2015 DaMa Wines Rose of Cabernet Franc

Happy Memorial Day!  I always have mixed feelings about this holiday, as I like to honor those who've served our country in the military, but this also represents the first holiday of the summer, and hence the start of Rose season!  So today I've decided to open a bottle of 2015 DaMa Wines Rose of Cabernet Franc, an interesting little Rosa from the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.

The wine is a pale peach color in the glass, somewhat lighter than other roses I've had so far this year.  The nose presents aromas of cool citrus, grapefruit and a hint of strawberry and orange blossom.  The taste is quite soft, not the bright citrus acidity I was expecting, but rather some notes of honeysuckle, strawberry and a bit of olive.  The finish is quite nice, very dry and refreshing, just a bit of summer in a glass.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's a very pleasant rose that is perfect for summer.  This wine would be great with a light summer salad for lunch, or as I'm enjoying it this first holiday of barbecue season, with some barbecued ribs, fresh cole slaw and corn on the cob!  Whooo hooo this summer is going to be awesome!

2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Ferguson

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy one as I started out at my uncle's house south of Chicago, we went to the cemetery and planted flowers on graves as is our custom on Memorial Day weekend.  But now I'm home and ready for a nice glass of wine!  Today I've decided to open a bottle of 2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Ferguson, not realizing of course that I've tried the 2011 vintage (see that review here) but haven't yet opened a bottle of the 2012!  So I guess I'll just stick with odd years on this one.  In any case, this wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Merlot (33%), Cabernet Franc (7%) and Malbec (4%) from the Ferguson Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.

The wine is a lovely deep, inky purple in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of leather, dusty limestone, espresso and a hint of cherry pipe tobacco.  The taste is a lovely burst of fruit, cherry and blueberry that transition nicely to some notes of mocha and some complex mineral notes midpalate.  With the lovely basalt layer just beneath the soil at Ferguson, the wines from this vineyard almost always have a mineral complexity that makes the wines so enjoyable, particularly with a nice big steak!  The finish marries the mineral notes with luxurious tannins that make for a long, smooth and very dry finish that compels you to reach for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's still quite young, but drinking very well right now.  I expect this wine will be even better with a few years in the cellar, but today it's an ideal wine for braised short ribs or a nice big grilled steak.  That's where I'm headed tonight, with a rare Angus T-bone, some grilled sweet corn and steamed haricots verts almondine.  Cheers!

2014 I Giusti e Zanza "Nemorino" Super Tuscan

Happy Friday!  I have been so swamped with work I've hardly had time to enjoy any wine, but tonight I've decided that I have to relax, so after work I went to the gym and now I'm getting ready to enjoy a nice glass of wine. Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2014 I Giusti e Zanza "Nemorino" Super Tuscan, a red blend that I bought from the Wines Till Sold Out "Cheapskate Marathon" a few weeks ago.  Now I will admit, I really only bought this wine because I thought it had a really goofy label, and why not?  So let's see if the label was worth it!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby in the glass, more reminiscent of a Cabernet than a Sangiovese.  The nose present aromas of blackberry, cassis and spicy notes of black pepper and a hint of violet.  The taste is a lovely rush of fruit, cherry, blackberry and currant that transition nicely to some spicy pepper notes midpalate.  The tannins are young, but surprisingly well structured, providing the base for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nice blend that pleasant to drink right now despite it's youth.  It was also a great value at just $14!  This wine would be great with steak or a variety of hearty dishes, but tonight I am going full on Italian for this one and enjoying it with some hot Italian sausage with onions and peppers along with a bit of linguine tossed with garlic and olive oil on the side.  Saluti!

2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee

Oh, happy Sunday!  I finished all of my chores, so many (whoever thought you'd have more chores as an adult than you ever had as a child?), I mowed, I planted, I changed the filters on the furnace, but now I'm done and ready for a break.  And what better break than to open a bottle of wine from one of my longtime favorite Washington producers, L'Ecole No. 41.  Tonight it's the 2013 Apogee, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (20%), Malbec (15%) and Cabernet Franc (5%) from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in Walla Walla.

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass, the sort of color that raises your expectations of the wine. The nose presents lovely aromas of candied fruit, leather and anise.  The taste is a rush of fruit up front, cherry, blackberry and cassis that transitions without a moments hesitation to some notes of cherry cola, tobacco and a bit of coarse minerality midpalate.  The finish is just wonderful, with young, yet well developed tannins supporting the long, voluptuous and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, I've always thought the Apogee was the less pleasurable of the Apogee/Perigee blends from L'Ecole, but this vintage is starting to win me over.  This is an ideal red meat wine, and of course I'm enjoying this one first on the patio by itself, but soon it will accompany a rare grilled Angus porterhouse with some grilled organic rainbow carrots and some haricots verts almondine.  Cheers!

2013 Domaine J. Meuret Les Chenes Pinot Noir

Happy Saturday!  I am simply exhausted!  I started the day running errands, then I planted all of my impatiens in the only flower bed I have that is devoted to annuals and mow that my back is killing me, I've decided to open a bottle of wine with dinner.  Thankfully, I received my wine club shipment from Maison Bleue on Friday, and included in the shipment were a couple bottles of 2013 Domaine J. Meuret Le Chenes Pinot Noir from the Phelps Creek Vineyard in Oregon.  The name "Lew Chenes" means "the Oaks" in French, which I can certainly relate to given the many oaks in my yard, but it was actually named for the many white oaks in the vineyard which was planted in 1990.  So let's see how this wine stacks up!

The wine is a lovely pale red color in the glass, a classic Pinot Noir.  The nose presents aromas of cherry, cassis, tobacco and cedar, certainly not your typical Oregon Pinot, but much more reminiscent of a great burgundy.  The taste is simply wonderful, with some lovely red fruit notes up front, cherry, red plum, earthy mineral notes and wonderful spice.  The tannins are very well structured and integrated, creating a long. seductive and dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, and you know I'm not a huge Pinot Noir fan!  This wine would be perfect with roast pork tenderloin, classic salmon or duck, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bacon wrapped Angus filet mignon, with grilled asparagus and a baked potato, and I must admit this wine was a perfect accompaniment!  Cheers!

2012 Chateau de Landiras Graves

Happy Tuesday!  This has been a busy week so far and it doesn't look like it's going to get any better, so that means it's time to open a bottle of wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 Chateau de Landiras Graves, a blend of Merlot (75%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (25%) from the left bank of the Garonne.  I bought this wine recently in the "Cheapskate Tuesday" event at Wines 'Till Sold Out, so let's see how it is!

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of cherry, blackberry, coffee and spice.  The taste is very nice, with subtle fruit notes up front, blackberry and cherry that transition effortlessly to some lovely earthy notes of mocha and dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are softer and well integrated, providing for a long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that is classic Bordeaux.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a nice example of the appellation and a terrific value at just $17.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to hearty stews, though tonight I am pairing it with leftovers!  Sante!

2013 Roblar Meule Rouge

Sunday, that first day of the week and last day of the weekend where we try to cram as much stuff as possible!  That was my day today, non-stop work, I pulled up about 300 small maple trees that had sprouted this spring, cut the grass, trimmed around the landscaping, and I'm still doing laundry!  At least I can have a nice dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of Roblar Meule Rouge, a blend of Syrah (75%) and Grenache (25%) from the Edna Valley, which apparently is three miles east of Pismo Beach in California (is anyone else having flashback to Bugs Bunny cartoons?).  I got this one recently from the Wines Till Sold Out "Cheapskate Tuesday" event, so let's see how it is!

The color is almost inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, very reminiscent of a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of blueberry, blackberry and earthy notes of leather and oak.  The taste is very nice, with a rush of fruit up front, blackberry, cherry and black currant that transitions nicely to some dark chocolate and mocha notes midpalate.  The tannins are well structured resulting in s long, velvety smooth and exceptionally dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, I really like this wine and it was a terrific value at just $12.  This wine would be a perfect one to go with a variety of grilled beef dishes, from steaks to short ribs, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Sunday dinner of stuffed peppers. which should be coming out of the oven any minute now.  Cheers!

2007 Tenuta di Ceppaiano "Violetta" Super Tuscan

Happy Saturday!  It's been unseasonably cold here today, with highs only in the 40s, so tonight I've decided to go a little heartier on the dinner, which of course means something bigger in wine.  Tonight, given my dinner choice I've decided to open a bottle of 2007 Tenuta di Ceppaianao "Violetta" a Super Tuscan composed of Sangiovese (90%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) that I bough on the recent "Cheapskate Tuesday" event from Wines Till Sold Out.

The wine has a classic ruby hue of a nice Sangiovese.  The nose presents aromas of cherry, anise, dried herbs and a hint of mint that brings you back to the nice Italian neighborhood restaurants back in New York.  The taste is quite nice, with a blast of fruit up front, tart cherry, blackberry and blueberry that give way to some lovely earthy notes of dusty limestone and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are very fine and well integrated, which forms the backbone for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nice drinking Tuscan blend and a terrific value at just $13!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a little experimentation on my Italian cooking adventures, some squid ink tagliatelle tossed with some shrimp sauteed in garlic and olive oil and then simmered in some San Marzano tomatoes and finished with some fresh basil.  Such a great combination of flavors that easily make you forget the chilly spring temps!

2015 Healy Rose

Happy Hump Day!  It's been a busy week already as I was in Montreal and Toronto for work (but at least I was able to score a bottle of Niagara wine at the duty free shop, more on that in a future post) and now I'm home for a couple weeks.  Tonight I went to the gym and now I'm ready to relax with a great bottle of wine, the 2015 Healy Rose, the latest signature wine from Doubleback, Drew and Maura Bledsoe's winery in Walla Walla.  So let's see how this rose from the Columbia Valley stacks up!

The wine is a beautiful salmon color, with some orange tints.  The nose presents aromas of strawberry, honeydew and some fresh spring floral notes.  The taste is just wonderfully refreshing, with some lovely crisp fruit notes up front, strawberry and honeydew again, but then there is a lovely reprise of apricot on the finish that just makes this wine a treat, perfect for the summer that's barreling towards us!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's one of my favorites of the current crop of Roses from Washington, but unfortunately I only have one more bottle!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some classic summer food, some fried chicken and biscuit with a bit of cole slaw, and of course once dinner is over, I'll be enjoying this one on the patio as the sun goes down.  Cheers!

2006 Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It's officially the first Saturday of May and that means it's time to raid the cellar for something that's been waiting around for a decade or more to be experienced.  Tonight I've decided to open a nice little California Cabernet from the Alexander Valley, the 2006 Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon, so let's see what it has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, plum and cassis overlaid with some earthy notes of leather and tar.  The taste is packed with jammy fruit up front, with blueberry, plum and blackberry, that transition nicely to some notes of black pepper and spice along with some earthy notes of limestone midpalate.  The finish is just lovely, with still well structured tannins providing the foundation for a long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's aged very nicely and is drinking exceptionally well right now.  This wine would be ideal for a big steakhouse sort of meal, and that exactly what I'm going for tonight with a thick Angus New York Strip grilled Pittsburgh style along with some oven roasted potatoes and Vidalia onions and steamed asparagus.  The wine is just a perfect counterbalance to the richness of the steak, cheers!

2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee

Happy Friday!  I had to go to a conference in Chicago yesterday, so I took the opportunity to stop at Eataly in Chicago, if you haven't been, I'd highly recommend it!  I picked up the main course for tonight's dinner there and brought it back (yes, I had the foresight to bring a cooler and freezer pack, I'm not an amateur!) along with some other items to be featured in a social gathering next Friday!  So what to pair with tonight's special dinner?  I've opened a bottle of 2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (30%), Cabernet Franc (5%) and Malbec (5%) from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley, so let's have a taste.

The color is a deep, brooding garnet in the glass, perfect for such a blend.  The nose presents aromas of leather, ripe plum and just a hint of mint.   There are also some earthy notes that come through with a bit of night air.  The taste is a rush of fruit, with some plum and cherry cola that transition nicely to some blackberry, tar and tea leaves midpalate.  The tannins are a bit youthful, but very well integrated, providing for an incredibly long and luxurious finish that is simply bone dry.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, I'll be the first to admit that I prefer L'Ecole's Perigee blend more consistently than the Apogee, but this one is causing me to rethink that position.  As for the pairing, it would be marvelous with any number of hearty dishes, but tonight I am pairing this with a prime Angus bone-in ribeye with a porcini mushroom dry rub, grilled rare and served with oven roasted fingerling potatoes and haricots verts almondine.  Cheers!

2013 Seven Hills Klipsun Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Tuesday, or election day here in Indiana.  I did my civic duty and voted early this morning, though I have no idea who finally came out on top, though I suppose it really matters little in the grand scheme of things.  More importantly, I cut the grass when I got home from work (have I mentioned that dandelions are the bane of my existence?) and now it's time for a nice glass of wine with dinner.  Tonight it's a special treat as I've opened a bottle of 2013 Seven Hills Klipsun Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the Red Mountain AVA.  This one's a bit young, but I doubt I'll be disappointed!

The wine is an inky black color in the glass, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of earthy peat, toasted oak and a bit of smoke.  The taste is a lovely blast of ripe black fruit up front, with some blackberry and plum that transitions nicely to some dusty earthy notes midpalate along with some hints of caramel and cassis.  The finish is divine, as the young tannins provide a vibrant foundation to the long, luxurious and very dry finish.  This wine is still young but marvelous, and I'm sure it will develop exceedingly well in the coming decade.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a fabulous example of the varietal that's sure to improve with a little time in the cellar.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a classic Cabernet dinner of a rare grilled Angus New York Strip with grilled asparagus and oven roasted potatoes and shallots.  This is the sort of wine that could stand up to the biggest of steaks, cheers!