2010 Seven Hills Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's time to at last bid a fine farewell to 2016, and I must admit I have no idea where the last 12 months have gone!  But at least to help celebrate what was a pretty good year (now that it's over), I've decided to open up a nice bottle of wine that I found while updating my cellar list this past week, the 2010 Seven Hills Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon!  This wine is a special, limited production (only 82 cases) wine from the old vines at the Seven Hills Vineyard and the Fire Ridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.  So let's see if it was worth the wait!

The wine is an intense ruby color along the edges with a center of inky indigo.  The nose offers some stunning aromas of leather and rich black fruit, blackberries, cherries and cassis with a residual of green olive that lingers at the end.  The taste is absolutely stunning, with rich black fruit intermingled with some wonderful notes of cherry cola, anise and dark chocolate, which transition elegantly to some fantastic notes of olive spice that brings back images of a local Italian grocery in New York.  The finish is divine, with robust tannins providing a velvety mouthfeel and a supple, dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

What a great wine, that is not surprising to be given reserve status by the winemaker.  I would rate this one as an easy 9.5, as it's arguably the best Cabernet I've had in all of 2016 (good to end on a high note)!  This is an ideal big steak wine, which is a good thing since my New Year's Eve dinner consists of a prime dry aged Angus Porterhouse that I bought at Eataly yesterday in Chicago, along with a big baked potato with sour cream and chives and some steamed orange cauliflower.  Cheers and best wishes for the New Year!

2012 V. Sattui Vittorio's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

So as I mentioned in my post on my recent Napa Valley Wine Train experience, most of the wineries I visited could not ship to Indiana (it's a peculiar rule for my state, in that they won't allow direct shipments to consumers if a winery has a distributor in Indiana), but the last winery we visited was the exception, as V. Sattui only sells their wines from the winery, so you can't buy them in stores or restaurants.  Needless to say, I had some pent up demand and order a case to be shipped home, including tonight's wine, the 2012 Vittorio's Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon!  The vineyard is named for Dario Sattui's great grandfather, who founded the winery in 1885, and this sustainably farmed, organic Cabernet was blended with a bit of Petit Verdot (4%) to add a bit of depth to the final wine.  So let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a deep, inky purple color, just what you'd expect from a nice quality Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of leather, oak and ripe berries that practically dare you to resist taking a sip.  The taste is taste is a rush of black cherry and raspberry that quickly transition to some complex mineral notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  The finish is long, smooth and bone dry, capping such a pleasant sipping experience.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very fine Napa Cabernet that would stack up with many of the more expensive wines in the valley, but this one was just $60 or less with a club discount.  This is a great steak wine, which is a good thing that I like steak!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap steak with some grilled Brussels sprouts, asparagus, leeks and baby bok choy and some truffle mac & cheese, so yummy!  Cheers!

2012 Charles Krug Napa Valley Merlot

Happy day after Boxing Day!  Yes, I am still on staycation and I'm still definitely in the Holiday mood.  Tonight I've taken it easy and decided to have a bottle of wine from a winery I visited on my recent Napa Valley junket, the 2012 Charles Krug Napa Valley Merlot!

The wine is a deep ruby color at the edges leading to an inky black at the center.  The nose is a pleasant combination of leather, smoke and jammy red fruit, cherries, blackberries and plums.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit that bombards your senses, at first sweet and then a bit tart, you have ample cherry and ripe berry flavors dancing in your mouth.  As the fruit subsides, you get a nice bit of earthy goodness, oak and dusty limestone, before you reach the climax of rather young yet mellow tannins that provide the foundation for the long, smooth and voluptuous finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a remarkably pleasant drinking Merlot that was also a terrific value at right around $20 at my local wine store.  This wine would be wonderful with a nice steak or roast, but tonight I'm sipping this after my wonderful dinner of leftovers from Christmas!  Cheers!

Napa Valley Wine Train Quattro Vino Tour!

Merry Christmas!  And for a special Christmas post, I've decided to share a wonderful wine experience I had a couple weeks ago.  Now, of course I like wine, but I also like trains, so combining them together is the best of both world.  Now last year I took my first trip on the Napa Valley Wine Train (see this post) on the "Ambassador Wine Tour" and since I was headed to San Francisco on business it seemed like a good idea to revisit the train (it's a perfect day trip from San Francisco as they arrange transportation to and from the Ferry Terminal).  When I called to make my reservation, I spoke to a wonderful lady who informed me of a new service, the "Quattro Vino" tour, where you go on a private car to visit four different wineries, with a small bites menu between each stop.  So here you are, live vicariously through my photos!

To start, this is a completely separate train than the traditional Napa Valley Wine Train, which goes from downtown Napa to Saint Helena.  Although this train follows much the same route, it is a separate private car, a restored early 20th Century heavyweight car, pulled by a GP-9 diesel locomotive.

The car is beautifully restored on the inside and there is a kitchen and chef to prepare the wonderful small bite menu (more on that in a little bit!).  The train then goes to four different wineries, hence "quattro vino."

The train departed right around 10:00 am.  On the way to our first stop, we were treated to a glass of sparkling wine and then the "breakfast" menu which consisted of a Greek yogurt and berry parfait with granola, brulee steel cut oatmeal and ciabatta topped with shaved pork, arugula pesto, carmelized onions, egg and manchego cheese.  Everything was delicious!

Soon we arrived at our first stop, the Robert Mondavi winery:

Within the tour, we saw some of the vineyard as well as Beniamino Bufano's "The Muse" which is arguably one of the most photographed sculptures in the valley.

Then we were treated to a tasting of a white and red wine in the grand cellar, so many barrels!  We had the chance to taste some of the 2012 Vintage of the Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon that I reviewed a few weeks earlier.

Soon it was time to leave and head for our "lunch" course of small bites on the way to our next winery stop.  The lunch menu consisted of asparagus veloute with white truffle oil and a bibb lettuce salad with bleu cheese, fennel and apple crisp.  Again everything was delicious!

Then we found ourselves at Robert's brother Peter's winery, Charles Krug, the oldest operating winery in Napa Valley, founded in 1861.

We started with a taste of their Sauvignon Blanc, which I really liked, despite it not being a red wine!

We had some additional tastes of some very fine red wines in the upstairs tasting room this time.

Then we were back on the train for more bites and the next winery on the tour.

We enjoyed our main course, a choice of duck sausage with potato puree, grilled onions and sauternes apples, or what I chose, the seared halibut with fava, lentil and white bean ragout with saffron.

The next stop was Maryvale Winery, which was beautifully decorated for Christmas (this was the added bonus I didn't have last year as I went in October).

The wines were very nice, particularly their cabernet, but alas they, like every other winery so far, would not ship to Indiana, so I was out of luck getting any of these wines home!

Back on the train, for a quick ride over to our fourth and final winery stop, V. Sattui, which was also nicely decked out for Christmas.

We had a wonderful tasting with a young man who had a lot of knowledge.  They had some specialties in GSM blends, and they had one that I really liked (more on that in a future post as they would ship to Indiana!).

The tasting room was also very nice as they put us in a private room that really was nice.  Then it was back on the train to Napa, but not before we had dessert!

The dessert bites were wonderful, a cinnamon crusted tarte au citron, a flourless chocolate cake and apple almond cannoli!  And that was it, a wonderful afternoon spent in Napa with some great wine and food!  Here's wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

2010 Casalforno Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Friday!  I've been enjoying my staycation and went and did a little shopping today, but when I came home it started raining, so I altered my dinner plans from something grilled to something pasta and what's better with pasta than a little Italian red?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2010 Casalforno Chianti Classico Riserva, the office wine club selection that I bought from Wines Till Sold Out, a 100% Sangiovese from Tuscany, so let's see what she has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, and I've let it breathe for about an hour or so.  The nose presents aromas of tart cherry, cedar and a bit of earthy musk.  The taste is quite nice with a blast of ripe black fruit up front that transitions to some dusty limestone and a bit of "twang" midpalate.  The finish is dry and very smooth, not as abrupt as some dry red wines.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, as it is a very pleasant Chianti and a terrific value at just $13! This wine would pair well with a variety of roasts and game, but tonight I am going Southern Italian and enjoying this wine with a classic spaghetti and meatballs!  The earth and fruit notes are a perfect foil to the spicy Italian sausage in the meatballs while the dry finish is perfect against the red sauce and parmesan, Tutti a tavola a mangare!

2013 Seven Hills Artz Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

All right, my do-nothing staycation is rapidly passing, I can't believe it's already Thursday!  So tonight I've decided to open up a special bottle of wine from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, Seven Hills Winery, the 2013 Seven Hills Artz Vineyard Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is one of the first I've seen from Seven Hills that is produced from the Artz Vineyard on Red Mountain, and from what I've heard from my friends at Seven Hills, this is a wine with some broad shoulders, so let's see what cooks!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just what you'd like to see from a big Cabernet.  The nose is a symphony of green grass, rich black fruit and a bit of coarse minerality.  The taste is not nearly as fruit forward as the nose suggest, but rather the taste is quite dry at the outset and only after several seconds to the wonderful rich black fruit flavors develop, with blackberry, plum and cherry that appear like animal spirits that are whisked away at the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the best Cabernets I've had from Seven Hills.  This wine is drinking well now, but will likely shine over the next 5-10 years.  This is also a perfect big steak sort of wines, like those more expensive wines a couple states south of Washington, so tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap, along with a baked potato and grilled Brussels sprouts.  The big flavors and dry finish of this wine is perfect for a well marbled steak.  Cheers!

2013 Helix Cima Piccola

Well, I am back to the wine blog, I hope you missed me!  The first two weeks of December were a crazy travel time for work, I was in Louisville, Boston, New York, San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles, but now I'm home for a while, with the rest of the month off and nothing to do but cook and enjoy wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2013 Helix Cima Piccola, a super Tuscan style blend that's modeled to be a junior version of the Reininger Cima.  This wine is a blend of Sangiovese (50%) from from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard, as well as Merlot (30%) and Cabernet Franc (20%) from the Columbia valley.

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass with a nose full of cherry, leather, cedar and spice, with just a hint of lavender over the top.  The taste is a lovely blast of ripe berries that fill your mouth with joy, very reminiscent of the wonderful red wines I've enjoyed in Tuscany.  The ripe fruit is layered with dried Italian herbs and a bit of mineral graphite on the finish.  The tannins on this youthful wine are supple, but still create a nice, long and very smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's really one of my favorite Helix wines!  This wine would be perfect with a wide variety of Italian dishes, but tonight I am doing my poor man's version of bistecca Fiorentina, a nice rare grilled New York strip cooked on my cast iron steak pan, as it's only 4 degrees (!) and I can't bring myself to go out and grill!  Along with the steak I'm enjoying a baked potato loaded with butter, sour cream and chives, and some fresh green beans with sliced almonds.  Cheers!

2012 Forgeron Anvil Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I was planning on doing a bunch of work in the yard, and I got a few things done, but then it started snowing, so I moved indoors and shifted to decorating my stocking for my office contest (our Christmas lunch is a week from Thursday).  So tonight, in spite of the snow, I am grilling a steak, so what else could I open but a nice Cab, and tonight's is the 2012 Forgeron Anvil Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon, a 100% Cabernet from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard (60%) and Minnick Hills Vineyard (40%).  I can't wait to taste this, so here goes nothing!

The wine is an inky black at the center with garnet hues along the edges, such that when I poured this one it looked like an event!  The nose is a symphony of ripe black and red fruit overlaid with some mineral notes that play against some undertones of earthy peat.  The taste is everything that a great Cabernet should be, starting with some subtle fruit at the outset, blackberry, currant and cassis, that transitions almost imperceptibly to some wonderfully complex graphite and mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is like a dream that you just don't want to wake from, the mineral and fruit notes meet with some wonderfully structured tannins that provide the backbone for a finish that just seems to reach a crescendo, just as you're about to reach for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as I've tasted a lot of wine from Forgeron, and I honestly think this is their best effort by a mile.  This is not an inexpensive wine at $65 (of course it's less with the wine club discount), but this one easily stacks up with many Cabs that are selling way beyond $100 a bottle!  And as I mentioned, it's steak night, so I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus porterhouse with some grilled asparagus and yellow peppers and of course a wonderful baked potato.  Sante!

2005 Font de Michelle Cuvée Etienne Gonnet Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Well, it's the first Saturday in December, which of course means it's Cellar Saturday, that one day a month that I try to dig deep in the cellar for something with a bit of maturity.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle that's only been in my cellar for a few months, but is certainly ready to try, the 2005 Font de Michelle Cuvée Etienne Gonnet Châteauneuf-du-Pape.  This wine is a blend of Grenache (70%), Syrah (15%) and Mourvedre (15%), that should just about be ready to drink (I personally believe these wines should wait at least a decade before they are mature enough to drink).  So let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, a bit darker than usual but in my view an ideal color.  The nose presents aromas of ripe fruit, plum, cherry and dates, overlaid with some wonderful dried floral and spice notes.  The taste is a nice rush of sweet fruit up front, a combination of berries and dried fruit that transition to some lovely spice notes midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with a reprise of sweet fruit in the tannins, that play a perfect counter to the lingering dryness on the finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a truly lovely example of a French classic.  This wine would be perfect for the holidays, pairing well with turkey, ham or lamb, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a lovely sesame crusted seared ahi tuna filet with some steamed asparagus and jasmine rice.  Cheers!

2013 Robert Mondavi Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy December!  I can't believe how fast this year has gone, but here we are rapidly approaching the holidays, so why not pause for a nice glass of wine?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle that I picked up at my local wine store a month or two ago, the 2013 Robert Mondavi Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (81%), Cabernet Franc (13%), Malbec (2%), Petit Verdot (2%) and Merlot (2%) to balance things out.  So let's see what she has to offer!

The wine has that classic Cabernet look, deep inky black at the center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, oak, tobacco and dusty gravel, with just a hint of black fruit.  The taste is just a classic, high-quality Napa Cabernet, with a bit of black fruit up front, blackberry and a bit of cherry, that transition nicely to some earthy notes midpalate.  The tannins are robust, giving rise to the long, smooth and extremely dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's really quite exceptional and was a terrific value (if I recall correctly, this one was under $30!).  This would be a perfect wine for a big steak dinner (which happens a lot around here), but tonight I'm actually enjoying this with a pizza topped with sausage and fire roasted veggies.  Cheers!

2012 RouteStock Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

So, today I put up a wreath and some evergreen garland I bought at Costco, along with some lights, doing by best impersonation of Clark W. Griswold (even to the point that I put up lights by my front porch and plugged them in and only half lit up!), the earliest I've ever put up any Christmas decorations.  No worries, the trees won't come for a couple more weeks!  At any right, I'm ready to relax with a glass of wine, and tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 RouteStock Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, so let's see what cooks!

The wine is a deep, inky color in the glass with bright ruby along the edges, the classic look of a Cabernet.  The nose is rather pleasant, with some leather, black fruit and a hint of mint.  The taste is quite nice, with some ripe black fruit up front, blackberry and plum, that transition to some notes of cherry cola and green grass midpalate.  The finish is very nice, with well developed tannins that provide some backbone to the long, velvety dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nice Cabernet that was also a good value (I think this one was under $20 at my local wine store).  It's a good wine for steak, which is a good thing since I have another bone-in ribeye to finish off tonight, along with some grilled veggies.  Cheers!

2012 Hedges Family Estate Red Mountain

Happy black Friday, I mean red Friday!  After all, I'm drinking red!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 Hedges Family Estate Red Mountain wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%),  Merlot (26%), Syrah (8%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Malbec (2%) all from the Red Mountain AVA in Washington State.  So let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep inky indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, oak, blackberry and mint, somewhat of an old school Bordeaux vibe.  The taste is much less intimidating than the nose might suggest, with a rush of cherry cola, licorice and dried herbs that transition nicely to some earthy notes of wild game and smoke midpalate.  The finish is somewhat subdued but very dry.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's actually a very nice Washington red blend and a fairly decent value in the $30 range.  Tonight I am enjoying this with another big dinner for Thanksgiving week, a shrimp cocktail appetizer, then a big bone-in ribeye grilled rare with some grilled leeks, rainbow carrots and asparagus and a baked potato.  Cheers!

2009 Scopone Brunello di Montalcino

Happy Sunday!  Today was another afternoon of raking leaves, but since they will be picked up this week, I'm almost done!  Just a few more scattered areas to address and then it's over till next year!  Who knew shade was so expensive?  So to celebrate, tonight I've decided to open a nice bottle of wine, the 2009 Scopone Brunello di Montalcino.  I bought this wine from Wines Till Sold Out and it's had some mixed professional reviews, so let's see what it has to offer.

The wine is a nice deep ruby red color in the glass, perhaps a little darker than I was expecting.  The nose presents aromas of ripe black fruit, oak and baking spice, with a hint of smoke.  The taste is interestng, as it starts out with a bit of cherry cola, mocha and dark chocolate, that transition to a bit of anise and dried herbs.  The tannins are big and in your face, and as Wine Enthusiast noted, it has "an excruciatingly dry finish" and I couldn't agree more, this is perhaps the driest wine I've ever tasted.  The saving grace is that the finish is rather short.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, it's nice but nothing spectacular and it definitely needs food as drinking this by itself might cause headaches!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a more traditional southern Italian dish of linguine with mussels, tomatoes and basil.  Thankfully the acidity of the San Marzano tomatoes really cuts through the tannins and dryness of the wine.  Cheers!

2013 DaMa Wines Columbia Valley Grenache

Happy Friday!  I'm so glad it's the weekend!  It's been a long week and tonight I got to leave work a little after 4:00 so I had an hour and a half of daylight to blow leaves before the thunderstorms started.  I made progress and got the patio and deck done, so I'm seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, I just hope it's not an oncoming train!  So once it got dark I had to go to Mishawaka to get a gift for my friend's son who's third birthday party is tomorrow, and since I was out there I decided to stop at Costco (oh what fun!).  More on that later, but since I picked up something good for dinner I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine club shipment, the 2013 DaMa Wines Columbia Valley Grenache, a 100% Grenache from the Lonesome Spring Vineyard in the Columbia Valley appellation!

The wine is very light, with a bright ruby color in the glass, classic Grenache. The nose presents aromas of dried cherries and raspberries along with hints of leather and tobacco. The taste is just wonderful with subdued red fruit notes at the outset, raspberry and cherry that transition easily to some lovely mineral notes along with some vanilla bean midpalate.  The finish is wonderfully dry and long, with a level of smoothness in the tannins that belies the youth of this wine.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's just a gorgeous example of the varietal.  And of course, since I visited Costco on a Friday evening, the seafood booth was ready for me and I picked up a big bag of fresh mussels, which of course means moules frites for dinner!  I simmered the mussels with some olive oil, garlic and shallots and a bit of dry white wine and then served them with some classic fries seasoned with sea salt, pepper and parmesan.  What a way to end the week!

2013 Are You Game? Shiraz

Happy Sunday, another day another million leaves gathered from the lawn (this makes me thankful that it gets dark so early!) but at least there's wine.  Tonight I've opened another bottle that came from my boss' excess wine club selections, the 2013 Are You Game Shiraz!  This interesting wine was blended with a bit of viognier for a bit of enhanced fruit, and comes from the Strathbogie Ranges region of Victoria, the southernmost state in mainland Australia.  So let's see what this "real wine for real food" has to offer.

The wine is an inky indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a pleasant combination of green grass, earth and sweet blackberry.  The taste is a sweet jammy rush of fruit up front, with flavors of blackberry and black currant that transition gradually to a brief moment of black pepper spice midpalate.  The finish is smooth and very dry, but a bit to brief in my view.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a very fruit forward and food friendly wine that's also easy to sip on a Sunday afternoon.  And it's definitely food friendly, as it would pair nicely with a variety of dishes, from steaks to lamb to roasts, but tonight I've taken a different route and am enjoying this wine with some barbecued chicken, made with a dry rub from Jack Stack Barbecue in Kansas City, along with some cajun roasted fingerling potatoes and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2013 DaMa Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

I can't even describe how tires I am after 8 hours of leaves!  I guess this is my punishment for living in my own private forest.  But at least there is wine, and tonight I've opened a recent wine club shipment from DaMa wines in Walla Walla, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, a 100% Walla Walla Cabernet from the Golden Ridge Vineyard.  I've been a fan of DaMa for a while, and I must say I really like the redesign of the label for the 2013 vintage, though I will miss the curves of the previous label.  So let's see what she has to offer.

The wine is a wonderful deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of tart cherry, green grass and a bit of smoke.  The taste is classic Walla Walla cabernet, with a wonderful hint of sweet bing cherry on the front end that transitions nicely to some mineral notes and bit of vanilla midpalate.  The tannins are young but well integrated, providing a foundation for the finish, which is dry and sultry, with a reprise of dried herbs at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a great example of a Walla Walla cabernet with plenty of fruit and savory notes that make it a perfect steak wine.  Which is a good thing, since I'm enjoying this one with a rare prime black pepper bacon wrapped filet mignon, with a baked potato with sour cream and chives and some grilled Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

1999 Teldeschi Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah

Happy Saturday!  Well, it's the first Saturday of November which means it's time to raid the stash for something a bit more mature to celebrate "Cellar Saturday"!  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I bought a little while ago that I've really been looking forward to, the 1999 Teldeschi Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah.  I love Petite Sirah, because it's neither petite nor syrah, so I'm anxious to taste this one.  I'm also fascinated by the history of this winery, founded by Frank Teldeschi who emigrated to California from Italy, like so many other great California wine makers.  Frank's 70 acres in the Dry Creek Valley were planted primarily with Zinfandel (another favorite) and through that connection, he had a hand in helping Ravenswood (another favorite winery) establish itself as a premier Zin producer back in the 1980s.  But enough history, let's get to the wine!

I opened the bottle carefully (cork and age can be fickle friends) and then decanted it for about an hour.  The wine is a rich, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, plum and kisch, that just reminds me of many of the wonderful local Italian places in New York.  The wine is an explosion of rich fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that exhibits a bit of sweetness, only to transition nicely to some mocha and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully integrated, leading to a wonderfully smooth and long dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a great example of the varietal and it was a terrific value from Wines Til Sold Out at just $18!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a last gasp of summer before the time change tonight, with a rare grilled prime porterhouse, baked potato and grilled Brussels sprouts.  The fruit in this wine is a perfect foil for a nice grilled steak.  Salute!

2013 Masterpiece Vineyards Russian River Valley Zinfandel

Do you know what day it is?  That's right, it's hump day, a perfect time to open a nice bottle of wine to celebrate the week being half over,  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of this month's office wine selection that I bought last month from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2013 Masterpiece Vineyards Russian River Valley Zinfandel!  You know I love Zin, and I'm a sucker for classic paintings on wine labels (this one is Manet's The Plum) so let's see what this one has to offer.

The wine is a lighter ruby color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose presents aromas of of leather, oak, blackberry and a hint of white floral notes.  The flavor is somewhat more elevated for a typical Zinfandel, with some lovely red fruit notes, blackberry, strawberry and plum that transition to some lovely mineral notes and black pepper spice midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with young but firm tannins supporting the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's still a little young but drinking quite nicely, and it was a great bargain at just $13.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from steaks and chops, to barbecue and pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a panko crusted baked chicken breast along with some broccoli tossed with linguine, garlic and olive oil.  Cheers!

2013 Boyd Big Ranch Vineyard Syrah

Happy Sunday!  I have to admit this was a rather uneventful day.  After church I came home and started the laundry then went out to buy a leaf vacuum and then grocery shopping.  It was a crazy day as it seemed everyone was out of at least one thing I needed (I went to 4 stores to find leeks!), but finally made it home in time to finish laundry and start dinner.  And with dinner I've decided to open a bottle that my boss gave me, the 2013 Boyd Big Ranch Vineyard Syrah from the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley.

The wine has a classic look of Syrah, dark and brooding in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of earth, ripe black fruit and peppery spice.  The taste is just lovely, with a gradual building of fruit, blackberry, plum and cherry that reaches a crescendo as the fruit transitions to some lovely mineral and spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat youthful, but firm, lending a solid foundation for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's a great example of the varietal with wonderful complexity.  It's also a beautiful wine for fall as the flavors just scream autumn harvest.  And it's a good thing as I'm enjoying this wine with a fall dinner of pan seared duck breast, along with roasted fingerling potatoes, golden beets and leeks.  Autumn on a plate and in the glass, cheers!

2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Merlot

Ok, tonight I fully admit I am about to pass out!  I started this morning stacking logs from the trees I had trimmed yesterday, then my neighbor was kind enough to let me try out his lawn vacuum for leaves (I'm getting one!) and the rest of the afternoon was spent raking and piling up leaves, so now I am so tired and sore it wouldn't surprise me if I was asleep by 9:00!  But before that happens, I've decided to open up a nice bottle of wine to celebrate the tail end of Merlot Month, the 2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Merlot, a blend of Merlot from the Seven Hills and Ferguson Vineyards.  So let's see how awesome this wine is!

The wine is a lovely garnet color in the glass.   The nose presents aromas of blackberry, cherry and leather, with a good bit of minerality.  The taste is just lovely, with a lovely combination of ripe red fruit up front, cherry, currant and raspberry that transition effortlessly to wonderful earthy notes of cedar, earth and dark chocolate midpalate.  The finish is divine, with the mineral complexity so prevalent with the Ferguson vineyard shining through as you savor the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, I am a big fan of Merlot, and this one really sings despite its youth.  This is a great fall wine that would pair with a variety of hearty dishes, from stews, to heart chili to roast beef or lamb.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime filet mignon, with a baked potato and grilled rainbow carrots.  Cheers!

2012 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve

Happy Saturday!  I have to admit, I didn't really do much today, and it feels kind of nice to spend a Saturday relaxing, watching football and of course opening a bottle of wine to enjoy.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle I bought a few weeks ago at Costco, the 2012 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve Columbia Valley red wine, a blend of Merlot (80%), Cabernet Sauvignon (8%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Malbec (6%).  So let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is an inky indigo at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry, cassis with just a hint of dusty limestone.  The taste is classic Columbia Valley Bordeaux-style blend, with a subtle buildup of black fruit at the outset, blackberry, plum and currant that transition almost imperceptibly to some winderful mineral notes of graphite and basalt midpalate.  The tannins are young but well structured to support the wonderfully long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a solid effort for a more mass produced wine (6,000 cases) but a great value at just $27.  This would be an ideal grilled meat wine, but it would also be great with firmer cheeses.  Tonight I am pairing this one with a rare grilled filet mignon with a baked potato and some wonderful grilled cauliflower.  Cheers!

2012 Bodega Norton Privada

Happy Friday evening!  I must admit it's seemed like a very short week since I've been on the road for much of it, but alas it's time to relax for the weekend!  And to get things started I've decided to open a bottle of surplus wine that my boss gave me, the 2012 Bodega Norton Privada, a blend of Malbec (40%), Merlot (30%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) from Mendoza Argentina.  So let's see it this is as good as it looks!

The wine is a deep purple color in the glass, classic for an Argentine Malbec.  The nose presents aromas of leather, green grass, dried herbs and black fruit.  The taste is really quite nice, with some lovely black fruit notes of plum and blackberry up front, intermingled with some vanilla bean notes.  Midpalate we have mineral notes of dusty limestone that fit will with the young, tightly wound tannins.  The finish brings a reprise of sweet blackberry amid the long, smooth and very dry finish that you want to keep going and going.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant drinking wine and a good value in the $25 price range.  This is a classic steak wine, which is a good thing since tonight I am pairing this one with a rare grilled New York strip, baked potato and haricots vert almondine.  Cheers!

2012 Raymond Napa Valley Merlot

Almost a year ago, I had the chance to visit Napa Valley for a weekend ahead of a business trip to San Francisco and one of the vineyards we visited on the Napa Valley Wine Train was Raymond.  It was a very trippy winery, what with the wild colors and blow up dolls, but I really liked the wine.  I haven't had a chance to enjoy it again until recently when I found that my local wine store carries their Merlot, so I picked up a bottle in honor of Merlot month and have opened it tonight.

The wine is a deep ruby along the edges with a darker, inky appearance at the center, just as you'd expect on a nice Merlot.  The nose presents aromas of tart cherry, mulberry and a faint bit of mint.  The taste is quite nice, with a rush of rich black fruit up front, cherry. plum and currant, that transition effortlessly to some black pepper spice and mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are firm, providing a nice foundation for the mocha and dark chocolate notes that swirl amid the smooth, and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's just a terrific example of the varietal and is such an easy drinking wine.  It would pair well with a variety of hearty fall dishes, but today was a reprise of summer so I'm enjoying this one with a rare grilled prime petit filet mignon with grilled asparagus and a baked potato.  Cheers!

2014 Helix Stone Tree SoRho

Happy Friday!  It's amazing how fast the time goes by, it seems like only weeks ago it was summer and now it's fall, with changing colors on the leaves and crisp air...wait a minute it was only weeks ago that it was summer!  Tell me again what's so tricky about this time passing thing?  Anyway, I woke up this morning to a seasonable 39 degrees and thought, man I need to start eating more hearty dinners or perhaps I'll soon need to turn the furnace on, but in any case I've decided to open a bottle of wine I received in a wine club shipment last week from one of my favorite Washington Wineries, Reininger!  In this case I've opened a bottle of 2014 Helix SoRho, a Southern Rhone style blend of Mourvedre (51%), Cinsault (29%) and Grenache (20%) from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.

The wine is a touch darker than what is common for Rhone style blends.  The nose presents aromas of blueberries, raspberries and lavender.  The flavors are quite nice, with a soft burst of red berry fruit up front, that transitions nicely to some strawberry compote and mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat soft, but they balance the more modest acidity of the fruit to set up the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I'd rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I think I like this one better than past vintages, with a much better balance of fruit and acidity to make this a pleasant sipping wine.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Chicago Polish dinner of kielbasa, sweet kraut and sauteed pierogis with onions and sour cream.  The wine really complements the richness of the sausage and the acidity of the kraut.  Cheers!

2013 Markham Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot

Happy Sunday!  I think I may have mowed the lawn for the last time this season, particularly at the rate the leaves are now falling on it, but with the cool crispness in the air, it's finally feeling like Fall.  Good thing it's national Merlot month!  Perhaps the ideal wine for the autumn, a nicely structured Merlot, and tonight I've opened a bottle of 2013 Markham Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot that I picked up yesterday at Costco.  So let's see what she has to offer!

The wine is an inky color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, black cherry and pipe tobacco, just what you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  The taste is quite nice, with a rush of ripe black fruit up front, with just a hint of sweetness.  The fruit transitions to some lovely pepper spice notes midpalate, with a hint of dark chocolate and cherry.  The tannins are still young, but nicely structured and well integrated, providing the base for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I'd rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely Merlot that's drinking quite nicely now, but could also improve with some time in the cellar.  It was also a good value at just $18, particularly since it compares well with other Merlot selling for twice that.  This is a great sipping wine, but would also pair well with a variety of dishes.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare prime ribcap steak, grilled leeks and broccoli rabe and a baked potato with sour cream and chives.  A nice, smooth wine like this is perfect with a big steak.  Cheers!

2011 Helix Columbia Valley Merlot

Happy Friday!  I tell you, owning an older home can be a daunting experience...one moment you're contemplating what wine to have with dinner and the next your in a pit trying to turn off the water to the sprinkler system as the front zone won't turn off!  It's probably just something stuck in a valve, but I'll leave that to the sprinkler guy!  In the meantime, I've decided to get a late start to Merlot month and have opened up a bottle of 2011 Helix Columbia Valley Merlot, so let's see if my evening begins to improve!

This wine is a blend of Merlot (97%) and Cabernet Franc (3%) from the Bacchus, Stillwater Creek and Weinbau Vineyards.  The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass, classic Merlot.  The nose presents aromas of black raspberry, cherry and black currant, with just a hint of leather and Asian spice.  The taste is a blast of ripe black fruit up front, black cherry, plum and black raspberry that transition subtly to notes of cherry cola and a hint of dusty limestone midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with dusty tannins supporting a long, smooth and very dry finish with an embedded reprise of ripe fruit at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's really a pleasant example of the varietal and at an attractive price (this one was just $28 before wine club discount.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with tacos of all things!  It just goes to show that a nice Merlot can be incredibly versatile with food, from prime steaks to the lowly taco.  Cheers!

2014 Domaine Dupre-Morgon Vignes de 1935 Cru du Beaujolais

Happy Sunday!  Is it sad that after going wild at Costco yesterday and buying way too much food, I've now been thinking about dinner all day long?  Well, needless to say it was a very fine dinner and of course I picked out a nice wine to pair with it, in this case the 2014 Domaine Dupre-Morgon Vignes de 1935 Cru du Beaujolais!  This wine, made from 100% Gamay from vines dating back before World War II, so let's see what this wine has to offer.

The wine is a light ruby color in the glass with nice clarity, just as you'd expect from this type of wine.  The nose presents aromas of red plum, raspberry, cherry, kirsch and a hint of spice.  The taste is quite refreshing, with some rather subdued fruit notes up front that give way to some white pepper and herb notes intermingled with some fabulous mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is very well structured, with youthful tannins supporting the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very young and pleasant drinking wine that is very food friendly.  It was also a very nice value as I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for just $15!  As I mentioned, this wine is food friendly and would pair well with anything from burgers and pizza to lovely seafood dishes to just about anything from Provence.  But tonight I have paired this one with a rather eclectic dinner of sesame crusted seared tuna, with some pan roasted fingerling potatoes and broccoli rabe sauteed in garlic and olive oil.  The red fruit and minerals we a perfect complement to the many rich flavors on that plate.  Cheers!

2005 Chateau Potensac Medoc

Happy October!  You ever wonder what October is the 10th month, rather than the 8th month?  I wonder about crazy things sometimes, but today I am wondering about the first Saturday of the month, which of course is Cellar Saturday!  Today I've opened a bottle that's been in my cellar for less than a day, the 2005 Chateau Potensac Medoc, which I bought at Costco today!  The Chateau is one of the Cru Bourgeois estates producing Medoc, that lovely Cabernet Merlot combination from the left bank of the Gironde, so let's see how this one grabs me!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, tar, blackberry and kirsch with just the faintest floral overtones.  The taste brings out the gravelly clay soils of the Garonne, but the fruit is still a major player with flavors of black cherry and plum, but the star is the minerality that expresses itself midpalate, really highlighting the terroir of the Chateau.  The finish is divine, with still vibrant tannins after more than a decade, supporting the long, smooth and exceptionally elegant and dry finish, with just a hint of funk at the end.

I am a big Bordeaux fan, and this is a gem that I would easily rate a 9!  This would be ideal with aromatic or hard cheeses, or with a variety of hearty Autumn dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this with some additional Costco fare, a rare grilled Prime ribcap steak, with some grilled asparagus and oven roasted fingerling potatoes.  The minerality of this wine is a perfect foil to the rich fattiness of the ribcap, my new favorite cut of beef.  Salut!

2012 Boyd Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Friday!  I finally made it to the weekend and I just got home from getting new tires for my truck, and it's time to relax with a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine that my boss gave me a month or two ago, and I've been excited to try this one, the 2012 Boyd Cabernet Sauvignon from the Oak Knoll district of Napa Valley.  This one is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Mogambo vineyard.  As Napa is famous for big, bold Cabs, this one should fit the bill quite nicely!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, cherry and currant over leather and oak, with just a slight floral hint over the top.  The taste is wonderful, with a rising cascade of black fruit, that culminates in some mocha and spicy black pepper notes midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat chewy but an excellent foundation for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this one a solid 9, as it's just what you'd expect from a big, bold Napa Cabernet from an outstanding vintage.  This is clearly a red meat wine, which is good since I'm enjoying this one with a rare grilled Angus New York Strip, grilled Brussels sprouts and a big old baked potato.  Cheers!

2013 Forgeron Barbera

It's almost hump day and I can start to feel the weekend approaching...how sad is that?!?  At any rate, it's been a busy week already and I've been fighting a cold, so why not open up a nice bottle of wine?  This time its from one of my favorite Washington producers, Forgeron Cellars, and their 2013 Barbera!  Who doesn't love an easy sipping, food friendly Barbera?  I sure do!

The wine is a nice rich ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents nice aromas of leather, blackberry, raspberry jam and a hint of rose petals.  The taste is simply wonderful, with a rush of ripe black fruit, with a hint of sweetness on the outset, blackberry, cherry and currant, that transitions to some lovely black pepper spice midpalate, that hints at a bit of butter at the end.  The finish is quite nice, with youthful tannins providing the base for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a great example of the varietal and a wonderfully food friendly wine.  This would pair well with hearty Italian dishes, nice grilled steaks, or even seafood, which is a good thing, since tonight I'm enjoying this one with some sesame seared sea scallops (say that five times fast!) on a bed of spring greens, some linguine with garlic and olive oil and some steamed rainbow carrots.  Cheers!

2012 Clos du Val Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Hooray for Sunday afternoons!  I finally had a chance to get caught up on yard work, picking up branches, mowing the grass and sweeping up a wheelbarrow full of acorn shells from the sidewalk, but now it's time to relax with dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened up a bottle I picked up at the local wine store maybe six months ago, the 2012 Clos du Val Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  So let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with an inky center.  The nose is classis Cabernet, with aromas of leather, blackberry, black cherry and oak.  The taste is wonderful, with a bit of sweet black fruit up front, blackberry, cherry and cassis that transition effortlessly to some notes of tobacco and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are firm, providing a wonderful foundation for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.  This is just how a wonderful Napa Valley Cabernet should taste.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's a great bottle of wine that at just $25 would compare favorably to many Napa Cabernets selling for double that price.  This is a great steak and potatoes sort of wine, which is fortunate since that's what's for dinner tonight!  I am enjoying this one with a rare grilled prime filet mignon, a home grown baked potato I picked up at my Amish farm stand yesterday, and some grilled asparagus.  Cheers!