2014 L'Ecole No. 41 Candy Mountain Red Wine

Happy last day of 2017!  It was certainly a very good year, and why not end it with a nice bottle of Washington wine?  Tonight's selection is one from one of my favorite producers in Walla Walla, L'Ecole No. 41, the 2014 Candy Mountain Red Wine.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%) and Merlot (50%) grown in the Candy Mountain Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA.  Candy Mountain is just south of Red Mountain, so it share some of the generally warmer climate and resulting complexity of fruit.  I recall really enjoying this wine when I tasted at the winery in Walla Walla back in August, so let's see how it "officially" tastes!

The wine is a nice garnet color in the glass, with great clarity, seemingly of a little lighter body than a typical Cabernet.  The nose is chock full of ripe black fruit, blackberries, currant and cherry with overtones of leather and black pepper spice.  The taste is a marked departure from what your brain suggests should be the taste based on the aromas, it's a rush of wonderful ripe cherry and currant with no hint of pepper.  The taste transitions nicely to some cherry cola, mocha and earthy mineral notes midpalate before the well structured tannins set up the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's just a lovely drinking wine that I think is quite versatile, pairing with a wide variety of dishes, or just sipping during the evening.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a sesame crusted tuna filet topped with sriracha mayo, basmati rice and steamed broccoli.  This wine would be great with steak, but it's really nice with the steak of the sea!  Cheers and here's to a fantastic 2018!

My 2017 Washington Wine Top-10 List

Well 2017 is about to come to a close, which is when everyone starts publishing top-whatever lists of events, products, etc. so I thought why not start one of my own?  I have a real affinity for Washington State wines, and I've reviewed a lot of them in 2017, so why not publish a top-10 Washington Wine list?  Here are the simple rules: 1) the wine must have been the subject of a blog post in the calendar year; 2) the wine must be from Washington State; 3) the wine must have been rated 9 or higher (there are a lot of wonderful wines that I rated below 9, but I had to narrow this down somehow!).  Based on this population, I then chose my top-10, half objectively (i.e. the #1 wine could not have been rated lower than the #10, etc.) and mostly subjectively (i.e. what I liked best).  Along with the top-10 wines, I also narrowed down my top-5 Washington producers, based on how many times their wines were rated 9 or above.  So without further adieu, here are my top-5 Washington Wine producers based on the number of wines rated 9 or higher in 2017:

#5 Forgeron Cellars
Forgeron is one of those producers that I discovered as a result of a personal recommendation (I think it might have been Julie Titus at Seven Hills when I asked here where I should go tasting downtown sometime back in 2010 or so).  Forgeron was started by Marie-Eve Gilla in 2001, who made a name for herself with her wonderful Chardonnay, but I really enjoy her wines made from some of the less used varietals in the Columbia Valley, like Primitivo and Malbec.  Forgeron had two wines rated above 9 and both made my top-10 wine list.

#4 Doubleback Winery 
Doubleback Winery traces its roots back to 2007 when NFL quarterback and Walla Walla native, Drew Bledsoe retired and planted his estate vineyard, McQueen, on the southern end of the Walla Walla AVA.  Since he launched Doubleback in 2008, with collaborator and childhood friend Chris Figgins of Leonetti Cellar, he has produced some world class Cabernet Sauvignon, but has also expanded the winery to include the Bledsoe Family, Flying B and Stolen Horse labels in an effort to produce great wines that are approachable for a broader audience.  Doubleback and the related labels had three wines rated at or above 9, one of which made my top-10 list.

#3 Reininger Winery
Reininger Winery has been a long-time favorite of mine, as ever since I first met founder and head winemaker Chuck Reininger, I've felt a wonderful connection in that he approaches the creation of his wines in a way that really matches what I appreciate in Walla Walla wines.  From taking broad creative steps with multiple varietals across multiple vintages, such as with his great Desiderata project, he consistently produces eminently drinkable wines that exemplify the true sense of place in the Walla Walla Valley.  Reininger and second label Helix had 4 wines rated at or above 9 in 2017 and one of them made my top-10 list.

#2 L'Ecole No. 41
L'Ecole No. 41 was one of the first wineries I visited on my very first trip to Walla Walla back in 2001.  At that time the winery in the old schoolhouse was one of the first you encountered as you drove in from the west on US 12.  When I first tasted the wines at L'Ecole and neighboring Woodward Canyon, I knew there was something special about the wines of Washington, and particularly Walla Walla.  L'Ecole produces some of my favorite Bordeaux style blends in the valley, including the newer Ferguson blend and my all-time favorite blend, the Perigee.  L'Ecole had six wines rated at or above 9 in 2017 including one on my top-10 list.

#1 Seven Hills Winery
I will always hold a special place in my heart for the very first wineries I visited on that first trip to Walla Walla back in 2001.  On that trip, after visiting the wineries on the outskirts of town on US 12, I came downtown and tasted wine at Seven Hills, which is still in the same location around the corner from Whitehouse Crawford restaurant.  Founder and head winemaker, Casey McClellan has done remarkable work in raising the quality and profile of Walla Walla wines, and keeping with the focus on Bordeaux style blends, his Pentad is one of my favorites whenever it's produced (like any great artist, Casey only makes Pentad when all the conditions are right).  Seven Hills had seven wines rated 9 or above in 2017, with two wines on my top-10 list.

Other wineries that had wines rated 9 or higher in 2017 include: Maison Bleue Winery, Mark Ryan Winery, Milbrandt Vineyards, Result of a Crush, Sleight of Hand Cellars and Tero Estates.

And now, the top-10 Washington Wines of 2017!  (each are linked to the original blog post with summary below).

#10 2014 Maison Bleue Voyageur Syrah
Maison Bleue does such a wonderful job with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, and since I'm a big fan of Syrah, this one made the list.  The 2014 Voyageur Syrah is a deep ruby color in the glass, with just the heft you'd like to see from a nice Syrah.  The nose is chock full of violets, blueberry and blackberry overlaid with hints of smoke and black pepper spice.  The taste a rush of ripe berries, that transitions nicely to some fresh herbs and chipotle spice midpalate.  There is a bit of a reprise of fruit and a bit of kirsch on the finish, with the soft tannins supporting the long, smooth and very dry finish.  Rating: 9

#9 2013 Anvil Cabernet Sauvignon Dionysus Vineyard Columbia Valley
Anvil is Forgeron Cellars' higher end label, and they do a wonderful job with Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is the first of two from Forgeron on my top-10 list.  The 2013 Anvil Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep inky black color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges,  The nose is a wonderful combination of ripe blackberries, currants and a hint of violet floral notes intermingled with some defined spice notes of black pepper over a hint of smoke.  The taste is just wonderful with some ripe fruit that submits to some lovely spicy pepper notes at the outset, transitioning nicely to some dark chocolate and dried fruit notes midpalate, as you're set up for a reprise of spicy pepper on the long, smooth and luxurious finish.  Rating: 9

#8 2015 Mark Ryan "Little Sister" Columbia Valley Merlot
Mark Ryan has been a growing favorite of mine since I first visited the Walla Walla tasting room back in 2012 (maybe?) and not just because he names his wines after Pearl Jam songs.  Yes, I am a flannel-wearing grunge fan of the 1990s, but these are some seriously good wines.  The 2015 Little Sister Merlot is a deep, inky purple with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is an intriguing blend of leather, tart cherry, cardamom and baking spice.  The taste is classic, old school Merlot with a rush of ripe fruit up front, cherry, currant and plum, that transitions to some interesting notes of buttered popcorn jelly belly midpalate.  The finish is smooth, with young tannins providing a bit of punch to the long, smooth and dry finish.  This wine is such a pleasure to drink!  Rating: 9

#7 2014 Doubleback Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon
Since my first visit to Doubleback a few years ago, I've been impressed with the quality and aging potential of the Cabernet.  Now with a broader array of wines at more value conscious price points, I'm finding even more to love.  The 2014 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep, inky color at the center, with nice bright garnet along the edges.  The nose is a rich combination of blackberry, currant, oak and a bit of kirsch.  The taste is a velvelty burst of ripe black fruit, plum, blackberry and cherry that envelops your mouth as the flavors transition to some wonderful earthy, mineral notes of dusty limestone overlaid with mocha and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are still youthful, leading to a bit of acidity on the long, smooth and very dry finish.  Rating: 9

#6 2014 L'Ecole No. 41 Ferguson
I had the chance to visit the Ferguson Vineyard with L'Ecole founder Marty Clubb back in 2013 (you can see that post here) and it was fascinating to see some of the underlying characteristics of the vineyard that really express themselves in the wine.  The Ferguson blends have been consistently excellent since the inaugural vintage in 2011 (you can see that one here).  The 2014 Ferguson is a deep, inky purple in the glass.  The nose is a beautiful combination of leather, blackberry and dusty mineral aromas that really speak to the terroir at Ferguson.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit up front, black cherry, blackberry and plum that transition to some lovely mineral and smoky notes midpalate.  The finish is near perfect, with well structured tannins providing the backbone and just a hint of spice and characteristic Bordeaux "funk" coming in at the end of the long, smooth, and very dry finish.  Rating: 9

#5 2011 Reininger Cima
As I mentioned above, Chuck Reininger continues to impress with his mastery of blending and he is perhaps one of the most creative winemakers in the Walla Walla Valley today.  The 2011 Reininger Cima is a lovely bright ruby in the glass, typical of the Sangiovese in this Washington Super Tuscan.  The nose is a symphony of soft leather, graphite and spice box with emerging hints of ripe cherries and rose petals.  The taste is surprisingly youthful despite the more than five years this wine spent in barrel, with lovely notes of strawberry, cherry and red plums bursting forth at the outset, only to give way to some lovely notes of black pepper spice and tart cherry midpalate, no doubt a testament to the wonder of Sangiovese.  The finish was velvety smooth, as the tannins were mature and expertly integrated to provide a lasting dry finish that begs you to take another sip.  Rating: 9

#4 2014 Seven Hills Pentad
Casey McClellan has been doing wonders for Walla Walla wine since Seven Hills was founded back in 1988 and the Pentad is the pinnacle of the Walla Walla Bordeaux style blend for Seven Hills.  Casey will only make this wine when conditions are right, so we were lucky to have vintages in 2014 and 2015, but there have only been eight vintages of Pentad prior to 2014!  The 2014 Pentad is a deep inky color with bright ruby along the edges, suggestive of the heavy presence of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend.  The nose is a lovely combination of leather, blackberry, clove and dried spice that welcomes you to take a sip.  The taste is wonderfully smooth and balanced, with casual notes of ripe black fruit intermingled with mocha and dark chocolate that transitions to some lovely green herb notes just before the finish.  And the finish is lovely, with chewy tannins that make for a long, firm and exceptionally dry finish that lasts a minute or more.  This is the first of two wines from Seven Hills in my top-10 list.  Rating: 9 - 9.5

#3 2014 Forgeron Malbec
This is the second wine from Forgeron on my top-10 list, and this one makes this list as a true rarity, a wine I really loved, even though it was from a varietal that I don't love.  I am not a fan of Malbec, despite it's waning popularity, but this wine is enough to convert even me to being a fan of the varietal.  The 2014 Forgeron Malbec is a stunning, deep purple color in the glass, picture perfect for Malbec.  The nose is a symphony of aromas that bring you to images of gauchos in the Andes of Argentina, leather, smoke, black cherry and hints of white pepper spice and mocha over the top.  The taste is refined and complex, pretty much the opposite of a big, gut punching Cabernet that's so popular among so many today.  There is a rush of ripe fruit up front, cherry, pomegranate and currant that transition effortlessly to some notes of peppery dark chocolate midpalate.  The finish is just the best part of this wine, with incredibly polished tannins supporting a velvety smooth finish that seems to last the better part of five minutes.  Rating: 9 - 9.5

#2 2014 Seven Hills Pepper Bridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
This is the second wine from Seven Hills on my top-10 list, and by far my favorite wine from them in 2017!  This was a new wine with incredibly limited production that likely will not be made again, so enjoy it while you can!  The 2014 Seven Hills Pepper Bridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep, inky purple at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a magnetic chorus of leather, cedar, boysenberry and a hint of white pepper that combine to suggest something really special is about to happen to your palate.  The taste is an eye opening rush of fruit, with pronounced black cherry that settles in to some more subtle notes of mocha and dark chocolate.  The tannins are still young but remarkably smooth and well integrated, providing the perfect backdrop for the long, voluptuous and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more. Rating: 9.5

#1 2014 Sleight of Hand Cellars "The Psychedelic Syrah"
The best Washington Wine of 2017 in my opinion is one that was a recommendation from someone at another Washington winery.  It's impressive to me how much of a community there is among the winemakers of Walla Walla, where everyone can view and enjoy the product of competitors in a way that honors the artistry of winemaking as a whole.  So when Julie from Seven Hills recommended this wine to me, I immediately called and ordered some and I wasn't disappointed.  The 2014 Psychedelic Syrah is a deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose is just an explosion of everything that's great about Syrah, green grass, lavender, green olives, smoke and minerals with lovely undertones of ripe purple fruit.  The taste is like nothing I've experienced before, it just takes me right back to the many lovely tasting rooms in Walla Walla, with wild earthy flavors, bursts of ripe cherry, blackberry and blueberry, earthy limestone, licorice and smoke that just give you such a sense of the place that produced this wine.  The tannins are elegant, creating a velvety mouthfeel than envelops you creating a long, dry finish that's silky and very memorable.  This is appropriately names, as this was a psychedelic experience!  Rating 9.5

And there you have it, my first ever top-10 list of Washington wines for 2017.  Best wishes for another wonderful year of Washington wine in 2018!

2014 Hanna Bismark Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Last night I had some of my neighbors over for a glass of wine or two and one of my neighbors brought me a bottle of 2014 Hanna Bismark Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the Moon Mountain District of Sonoma County.  We didn't have a chance to open it last night, so I thought it would be good to enjoy tonight, so let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is a lovely ruby color in the glass, with classic dark center, just as you'd expect from a quality Cabernet.  The nose is an interesting combination of leather overlaid with subtle floral notes.  The taste is a rush of concentrated dark fruit, black cherry, plum and currant that transition effortlessly to some delicious notes of peppery spice intermingled with mocha and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth and delightfully integrated, creating a wonderfully long and smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's about as solid as a California Cabernet can be.  I'd easily take this wine over more expensive and less interesting wines from Napa.  This wine is practically begging to be paired with a thick steak, but it would also pair well with a variety of Italian dishes, or as I'm enjoying it tonight, paired with mid-week pizza!  You have to have something to drink with your pizza, it may as well be a nicely crafted Cabernet.  Cheers!

2013 Result of a Crush

Merry Christmas!  It's been a remarkably relaxing Christmas Eve, as it's been snowing all day so I just decided to spend the afternoon lounging around the house, until it was time to get up and open a bottle of wine!  And tonight it's a special bottle that I brought back from my trip to Walla Walla last August, and a wine that ironically I didn't taste until I sat at the VinoVolo in Sea-Tac airport on the way home, the 2013 Result of a Crush Red Wine!  This wine is from a project by two sisters, Amanda and Angela of the Reynvaan Family Vineyards of Walla Walla, who in 2011 decided to focus on wines that are "distinctive, affordable, consistent in quality and showcase the owners' sometimes whimsical attitude toward wine."  So let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a lovely garnet color in the glass, very consistent with the predominance of Syrah in the blend.  The nose is an interesting array of earthy and savory aromas, with some vibrant green herbs along with earthy notes of dusty limestone and tar over undertones of ripe black fruit.  The taste is just a real treat, with some wonderful stone fruit notes up front, which transition to some stark mineral notes midpalate.  The flavors of the Rocks of Walla Walla really come through nicely on this wine.  The tannins as very well structured, providing just enough backbone for the velvety and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9 as it's just a pleasant drinking wine and a solid value (I believe this one was around $28).  This wine would pair well with a broad array of dished, from steaks and chops to hearty Italian dishes, but tonight it's Christmas Eve, which means it's time for a more special dinner.  So tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a giant cold water lobster tail along with some fusilli Napoletani sauteed with olive oil, garlic and broccoli rabe.  The wonderful fruit and mineral notes of this wine are a perfect foil to the richness of the lobster.  Merry Christmas!

Fruit Hills Winery Marquette - Non-Vintage

Happy Friday!  We are really getting down to the wire, just 2 days left until Christmas!  I have another big get together planned for tomorrow, so it will be a full day of cooking, but don't fear, I'll probably have enough time for one more post before the big day.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine that I bought from a local producer about 7 miles from here, Fruit Hills Winery.  They source a lot of grapes from other locations, but I tend to focus on the wines made from local fruit (that being Indiana and Michigan!).  The Marquette is a blend of grapes from their vineyard in Bristol, Indiana (mostly Cabernet Franc) along with Marquette grapes from Michigan.  For those unfamiliar, Marquette is a hybrid released by the University of Minnesota in 2006 that traces its roots to Pinot Noir, so that's what makes this a good wine for tonight's dinner!

The wine has a lighter body, very similar to a Pinot Noir.  The nose presents aromas of green grass, plum and red raspberry, along with a bit of that funk that Pinot fans are so familiar with.  The taste is a rush of green grass and floral notes that transition to some warm spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat muted, leaving a finish that is somewhat sharp but still dry.  Very much a Pinot Noir type wine!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7, it's not really spectacular, but it is quite versatile when it comes to food pairings.  This wine would pair well with Christmas ham or turkey, a variety of chicken dishes, or seafood.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some fresh sea scallops seared in toasted sesame oil along with buccatini tossed with broccoli rabe sauteed in garlic and olive oil.  Cheers!

2012 V. Sattui Family Cabernet Sauvignon

Another day closer to the big day!  It's interesting that I always enjoy taking wine and food photos with Christmas decorations in the background and ironically enough, the last time I opened a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from V. Sattui it was nearly a year ago, with lovely lights in the background!  So tonight I've decided to open the 2012 V. Sattui Family Cabernet Sauvignon, a lovely Cabernet from a stellar vintage in Napa Valley.  So let's see what this one has!

The wine has the classic look of a Napa Cabernet, with inky dark center and bright garnet along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of green grass, blackberry and white pepper spice over some earthy notes of dusty limestone and tar.  The taste is classic fruit forward Napa Cabernet, with a rush of blackberry, cherry and plum notes that transition to some lovely earthy notes midpalate.  The tannins are robust but well integrated, creating a wonderfully long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's a quality Napa Cabernet that is drinking nicely right now.  This wine would be idea with Italian food, Sunday pot roast or steak, which is what I'm having tonight, grilled prime sirloin, roasted Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheers!

2012 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I had a rather busy day today, so it will be nice to relax with a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a nice bottle of Merlot from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, the 2012 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Merlot.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (91%), Cabernet Sauvignon (7%) and Cabernet Franc (2%) all sourced from the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA.  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, with aromas of black cherry, currant, black pepper over some subtle earthy notes (when I first opened the wine there was a pronounced note of olive, but that subsided with some air).  The taste is somewhat more elevated than a typical Merlot, with some nice fruit up front, particularly black cherry and currant intermingled with a bit of plum that moves smoothly to some spice and earthy notes or tar and graphite midpalate.  The tannins are silky smooth, ushering in a long, smooth and voluptuous dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's one of the nicest Merlots I've had in a while, and I thought it was a step up from the 2010 vintage (see here) or the 2011 vintage (see here), both of which were somewhat cooler if I recall correctly.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hard cheeses, hearty winter stews and roasts, and of course steak.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime sirloin over grilled leeks, with some charred cauliflower and a baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheers!

2014 Starmont Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Monday!  I got a lot of work done today and even managed to get to the gym, so let's celebrate!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle I recently found at Costco, the 2014 Starmont Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  It was a really good price, so let's see what it has to offer!

The wine looks like a classic Napa Cabernet in the glass, with an inky black center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, graphite, blackberry and blueberry that just beckon you to take a sip.  The taste is really quite nice, with a rush of black fruit, blackberry, black cherry and some cherry cola that evolve into notes of dusty limestone and white pepper midpalate.  The tannins are robust, providing for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a solid Napa Cabernet and the price was a real value at just $20!  This wine would pair well with hard cheeses, pasta with red sauce, and of course a big steak!  Which is what I'm having tonight, a rare grilled prime sirloin with grilled leeks and Brussels sprouts along with a big baked potato with all the fixin's!  Cheers!

2010 Tre Nova Nebbaro

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I found in the cellar, and I have to admit raised more questions than answers!  By all accounts, this wine looks Italian, has a Super Tuscan sort of label, and it's a blend of Italian varietals, but it was from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  I looked further at the label and found it was produced by G. Cuneo, and I remember visiting their tasting room when I was in Walla Walla in 2015, but I don't recall buying this bottle.  In any case, here it is, the 2010 Tre Nova Nebbaro, a blend of Nebbiolo (51%) and Barbera (49%) from the Columbia Valley AVA.  Nebbiolo is the king of Piedmont varietals, from which we get classic Barolo, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, somewhat darker than your typical Sangiovese, but just what you'd expect from a Nebbiolo or Barbera.  The nose is a cascade of leather, smoke, dried Italian spices over rich black fruit.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward, with rich plum, black cherry and cassis amid undertones of dried spice with a hint of mint and licorice.  The tannins are well structured, providing nice backbone for a long, smooth dry finish with just a bit of tartness on the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a lovely example of some old world varietals meets new world creativity.  This wine would pair well with Italian dishes like a wild mushroom risotto, but it would also be great with a variety of steaks and roasts, ideal for winter.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a little offbeat dinner of oven roasted chicken with wild rice and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2015 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Merlot

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around my house!  We had a bunch of snow today, so to avoid cutting down my Christmas trees in the snow, I went out yesterday afternoon to get them.  And in typical Clark W. Griswold fashion, I probably went a little overboard on the family room tree as it really fills the space!  In any case, you can get a sense of the holiday cheer in the photo below (and yes, that is an official Christmas Story leg lamp in the background!).  I also confess I'm apparently on a bit of a Merlot kick, but to be fair, wineries keep sending me Merlot in wine club shipments so I can't really help it!  In any case, tonight I've opened a bottle from the latest wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2015 Walla Walla Merlot, which is a blend of Merlot (78%), Cabernet Franc (15%) and Malbec (7%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Octave Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley. 

The wine is a deep inky color in the glass, just what you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  The aromas of leather, black cherry, and tea leaf abound on this wine from a very warm vintage (based on my discussions with a lot of Walla Walla folks, the 2015 vintage will likely be much more fruit concentrated and likely better for early drinking rather than cellaring).  The taste is a fantastic rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, plum and layers of fig that yield to notes of black pepper and fennel.  The tannins are lush, supporting the warm, dry and voluptuous finish. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a lovely Merlot that's versatile and food friendly.  This is a wine that just speaks to the upcoming holidays, and I could easily see this wine pairing with anything from fire glazed ham to turkey with cranberries, to dark chocolate and peppermint bark.  Tonight I am relaxing after decorating (more to finish tomorrow!) and enjoying this wine with a dinner of pan seared sea scallops on a bed of baby arugula with pesto penne.  Cheers!

2015 Seven Hills Merlot

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a busy week so far, but at least there's wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a recent wine club selection from one of my favorite wineries, Seven Hills out of Walla Walla.  And much to the dismay of "Sideways" fans everywhere, I am a bit fan of Merlot, and tonight I'm enjoying the 2015 Seven Hills Walla Walla Merlot, so let's see who's right!

The wine is a lovely deep, inky purple in the glass with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a subdued affair, with notes of leather, blackberry, cherry and cassis with just the slightest hint of green grass.  The taste is not nearly as fruit forward as some past vintages, but still nice black cherry at the outset that evolves into some lovely white pepper notes before diving into dark chocolate and mocha midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with somewhat tightly wound tannins with a reprise of tart cherry before the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking quite nicely now, but has the potential to improve quite a bit with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of roasts and stews, classic chill in the air autumnal fare, but tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a prime eye of ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare with some steamed baby red potatoes with butter and parsley and some steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2007 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, I've been somewhat of a slacker for the past couple months, but I finally remembered to Cellar Saturday, that magical first Saturday of the month where I raid the cellar for something interesting to open.  Tonight I've decided to open a nice one, a bottle of 2007 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, so let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine has the deep coloration you'd expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose is an interesting combination of black fruit and earthy notes, blackberry, plum and prune interlaced with tar, peat and tobacco.  The taste is a rush of bright cherry fruit that envelopes the palate while easily transitioning to some warm spice notes midpalate.  The finish has a note of sweet cherry, as the well structured tannins still provide the backbone for the long, smooth and velvety dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's a really nice Cabernet and I'm glad I let it develop for the past decade as it was well worth it.  This is also a classic, "big" California Cabernet, so it's practically begging to be paired with a nice steak and tonight is its lucky day!  I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled filet mignon along with butter braised Yukon gold potatoes and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2015 Dona Paula Estate Malbec

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I’ve decided to open a nice Malbec from one of my favorite Argentine peoducers, Dona Paula Estate.  I’m feeling a bit lazy tonight and I’m hankering for some Thai food, so it seems that a 2015 Dona Paula Malbec from the Uco Valley in Mendoza just might do the trick!  So let’s see if I was right.

The wine is a deep, inky purple color in the glass. The nose presents aromas of ripe red fruit, cherry, plum and currant intermingled with green herbs and a touch of mint.  The taste is classic Malbec with a rush of red fruit mixed with green herbs, black pepper spice and earthy undertones that are just what you’d expect from a nice Malbec from Mendoza.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it’s a nice example of a classic Malbec and a terrific value for around $12. This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes beyond the classic steak, and tonight I am enjoying this wine with some Pad Kee Mao Thai take out, it’s always a challenge to pair wine with Thai food, but I’ve found a good Malbec is usually a solid choice. Cheers!

2015 Mark Ryan Winery "The Dissident"

Happy Taco Tuesday!  I bet you'll never guess what's for dinner tonight!  But at least the wine is settled, as I've decided to open a bottle of a wine club shipment from Mark Ryan Winery.  I'll admit to being a more recent convert to these wines (what was it 2012?), but I was hooked once I realized where the wines got their names.  And despite letting me reminisce about my grunge days, they are also terrific wine.  The 2015 Mark Ryan Winery "The Dissident" is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (27%), Cabernet Franc (16%) and Petit Verdot (1%) all from some of the best vineyards in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is the color and consistency you'd expect from a blend so heavily weighted toward Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  The nose is an earthy rush of smoke, oak and dried herbs intermingled with ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and cassis.  The taste is at once a rush of heavy black fruit, blackberry, cherry and a hint of prune that transitions smoothly to some notes of dusty limestone and white pepper midpalate.  The finish is delightful, with nicely polished tannins supporting the long, smooth and voluptuous finish that seems to linger more than a minute.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a great example of the quality of Bordeaux style blends being produced in the Columbia Valley, but I thought this vintage was just below the 2011 vintage that I last reviewed (see here).  And of course I'm enjoying this wine with some chorizo tacos, though it would pair well with anything from steak to salmon to lamb, or just sipping by itself.  Cheers!

2014 Justin Justification

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy week, what with all the turkey and shopping and such, so today we decided to take it a bit easy with a leisurely brunch and a late dinner with a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2014 Justin Justification, a blend of Cabernet Franc (55%) and Merlot (45%) from Paso Robles.  I recently found this wine at Costco, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass with bright garnet at the edges, just as you'd expect with such a Merlot concentration in the blend.  The nose is a cascade of ripe black fruit, blackberry to cherry to plum, all with an overlay of leather and earthy peat.  The taste is a rush of blackberry and cherry at the outset, that transitions to some lovely notes of fresh herbs and a hint of mint midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with well integrated tannins providing the framing to a long, smooth and seductively dry finish that treats you to a reprise of black fruit at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a solid, well-structured wine that tastes a lot more expensive than it's $34 price tag.  This wine would pair well with salmon, roast duck, lamb or steak, quite versatile as we hit the winter months.   Tonight, we are enjoying this wine with grilled filet mignon, baked potato and butter braised Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

Fruit Hills Winery “Two Shades of Red”

Happy Thanksgiving!  With all of the turkey and trimmings for the typical Thanksgiving feast it’s always a challenge to think of wine pairings. Many will go with a standard white wine, perhaps a Chardonnay or Pinot Gris, but it’s always a more interesting challenge to pair a red wine. Many will opt for a nice Pinot Noir or perhaps a Rhône blend, but today I’ve gone for a local Indiana wine, the non-vintage Fruit Hills Winery “Two Shades of Red” which is a blend primarily of Cabernet Franc that’s a bit lighter so as not to overpower the star of the feast.  This wine is one of the few that Fruit Hills produces from local grapes, in this case from southwest Michigan near the coast, so let’s see how this one tastes!

The wine is somewhat lighter in color, similar to a Pinot Noir.  The nose is a pleasant combination of leather, green grass, strawberry and blackberry.  The taste is a lovely rush of fruit up front, black cherry, blackberry and plum that transitions to some notes of tobacco, floral and strawberry midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with soft tannins providing for a short, but very smooth and dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it’s quite pleasant particularly given that Indiana isn’t exactly a hot bed of red wine production.  This wine is very nice with Thanksgiving turkey, with a nice balance of fruit and dryness to compliment a classic turkey dinner with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2013 Woodward Canyon Estate Dolcetto

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Of course it's also Thanksgiving eve, so we can throw that in there too.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine from Woodward Canyon, one of the first wineries I visited on that fabled first visit to Walla Walla nearly two decades ago.  Tonight it's the 2013 Estate Dolcetto from the Walla Walla Valley.  I reviewed the 2012 vintage here, so let's see how this one is faring!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose is chock full of leather, green grass and blackberry fruit that just beckons you to take a sip.  And the taste is just lovely, with a rush of cherry cola, blackberry and plum flavors that envelope the palate, while lush mineral notes combine with dark chocolate and prune midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully structured providing a nice foundation to the long, lush and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just another wonderful example of the great quality of Dolcetto being produced in the Walla Walla Valley.  This is an exceptionally food friendly wine as I could see this pairing well with holiday turkey or ham, wonderful salmon dishes or a beautiful cheese course, but tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip with sauteed onions and peppers and a big baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheers!

2014 L'Ecole No. 41 Ferguson

Happy Sunday!  It got a bit chilly today, so a perfect day to enjoy a nice Walla Walla red blend!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of the 2014 L'Ecole No. 41 Ferguson red wine, a classic Bordeaux style blend from the Walla Walla AVA in Washington.  This wine is also a special treat as I had the chance to visit the Ferguson Vineyard back in 2013 (you can read about that here).  This particular vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Merlot (32%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Malbec (6%), so let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass.  The nose is a beautiful combination of leather, blackberry and dusty mineral aromas that really speak to the terroir at Ferguson.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit up front, black cherry, blackberry and plum that transition to some lovely mineral and smoky notes midpalate.  The finish is near perfect, with well structured tannins providing the backbone and just a hint of spice and characteristic Bordeaux "funk" coming in at the end of the long, smooth, and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's a pleasant drinking wine right now, but I'm confident it will get better with some time in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from firmer cheeses to roast beef, to wild Pacific salmon, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a Thai chili rubbed New York strip with grilled broccoli rabe and mini peppers and a baked potato.  A perfect Sunday dinner, cheers!

2014 Seven Hills Pentad

Happy Saturday!  It's been a dreary and rainy day here, so I thought I'd brighten the mood a bit with a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle from one of my favorite wineries, Seven Hills and specifically a wine that's not produced every year, the Pentad!  This Bordeaux style blend is only produced when conditions are right, so although we have seen the release of a 2014 and just recently a 2015 vintage, prior to that we only saw the Pentad released in 2012, then earlier in 2009 and 2007, so in all, we have seen only 10 vintages released with the 2015.  The 2014 Vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (61%), Petit Verdot (19%), Malbec (9%), Cabernet Franc (7%) and Merlot (4%) from the Walla Walla Valley AVA, so let's see how last year's wine if faring!

The wine is a deep inky color with bright ruby along the edges, suggestive of the heavy presence of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend.  The nose is a lovely combination of leather, blackberry, clove and dried spice that welcomes you to take a sip.  The taste is wonderfully smooth and balanced, with casual notes of ripe black fruit intermingled with mocha and dark chocolate that transitions to some lovely green herb notes just before the finish.  And the finish is lovely, with chewy tannins that make for a long, firm and exceptionally dry finish that lasts a minute or more.

Overall, this wine is really the gold standard in Walla Walla Bordeaux Style blends and I'd rate this one an easy 9, perhaps even a 9.5 with another couple years in the cellar.  This wine is very food friendly, and best enjoyed with a nice family dinner or some cheese and charcuterie with friends.  This wine would pair well with a variety of steaks and chops, heavier Italian pastas or beautiful autumn stews, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip along with some bucatini tossed with garlic, olive oil and broccoli rabe.  The wine really stands up well to beef, cheers!

DaMa Cowgirl Blanc

Happy Sunday!  It's been a good day to stay indoors and watch old movies, as it's been cold and snowing/sleeting all afternoon.  And given the melancholy weather, it also seems appropriate to enjoy a little comfort food for dinner, which is what I plan for tonight.  But what wine to enjoy with this particular comfort food was a challenge, but one that I was up to when I got out a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the non-vintage Cowgirl Blanc.  This wine is a blend of Chardonnay (65%) and Viognier (35%) from both the Mill Creek and Sagemoor Vineyards in the Columbia and Walla Walla Valley AVAs of Washington.  So let's see how this unusual evening of white wine progresses!

The wine has pleasant aromas of rich tropical fruit, mango, passion fruit and some apricot notes with some mineral notes over the top.  The taste is more subdued tropical fruit on the outset, which seems more dominated by citrus notes and bright acidity, which easily transitions into some earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The tropical fruit makes another appearance on the crisp refreshing finish, which is surprisingly long for a white wine.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as you know, white wines are really not my thing, but I could easily see this wine as a Thanksgiving favorite.  Tonight I am enjoying this one with my Mom's recipe for classic tuna noodle casserole, creamy goodness that of course is topped with crumbled potato chips, it doesn't get more comfortable than that.  Cheers!

2014 L'Ecole No. 41 Perigee

What a day, full of gathering leaves and getting them up to the street for the city to take in a few weeks.  This is the time of year when we work outside in the cold, then come in to a nice warm meal and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open up a bottle from one of my long-time favorite wineries in Walla Walla, L'Ecole No. 41, and in particular, one of my perennial favorite blends, the Perigee.  The 2014 vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (20%), Cabernet Franc (12%), Petit Verdot (5%) and Malbec (3%).  I brought this bottle back with me from my trip to Walla Walla back in August, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose is an elegant blend of leather, blueberry and smoky oak, that exudes richness and thoughtfulness in the blending.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry and plum that evolve into dark chocolate and tobacco.  The tannins are youthful but refined providing an ideal base for the long, smooth and well structured finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I'd rate this wine a solid 9, as the Perigee is still one of my all time favorites.  This wine would be fairly versatile with food, but it really deserves to be paired with a nice steak, whether a prime filet mignon or as I'm enjoying tonight, an Angus Porterhouse with baked potato and grilled leeks.  Cheers!

2013 Chateau Buena Vista Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Friday! I've been working in the yard gathering leaves all afternoon, so it's definitely time to have a glass of wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2013 Chateau Buena Vista Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that I got at Costco just a few weeks ago, so let's see how this wine tastes!

The wine is lovely deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a quality Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is a rush of smoke, leather, blackberry and cherry that just exudes ripe Napa Cabernet.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit and warm spice, blackberry, plum and cassis overlaid with white pepper spice and kirsch.  The tannins are beautifully structured providing for the backbone of a long, smooth, voluptuous finish that seems to last more than a minute.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just what you'd expect from a Napa  Cabernet.  This wine practically screams to be paired with a big honkin' steak, and it just so happens I have a thick, Angus porterhouse to enjoy with this wine tonight, grilled rare with some grilled leeks, Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato with some sour cream and  chives. A perfect finish to a long week, cheers!

2014 Forgeron Malbec

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a lovely day so why not end it with a wonderful dinner and a nice bottle of wine?  Yes on both counts!  Tonight I've decided to open a recent wine club bottle from Forgeron Cellars in Walla Walla.  I've been a fan of Marie Eve and her wines since I visited there in 2012, or maybe it was 2010, in any case, they have been doing some wonderful things with some less explored varietals in the region, including Malbec.  This particular wine is 100% Malbec from the Stone Tree Vineyard (89%) on the Wahluke Slope in Washington's Columbia Valley with the remainder from the Minnick Hills Vineyard (11%) in the Walla Walla Valley.  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a stunning, deep purple color in the glass, picture perfect for Malbec.  The nose is a symphony of aromas that bring you to images of gauchos in the Andes of Argentina, leather, smoke, black cherry and hints of white pepper spice and mocha over the top.  The taste is refined and complex, pretty much the opposite of a big, gut punching Cabernet that's so popular among so many today.  There is a rush of ripe fruit up front, cherry, pomegranate and currant that transition effortlessly to some notes of peppery dark chocolate midpalate.  The finish is just the best part of this wine, with incredibly polished tannins supporting a velvety smooth finish that seems to last the better part of five minutes.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, maybe even a 9.5 as this has to be one of the best Malbecs I've had.  This wine practically begs to be paired with a big hunk of beef, and it would certainly be delicious with a prime ribeye, but tonight I am going off the rails again, pairing this wine with a lovely grilled mango marinaded pork tenderloin with grilled peppers and Brussels sprouts.  The wine just brings out the richness of pork while the complex fruit just makes the perfect complement.  Cheers!

2006 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino

Happy Sunday!  I have to admit, I've been a total slacker when it comes to Cellar Saturday, I totally missed in last month, and I totally forgot about it yesterday too!  So I'll make up for it today, as I have a delayed Cellar Saturday blamed entirely on Daylight Savings Time!  So instead of yesterday, tonight I've decided to raid the cellar for a bottle that's been at least a decade in the making, and tonight it's the 2006 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino!  I am a big fan of Brunello, and like a good Barolo, I remain convinced they need at least a decade to show their true potential, so tonight this one has a chance to shine.  Keep in mind, I've decanted this wine and let if breathe for about an hour, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a lovely bright garnet color in the glass, with great clarity, just as you'd expect from a nice Sangiovese.  The nose is classic Brunello, with strong notes of smoke, leather, dried Italian herbs and some floral notes of lavender and rose.  The tastes is a rush of ripe fruit, strawberry, raspberry and cherry that transitions nicely to some notes of dried herbs, cardamom and peat midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, as the tannins are robust and support the long, smooth and very dry finish that treats to a reprise of red fruit at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's not the best Brunello I've had, but it's quite good, particularly 11 years on in its life.  This wine would pair well with bistecca alla fiorentina or a variety of Italian dishes, but tonight I've gone rogue and I'm enjoying this wine with some pan seared lake perch topped with pineapple jalapeno salsa, roasted baby potatoes and grilled baby bok choy.  The bright red fruit of this wine really compliment the lighter flavor of the fish.  Cheers!

2014 DaMa Collage

Happy Wine Wednesday and Happy November!  Today the UPS man was kind enough to drop off my fall wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, so it seemed appropriate to open a bottle this evening!  I've decided to open a bottle that caught my eye, the 2014 Collage, a blend of Merlot (69%), Cabernet Sauvignon (26%) and Cabernet Franc (5%) from the Golden Ridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  So let's see how this Wine Wednesday is shaping up!

The wine is a bright ruby in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose is a beautiful cascade of leather, strawberry, black cherry and smoke that just screams Autumn.  The taste is a rush of black fruit, blackberry, cassis and cherry cola that swirl around to some notes of dusty limestone, dried herbs and sweet cherry midpalate.  The finish is very well structured with smooth tannins surrounding the velvety smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as this Merlot blend is just a fun wine to sip.  This wine would pair well with a variety of steaks and chops, as well as pasta and hearty fall soups, but tonight I'm enjoying this wine with some barbecued pulled pork, baked beans and Asian slaw.  The fruit in this wine and lovely herb notes really set nicely with smoky, sweet barbecue.  Cheers!

2014 Helix Cabernet Franc

Happy Sunday!  I've spent the afternoon raking and blowing leaves and trying to get my leaf vac to run, but without luck today (more on that in another installment of "I'm not a mechanic, nor do I play one on TV").  At least the day is done and it's time for some dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open another bottle of the recent wine club shipment from Reininger, the 2014 Helix Cabernet Franc from the Weinbau Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  Unfortunately I lost my tech sheet on this wine, but I'm confident that it's mainly Cabernet Franc, with a bit of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to bring some added complexity, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, somewhat lighter in color than a Merlot.  The nose a fabulous array of aromas, from candied plums to fresh herbs to hints of violet.  The taste is a rush of black cherry, raspberry and plum that transitions nicely to some notes of cocoa and green herbs midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tightly wound, providing a bit of a snap on the finish, which is long and extraordinarily dry, with just a hint of funk at the very end.  This is a wine that reminds me of some of the best right bank Bordeaux, with lovely fruit, earthy undertones and a great finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's only the third vintage since 1997 and this one has the potential to develop nicely over time.  This wine would pair well with a wide array of dishes, from lamb to grilled pork tenderloin, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a alder planked wild Alaskan salmon filet over a bed of baby arugula and topped with fresh pineapple jalapeno salsa with some steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2014 Helix Petit Verdot

Happy Friday!  I spend much of the day working in the yard as it's getting to be the heart of leaf season around my house (that's the price you pay for living in your own private forest).  But at least now it's time for a nice glass of wine with dinner, and tonight it's a recent wine club selection from Reininger, the 2014 Helix Petit Verdot, an extremely limited production available only to wine club members.  This 100% Petit Verdot is made from fruit from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope, so let's see how this interesting varietal stacks up!

The wine is a deep, inky color in the glass, somewhat like a nice Cabernet.  The nose is a blast of lovely floral notes, lavender, lilac, and rich black fruit. overlaying the mildest hints of mineral notes.  The taste is a rush of cool ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry, plum, all singing together before rushing into some subdued spice notes of black pepper midpalate.  The tannins are the most beautiful background singers for the star of the show, as this wine just croons with a voluptuous dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of my favorite pure examples of this varietal.  This wine would be great with a lot of fall dishes, from hearty stews to chili to Yankee pot roast, but tonight I am enjoying one last blast of summer as I was at the market today and they had spare ribs on sale, so I'm enjoying this wine with barbecued spare ribs, fried sweet potatoes with peppers and some rich baked beans.  This has to be one of the best wines with barbecue I've ever had!  Cheers!

2014 Forgeron Barbera

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a wonderful day today, though a little chilly, but at least it's stopped raining!  So tonight I've decided to open a recent wine club selection from Forgeron, a wonderful producer of some great wines out of Walla Walla.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of the 2014 Columbia Valley Barbera, so let's see what this wine has to offer.

The wine is a deep ruby color, almost inky at the center, very similar to the color on a nice Merlot.  The nose is a lovely combination of leather, smoke, graphite and red fruit, raspberries, cherries and currant.  The taste is a lovely rush of cherry cola, blackberry and pipe tobacco that transitions effortlessly to some lovely notes of dark chocolate and dried Italian spices midpalate.  The finish is very smooth, with fine grained tannins supporting a long, dry finish with a reprice of spice at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's one of my favorite vintages of Barbera from Forgeron over the past several years.  This wine would be wonderful with steak, roasts or even barbecue, but in my eyes it practically begs to be paired with classic Italian pasta dishes, so tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a simple linguine with tomato basil marinara topped with shaved Parmesan.  Cheers!

2013 Helix Sangiovese

Happy Sunday!  So last night I invites some of the folks that went down to Houston for a bit of a reunion dinner and it was wonderful, lots of Italian appetizers and the main course was bucatini with mussels fra diavalo, a classic!  So all that Italian had me looking for some sort of Italian or Italian inspired wine to enjoy with tonight's round 2 of mussels.  I found it in the 2013 Helix Sanviovese from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard of the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So let's see how this wine stands up to some serious Italian food!

The wine is a light, garnet color with great clarity as you'd expect from a nice Sangiovese.  The nose is chock full of leather, anise, dried flowers and a bit of white pepper.  The taste is somewhat subdued with black fruit notes up front, plum, blackberry and currant that transitions nicely to some peppery spice notes and tart cherry midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully structured, bringing some mild acidity to the long beautifully dry finish.  This is a departure from the typical Chianti, but a pleasant one that provides ample fruit, spice and complexity to lift the dish it accompanies.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I think it's solid vintage and somewhat better than the past few vintages I've tried.  This wine would pair beautifully with a wide variety of classic Italian dishes, from pasta to risotto, but tonight I am going for round 2 of last night's dinner, with some modifications.  Tonight it's linguine with the remainder of my PEI mussels sauteed in garlic and olive oil and then simmered with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil, red wine and a bit of hot pepper for the kick, all topped with a bit of shaved Parmesan.  Cheers!

2015 Mark Ryan "Little Sister" Columbia Valley Merlot

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I have multiple special treats from what I'm drinking to what I'm eating, but let's start with the important business of what I'm drinking, after all, this is a wine blog!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle that came with a recent wine club shipment from Mark Ryan Winery, the 2015 "Little Sister" Columbia Valley Merlot, a blend of Merlot (97%) with just a touch of Cabernet Franc (3%) to mellow things out.  You know how I love me some Merlot, so let's check out the Little Sister!

The wine is a deep, inky purple with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is an intriguing blend of leather, tart cherry, cardamom and baking spice.  The taste is classic, old school Merlot with a rush of ripe fruit up front, cherry, currant and plum, that transitions to some interesting notes of buttered popcorn jelly belly midpalate.  The finish is smooth, with young tannins providing a bit of punch to the long, smooth and dry finish.  This wine is such a pleasure to drink!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the nicest Merlots I've had in quite some time.  Although I'm happy as a clam just sipping this wine, it would be ideal with a variety of dishes, from lobster bisque, to steak, to hearty pasta.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a 28-day dry aged Prime New York strip, with grilled asparagus and a baked potato.  The sweet to dry fruit of this wine is ideal for a hearty steak, cheers!

2011 Reininger Cima

Happy Monday!  Today I spent the afternoon trimming branches from some of the smaller trees around the house.  These are what I consider the annoying trees, like the thornapples and other trees that can never have straight branches, but only branches that naturally grow into bird nest like monstrosities, but I digress.  So after trimming a pile of branches, I am definitely in the mood for a nice glass of wine.  Tonight it's a recent wine club selection from Reininger that I've been anxious to try, the 2011 Cima, a blend of Sangiovese (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), Petit Verdot (17%) and Merlot (8%) from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA.  So let's see what I've been waiting for!

The wine is a lovely bright ruby in the glass, typical of the Sangiovese in this Washington Super Tuscan.  The nose is a symphony of soft leather, graphite and spice box with emerging hints of ripe cherries and rose petals.  The taste is surprisingly youthful despite the more than five years this wine spent in barrel, with lovely notes of strawberry, cherry and red plums bursting forth at the outset, only to give way to some lovely notes of black pepper spice and tart cherry midpalate, no doubt a testament to the wonder of Sangiovese.  The finish was velvety smooth, as the tannins were mature and expertly integrated to provide a lasting dry finish that begs you to take another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's just s fantastic and fun wine that speaks volumes to the creativity, passion and talent that Chuck Reininger pours into every bottle.  This wine would be great with almost anything, from smoked brisket to roast chicken with fire roasted root vegetables, but tonight it an average day at my house which means I'm enjoying this wine with a wonderful Angus porterhouse, grilled veggies and a baked potato with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2015 Board Track Racer "The Chief"

Happy Sunday!  It's been a light weekend for blog posts as I was in Chicago on Friday visiting the Art Institute and didn't get back until late, and last night I had a wedding to attend, so that leaves just tonight.  But at least I have a nice bottle of wine to open, the 2015 Board Track Racer "The Chief" a second label of Mark Ryan Winery out of Washington.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Malbec (11%) and Petit Verdot (4%) from the Columbia Valley of Washington, so let's see how she tastes!

The wine is a deep purple color, classic for a Cabernet.  The nose is a lovely combination of oak, overlaying some lovely black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum with hints of mint and graphite over the top.  The taste is just wonderful, with a rush of black cherry up front that transitions effortlessly to some lovely mineral notes midpalate, only to treat you to a further evolution to dark chocolate and tobacco on the finish.  The tannins are young, but very smooth, leading to a lovely long, velvety and very dry finish.

A little Grant Wood painting I saw on Friday that prevented me from posting!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a lovely Cabernet and a great value, as I ordered this from the tasting room in Walla Walla back in August and I'm sure it was under $30.  This wine would be great with steaks, lamb or hearty Italian dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a Thai Chili rubbed Tagliata steak, with grilled leeks and asparagus and a big baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheers!