2013 Reininger Carmenere

I can't even believe the weekend is already over!  It seems that we finally get a nice weekend (it was 80 degrees here today) and all I can do is catch up on yard work, picking up branches, pulling dandelions, changing the spark plug on the lawnmower, mowing the lawn, putting up a hummingbird feeder, it never ends!).  So at least I can end the weekend on a high note with a wonderful dinner and a great bottle of wine, and tonight it's the 2013 Reininger Carmenere, a wine made from 100% carmenere from the Seven Hills Vineyard in Walla Walla.

This wine should be allowed to breathe a bit, I opened this wine and let it breathe for an hour or so, though I didn't decant it.  The wine has a cabernet type appearance in the glass, with bright ruby along the edges and a black, inky center.  The nose presents aromas of cassis, leather and smoke, in a delightfully earthy bouquet.  The taste is just lovely, with a rush of ripe fruit up front, cherry, black currant, that gives way to some lovely spice notes of black peppercorn and a hint of smoke.  The finish is just perfect, as the smooth tannins provide the structure for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that seems to go on until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking very well now, but is likely to improve with some time in the cellar.  This wine would be ideal for grilled steaks or a variety of great summer patio dishes, but tonight I've gone pacific northwest and am enjoying this with an alder planked wild Sockeye filet with blood oranges, some steamed rice and haricots verts almondine.  Cheers!