2013 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's Sunday, time for me to explore the culinary world for Sunday dinner and of course find new and interesting wines to try.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2013 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles.  For a little background, I was introduced to this winery on the Napa Valley Wine Train interestingly enough, as the two couples sitting across from me on the train brought a bottle of 2012 Justin Isosceles on board and they were kind enough to share a glass with me.  I really enjoyed it, so when I was at my local supermarket yesterday and saw the Justin Cabernet on sale, I just had to try it!

The wine has a classic Cabernet look, with dark, inky color at the centers with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose exhibits aromas of black cherry, oak and leather, just what you'd expect from a really good Cab.  The taste is delightful, with a blast of dark fruit up front, black cherry and plum that transition smoothly to some lovely black pepper spice notes along with some limestone midpalate.  The finish is just lovely, with well structured tannins supporting a velvety smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it tastes like is could easily be a $50 Cabernet, but I bought it yesterday for just under $22!  And tonight I've decided to enjoy this wine with a decidedly uncharacteristic Sunday dinner to pair with a big Cab, but I do it because I can!  So tonight I am enjoying this wine with some grilled teriyaki chicken breast served with blood orange infused jasmine rice and steamed organic rainbow carrots.  Something about teriyaki always makes it good with a big bold red.  Cheers!

2012 Eminent Archon Zinfandel

Happy Saturday!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of our latest wine club selection, the 2012 Eminent Archon Zinfandel.  Now this Zin came from one of my favorite areas for the varietal, Lodi, California, so let's see if it lives up to its appellation!

The wine is a nice garnet color in the class with nice clarity.  The nose presents an intriguing combination of floral aromas along with ripe berry fruit, blackberry, black plum and cherry intermingled with lilac and hibiscus.  The taste is somewhat flat, with a bit of fruit up front that quickly gives way to a wave of pepper spice and smoke midpalate.  The finish is subdued, as the fruit just seems to fade away into the sunset.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, it's nothing spectacular but a decent zinfandel, particularly given the price, as I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for just $10.  Zins are usually my go to wines for things like barbecue as the smoke seems to complement it well, but tonight I am enjoying this wine on taco night!  Yes, plain old beef tacos with a bit of pineapple habanero salsa, veggies and sour cream, yum!

2013 Michel-Schlumberger Napa Valley Red Wine

Do you know what day it is? Oh yeah, it's hump day!  I just got back from the gym and now I'm ready for a carnivorous dinner, and what goes better with such a meal than a nice red wine?  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2013 Michel-Schlumberger Napa Valley red wine, a blend of Syrah, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec from a great Napa vintage from the Mt. Veeder and Atlas Peak appellations.

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose evokes aromas of ripe red berries, blackberry, red currant and plum overlaid with lovely notes of leather and oak,  The taste is just lovely, with a blast of fruit up front, blackberry, ripe plum and tart cherry that transition effortlessly to some cherry cola and mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is very nice with a reprise of ripe fruit along with some robust mineral flavors of limestone and basalt.  The tannins are firm and nicely structured, supporting the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, with great structure and wonderful fruit notes, and a great value (I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for just $17!).  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of rare grilled Angus New York Strip, topped with some grilled organic leeks along with grilled maroon carrots, baked potato with all the fixin's and some steamed broccoli.  What a way to celebrate hump day, cheers!

2014 Forgeron Rose of Sangiovese

Happy Tuesday!  I've been waiting for this night as I had the chance to do a little seafood shopping at Whole Foods last weekend and I chilled a nice bottle of rose just for the occasion.  Yes, I know it's still winter, but a little rose at least reminds me that summer is just around the corner!  And tonight it's a good one I picked up on my trip to Walla Walla last summer, the 2014 Forgeron Rose of Sangiovese, which I know realize includes a preview of their new labeling!  This wine is sold out at the winery, but thankfully I scored a couple bottles last year.

The wine is a lovely peach color in the glass, and the nose evokes aromas of pink grapefruit, basalt and a bit of green cedar.  The taste is just lovely, like a gorgeous summer afternoon in a bottle, with vibrant citrus notes up front that transition seamlessly to flavors of strawberry overlaying some mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is bone dry, perfect for summer drinking but also ideal for some great food pairing with heartier dishes and particularly big seafood dishes.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a great summer rose and as I recall was a terrific value under $20.  Tonight I am pairing this wine with some macadamia crusted mahi mahi, mashed red skin potatoes and steamed cauliflower.  A perfect wine for a big fish meal, Sante!

2010 Seven Hills Carmenere

Happy Sunday!  Sunday dinners are always an adventure, a time to experiment with different recipes, new foods and of course adventurous wine pairings!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine from one of my absolute favorite Walla Walla producers, but one that for some unknown reason has been sitting in my cellar for a few years when I should have enjoyed it a long time ago, the 2010 Seven Hills Carmenere, a near pure example of the varietal, with a bit of Merlot (6%) added to provide a bit of backbone.  Now I've already reviewed the 2012 vintage (you can see that review here), so don't ask me why I can't do things in order, so let's get to it!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of red raspberry, red currant and leather overlaid with a lovely spicy layer.  The taste is just amazing, with some rich fruit up front that hearkens back to a fine Amarone, amid layers of earthy notes, of cedar and tobacco.  Midpalate, you are treated to a symphony of cherry cola, mocha and spice, white pepper and herbs de Provence that just elevate this wine.  The finish is near perfect, with the smooth, rounded tannins supporting a lingering dry finish that dares you to hold back from taking another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's probably about at its peak, but it's just such a pleasant drinking wine that the food you eat with it is almost an afterthought.  But alas, my afterthought tonight is a lovely white cedar planked salmon filet, served with sweet potato mash and steamed broccoli.  The fruit is such a nice complement to the salmon, while the spice is a great foil to the richness of the sweet potatoes.  Cheers!

2012 Old Poodle Dog Cabernet Sauvignon

Who doesn't like dogs?  And who doesn't like Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley?  I figured as much, so I couldn't resist when I saw the Coho Wines new "Old Poodle Dog" Cabernet Sauvignon on Wines Till Sold Out and I've decided to open a bottle to enjoy this evening.  This wine is from the lovely 2012 vintage, which is a star for Napa, so let's see what cooks!

The wine is a classic inky purple in the glass with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of black plum, leather and oak with just a hint of dried violets along the edge.  The taste is very nuanced, with some initial flavors of plum and tart cherry that give way to some smoky elements midpalate with a nice bit of white pepper spice in the background.  The tannins are somewhat soft and round but still provide a nice base for the long, velvety and exceedingly dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's a very nice Cabernet and it was a descent value at just $30.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of a rare grilled Angus New York strip, roasted potatoes and maroon carrots and steamed broccoli.  This wine is perfect for a big steak, cheers!

2010 Hacienda Lopez de Haro Rioja

It's Sunday, time for the best dinner of the week, since you have all afternoon to contemplate and prepare your meal.  Tonight I've decided on something that will warm me up since it's bitter cold out today, the temperature started this morning in the teens and now it's only 7!  So with the warmth of my Sunday dinner, I've decided to open a bottle of 2010 Hacienda Lopez de Haro Rioja, which I bought about a month ago at Costco.

The wine is a lighter ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose exhibits some lovely fruit and floral notes with some lovely white pepper spice.  The taste is quite nice, with some subdued fruit up front, ripe plum and cassis, that transitions nicely to some dried herb and spice notes midpalate.  The finish is pleasant though a bit short, with a reprise of jammy fruit amid the smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's nothing spectacular, even though it was a phenomenal bargain at just $5!  I regret only buying a single bottle, I should have bough a case!  And to warm up this evening, I am pairing this with some ghost pepper curry with chicken and vegetables served over steamed basmati rice.  It's so hard to pair a red wine with ghost peppers, but this one does well, with some subdued earthy flavors that actually complement the spice.  Here's to warming up with hearty winter food!

2009 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

So I made it home from Florida (have I mentioned I'm not a huge fan?  I know that's surprising, but having been born in winter in Chicago, I really love the cold!) and tonight I've decided to have a nice home cooked dinner.  And wouldn't you know I found an awesome deal on Angus filet so what else could I possible have tonight besides a black pepper bacon wrapped filet mignon?  And since I'm heading to the deep end of the steak pool, I need a wine to stand up to it with grace and poise, which screams Napa Valley Cabernet!  So I've opened a bottle of 2009 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that I stumbled upon in the cellar (don't you love surprises?).  I reviewed the 2010 vintage last year, which you can see here.

The wine is a classic deep, brooding Napa Cab, with an inky black center leading to some bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is just wonderful, even with the glass two feet away, the aromas are beckoning me to grab the glass and sip!  The nose presents aromas of black plum, blackberry, licorice and oak over a lingering hint of limestone minerality.  The taste is lovely, with a rush of ripe black fruit that envelopes your palate.  The rich berries and plum transitions effortlessly to some lovely mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are well intergrated and finely structured, providing the classic backbone to a big Cab like this one, along with it's velvety, bone dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's not from a great vintage, but it's always amazing how these wines develop with just a few years in the cellar.  As I mentioned, tonight I am enjoying this wine with the steak pictured above, grilled rare along with some grilled maroon carrots, and a big baked potato with butter and sour cream.  I just love big steak night, cheers!

2013 Spring Valley Vineyard Nina Lee Syrah

UIt's time for Sunday dinner, but what wine to serve?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle from my latest wine club selection from Spring Valley Vineyards, the 2013 Nina Lee Syrah.  Now a few months ago I reviewed the 2012 vintage (you can see that post here: 2012 Nina Lee Syrah), and this one is a blend of Syrah (80%), Cabernet Sauvignon (16%) and Viognier (4%), all from the Walla Walla Valley appellation.  So let's see how the latest release stacks up.

The wine is a lovely deep garnet color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, black pepper spice and a bit of green cedar.  The taste is lush, with ample flavors of ripe berries, black cherries and a good bit of spice that transitions nicely to some mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and well integrated, creating a smooth, voluptuous finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9 again, it's just a beautiful example of the varietal that accentuates the terroir of the Walla Walla Valley.  This strikes me as a real four season wine, at home in a blizzard like I'm experiencing now, or a warm summer evening on the patio.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled teriyaki glazed pork tenderloin, mashed sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli, the fruit and spice just marry perfectly with the richness of pork.  Cheers!

2011 Nativ Eremo San Quirico Irpinia Campi Taurasini

Yeah, say that wine name 5 times fast!  I ordered this wine recently from Wines Till Sold Out as it often provides nice opportunities to try different wines that you might not come across in your everyday wine travels.  In this case we have a wine based on Aglianico grapes from the Campania region of Italy (for those without a map handy, that's a region on the front of the ankle of the "boot" of Italy).  I've had a few wines based on Aglianico before and they are usually very pleasant, dark and brooding, so let's see how this one turned out!

The wine is an inky black color at the center of the glass that becomes a bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of ripe black fruit, blackberry, plum and black cherry intermingled with some vanilla bean and plenty of oak.  The taste is quite nice, with luscious black fruit at the outset with transitions to some lovely warm spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are supple, providing for a velvety smooth and very dry finish, that dares you to have another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a very nice expression of the varietal and it was a value as well at just $20.  The wine would be ideal with a variety of southern Italian dishes, the classics like pasta with red sauce, or lovely Sicilian Pasta alla Norma, but tonight I am going completely off the grid, pairing this wine with a classic Chicago dish of Slotkowski kielbasa with potato pierogis, grilled onions and sauerkraut!  I know it's random, but it really works!

2013 Pruet Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Tuesday!  I just got back from the gym and it's about 20 degrees out, so why shouldn't I be grilling a steak?  Of course if I'm going to have a steak, I'll need a nice Cabernet to go with it, and tonight I've opened a bottle of the 2013 Pruet Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from the Yountville district of Napa Valley!  This wine I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out and it's our office wine club selection for January so here goes nothing!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass with a somewhat inky center.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, cassis, vanilla bean and toasted oak.  The taste is quite nice, with some nice ripe fruit up front, blackberry, currant and plum that transition nicely to some earthy notes of basalt and dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are young and firm, providing for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's drinking very nicely now, but will no doubt have even more potential with a few years of cellaring, particularly given the strength of the 2013 Napa Valley vintgage.  As mentioned, since I bought this from WTSO, it was also a bargain at just $20.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a rare grilled Angus New York Strip, baked potato with butter and sour cream and steamed broccoli with red peppers.  This wine has the perfect backbone for a nice steak, so enjoy!

2000 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of the new month and new year, and that means it's time to raid the cellar for something interesting to open!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2000 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee, a blend of Merlot (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (34%) and Cabernet Franc (6%) from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in Walla Walla.  Now I haven't had this one in the cellar for too long, as I think I picked it up when I was in Walla Walla last summer, but in any case here goes nothing!

I let the wine decant for about 90 minutes before pouring.  The wine is a nice ruby color in the glass, with just a bit of opacity.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry, plum and a hint of forest floor.  The taste presents surprising flavors of cherry cola up front that transitions nicely to some notes of mocha, nutmeg and baking spice midpalate.  The finish if beautiful, with mellow tannins and a reprise of some earthy spice for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's just a beautiful and mature expression of the lovely Bordeaux-style blends the Walla Walla Valley is famous for.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of a rare grilled Angus New York Strip with grilled leeks, a loaded backed potato and some steamed broccoli.  The richness of the fruit and spice in this wine are a perfect complement to such a hearty meal.  Cheers!

2008 Domaine Thunevin-Calvet Cotes du Russillon-Villages

Happy New Year!  To celebrate 2016, I've decided to open a more mature bottle this evening to go with my special New Year's dinner.  Tonight I am enjoying the 2008 Domaine Thunevin-Calvet Cotes du Roussillon-Villages, a lovely blend of Grenache and Syrah from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of Southern France.  I bought this one a few months ago from Wines Till Sold Out, so let's see how I did!

The wine is a deep, inky indigo color at the center, with some brighter garnet along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, licorice, green tea and toasted oak.  The taste is quite nice, with a rush of blackberry, cherry cola and mint at the outset that transition nicely to some mineral notes and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are very smooth, providing a luxurious finish that is smooth and dry, with a pleasant reprise of mineral and spice notes.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's just a terrific example of the region but it would be even better with a few more years in the bottle.  As for pairing, it would be perfect with a nice Provencal menu, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with my traditional New Year's dinner of steamed Maine lobster, wild rice and broccoli.  The spice and minerality of the wine really make a nice contrast to the richness of the lobster.  Cheers!