine, with great flavor, nicely structured but not overpowering, the perfect complement to a nice rare steak, with lucky for me I happen to have this evening!  Tonight I'm pairing this wine with a rare grilled cowboy cut ribeye about 3" thick along with a baked potato and some grilled brussels sprouts.  So much meat and rich flavors to make this a bottle well worth the price (I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for just $60, about $10 less than the usual price).  But it's the holidays and I think I deserve a nice present to myself!  Cheers!

2012 Sullivan Heart of the Vineyard Napa Valley Red Wine

Well it's officially one week till Christmas, so not a lot of time to prepare if you haven't done so already.  Tonight I am preparing some gifts to bring in to work tomorrow but why not take some time out to share what wonderful wine I'm enjoying this evening, even as I wrap and clean and prepare for my own Christmas party on Saturday.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2012 Sullivan Heart of the Vineyard Napa Valley Red Wine, an interesting blend of Cabernet Franc (38%), Cabernet Sauvignon (34%), Merlot (17%) and Petit Verdot (11%).

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass with just a bit of opacity.  The nose is rich and jammy with black cherries, vanilla bean and marionberries with just a hint of leather at the end.  The taste is quite fruit forward with a burst of black cherries, blackberries and candied plum, which transitions nicely to some graphite, dark chocolate and white pepper spice midpalate.  The finish is smooth and inviting, as fine, dusty tannins lend considerable support to the velvety mouthfeel and long, smooth, dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very well structured and high quality wine, but also a decent value (I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for about $30).  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rather nontraditional pairing of dungeness crab ravioli with roasted pepper and garlic alfredo sauce.  The fruit and spice of the wine nicely balance the richness of the crab in the ravioli.  Cheers!

2010 L'Ecole No. 41 Seven Hills Estate Merlot

Have you ever made it to the end of the day and felt like you've just been beaten up?  That's how I feel today, after trying to get my house decorated for my upcoming Christmas party next weekend not to mention that I still have a lot of cleaning to do, particularly vacuuming spruce needles!  Oh well, I'll get it done soon enough, but until then it seems only appropriate to open a nice bottle of wine at the end of the day, and tonight it's one of my favorite varietals from one of my favorite wineries, the 2010 L'Ecole No. 41 Seven Hills Estate Merlot, which is actually a blend of Merlot (78%), Cabernet Sauvignon (13%) and Cabernet Franc (9%).

The wine is a beautiful rich ruby color in the glass, with a nice dark indigo at the center.  The nose is quite inviting, with aromas of black cherry, green cedar, and a hint of fresh herbs.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry and a hint of candied plum, which transition smoothly to some earthy elements of tar, toasted oak and pepper midpalate.  The finish is remarkably earthy, with integrated tannins supporting the long, smooth dry finish that leaves you wanting another sip.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's drinking very well now, but given it's from a strong vintage it will no doubt improve with some time in the cellar.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a nice petite sirloin, grilled rare, along with a big baked potato and some grilled Brussels sprouts.  A Merlot like this one is a sure bet to pair well with a nice steak house sort of dinner.  Cheers!

2012 Encantado Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It was certainly a busy one for me as I was running around getting Christmas trees and finding food for my annual Christmas party next Saturday, and today I bought the biggest tree I've ever bought for the family room, a blue spruce that stands about 9 feet tall and seems to be about 6 feet in diameter at the base!  So it's time to relax, and before you accuse me of repeating a wine post (not that it's never happened) our wine this evening is a little different than the 2012 Encantado Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon as this one is made only from grapes produced in the Oakville AVA, home to some rock star wineries like Silver Oak and Opus One!  But like the regular cab, this one is still produced by Pine Ridge Vineyards, so let's get busy with the wine already!

The wine is a beautiful, deep ruby color in the glass with nice legs.  The nose is just what you'd expect from a high-quality Cabernet from Oakville, ripe black fruit, blackberries, plum and a hint of strawberry over some smoke, baking spice and a bit of mint.  The taste is quite refined, with a burst of mellow fruit up front, ripe berries and plum that transition relatively effortlessly to some earthy notes of tar, dusty limestone and black pepper.  The finish is delightful, as the fine tannins support a rich, velvety mouthfeel amid the long, smooth and exceedingly dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as this wine has all that I would expect from a $50 bottle, but I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for just $23!  Like any quality Napa Valley Cabernet, this wine would be perfect with red meat or a variety of hearty dishes perfect for the winter months.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a USDA Prime petite sirloin steak grilled rare with a baked potato and some haricots vert almondine, a classic steak house dinner with a classic Cabernet!  Cheers!

2004 Bussola Ca' del Laito Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso

Well, it's the first Saturday in December, which of course means it's Cellar Saturday, that special day when I dig deep into the cellar and find a nice bottle a bit more mature just for the heck of it.  Tonight I go back a decade and open a bottle of 2004 Bussola Ca' del Laito Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso.  For those who have read any of my past posts on Amarone, know that the Valpolicella Ripasso is the second pressing of the grapes used to produce Amarone, which themselves are dried before pressing, creating a much more concentrated flavor that is just a joy to drink.  The only problem with Amarone is the price, hence the ripasso is a more value oriented offering which we are enjoying tonight!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with just the faintest hint of amber along the edges.  The nose is quite nice, with earthy notes of cedar, leather and fresh herbs over concentrated fruit notes of ripe plum and raisin.  The taste is sublime, with a burst of sweet cherry and anise at the outset, which transitions to some espresso and white pepper notes midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated and nicely structured, supporting a long, velvety dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid  8.5, it's drinking exceedingly well after it's first decade, and it was a great value at just $25, or about a third of the cost of a comparable Amarone.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic big dinner to go with the big wine, a rare grilled prime New York strip, a big baked potato with butter and sour cream and some steamed broccoli.  The fruit and spice in this wine just play remarkably well with a charred steak, tutti a tavola a mangiare!

2012 Seven Hills Carmenere

Happy Friday!  I am done with the first week of the two busiest weeks of my year, so I think it's time for a little celebration and what better way than with a bottle of nice red wine from the Walla Walla Valley?  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2012 Seven Hills Carmenere, their fourth release of the varietal in the past decade.

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, rich and vibrant.  The nose is quite nice, with a nice presence of ripe red fruit, raspberries and red currant intermingled with some nice herb notes and a hint of earthiness.  The taste is quite nice, with some ripe berries up front than linger for a bit, transitioning to some nice spice notes of white pepper and just a hint of Provencal herbs.  The finish is vibrant, with somewhat mellow tannins offering a lovely bridge between the fruit and herb notes amid the smooth, dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, a very food friendly offering at a good value, this one was $30 before my wine club discount.  Tonight I'm pairing this with a rather unorthodox dinner of king crab legs, with some herb roasted purple fingerling potatoes and steamed Brussels sprouts.  The pronounced fruit and spice in this wine is a perfect balance to the richness of the crab.  Salut!

2011 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Cabernet Savignon

A weeknight and I get to enjoy a wine from one of my favorite Washington wineries, L'Ecole No. 41!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of the 2011 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon, usually an easy choice for what's sure to be a nice bottle.

The wine is a beautiful ruby color in the glass with just a bit of opacity.  The nose is quite nice, with a combination of ripe plums, blackberries and tart cherry intermingled with some green herb notes. The taste is quite nice, with a bit of cherry compote and smoke at the outset, transitioning to some tobacco and earthy peat notes midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated and nicely structured to support the long, supple and very dry finish.  This wine reminds me a lot of the more classic Cabernets that you found 20 years ago, with a lot more finesse than many wine you find today.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a great bottle with the classic Cabernet characteristics that I've really come to appreciate over the years, and it comes at a descent price of just $39!  Tonight I am enjoying this with a classic Cabernet dinner pairing of rare grilled Angus ribeye with a baked potato and grilled leeks and Brussels sprouts, so yummy!  Cheers!