2009 Clos des Andes Malbec Riserva

Happy Tuesday!  I know it's supposed to be taco Tuesday, and I came close as I'm making fajitas for dinner, and what could be better with steak fajitas but a nice wine from Argentina?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of our office wine club February selection, the 2009 Clos des Andes Malbec Riserva from Mendoza, Argentina, the heart of Malbec country that I bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  So let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a deep, inky purple color with bright garnet along the edges.  The nose is a lovely combination of leather, blackberry, mint and cassis.  The taste is a subdued bit of ripe black fruit up front, black plum and ripe berries that transition nicely to some notes of mint and dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat tight, but still provide for a long, smooth and very dry finish that is classic Malbec.  

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a nice example of the varietal and a classic Mendoza Malbec and it was a good value at just $15.  This would of course pair well with any classic steak dish and tonight I'm enjoying it with some lovely steak fajitas with onions and peppers and a bit of corn, topped with lettuce, tomato and sour cream.  What a wonderful side trip from taco Tuesday!

2011 Milbrandt Vineyards The Estates Merlot

Happy Sunday!  I admit that I was planning on grilling out this evening, but unbeknownst to the weather forecasters in my area, we are apparently having a big snowstorm today...well maybe storm is too strong, but it's pretty much been snowing for the past 7 hours with no signs of stopping!  They say it should only be 2-4" but I have my doubts, so why not open a bottle of wine?  Tonight I've opened a bottle I bought yesterday at Costco, the 2011 Milbrandt Vineyards "The Estates" Merlot, a blend of Merlot (75%), Syrah (13%), Cabernet Sauvignon (7%), Malbec (3%) and Petit Verdot (2%) from Wahluke Slope in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So you know how I love me some Merlot, let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a deep ruby color, classic for Merlot.  The nose is chock full of leather, dark chocolate, blackberry and a hint of mint, just the classic aroma of a nice Merlot.  The taste is wonderful, with a rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, plum and blueberry that transitions to some wonderful notes of vanilla and mocha midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured giving rise to the wonderfully chewy, long dry finish that just dares you to take another sip.

I'm a big fan of Merlot, and this one really impressed me for the quality and the value, so I'd easily rate it a solid 9.  And I found this at my local Costco for just $17!  This would be a great steak wine, which is great since although it's too cold and snowy to grill out, I have my Lodge cast iron grill pan!  So tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime sirloin steak, with some Brussels sprouts sauteed in olive oil with leeks and a baked potato with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2013 King Estate Oregon Pinot Noir

Happy Hump Day!  I just got back from the gym and now I've popped a pizza in the oven, so what wine to open?  How about a nice Oregon Pinot?  In this case it's a bottle that my friends brought last weekend and left for me (along with a water bottle and a sparkly hair apparatus), the 2013 King Estate Oregon Pinot Noir, so let's see how it is!

The wine is a bit lighter in color, with bright ruby color, classic Pinot.  The nose presents aromas of green grass, tar and that classic Pinot twang (which can best be described as a combination of tart cherry, burnt toast and barnyard).  The taste is pretty nice for a Pinot (and you know I'm not the biggest Pinot fan), with a rush of tart cherry, currant and some pepper spice that transition to some notes of tobacco and a hint of vanilla midpalate.  The finish is very nice, with a reprise of tart fruit on a long, smooth and dry finish, that seems to linger a bit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a nice example of the varietal, but not spectacular,  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from salmon to dungeness crab, to a classic pot roast.  But tonight, I'm enjoying this wine with a thin crust pizza with spicy sausage and caramelized onions, as the tart fruit in the wine is a perfect foil to the richness of the pizza.  Cheers!

2013 Charles Krug Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I've been doing some chores, like laundry and also doing a bit of relaxing this afternoon, so now it's time to get down to business, namely the business of enjoying a glass of wine as I'm preparing dinner!  And tonight it's a special one that I brought back from my recent trip on the Napa Valley Wine Train, the 2013 Charles Krug Vintage Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (94%) and Petit Verdot (6%). so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a high quality Cabernet.  The nose is a pleasant combination of blueberry, espresso and a hint of smoke,  The taste is a wonderful rush of ripe fruit up front, blueberries, blackberries and cherries, that transition nicely to some wonderful notes of vanilla bean and caramel.  The tannins are wonderfully structured to provide for an elegant and exceptionally dry finish that seems to last several minutes.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's truly an exceptional Napa Valley Cabernet, ideal for wonderfully decadent dinners, like the rare grilled Angus porterhouse I am having tonight with a baked potato and some steamed sugar snap peas.  This wine is priced at $100, but I think they were running a special gift pack with the 2013 "Generations" which made this wine a bit more approachable.  Cheers!

2010 Helix Sangiovese

Happy Saturday!  I had some wonderful friends in from Grand Rapids last night and today, so I've been doing a lot of steps and now it's time to relax a bit before I head out to the Theater tonight.  So why not open a bottle of good wine?  Tonight it's the 2010 Helix Sangiovese from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a lovely garnet color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose is a wonderful combination of dark fruit notes, plum and cherry with lovely overtones of fresh herbs and floral notes of lavender which strike me as a somewhat old school sort of Sangiovese.  The taste is quite nice, with a rush of berry fruit and cherry cola that transitions nicely to some wonderful earthy spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are nicely integrated, giving support to a very long and smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a wonderful Sangiovese that I think would stand up to some of the finest Tuscan wines.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty Italian dishes or roasts, which it good since tonight I am enjoying this wine with a wonderful seafood buccatini.  Shrimp, scallops, PEI mussels and calamari sauteed in garlic and olive oil and then simmered in some San Marzano tomatoes with fresh basil and oregano then tossed with some al dente buccatini, yum!

2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I must admit, it's been a very relaxing day for me, after church I came home and cleaned up some branches around my yard, then I reconciled my checkbook (I know I'm a wild man!) and then I went to the gym.  Now I've opened a bottle of wine as I get ready to make dinner, and tonight it's the 2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvgnon, a 100% Cabernet from a number of different vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA, so let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges.  The nose is a pleasant combination of ripe blackberry and cherry intermingled with some cedar and smoke with just a hint of rose petals lurking in the background.  The taste is rich and vibrant, with a rush of ripe fruit up front that easily subsides to reveal some wonderful notes of dark chocolate and mocha.  The tannins, though young, are well structured and flawlessly integrated to create a long, smooth and perfectly dry finish that leaves you wanting more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just an exceptional, old school Walla Walla Cabernet that's drinking nicely now, but is sure to improve with some time in the cellar.  I'd be happy to just sip this wine all night, but there is dinner you know, and tonight I'm pairing this with a rare grilled steak, baked potato with all the fixin's, grilled leeks and steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2009 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee

Happy Saturday!  I was running errands all day today, you know, all the dumb stuff, like getting a haircut, getting new eyeglasses, grocery shopping, running to the bank, so much running!  So tonight I am relaxing with a nice dinner and a good bottle of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a wine I've had sitting in the cellar for four or five years, the 2009 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (30%), Malbec (7%) and Cabernet Franc (3%) all from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.  So let's see if this wine is as great as I think it could be!

The wine is an inky black color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a lovely expression of earthy brilliance and lovely ripe fruit, with aromas of leather, blackberry, plum and cassis and a bit of smoke lingering over the top.  The taste is divine, with a rush of ripe black fruit up front, blackberry, plum and black currant that transitions nicely to some wonderfully peppery spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are mature and very well integrated, leading to a long, smooth, voluptuous finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, I've said before that I prefer L'Ecole's Perigee to the Apogee, but this one is about to change my thinking!  This wine is a perfect big steak wine, which is good since tonight I'm enjoying it with a thick, rare grilled prime ribcap steak from Costco (thank you errands!) with a baked potato with sour cream and chives and some steamed orange cauliflower (let's see if it's still the "in" veggie for 2017!).  Cheers!

2012 Flegenheimer Bros. Reserve Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine that my boss gave me last year, and although I really liked it for the label, soon after reading the label I was hopelessly confused!  The 2012 Flegenheimer Bros. Reserve Red Wine has a label that exudes late 19th century Americana, complete with American flags and shield, a lovely lady holding up a glass of wine seated next to some wine barrels, but this particular wine is made from Shiraz (85%) and Petite Sirah grown in the McLaren Vale of South Australia!  Hence you can see my confusion.  As it turns out, the family history of the winemaker goes back to a wine import and distribution business that was established in New York City back in 1876 which thrived until prohibition.  The family is now in Australia making wine, and the reserve red was paired with an old trade card that dates back to 1890.  So there we have it, wine and history, a fabulous combination, now let's see how the wine tastes!

The wine is a very deep, inky indigo color in the glass, much darker than many mass market Shiraz.  The nose is a pleasant combination of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum interlaced with some earthy notes of leather and clay.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward, with a rush of jammy black fruit at the outset that transitions smoothly to some spice notes midpalate.  The finish is nice, though rather brief, with a lingering of ripe fruit with some tart cherry notes as well.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a very pleasant and easy drinking wine.  It would pair well with lamb, roasts or wild game, or just as a pleasant sipping wine to enjoy in the evening as I am doing tonight.  Cheers!

2006 Renieri Brunello di Montalcino

Happy Saturday!  And of course this being the first Saturday of a new month and new year, it's Cellar Saturday, when I get to dig out a bottle to enjoy from the cellar that's at least a vintage 10 years ago!  Tonight, I've decided to finally open a bottle of Brunello that I've had in my cellar for a number of years (after all, you know you can't really enjoy a Brunello until it's at least 10 years old!), the 2006 Renieri Brunello di Montalcino.  So after decanting, let's see what this wine has to offer.

The wine is a beautiful purple garnet in the glass, with just the faintest hint of brown along the edges.  The nose is replete with aromas of leather, plum and violet, with just a hint of pepper spice.  The taste brings be back to late summer in Tuscany, with a bright rush of ripe plum and currant up front, that transitions nicely to some notes of dried herbs and just a hint of mint midpalate.  The finish is wonderful, with elegantly structured tannins that provide for a wonderfully long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a wonderful Brunello that's just starting to come into its own (it will no doubt improve and evolve with additional years in the cellar).  This wine would be a perfect complement to a variety of classic Tuscan dishes, from pasta fagioli to tagliatelle al tartufo to a classic bistecca fiorentina, and of course I'm going the latter route tonight, enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap and broccoli rabe sauteed with garlic and olive oil.  Salut!

2012 DaMaNation Red Wine

Happy Tuesday!  I just got home from the gym now it's time for a bit of wine and dinner.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 DaMaNation Red wine, a lovely GSM blend from DaMa Wines of Walla Walla.  This particular vintage is a blend of Grenache (55%), Mourvedre (23%) and Syrah (22%) from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So let's see how she tastes!

The wine is a bright ruby in the glass with great clarity.  The nose presents aromas of cherry, blackberry and plum with some floral notes over the top.  The taste is very nice, with a rush of luscious ripe fruit at the outset that transitions nicely to some notes of earth and olive midpalate.  The Mourvedre provides some lovely structure to the tannins that form a base for the long, smooth, very dry finish, with a reprise of cherry cola at the very end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a consistent, quality GSM effort that doesn't disappoint from year to year.  The wine would pair well with a variety of Mediterranean dishes or a great steak, which is a good thing since tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled dry aged prime shell steak, baked potato with sour cream and chives and steamed Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2013 V. Sattui Entanglement Napa Valley GSM Blend

Happy New Year!  Yes, a beautiful start to 2017, with sun and a high near 40, what could be better?  How about some wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2013 V. Sattui Entanglement, a GSM blend that really impressed me when I tried it at the winery a few weeks ago.  This particular wine is a blend of Grenache (67%), Syrah (24%) and Mourvedre (9%), so let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a bit darker in color than some similar blends.  The nose is somewhat subdued with a layering of leather, blackberry and some Mediterranean spice notes that really work well together.  The taste is just as I remembered it (which is a feat in itself as this was the last stop on our 4-winery tour!) with a bit of black fruit up front that gives way to some lovely notes of mocha and tobacco midpalate.  The finish is divine, with the firm tannin structure of the Mourvedre providing the foundation for a long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of my favorite GSM blends I've tasted.  This wine is bold enough to be enjoyed with big steaks or roasts, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with my New Years dinner of pan seared veal chops, mashed sweet potatoes and oven roasted golden and candystrip beets.  The fruit really accents the flavor of the veal, while the dry finish is a perfect balance to the sweetness of the mash and beets.  Cheers!