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!