2011 Maison Bleue "Le Midi" Boushey Vineyard Grenache

You know, it's been a while since I reviewed the previous vintage of this wine, so I thought it might be time to try the 2011 Maison Bleue "Le Midi" Boushey Vineyard Grenache (you can see my review of the 2010 vintage here).  I am a fan of Maison Bleue and a big fan of this Grenache, so let's see how I like this one!

The wine is a beautiful bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity, like looking at a glass of pure gemstone.  The nose is brilliant, with aromas of leather, tart cherry, green herbs and a hint of blackberry.  The taste is just lovely, with a blast of ripe berries, blackberry, raspberry and a bit of plum that transitions effortlessly to some notes of tart cherry and smoke midpalate.  The finish is sublime, with well structured tannins supporting a long, voluptuous and very dry finish, just as you would expect as the varietal fully expresses itself.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, so yes, I am still a very big fan!  This wine would go very well with a variety of hearty winter stews, grilled meats or roasts, but I've decided to take a different path this evening.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with some pan seared seas scallops served over a bed of baby arugula dressed in aged white balsamic along with some wild mushroom risotto.  The wine plays such a great foil to the richness of the scallops and the earthiness of the mushrooms, it could not be a better choice tonight.  Cheers!

2013 Seven Hills Ciel du Cheval

Well, I'm off work this week for vacation, so you might see a few more blog posts than normal this week.  Tonight I am enjoying a bottle of 2013 Seven Hills Ciel du Cheval, their 13th vintage of this wonderful red blend from the Ciel du Cheval vineyard on Red Mountain.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (42%), Merlot (30%), Petit Verdot (14%) and Cabernet Franc (14%).  What makes this is bit different is that the wine is blended early and then placed back in the barrel to age another 18 months before release, providing a real taste of the Red Mountain terroir.

The wine is a deep purple in the glass, with highlights of garnet along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry, black pepper and a hint of smoke.  The taste is surprisingly well developed for such a young wine, with subdued fruit up front that seems to come alive with blackberry jam and caramelized plum, that transition effortlessly to notes of dusty limestone and toasted oak midpalate.  The tannins are a bit chewy given their youth, but still provide a nice base for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, with much room to develop over the coming decade.  This is a wine that begs to be paired with a nice steak, so I've obliged tonight as I'm enjoying this with a nice rare grilled Angus bone-in ribeye, mashed sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli.  The wine stands up to the steak just fine, but there's something magical about the ripe black fruit combined with mashed sweet potatoes!  Cheers!

2007 Cliff Creek Cellars Syrah

Happy Sunday!  I was looking for a bottle of wine to open for dinner and was surprised to find a bottle from a producer I met at the Portland airport while there on business in April 2014 (you can see that post here: 2009 Cliff Cree Cellars Merlot).  They are an interesting small producer located in Southern Oregon, in the town of Gold Hill.  At the time I really loved the Merlot, but apparently didn't think the Syrah was too bad either, hence I'm enjoying the 2007 Cliff Creek Cellars Syrah with my Sunday dinner!

The wine is a beautiful ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents earthy aromas of leather, musty peat and oak over layers of lush berries and plum with just a hint of smoke.  The taste is quite nice, with some initial ripe black fruit that gives way to some eucalyptus and baking spice midpalate.  The finish is very smooth, with a reprise of some berries intermingled with toasted oak, as the well developed tannins support the long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, as it's very nice, but not as nice as the stellar Merlot (I really need to find that other bottle I brought back!).  This wine would be good with a variety of rustic winter dishes, but tonight I'm pairing it with a classic holiday Sunday dinner or roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and classic green bean casserole.  Cheers!

2012 DaMa Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

My Christmas break has officially begun as I'm now off work until January 4, so get excited for new posts, some of which may be in the middle of the afternoon...you never know!  Tonight as I have my last pre-holiday dinner, I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 DaMa Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, my first taste since the 2009 vintage (though I still have a bottle of 2011).

The wine is a deep ruby color with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, cassis, fresh cut grass and a bit of tar.  The taste is quote nice, with a blast of cherry cola up front that transitions to some lovely earthy notes of dusty limestone and white pepper midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat soft, providing a nice base for the long, dry and voluptuous finish that practically dares you to take another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's drinking very nicely now but will likely improve a bit with some time in the bottle.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, one of my all time favorite Christmas movies.  Of course I'm also having a nice Kansas City cut bone-in New York Strip, baked potato and some steamed broccoli, but this wine would go well with almost any steak.  Cheers!

2012 Forgeron Mourvedre

Happy Tuesday!  I have been winding down at work, one more day until I'm finished for 2015!  In the meantime, I thought I'd open another bottle of my Forgeron wine club shipment, this time it's the 2012 Mourvedre from the Heart Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA.  I have seldom found a nice pure bottle of this varietal as it's usually blended as the minor partner of any of a number of GSM blends.  So here goes nothing!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents some aromas of tart cherry, black pepper, sage and a hint of rosemary, a very rustic feel.  The taste is warm and appealing, with lovely flavors of ripe berries up front, boysenberry, blackberry and currant that transition to some notes of rustic spices, anise, white pepper and clove.  The finish is quite pleasant, with smooth tannins and a reprise of black fruit embellishing the long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's just a very pleasant drinking wine that also seems to be very food friendly.  I would enjoy this wine with a lot of rustic dishes, hearty stews, pastas and pot au feu, but tonight I am going the unconventional route and pairing this wine with a sesame seared tuna steak with wild rice and steamed asparagus.  There's something about fusing Asian inspired flavors with a southern Rhone varietal.  Sante!

2011 Forgeron Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Friday!  I've been running ragged trying to get all the food ready for my annual Christmas Party tomorrow evening, so I've barely had time to even think about what wines to serve tomorrow let alone what I should open this evening, so I'll make it easy and open a nice Washington red.  Tonight it's the 2011 Forgeron Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, a limited production wine from a cool vintage.

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose exhibits notes of blackberry, cherry, leather and a hint of eucalyptus.  The taste evokes some lovely flavors of cherry cola up front that evolves into some lovely mineral notes of dusty limestone, smoke and dark chocolate midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, as the sturdy tannins provide a nice foundation for the long, smooth, and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a great example of a fine Washington Cabernet.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of a rare grilled Angus New York Strip, baked potato and grilled asparagus.  It might pair well with a variety of hearty winter dishes, but to me, this wine just begs to be served with a nice steak.  Salut!

2012 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Welcome back!  Yeah, I know it's been a while, but this has been a crazy month.  Usually I have to travel a lot for work in the first half of December, but this time I had the surprise of not one but two funerals to go to as well, so in between Louisville, Cincinnati, New York and Boston I had to somehow fit funerals in Chicago and Tulsa into the mix!  So given that I wasn't even home once for the first ten days of the month, I hope you can forgive the dearth of blog posts!  But now I'm home, the house is decorated for Christmas and I am ready to end my weekend with a glass of wine.  Tonight it's the 2012 Beringer Knight's Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that I picked up at my local market a few weeks ago.

The wine is a deep ruby color, with an almost inky center, ideal for a nice Cabernet.  The nose expresses some lovely notes of blackberry and leather with a good bit of earthy mineral notes.  The taste is a rush of black fruit at the outset that transitions to some earthy mineral notes of basalt and dusty limestone midpalate.  The finish presents a reprise of blackberry as the young, yet tame tannins provide the backdrop for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

My house all decorated for Christmas!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a very nice Cabernet and it was a good value on sale for around $20.  Tonight I am relaxing after working hard all day, enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of a rare grilled steak, steamed white asparagus and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2012 Franciscan Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  The Sunday after a big holiday like Thanksgiving always feels weird to me, especially since it's the start of one of the busiest times of the year.  In any case, it's time for dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2012 Franciscan Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, as I'm in the mood for a steak, what could be better?  This particular wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Merlot (9%), Malbec (3%), Petit Verdot (2%) and Cabernet Franc (1%).

The color is a deep inky purple in the glass, with bright ruby near the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry, tar and plum, classic big Cabernet.  The taste is quite nice, with some subdued fruit up front, plum, blackberry and cassis, that transitions nicely to some earthy notes of leather, tobacco and dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are still quite youthful, providing a big backbone to the long, smooth and bone dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nice Napa Cabernet and it was a great value, as I found this one on sale at my local supermarket for just $20.  As hinted to above, tonight I am enjoying this wine with a big rare grilled Angus ribeye along with cheesy potatoes and steamed Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2013 Origami Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Black Friday!  Tonight amidst all the hubbub, I've decided to open a bottle of 2013 Origami Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, as I recently bought a case from Wines Till Sold Out.  I must admit this was not at all what I was expecting from a '13 vintage Napa Cabernet, in fact at first glance it appears to be a very nice Pinot Noir, with very light body and classic Pinot aromatics.  So let's see how things develop!

As mentioned this is a very light bodied wine, with lovely ruby color in the glass.  The nose is everything a pinot should be, lovely ripe red fruit, raspberries, tart cherries, green grass and dusty limestone.  The taste is such a mind blowing reversal, as your nose has you fully prepared for a Pinot and the taste is all Cabernet, with a blast of ripe red fruit, cherry, blackberry and raspberry, that transitions to some lovely vanilla bean, cardamom and oak notes midpalate.  The finish is just lovely, with rather subdued tannins providing a nice base for the long, smooth dry finish that beckons another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it doesn't seem like it at first, but this is a wonderful Cabernet that plays mind games on the nose.  Although this would be a great wine with red meat, tonight I am enjoying this with a more Pinot inspired pairing with snow crab legs, drawn butter, cornbread and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2012 Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  We just had our first snow of the season, not much just a few inches, but it turned remarkably cold very fast - when I woke up this morning it was only 12!  So when it gets cold, that means you need a big, bold wine to help warm things up, so tonight I've decided to open up a bottle of 2012 Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  Now this wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (79%), Merlot (17%), Cabernet Franc (2%) and Petit Verdot (2%), providing a little more complexity in the wine.

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby color in the glass, with a near inky appearance near the center.  The nose presents aromas of black raspberry, black currant, vanilla bean and a hint of leather.  The taste is really quite nice, as you experience some subdued black fruit up front, that smoothly transitions to some flavors of mocha and baking spice midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with some smooth tannins supporting a long, voluptuous finish.

My house this morning, a winter wonderland though it's still autumn!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a classic Napa Valley Cabernet from a strong vintage, but it's a bit young and could use some time in the cellar.  It's also not a tremendous value, though I found some of this wine locally for a little less than $57.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Cabernet pairing of rare grilled Angus New York Strip, backed potato and grilled asparagus.  A hearty meal for a cold snowy evening!

2013 Seven Hills Walla Walla Merlot

Ok, I'll admit it, I've been on a bit of a Washington wine kick lately, and tonight I've continued the trend, opening up a bottle of 2013 Seven Hills Walla Walla Valley Merlot.  I just got this bottle about a week or so ago with my latest wine club shipment, so why shouldn't I enjoy it?  Particularly since I love Merlot and Washington wines!  This particular Merlot is a blended with Cabernet Sauvignon (3%) and Cabernet Franc (3%) just to take the edge off.

This wine is a beautiful deep ruby color in the glass, with very nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of ripe fruit, cherry, blackberry, raspberry and plum, overlaid with a bit of tea and leather.  The taste is wonderful, with a rush of ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that transition effortlessly to some cherry cola and dark chocolate notes midpalate.  The finish is wonderfully smooth with some rather mellow tannins supporting a long, voluptuous and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's really a beautiful young Walla Walla Merlot that's drinking very well now, but could easily be put down for a decade to mature.  This wine would be so ideal for a variety of hearty fall dishes, but tonight I am going with the old standby, a bacon-wrapped filet grilled rare with a baked potato and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2013 Seven Hills Reserve Petit Verdot

Happy Sunday!  I've been crazy busy today, getting the last of the leaves raked, doing laundry and making a vat of mashed potatoes for my office Thanksgiving carry in tomorrow, so now it's time to relax with a glass of wine and tonight it's a special one, the 2013 Seven Hills Reserve Petit Verdot.  Now I really like Seven Hills Petit Verdot, and like the regular version, this one is from the McClellan Estate, but the reserve was made from the fruit of some fan-trained blocks of the vineyard, resulting in a limited production of about 75 cases.  So let's see how special this one is!

The color is a deep inky black in the glass with garnet around the edges.  The nose presents aromas of ripe black fruit, blackberry, earth and tobacco with just a hint of rose petal.  The taste is wow, just WOW!   I don't think I've had a Petit Verdot like this before.  The fruit explodes on your palate, with flavors of blackberry, plum and cherry that gradually transition to some lovely notes of anise, vanilla and mocha midpalate.  The finish is divine, the tannins though young are exceptionally smooth, giving a nice balance to the long, smooth and very dry finish.  This is the kind of wine where you don't just wait for flavors to develop, it's really just a complete symphony of flavors that present a remarkable harmony with every sip.

Overall, I would rate this a solid 9.5, as it's by far the best example of a pure Petit Verdot varietal that I've ever tasted.  As I mentioned, this one is extremely limited, so if you want some you'd better call the winery and order because I can't imagine a wine like this lasting very long in inventory.  For pairings, who cares?  This is the kind of wine you could just sip all evening long, but if you must know I've opened this wine for taco night!  I'm sure it will be great with chorizo and frijoles, though I'm sure I'll be sipping this one long after my meal is done.  Cheers!

2011 DaMaNation

Happy Wednesday!  We've reached hump day and now it's time to open up a little delicious wine to celebrate the middle of the week.  Tonight, given all of the recent and various wine club shipments that seem to be delivered almost daily, I've decided to open a bottle of 2011 DaMaNation GSM blend from DaMa wines in Walla Walla.  You know how I love me some GSM, and this one is 45% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre, so let's see how she stacks up!

The wine is a gorgeous ruby in the glass with bright clarity.  The nose evokes perfumed aromas of blackberry and cassis along with some lovely violet and rose petal notes.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, blackberry, strawberry and plum that transitions nicely to some earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is divine, with velvety smooth tannins providing the structure for a voluptuous and dry finish that beckons another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's really a nice example of a domestically produced GSM blend that would stack up well with the wines of the Rhone Valley.  Although this wine would be perfect with many Mediterranean dishes, tonight I am enjoying it with a rather uncharacteristic dinner of rare grilled filet mignon, baked potato and grilled Brussels sprouts.  The smooth fruit of this wine is a perfect balance for a hearty meal.  Cheers!

2009 Chateau St. Jacques La Croix Lalande de Pomerol

Well, I've been raking leaves for six hours straight and by all accounts I should be passed out somewhere, but alas I am really looking forward to Sunday dinner, so why not open a nice bottle of wine to enjoy as well?  Tonight it's the 2009 Chateau St. Jacques La Croix Lalande de Pomerol, an appellation just north of Pomerol with lots of clay soil ideal for Merlot.  And that's a good think since this wine is a blend of Merlot (90%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%).

The wine is a deep garnet in the glass with very nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of ripe fruit, blackberry, plum and cassis along with some earthy mineral notes.  The taste is quite nice, a nice bit of fruit up front, blackberry, plum and cherry that transition nicely to some earth notes of cedar and dusty limestone midpalate.  The fine tannins support a velvety mouthfeel and a long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's drinking quite nicely and it was a tremendous value at just $19 from Wines Till Sold Out.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a special Sunday dinner treat of surf & turf!  I am having a petite prime filet mignon with snow crab legs, baked potato and steamed asparagus.  The fruit and mineral aspects of this wine are a perfect balance to the richness of the crab.  Cheers!

1998 L'Ecole No. 41 Columbia Valley Merlot

Well, today was another busy day of leaf gathering, after last week's adventure the city came and picked them all up on Monday morning.  Unfortunately they didn't wait for the remaining leaves to fall from the maples, which means I have plenty to do this weekend!  And hopefully after this we will be officially done with leaves.  Although I'm tired now, I realize it's the first Saturday of the month, which of course means it's Cellar Saturday!  And tonight I have a nice treat to celebrate the conclusion of Merlot month, the 1998 L'Ecole No. 41 Columbia Valley Merlot!

I decanted the wine for about an hour before my first pour and it's a nice garnet color with a hint of amber along the edges and great clarity.  The nose presents lovely aromas of ripe berries, blackberry, cherry and raspberry over some earthy notes of leather and cedar.  The taste is reminiscent of a fine Bordeaux, with some ripe black fruit up front and a hint of mint that transitions nicely to some earthy elements of peat and oak midpalate.  The finish is surprising, as the tannins are mellow beyond belief, yet the long, smooth and very dry finish seems to go on forever with a final reprise of black fruit minerality.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely example of the varietal at its peak maturity.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Merlot meal of rare grilled Angus New York Strip with a baked potato and some grilled Brussels sprouts.  The dark fruit and mineral notes are a perfect complement to such a rich meal.  Cheers!

2010 Chateau Brun Saint-Emilion

Wow, it's been a while since I've had a nice Bordeaux that was actually from Bordeaux!  Tonight I've opened a wine that I bought recently from Wines Till Sold Out, a Saint-Emilion from a small, 25-acre vineyard that's been planted with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and owned by the same family since 1571.  Fortunately for me, the 2010 vintage was such a nice one that shortly after release the Chateau achieved Grand Cru status, which is kind of a big deal!  This particular wine is a classic Saint-Emilion blend of Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Saugivnon (20%).

The wine is a perfect deep ruby color in the glass, with very nice clarity and just a hind of blackness at the heart.  The nose evokes springtime in Paris, lovely bright berry aromas of black currant and cherry over some earthy notes of anise and cedar.  The taste is just divine, everything a nice Bordeaux should be, with some lovely ripe black fruit up front that transitions nicely to mineral elements of basalt and green cedar midpalate.  The finish brings out the still rather tightly wound tannins supporting a long, smooth and very dry finish that's so classic.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's drinking quite nicely now but will certainly improve over the next decade.  It was also a terrific value at just $20!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare bacon-wrapped filet with some sweet potato mash and haricots verts almondine, an ideal wine for steak, but it would also pair nicely with a variety of hearty autumn dishes like cassolet or wild mushroom risotto.  Bon appetit!

2011 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Ahhhh...it's autumn but it sure doesn't feel like it this week, it was sunny and 72 here today!  In any case, warm or cool, it's time for Merlot and tonight I've opened a bottle of 2011 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Merlot, which was part of my recent wine club shipment!  The one happens to be 100% Merlot from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard and just 387 cases produced.

The wine is a beautiful bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose exhibits aromas of rich, dark, ripe fruit, blackberries, plum, currant over some earthy elements of oak and leather.  The taste is quite nice, with a blast or ripe berries up front that transition nicely to some cherry cola and mocha notes midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully smooth and well integrated, leading to a long, lush finish that dares you to ask for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, with ample room to improve with some time in the cellar.  In fact this one reminds me a lot of a nice Bordeaux, which could be put down for your kids to enjoy!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic rare Angus T-bone, some home fries with onions and some steamed green beans (oh, the last of the fresh green beans!).  The wine provides a lovely fruit forward complement to such a savory meal.  Cheers!

2013 Mockingbird Hill Reserve Petit Verdot

Well, the leaves are all done, with the exception of those still up on the trees, but it seems like fall is quickly coming to a conclusion, which means that winter can't be too far behind!  And with cooler weather and shorter days, it's the perfect time for some big, bold red wines.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2013 Mockingbird Hill Reserve Petit Verdot from Napa Valley.  Now it used to be that the Bordeaux blending grapes like Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, were relegated to behind the scenes work of giving structure to the great Bordeaux blends, but in recent years more wineries have been experimenting with bottling these varietals on their own.  Lucky for us!

This wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, reminiscent of a strong Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, tart cherry, dried red flowers and oak.  The tastes offers some lovely fruit notes up front, with blackberry and cherry cola that transitions to some earthy notes of oak and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are very tightly wound, but still offer a solid foundation for the exceptionally long and very dry finish.  This wine is still young and will probably improve further with some time in the cellar, but in my view it's drinking quite nicely now.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, most likely due to how well the varietal holds up, as well as the terrific value of this wine - I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for just $17!  Again, this is a perfect fall wine, ideal for sipping by the fire on a chilly evening.  It's also a good steak wine and tonight I am enjoying this one with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye, with a baked potato and some steamed green beans.  Happy Sunday Dinner!

2011 Helix Columbia Valley Syrah

Happy Halloween!  It certainly was a scary day for me today, what with the intense efforts to clear my yard of endless leaves, carving a pumpkin and handing out candy to all manner of ghouls and monsters.  While I'll enjoy my evening and fall asleep early, so we can start leaf blowing again tomorrow, at least I'll enjoy a nice bottle of wine and tonight it's the 2011 Helix Columbia Valley Syrah which I recently received as part of my wine club shipment from Reininger.

The wine has a lovely deep garnet color in the glass, classic for a nice Syrah.  The nose presents aromas of raspberries, cherries, cassis and just a hint of green grass.  The taste is quite nice, a blast of ripe fruit at the outset, raspberry and black cherry that quickly subsides into some nice mineral elements of basalt and earthy peak midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, somewhat reminiscent of a great burgundy, as the fruit reprises the finish, with well integrated tannins performing a supporting role for the long, smooth and very dry finish that makes you reach for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a very nice Syrah, perfect for everyday drinking and ideal for when you're exhausted as I am tonight.  As for pairing, this would be a nice wine for a variety of hearty fall dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this one with a classic tuna casserole (after all, who wants to cook when there is so much work to do?).  Cheers!

2013 Michel-Schlumberger Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon

Since I've been on a bit of a Napa kick since visiting the valley, why not open another fine Napa Valley Cabernet?  Tonight it's the 2013 Michel-Schlumberger Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon from the Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley.  This one I happened to buy recently from Wines Till Sold Out.

The wine itself it a bright ruby color, with nice clarity, a little different than many of the big brooding Cabernets from Napa.  The nose presents lovely black fruit aromas of blackberry, cherry and raspberry over a bit of vanilla and smoke.  The taste is formidable, with lovely notes of cherry cola and earthy notes of peat and basalt, it's a big cabernet that doesn't just show off it's heft, but rather displays a quiet confidence knowing just who is boss.  The tannins are young but very well structured, supporting a long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, I really enjoyed it, and it was a terrific value at just $25 from Wines Till Sold Out.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus porterhouse, with some grilled brussels sprouts and rainbow carrots.  The wine really provides a nice counterpart to the rich flavors of the steak, for a classic pairing.  Cheers!

2012 Raymond Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

What a fantastic day trip through Napa Valley I had last weekend.  The lovely food and wine on the Napa Valley Wine Train was fantastic, and the opportunity to visit two wineries along the Silverado Trail as awesome as well.  So tonight I've opened a bottle of 2012 Raymond Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvigon, a wine from the second vineyard we visited, one which has some definite character involved! 

It was certainly a fun visit, mannequins and all!  Of course the wine was quite nice as well, from the 2013 Frenchie Napoleon Cabernet Sauvignon to the 2012 District Collection St. Helena Cabernet, the wines were all quite nice.  This particular wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (96%) and Petit Verdot (4%).  Now they talked a lot about their organic and biodynamic techniques, but when they got to the part about burying cow horns with compost on the winter solstice they really just lost me completely.

Back to the wine, it's actually a very nice, classic Napa Cabernet, with deep inky black color with ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of ripe black fruit, blackberry, plum and cherry with hints of rose and leather.  The taste is classic Cabernet, with rich ripe fruit that transitions effortlessly to some flavors of tobacco and dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, offering a great foundation for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a very nice wine and a good value at $45.  Tonight I am just sipping this wine with a bit of dark chocolate after dinner.   This wine would certainly pair well with a classic big steak, or a hearty pasta dish.  Cheers!

2012 Charles Krug Generations

Given that it was impossible to ship wine home to Indiana, I settled for buying a couple of bottles of wine on my tasting visits that I'd be able to consume before getting on a plane to go home.  So the first wine I brought back was a remarkable Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the oldest wineries in the Napa Valley, Charles Krug, founded in 1861, the 2012 Family Reserve Generations, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (83%), Malbec (7%), Merlot (5%) and Petit Verdot (5%).

The beautiful tasting room at Charles Krug.

I brought this bottle back and met a colleague at a restaurant for dinner so we could enjoy this wine with dinner.  The wine was a lovely deep inky purple in color with a nose that exhibited aromas of rich black fruit, cedar and dried herbs.  The taste was classic Napa Valley Cabernet, lots of blackberry, cherry and plum, that transition to some nice mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins were firm offering a nice foundation for the long, smooth, voluptuous finish. 

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's a wonderful example of a classic Cabernet blend, though it's still a bit young and might improve with a bit of time in the cellar.  I enjoyed this wine with a lovely appetizer of Scottish salmon crudo followed by Bouillabaisse as a main course.  The wine was perfect with the spice of my dinner, but also paired well with the rare filet mignon that my colleague orders.  Overall, a great wine with food from a wonderful winery, cheers!

This is "Big Red" made from redwood back in 1944, no longer used for wine making.



My day trip to Napa Valley

So last week I had to be in San Francisco for a day of meetings for work, and since I was going to be taking such a long flight, I thought why not go a day early and spend the weekend in the Bay area?  Better yet, why don't I spend a day in Napa Valley!  A few google searches later and I had tickets for the Napa Valley Wine Train, combining two of my favorite things, wine and trains!

The interior of the dome car where I enjoyed lunch with a view!

I opted for the wine ambassador tour, so I was able to have lunch in the dome car, cooked to order along with some wonderful wines,  I have to admit, having taken the Acela express between New York and Boston, I was not expecting the food to be this good!  I had an appetizer of grilled shrimp, an green and red apple salad, and the rack of lamb, all cooked on board.  A wonderful opportunity to get your foodie and wine fix all at once.  It's also such a social experience, since I was by myself, I sat at a small table across from two lovely couples celebrating a birthday, and we explored the train while they were kind enough to share some of the wine they brought on board (did I mention you could bring your favorite wine for a $15 corkage?).

My place setting and menu along with a glass of Napa sparkling wine to start the meal.

Of course, riding through Napa Valley to St. Helena, you see some marvelous scenery, and with some new friends we enjoyed the views from the dome as well as from the observation car at the end of the train, which featured and open platform to enjoy all of the sight, smells and fresh air of the valley.

You just couldn't beat the scenery on the train!

After lunch, we arrived in St. Helena, and the train would soon head back to the town of Napa Valley, but I was on a different route, boarding a charter bus to tour and taste at two very interesting wineries in Napa, Charles Krug, which traces its roots back to the gold rush days and its founding in 1861, and Raymond Vineyards, which is a leader in sustainable vineyard practices and a few other odd things.  More on these two visits on my next post!

Another option for next time is a stop for a tasting at Grgich Hills, a wonderful winery.  Maybe next time!

2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Valley Merlot

It's hump day and boy can I use a nice glass of wine with dinner!  And since it's Merlot month, why not open a bottle of my favorite under-appreciated varietal?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Valley Merlot, which is actually a blend of Merlot (80%), Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) and Cabernet Franc (10%) from the Seven Hills and Ferguson estates.

The wine is a beautiful ruby color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose presents aromas of ripe dark fruit, green grass and coffee.  The taste is as smooth as it gets, with some subdued fruit notes up front that quickly give way to some smoky notes and cherry cola.  The earthy mineral notes of basalt really come through midpalate, surely the influence of the estate Ferguson fruit.  The tannins are vibrant, making a nice combination with the earthy minerality on the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, and it was a very nice value even at the full retail price of $36.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a perfect mid-week dinner of a petite porterhouse (yes there is such a thing in my world!) along with some grilled asparagus and sweet potato mash, what a perfect way to end an Autumn evening!  Cheers!

2013 Castlebank "Vivian's Vineyard" Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

It's Sunday afternoon, and of course I didn't get nearly what I wanted to accomplish around the house done today, but at least I did laundry and prepped for dinner...it's the little things!  So since I'm already disappointed in my weekend accomplishments, why not open a bottle of wine and enjoy my evening?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2013 Castlebank "Vivian's Vineyard" Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that I got a couple weeks ago from Wines Till Sold Out.  Now a little over a year ago I tasted the 2012 vintage (which you can see here), so let's see how the new one stacks up.

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass, with a dark indigo at the center.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry and plum, with just a hint of smoke.  The taste is just what you'd expect from a nice Cabernet, blended with just enough Bordeaux varietals to take the edge off.  At first you have a rush of ripe fruit, that transitions effortlessly to some mineral notes, mocha and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are refined and well integrated, providing the foundation for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

This is a very nice Cabernet that I would rate a solid 8, and it's a terrific value as well at just $14!  Tonight I am pairing this with a rare Angus porterhouse along with some oven roasted fingerling potatoes with cajun spices and some steamed broccoli.  The dark fruit and minerality of this wine make it perfect for steak.  Cheers!

2013 Sullivan Family Vineyards Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

It's a lovely Saturday in autumn, with bright sunshine and crisp, cool air, perfect college football weather and perfect Cabernet weather!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2013 Sullivan Family Vineyards Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, one which a number of critics have described as a wine for the ages.  Now call me skeptical, but I am still hearing critics raving about how awesome the 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet vintage was, and in my experience I haven't been all that impressed with the '12s, they certainly are no match of the '07s which are now
reaching their prime.  And now I'm hearing critics rave about the '13 vintage, it was even better than '12! (in my opinion that's not such a feat, but I digress).  So before I go full on cynical, let's give this one a try.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity and a classic inky center.  The nose is nice, with some nice smoky mineral note over a thin layer of ripe black fruit.  The taste is quite nice, with some ripe blackberry and cherry up front that transitions to some notes of rhubarb, spice box and dark chocolate midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with the fine grained tannins providing a nice foundation for the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, this was a very nice example of a quality Napa Valley Cabernet that I rate as an 8.5, with opportunities to improve with some time in the cellar.  It was also a good value for $30 from Wines Till Sold Out.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of thick Angus New York Strip grilled Pittsburgh style, with some grilled purple asparagus and a baked potato.  A nice big Cabernet like this one is the perfect complement to a nice steak.  Cheers!

2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Columbia Valley Merlot

Since this is Merlot month and I am a huge fan of this under-appreciated varietal, I thought it would be nice to open a bottle for my Sunday dinner!  Tonight, it's the 2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Columbia Valley Merlot, a blend of Merlot (80%), Cabernet Franc (17%) and Petit Verdot (3%) sourced from some of the premier vineyards in the Columbia Valley,

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, cherry and plum overlaid with some earthy notes of violet, leather and oak.  The taste is a blast of ripe black fruit up front, cherry, blackberry and a hint of plum that transitions to some lovely dark chocolate and espresso notes midpalate.  The fine tannins offer a solid backbone to the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish, just the way a good Merlot should come off.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just an ideal Columbia Valley Merlot and a solid value at the full price of $26, but with the wine club discount this one comes it at just $23 and change.  This one would pair well with a variety of hearty autumn dishes, from stews and chili to a classic Yankee pot roast.  Tonight I am going a little more simplistic, with a grilled prime ribeye that I bought from Allen Brothers Steaks out of Chicago, some roasted Yukon gold fingerling potatoes and some steamed broccoli.  The lovely fruit notes and smooth dry finish make this an ideal wine for steak.  Cheers!

1998 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee

Well, it's the first Saturday in October, which of course means it's Cellar Saturday, that wonderful day when I open up a bottle of wine that's had ample time to mature.  And being the first Saturday in October that means it's starting to feel like Autumn, with a chill in the evening air and plenty of leaves coming down all around me.  So tonight I've opened a special bottle from one of my favorite Washington wineries, L'Ecole No. 41, in this case the 1998 Apogee, a classic Bordeaux style blend of Merlot (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (34%) and Cabernet Franc (6%) sourced from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.  Full disclosure, I decanted this bottle for about an hour before pouring.

For being nearly old enough to vote, this wine seems quite vibrant, with a lovely garnet color in the glass with just a hint of amber at the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, cedar, oak and just a hint of musty peat reminiscent of a classic Bordeaux "funk."  The taste brings forth some bright fruit flavors of blackberry and cherry cola which transition to some wonderful mineral and dark chocolate notes midpalate.  The finish is divine, with well structured tannins supporting a long, velvety and exceptionally dry finish that leaves you wanting another glass!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's definitely one of my favorite vintages of Apogee, which shouldn't be surprising given it's reliance on Merlot and my affinity for the oft disparaged varietal.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of a rare cowboy cut ribeye grilled Pittsburgh style along with a baked potato and some fresh green beans from my Amish farmer friends.  This is a wine that just makes steak taste even better!  Cheers!

2012 The Vincent Columbia Valley Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  Tonight I am taking it a bit easy, so I thought I'd open a bottle of nice Columbia Valley red wine I picked up a couple weeks ago in Grand Rapids, 2012 "The Vincent" red wine from Mark Ryan Winery's Board Track Racer label.  This particular vintage was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (47%), Merlot (40%) and Malbec (13%).

The wine is a lovely dark garnet color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of rad fruit, cherry, raspberry and plum along with some earthy notes of peat, morel and a hint of leather.  The taste is nice blast of ripe fruit, cherries, raspberries and a hint of dark chocolate at the outset, which then transitions nicely to some coarse minerality midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing a good foundation to the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I'd rate this wine a solid 8, it's a terrific everyday wine and a solid value at $20.  Tonight I am enjoying this one with some old fashioned Midwestern comfort food, stuffed bell peppers!  The rich fruit and bright tannins make this an ideal complement to the rustic spice of the peppers, tomato sauce, beef and rice in the peppers, but it would also be ideal with many hearty fall dishes (after all, Autumn officially began last week!).  Cheers!

2012 Chimney Rock Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon

So today as I was doing my regular grocery shopping, I decided to check out the wine section at my local Meijer to see if they had any good wines on sale, and I was in luck!  They had the 2012 Chimney Rock Stags Leap District Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon on sales for $20 off, so needless to say I stocked up!  And since I like new things, I thought it appropriate to open up my newest wine for dinner tonight!

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby color at the edges, almost an inky black at the center just as you'd expect on a high quality Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of smoke, dried flowers, blackberries and cherries, with just the faintest hint of mint.  The taste is soft and supple at the outset, so different from so many of the big Cabernets on the market today.  Black fruit flavors of blackberry, plum and cassis transition effortlessly to some lovely mineral and spice notes midpalate.  Though young, the tannins as beautifully integrated, creating a long, lush and very dry finish that leaves you asking for more.  It strikes me that whenever someone talks about a great Napa Valley Cabernet, this is what they mean.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's drinking beautifully right now (maybe because I'm thirsty!) but it will no doubt improve with a few years in the cellar.  Tonight I am enjoying this with an ideal Napa Cabernet dinner, a rare prime Filet Mignon that I recently received from Allen Brothers in Chicago, a baked potato with butter and sour cream and some fresh steamed broccoli I bought from my Amish farmer neighbors this morning.  Could there be anything better?

2012 Spring Valley Vineyard Nina Lee Syrah

Happy Saturday!  It's been a fun filled day with all sorts of football to watch, and I get to go out to the Elkhart Civic Theater for a performance tonight, so what could be better?  How about a glass of nice wine from the Walla Walla Valley?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 Spring Valley Vineyard Nina Lee Syrah, a pure 100% Syrah from the Spring Valley Estate Vineyard, named after the wife of Frederick Corkrum, the son of the patriarch of Spring Valley, Uriah Corkrum, for whom other Spring Valley wines have been named.

The wine is a bright garnet color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose presents some wonderful earthy notes of leather, blackberry and a hint of violet that exudes a certain richness.  The taste is just divine, with some mild ripe fruit up front, blackberry, plum and cassis which transition seamlessly to some lovely mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and integrated, despite their youth, making for a long, smooth and elegant dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it is drinking so well now and compares well to many more expensive Syrahs I've tried.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with something a bit more Autumnal, a wonderful wasabi marinated grilled pork tenderloin accented with some grilled plums that were from my friends Shani and Karen's tree up in Grand Rapids, where I visited last weekend, along with some green beans and a baked potato.  Yum, the richness of the pork and plums and the spice of the wasabi make for a lovely war of flavors that can only be settled by this wonderful wine.  Cheers!

2013 Predator Old Vine Zinfandel

Happy Friday!  Tonight I'm opting for the lowest maintenance dinner I could find, but what wine to pair with it?  I think I know, so I'm opening a bottle of 2013 Predator Old Vine Zinfandel from Lodi, one of my favorite AVAs for Zinfandel!

The wine is a nice bright ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of strawberry, blackberry, smoky bacon and cocoa powder.  The taste is classic Lodi old vine Zinfandel with flavors of ripe fruit up front, blackberry, cassis and cherry that transitions to some lovely notes of smoky oak and black pepper midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat rustic, supporting the long, smooth and smoky finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's not a knock your socks off sort of wine, but it's a solid example of the varietal and a solid value at $13!  This was an office wine club selection, and I've had a number of people tell me they taste a lot of bacon in this one, I will admit it's quite smoky, perhaps with some pork in there, but that's what makes a nice Lodi Zinfandel perfect for barbecue!  Alas, my low maintenance dinner tonight isn't barbecue, but pizza!  Again, some folks find it tough to pair a wine with barbecue or pizza, but for me I just reach for a nice Zin!  Cheers!

2012 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee

I'm finally getting back to the swing of things after my horrific travel week last week, so tonight I've decided to open a bottle I picked up last weekend in Grand Rapids, the 2012 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee.  This Napa County wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (39%), Merlot (35%), Malbec (12%), Petit Verdot (8%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Syrah (3%), so pretty much every Bordeaux blending varietal and then some!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, cherry and cassis, overlaid with just a hint of toasted oak.  The taste is quite nice, with a blast of cherry cola up front that transitions to some earthy notes of cedar and baking spice midpalate.  The tannins are nicely balanced, supporting a velvety mouthfeel and long, voluptuous and very dry finish.  It's really a nice everyday wine that drinks like wines that are twice the price.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, particularly at the bargain price I found this one, just $25!  The wine is from the highly regarded 2012 Napa vintage, and while it could be ageworthy it's really drinking nicely now.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a classic pairing of bacon-wrapped petit filet mignon, baked potato and grilled asparagus.  This nice bold wine it ideal with a nice steak.  Cheers!

2012 Maison Bleue Metis

Well, this past week or so has just been a whirlwind of activity, between my normal travel schedule and some amazingly bad luck with flight delays, I've had no time for blog posts of any sort (though rest assured, I still had time to drink some wine!).  So I'll make up for it tonight, as for my 500th  blog post, I've opened a bottle of 2012 Maison Bleue Metis, a lovely blend of Syrah (70%), Grenache (25%) and Mourvedre (5%) that I picked up on my vacation in Walla Walla.

The wine is a lovely, deep ruby color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose exhibits an intriguing combination of ripe berries, smoke and floral notes that really urges you to take a sip.  The taste is classic GSM, heavy on the S, with flavors of blackberry and pomegranate bursting forth, only to ease back into some herbs and smoky, earthy notes midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat rustic, but form a perfect foundation to under gird the long, smooth and very dry finish that leaves you wanting more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a great example of the fine Rhone blends coming out of Walla Walla now, and since I received a wine club discount, this one was a super bargain (even though it's worth every penny of the regular price).  Although this wine will pair well with the classics, lamb, beef and wild game, tonight I'm enjoying this with a baked chicken breast topped with some prosciutto and smoked provolone along with a bit of linguine with garlic and olive oil and some steamed haricots verts.  Cheers!

1997 L'Ecole No. 41 Columbia Valley Merlot

Well, it's the first Saturday of September, which of course means that it's "Cellar Saturday" that magical time where I raid the recesses of my cellar to open a nice, mature bottle of wine.  Tonight I've raided the cellar for a bottle that I just bought on my recent vacation to Walla Walla, the 1997 L'Ecole No. 41 Columbia Valley Merlot, a blend of Merlot (85%), Cabernet Franc (11%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (4%), which I've decanted about an hour ago.

The color is a nice even purple with some amber around the edges and very nice clarity.  The nose presents a wonderful Bordeaux-esque combination of ripe plum, blackberry and leather, over a good bit of funk, with just a hint of mint and dried herbs.  The taste is just fantastic, with still bright fruit notes of plum and blackberry that burst forth at the outset, transitioning effortlessly to some wonderful mineral notes of basalt and earthy notes of peat and barnyard midpalate.  The finish is just divine, with some hints of sweet fruit as a reprise, while the mellow, yet still remarkably structured tannins provide a framework for the lush, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.  This is a lovely wine that has aged as well as any right bank Bordeaux.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, I'm not sure if this wine has reached it's prime, but I can't imagine it getting much better than what I'm tasting right now!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a monster, 2" thick Angus New York Strip, with some grilled leeks and asparagus.  This wine is just perfect with a big steak, but it would also pair well with hearty pasta, or some nice beef stew, or almost anything you can imagine cooking on an Autumn afternoon (even though it's technically still summer!).  What a fabulous wine for this first Saturday of college football, cheers!

2014 The Vincent Columbia Valley Rose

Summer is apparently having its revenge in the last few weeks it will be around, as it's just been incredibly hot and humid this week.  I sure am glad I had the foresight to bring back ample bottles of nice Washington rose wine to help combat the heat!  Tonight I have opened a bottle of 2014 "The Vincent" Columbia Valley Rose wine from Mark Ryan Winery's Board Track Racer label.  Back in 2013, I reviewed the 2012 vintage which you can see here: Link, so let's see how this one stacks up!

The color strikes me as a bit more orange-pink, but quite deep and vibrant.  I don't have the technical specifications, but my sense is that this one is still a GSM blend, but likely with a bit more emphasis on the Syrah.  The nose presents lovely, earthy aromas of cut grass and iron, intermingled with some floral and citrus notes.  The taste is a vibrant rush of strawberry, grapefruit and lime that eases into some nice mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is just bone dry, a perfect summer refresher for my palate!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, the flavor is all there and the structure is very pleasant, and to top it off, this was a terrific value at about $15!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some maple glazed wild Alaskan Coho on a bed of baby kale and arugula, some steamed wild rice and green beans, a perfect summer dinner.  Cheers!

2014 DaMa Wines Rose of Cabernet Franc

Well now that I've completed all my posts about my fabulous Walla Walla road trip, we will be treated with reviews of the many great wines I brought back from the trip!  First up, as summer seems to be winding down much faster than I'd prefer, I thought I'd enjoy a bottle of rose, particularly since this hot and humid summer has really been the "Summer of Rose!"  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2014 DaMa Wines Rose of Cabernet Franc that I picked up in the tasting room a week or so ago.

The color on this wine is exceedingly pale, a quick glance and you might actually mistake it for a white wine, but rest assured it's all rose.  The nose presents lovely aromas of strawberries, honeydew and crisp citrus notes, ideal for a summer on the patio.  The taste is a rush of floral, melon and citrus, that takes a bit of a break for some nice mineral notes midpalate.  Surprisingly, the finish recounts some lovely sweet strawberry notes that cap off this beautiful glass of summer.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, simply because it's not quite as dry as I prefer, particularly on the finish.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a classic Pacific Northwest dinner of wild Alaskan Coho salmon filet grilled on a northern white cedar plank, with some steamed wild rice and fresh picked green beans.  The fruit and acidity of this wine make it a perfect foil to the richness of the salmon, and I have to mention that white cedar imparts very different flavors to the fish than your normal red cedar, which go perfectly with this wine!  Cheers!

Saving the Best for Last: My Visit to Seven Hills!

So I've saved the best for my last post on my summer vacation to Walla Walla, my visit to Seven Hills Winery, which is on Third Street, in the same building as the Whitehouse Crawford restaurant.  Seven Hills has long been a favorite of mine, ever since my first visit to Walla Walla back in 2002, and it seems to me they just keep getting better with time.

The entrance to the Seven Hills tasting room.

I was glad to finally be able to meet Julie Titus in person (we've been e-mail friends for a long time!) and I had the chance to meet Vicky McClellan who along with her husband Casey, founded the winery.  I also met Erik, who is in charge of marketing and Jackson, which was kind enough to give me a tour of the winery.  All of these folks are just terrific, the kind of people that you'd love to just spend an afternoon on the patio sipping wine.

That's Julie in the bright, beautiful tasting room!  She was also the broker
in arranging for me to buy a couple bottles of Cayuse!

Like many other wineries, the talk of the week was how early harvest was this year, as well as what potential impact all the smoke from the western wild fires might have on the 2015 vintage.  I imagine last week was a week full of action at the winery as grapes started flooding in.

The very first vintage, 1988 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon!

Jackson took me first to the library room, where examples of past vintages are stored, and he even showed me a bottle of the very first vintage, the 1988 Cabernet Sauvignon.  We then went around to see the giant tanks where the results of the harvest will become the wines that I'll enjoy in a couple years, including a new tank that was oak and quite impressive.

The stainless steel fermentation tanks, where the harvest becomes wine!

This was new and just so cool, I really want one!

From the tanks for fermenting, we went to the barrel room, where the wines are aged until they are ready to be bottled.  There were some impressive barrels in that room!

So much wine, so little time!

Finally, it was back to the tasting room to try some of the wonderful wines I've come to love.  We tasted the 2012 Ciel du Cheval, which was drinking quite nicely now, but will likely develop into an even more impressive wine over the next few years.  The 2013 Malbec was a surprise, as I've not been a big fan of the varietal in the past, but this one was delicious.  We also tasted the 2013 vintages of the Merlot and Petit Verdot, both of which were drinking quite nicely despite their youth.  Finally, we had to taste the 2012 Pentad, which I already love (and reviewed back in April here: Link).

Back in the tasting room with a view into the barrel room.

As always, it was a great time and I took home a bunch of wine, including a couple of the commemorative magnums of the 25th vintage, 2012 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  If you ever get to Walla Walla, you owe it to yourselves to visit Seven Hills, they have spectacular wines and the people are even better!