Reininger CPR Red Wine

Today I feel like I got a lot accomplished, did a lot of weeding around the back yard, cut down some branches that we needing to be trimmed and cleaned up around the house.  So why not relax at the end of the day with a nice glass of wine, and tonight I've decided to open a bottle of Reininger CPR Red Wine.  CPR which are winemaker Chuck Reininger's initials is their third label, one where Chuck desires to take some of the best grapes and let his creativity and emphasis on quality come to the fore.  As a result, CPR wines are non-vintage and are not limited to any single AVA.  This is the first bottle of CPR I've opened, so here goes nothing!

The wine is a beautiful garnet hue in the glass with a bit of opacity.  The nose gives off a heavy perfume of leather, smoke, green herbs and some light notes of tart cherry and boysenberry.  The taste is not at all what I expected, there is such tartness in the nose I was expecting that, but instead there was a nice bit of blackberry and boysenberry at the front that quickly transitions to some warm spice notes midpalate.  The tannins were firm but exceptionally well integrated, creating a long, smooth and very dry finish, with just a bit of that tart cherry sneaking back on you right at the very end.  What an interesting wine!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a delightful and sophisticated blend that really keeps you guessing.  The leather, smoke and balanced fruit make this an ideal wine for hearty steaks or lamb, and it just so happens that I have a nice USDA Prime New York Strip to grill this evening, along with a big baked potato and some grilled Brussels sprouts.  A perfect evening to eat out on the patio!  Cheers!