2014 Seven Hills Walla Walla Valley Red Wine

Merry Christmas!  Yes, I know it's only Christmas Eve, but I am fairly certain I won't have any time for wine blogging tomorrow, so you take Christmas wishes when you can get them!  Tonight I am getting ready for a nice quiet dinner and to listen to our community theater radio production of "It's a Wonderful Life" which was recorded at an encore performance we did last Friday evening.  In the interim, I've decided to open a bottle I wine I recently bought from my favorite Walla Walla Winery, Seven Hills, their 2014 Walla Walla Valley red wine.  This inaugural vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Malbec (10%) and Petit Verdot (5%) from the Summit View, Pepper Bridge, Cockburn, McClellan Estate, Stone Valley, Seven Hills Vineyard, Waliser Rocks and Fire Ridge vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine is meant to highlight the terroir of the Walla Walla Valley AVA, so let's see how Casey did!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, classic for the concentrations of Cabernet and Malbec.  The nose presents earthy aromas of dusty limestone and leather, intermingled with some ripe black fruit, black pepper spice and a hint of violet.  The taste is a rush of ripe black cherry, blueberry and black currant up front that transitions nicely to some notes of caramel and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are fine and provide an inviting structure to the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I think it's a new favorite for an everyday drinking wine.  This wine would pair very well with a variety of dishes, from braised short ribs, to prime rip or ham for Christmas dinner.  But tonight I am enjoying this wine with a prime New York Strip steak grilled Pittsburgh rare, grilled leeks and asparagus and a bit baked potato with butter, sour cream and scallions.  The velvety structure of this wine is a perfect foil to a hearty grilled steak.  Cheers!

2014 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Christmas Eve Eve!  It's been another insanely busy week but I feel like I'm finally able to keep my head above water.  I had a nice get together yesterday for the holidays and tonight I am just aiming to relax and maybe watch a movie and of course enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine I just picked up from the UPS office, from one of my favorite Walla Walla winemakers, Chuck Reininger!  The 2014 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (87%), Cabernet Franc (5%), Petit Verdot (5%) and Malbec (3%) from the Pepper Bridge and XL Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  So let's see how this wine will treat me and my Sunday dinner!

The wine is a deep inky purple at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, classic for a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of black currant, prune, dusty limestone, with a bit of cedar underneath.  The taste is more of an old world style cabernet, with a but of ripe black fruit at the outset, currant, plum and cherry that folds into some wonderful mineral notes of graphite and some tobacco midpalate.  The chewy tannins are a perfect foil to the multiple layers of fruit and minerality in this wine, setting up the wonderfully smooth, and lengthy dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's really a new favorite for the 2014 vintage of Cabernet from Walla Walla.  This wine would be perfect with steak or prime rib (might need to bring a bottle to Christmas dinner!) but tonight I am going old school Pacific Northwest, where it's perfectly acceptable to pair Cabernet with salmon, after all it is the steak of the sea!  In fact tonight I am enjoying this wine with some Coho salmon steaks, whole wheat couscous and some sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2016 Pepper Bridge Winery Walla Walla Merlot

Happy Saturday!  It's been a crazy busy month for me, and I've barely had time to enjoy a glass of wine much less blog about it!  But hopefully I will have a little breathing room before the year is over, I just got back from New York and got my Christmas trees today, so it seems like there are some things coming together for the holidays.  One side effect of being so busy is that I haven't had much time to drink all the wine that's been arriving almost daily it seems from all the wine clubs I belong to, and such is the case for tonight's wine, the 2016 Pepper Bridge Winery Walla Walla Merlot.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (78%), Cabernet Franc (14%) and Malbec (8%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Octave Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a beautiful, deep garnet color in the glass.  The nose presents inviting aromas of cherry, raspberry and leather with subtle mineral undertones of graphite and smoke.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward, with a rush of blueberry, cherry and currant - all somewhat candied fruit - that transitions smoothly to some notes of mocha and tea leaves midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured providing a great foundation for the velvety smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, though I am convinced this one is ideal for aging and I'd be happy to revisit this wine after a half decade or so in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with lamb, steak, or a variety of hearty, earthy dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip, grilled asparagus and a big old baked potato with butter, sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2012 Keiser Wine Company Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I have to admit, I've been quite busy lately, and that's been cutting down my time for both food and wine but soon enough it will be over and I can get back to at least a bit of a routine.  Have I mentioned that I am in a play?  Yes, my acting debut is coming at the Elkhart Civic Theatre as we put on "It's a Wonderful Life" as a radio play.  It's been so much fun, but it's been eating into my evening wine and food time!  At any rate, tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2012 Keiser Wine Company Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  It was relatively inexpensive (maybe $20?) and I figured how can you go wrong with a Napa Cabernet from that vintage?  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a lovely bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity, somewhat lighter than the typical big, bold Cabernets of Napa.  The nose is an elegant combination of leather, cardamom, tobacco and smoke, with an undercurrent of rich fruit.  The taste is rich, with a rush of ripe blackberry, plum and currant that envelop your palate before transitioning to some wonderful herb and mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are well structured and positioned perfectly to provide nice backbone to support the long, supple and very dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderful example of a nice Napa Cabernet that's not build to beat you in the face with a mallet.  This wine is still begging to be paired with a big piece of meat, and lucky for me I have some thick cut prime sirloin from Costco that's punching way beyond its weight class.  So rare prime sirloin, grilled asparagus and a big baked potato, what else could you ask for a perfect Sunday dinner?  Cheers!

2008 Sommavite Brunello di Montalcino

Well, it's the first day of December and also the first Saturday of the new month which means it's Cellar Saturday!  Last month I totally forgot to open a wine more than a decade old on the first Saturday of the month, so for that I apologize.  In any case, tonight I've opened a bottle of 2008 Sommavite Brunello di Montalcino.  I am a huge proponent of letting the great Italian wines like Brunello and Barolo wait for at least a decade from the vintage before they are ready to drink, and this one is just about ready.  So let's see what this epitome of Sangiovese has to offer!

The wine is a nice ruby color in the glass, with hints of amber along the edges.  The nose is classic Brunello, with hints of cherry intermingled with leather, dried spices, coarse mineral notes and a light floral overtone.  The taste is somewhat fruit forward with a rush of cherry and red currant with light mint overtones that transitions nicely to some earthy notes of tar and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are velvety and nicely integrated for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a nice example of a good quality Brunello that's had some time to develop in the bottle.  This wine would be ideal with hearty Italian pasta, fall mushroom risotto, or a classic bistecca alla fiorentina.  Tonight I am heading in the latter direction, enjoying this wine with a prime New York strip grilled Pittsburgh rare (half the bistecca anyway) along with some sauteed onions and peppers, grilled asparagus and a big old baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2015 Helix Stone Tree SoRho

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I have decided to open a recent wine club shipment from one of my favorite wineries in Walla Walla, Reininger!  This time it's the 2015 Helix Stone Tree SoRho, a Southern Rhone style blend of Mourvedre (46%), Cinsault (30%) and Grenache (24%) from the Stone Tree Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope.  This is a perennial favorite given the addition of Cinsault to the blend, which always provides a bit of floral lift to the blend.  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a bit darker in color than many Rhone blends, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a lovely combination of green grass, violets, earthy peat and ripe red fruit.  The taste is a rush of ripe red fruit, currant, cherry and strawberry that transitions effortlessly to some earthy notes of tar intermingled with white pepper spice.  The soft tannins perfectly frame the fruit and earth for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I think this is a bit of a step up from the past few vintages.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from southern Mediterranean seafood to grilled pork tenderloin, or even turkey since we just made it through another Thanksgiving.  But tonight I'm enjoying this with classic midweek fare of leftovers, in this case pork chops and roasted fingerling potatoes.  Cheers!

2016 DaMaNation

Happy Saturday!  Have you ever had one of those projects around the house that should have been quite simple but suddenly it completely spun out of control?  That happens to me a lot, which probably says a lot about my home improvement skills.  Today it was a fence post that rotted and needed to be replaced, but it was more complicated since it was also the post where the gate was attached.  No problem I thought, I got a post, bought some new screws for the hinge, this should be easy.  Then I found the concrete that the old post was mounted in, and I proceeded to break it up with a sledge hammer and a wedge.  I made it down about two feed and couldn't swing anymore, so I borrowed a 30-pound hexagonal bar that my friend had, apparently it was once used on the railroad for laying track.  So another quick job that will last until tomorrow, but tonight I really could use a glass of wine.  I've decided to open a bottle of 2016 DaMaNation, a wonderful blend of Grenache (48%), Syrah (36%) and Mourvedre (16%) from the Lonesome Spring Vineyard in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So let's see if this one will provide some relaxation after a frustrating day in the yard!

The wine is a lighter ruby color in the glass with nice clarity, classic for a quality GSM blend.  The nose presents inviting floral aromas of rose petals and lavender with undertones of ripe black fruit and basalt.  The taste is a rush of cool fruit, black plum and blueberry with a bit of tart cherry that transitions almost unnoticed to earthy flavors of olive, white pepper spice and a hint of rosemary.  The tannins are quite smooth, providing a great start to the velvety smooth and very dry finish that seems to linger.  This wine is to my mind very comparable in old world style to the many high quality GSM blends from the Southern Rhone Valley of France.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's an approachable and easy drinking wine that's quite versatile from a food pairing perspective.  I actually brought a bottle of this to Thanksgiving dinner and we enjoyed it with classic turkey dinner (something that's a challenge to pair with a red wine), but it would also pair well with hearty stews, lamb or risotto.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some panko crusted center cut pork chops, cheese risotto and steamed broccoli and red peppers.  Cheers!

2015 Sleight of Hands "The Psychedelic Syrah"

Happy Friday!  Hopefully you got all your black Friday mojo out of your system, I know I did and now it's time for a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I bought when I was visiting Walla Walla last Spring and had a chance to meet Trey Busch and the team at Sleight of Hands Cellars, the 2015 Psychedelic Syrah, from the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, Oregon.  This wine is a 100% Syrah, from the Stoney Vine Vineyard, which is an ancient riverbed characterized by softball size rocks (which Trey is so proud to show off!).  This vintage follows the 2014 which was my 2017 wine of the year (see here), so it has some big shoes to fill, let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a wonderful garnet color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose is a wonderfully earthy cascade of olive tapenade, smoke, leather, earthy mineral notes overlaid with ripe black fruit, blackberry and currant with an undertone of mint.  The taste is a psychedelic combination of ripe black fruit, heavy earth tones, a hint of lavender and some green olive that just swirl in your mouth and in your mind.  The tannins are thick and chewy, enveloping your palate and setting the perfect stage for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's likely one of the best examples of Syrah I've enjoyed this year, and I think it's grown on me since i tasted it back in April, but I still prefer the 2014 vintage.  This wine would be ideal with a lot of hearty fall dishes from lamb chops and shepherds pie to mushroom risotto or prime rib, (even Turkey, though we're a day late and a buck short for that).  Tonight I am going a little off the beaten track, as I bought a nice piece or prime brisket at Costco and decided to slow roast it today and make brisket tacos for dinner.  The earthiness of the wine is a perfect accompaniment to the richness of the brisket.  Cheers!

2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a somewhat busy weekend that's too rapidly coming to a close, on Friday evening I had some folks over for a pre-holiday get together and then had lots of activities and work after that.  So before the official end of the weekend, I thought it appropriate to open a nice bottle of wine with dinner.  Tonight it's a recent wine club selection from L'Ecole No. 41, the 2015 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon (coincidentally, I opened a double magnum of the '09 vintage for my get together on Friday).  This wine is sourced from some of the best vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley, including Ferguson, Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Loess and Summit View, providing a broad spectrum of the Walla Walla AVA terroir.  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep inky purple in the glass, with a bit of garnet at the edges. The nose is a lovely combination of blackberry, blueberry, smoke and rose petals, suggesting a style more old world than new.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, black cherry, blueberry, currant and blackberry that envelop the palate before transitioning seamlessly to some savory herbs and wonderfully earthy notes of basalt and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are youthful, but very well structured to provide a perfect backbone to the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely example of the fine Cabernet coming from the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with a broad array of hearty dishes, from braised short ribs to lamb chops to hearty pasta, but for Sunday dinner, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye, grilled Brussels sprouts and a big, loaded baked potato.  Cheers!

2015 DaMa Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a while since I've posted on a Wednesday, so this is a treat.  And speaking of treats, tonight I have a bottle from my latest wine club shipment from DaMa Wines.  I am a big fan of Mary and the folks at DaMa, as they are just good people who make really good wines.  The 2015 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is a very limited production (68 cases) of 100% Cabernet from the Walla Walla AVA, so let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, classic Cabernet.  The nose is a lovely combination of earthy elements, green grass, ripe blackberry and cherry intermingled with some floral notes and a hint of leather.  The taste is a rush of big fruit, cherry cola, blackberry and plum that transitions to some notes of vanilla bean and mocha midpalate.  The chewy tannins provide a nice base for a finish that is long, well structured and exceptionally dry, ideal for sipping in front of a fire on a chilly fall evening.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely Walla Walla Cabernet, but could likely use a few years in the cellar before it really begins to shine.  This wine would be ideal with a variety of hearty dishes, from Italian sausage with onions and peppers to truffle mac and cheese to a seared tuna steak.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime filet mignon with some steamed asparagus and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2014 Forgeron Walla Walla Merlot

Happy Sunday!  It's been a bit of a break today after a couple weeks of seemingly non-stop busyness, today I relaxed, did a bit of work and a lot of laundry and some de-cluttering around the house.  So, as always I'm ready for a nice dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron in Walla Walla.  I have a lot or admiration and respect for Marie-Eve and the wonderful wines she produces, and this one is no exception, the 2014 Walla Walla Merlot.  This wine is 100% Merlot blended from the Birch Creek (75%) and Minnick Hills (25%) vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is deep, inky purple at the center with bright garnet along the edges, more similar to a fine Cabernet, but still quote fine for Merlot.  The nose is a cascade of wonderfully earthy Bordeaux-esque aromas, leather, peat, tar and green grass intermingled with ripe blackberry and black currant.  The taste is just beautiful as the silky smooth mouthfeel envelops your tastebuds with blackberry, cherry and floral notes before transitioning to dark chocolate and mocha notes midpalate.  The tannins are balanced with wonderful acidity, providing for a luxurious, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that seems to go on and on.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasure to drink and quote frankly, one of the nicest Merlots I've had in quite some time.  This wine is ideal for fall, and would pair quite well with steak, lamb and a broad range of stews.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime filet mignon, with some grilled asparagus and a bit ol' baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee

Happy Friday!  I have to admit, the past couple weeks it's felt like I've been packing two weeks of work and other activities into every week, and this week is not different.  So, I guess it's time to relax a bit with a nice bottle of wine, and tonight it's a good one.  From a recent wine club shipment from a winery that I first visited way back in the early 2000s, the 2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (25%), Malbec (10%) and Cabernet Franc (5%) all from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley. So let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, with bright ruby along the edges, a not to the heavy Cabernet and Merlot in the blend.  The nose is full of ripe fruit, black cherry, blackberry and currant intermingled with earthy aromas of leather and basalt.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward with a rush of tart cherry, currant and cassis that gives way to some notes of green grass and Asian spice midpalate.  The tannins are well structured and nicely integrated to form the foundation for the long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers on.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's another great Bordeaux style blend from Walla Walla, but it's clearly a second place finisher to my favorite blend, the Perigee. This wine is ideal for big steaks, lamb, or hearty fall dishes, and tonight I am enjoying this with a wonderful Costco dinner I picked up on the drive back from Detroit today - a rare prime filet mignon, big ol' baked potato with sour cream and scallions and some grilled asparagus.  Cheers!

2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Perigee

Happy Sunday!  I was excited on Friday when my wine club shipment from L'Ecole came to the office and I was happy to come home to four wonderful wines, including tonight's wine, the 2015 Estate Perigee.  I have to admit that the Perigee is, in fact, my favorite of all the vintage Walla Walla Blends, and the 2015 vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Merlot (16%), Cabernet Franc (14%), Malbec (7%) and Petit Verdot (7%) all from the Seven Hills Vineyard in Walla Walla.  So let's see how this vintage is tasting!

The wine is a beautiful, deep inky purple in the glass, a credit to the heavy hand of Cabernet in the blend.  The nose is very Bordeaux-esque, with aromas of leather, lavender, dusty minerals and a bit of tarragon.  The taste is remarkable fruit forward given the nose, which results in your tastebuds taking a double take with a rush of blueberry, blackberry jam and cherry cola that transitions nicely to some mineral notes of dusty limestone intermingled with warm spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are beautifully structured, providing the perfect framework for the silky smooth and exceptionally dry finish that seems to linger on for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's one of my favorite blends from Walla Walla, and this one seems to be even more elevated than usual.  This wine would be perfect with almost any kind of steak, braised short ribs or hearty pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying it with a rare grilled prime sirloin cap steak, with oven roasted Brussels sprouts and a baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2015 Reininger Walla Walla Syrah

Happy Tuesday!  It's been a busy week for me so far and it's not even hump day yet, so here's hoping a nice glass of wine will help smooth things out.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of my most recent wine club selection from Reininger Winery, the 2015 Reininger Walla Walla Syrah!  I am a big fan of Chuck Reininger's wines, as his creativity and blending talent really highlight the great quality of wines from the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine is a 100% Syrah from the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills Vineyards, so let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose is a cascade of earthy aromas, leather, peat, intermingled with floral notes of lavender and a hint of lilac, with undertones of ripe black fruit.  The taste is a wild rush of intensity, with rich blueberry, boysenberry and currant that transitions almost imperceptibly to flavors of olive, dusty limestone and cassis midpalate, before being treated to a hint of white pepper on the cusp of the finish.  The tannins are silky smooth and provide the ideal backdrop for the long, and exquisitely dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the most pleasing Syrah's I've ever enjoyed.  This wine would pair well with a wide variety of dishes for fall, from braised beef to stew and chili, to wonderful Mediterranean dishes.  But tonight I'm going off script and enjoying this wine with some pan seared sea scallops on a bed of escarole along with some rice and steamed broccoli.  The rich fruit and wonderfully earthy notes of this wine are perfect to counter the richness from the sea.  Cheers!

2013 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Merlot

Well, I have to admit this doesn't happen very often, when I review one vintage of a wine and then subsequently review the previous vintage, but that's what's happening tonight!  Nearly two months ago I reviewed the 2014 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Merlot (you can see that one here) and tonight I am opening a bottle of the 2013 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Merlot.  I picked this one up at my local market last weekend since they were having a 20% off wine sale, and apparently they had a few bottles of the previous vintage on the shelf to create this wonderful situation.  So let's see if this one is as good as the 2014!

The wine is a rich, inky purple in the glass with nice garnet along the edges.  The nose presents a rather sophisticated blend of leather, dusty limestone, dried herbs and just a hint of funk that makes this wine reminiscent of a nice Bordeaux.  The taste is a rush of cherry cola and plum that transitions evenly to some mineral notes midpalate before some peppery spice notes rear up near the finish.  Speaking of which, the tannins are very nicely structured, providing for a very smooth, lush and dry finish that lingers for a while.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, but will qualify that I prefer the 2014 vintage.  This wine would be ideal with many hearty fall dished, from roasts and steak, to chili and braised short ribs, but tonight I am heading a different direction and enjoying this wine with some hot Italian sausage with onions and peppers.  The cool fruit and earthy flavors make a nice contrast to the spice of this meal.  Cheers!

2016 Born of Fire Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a busy week and I have no idea how we've already blown past hump day and the weekend is almost here, but at any rate I've decided to open a bottle of Washington wine tonight.  I've not tried any wines from Born of Fire before, but my local market was having a wine sale last weekend, so I could't resist getting a 20% discount which made this 2016 Born of Fire Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon a bargain at just $12.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (90%) and Malbec (10%), from a new area of the Columbia Valley called "the Burn" which lies between the Columbia River Gorge and the Horse Heaven Hills.  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep purple color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry jam, rose petals and tar.  The taste is much less fruit forward than the strong aromas of blackberry would suggest, with a rush of green grass and dusty limestone that slips into some nice black fruit flavors with a hint of peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are well balanced and provide a nice foundation for the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's not really spectacular, but its a classic value, Columbia Valley Cabernet suitable for everyday drinking.  This wine would pair with a broad variety of dishes, from steaks and burgers to barbecue and pizza.  Tonight I am going a little off on pairing and enjoying this wine with a panko crusted halibut filet with steamed carrots and rice.  The fruit and mineral qualities really make a nice foil to the halibut.  Cheers!

2015 Seven Hills Elephant Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  In between the hailstorms, snow, sleet and rain today, I managed to get quite a few errands run, from grocery shopping to getting my pumpkins for Halloween.  So now it's time to relax a bit and open a nice bottle of wine which arrived yesterday from Seven Hills Winery, the 2015 Elephant Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a limited production wine (not even sure how many cases were produced) from fruit sourced from the Elephant Mountain Vineyard in the Yakima Valley (in the Rattlesnake Hills AVA), resulting in a Columbia Valley designation for this wine.  I've heard good things and since I trust Julie at Seven Hills implicitly for wine recommendations, I bought a case of this wine, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center, with bright garnet along the edges.  The nose is a layered affair, with aromas of smoke, intermingled with earthy notes of dusty limestone, interwoven with black currant and blueberry fruit, overlaid with light floral aromas.  There is a lot going on there!  The taste is not at all what I was expecting, that being a rush of ripe fruit similar to many big, bold Cabs.  Instead, there were so many earthy flavors, green grass, cedar and smoke that danced around flavors of caramel, black currant and anise.  The tannins are quote robust, offering a solid base for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish, which seems to go on and on for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, with room to get even better with some time in the bottle.  It's such a different Cabernet, and pleasantly so that it really makes you want to sip all afternoon.  But alas, I also need some dinner, and this wine would be ideal with a broad variety of dishes, from pasta and stews to a classic steak.  Tonight I am of course enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime New York Strip with grilled Brussels sprouts and a baked potato with butter and sour cream.  This wine just holds up exceedingly well with steak, cheers!

2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Cabernet Franc

Ahhh...Monday... I have to admit, I am not a big fan.  But if I have to endure it, I may as well be drinking a nice glass of wine.  And tonight I've opened a bottle from one of my favorite Walla Walla wineries, L'Ecole No. 41!  The 2012 Estate Cabernet Franc is a 100% Cabernet Franc from the Seven Hills Vineyard with a limited production of just 340 cases, so let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of dusty limestone, cedar, dried herbs and a hint of mint.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward, with flavors of blackberry jam, blueberry and plum which transitions to some spicy black pepper notes midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured and integrated, providing for a wonderfully long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a classic example of what a pure Cabernet Franc can be.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from steaks and chops to pasta and Thanksgiving turkey.  Tonight I am enjoying this with another classic pairing, a maple glazed salmon filet with rice and heirloom carrots.  The rich fruit of the wine is a perfect complement to a nice salmon filet, cheers!

2016 Kirkland Signature Series Stags Leap District Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been unseasonably warm and today it was raining much of the day, signaling that the weather is about to turn remarkably fall like by the weekend.  But for now, it's still 68 degrees out and I can grill my dinner under the eave of the garage.  To pair with my dinner, I've decided to open a second bottle of Costco's Kirkland Signature wines I bought a few weeks ago.  The Brunello was a bit unimpressive, so let's see if we can do better with the 2016 Kirkland Signature Series Stags Leap District Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, typical of a big, bold Napa Cabernet.  The nose is somewhat elegant, with earthy aromas of leather and green grass, over some notes of blackberry and a hint of lavender.  The taste is a rush of black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that transition to some dusty limestone and black pepper notes midpalate.  There is a bit of tartness on the back end, before the rather youthful tannins bring you into the smooth, dry finish.

Overall, I'd rate this wine a solid 8, this was a nice example of a descent Stags Leap Cabernet, at a much more approachable price (I think this was around $27).  Like many Napa Cabernets, this wine would be perfect with steak, prime rib or a variety of hearty meals coming up this fall.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a nice filet mignon grilled rare, along with some grilled asparagus and a big, loaded baked potato.  Cheers!

2002 Young Ridge Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

It's the first Saturday of the new month, so of course that means it's Cellar Saturday!  It's that lovely day when I raid the cellar for some bottle that's been developing for a decade or more.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that's been developing for a while, but it just hasn't been in my cellar that long, the 2002 Young Ridge Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which I recently bought on Wines Till Sold Out.  While not quite to the level of 2007 or 2012-14, the 2002 Napa vintage was characterized by a mild growing season and some late season warmth that pushed the ripening, resulting in concentrated fruit.  So let's see how this wine is tasting now that it's old enough to get a driver's license!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center with garnet along the edges.  The nose is expressive of age and maturity, with notes of ripe plum, with blackberry and cassis along with some earthy aromas of leather and graphite.  The taste is remarkably fruit forward, with a blast of ripe cherry, blueberry and plum at the outset, that transition to some wonderful Asian spice and mineral notes midpalate that give the wine the character of a mature Bordeaux.  The tannins are quite smooth and well integrated, for a long, and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it is fully mature and drinking marvelously right now.  This wine would pair well with a nice steak, roasts and lamb, hearty pasta dishes or hard cheeses.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled steak, along with a baked potato with sour cream and scallions, and grilled asparagus and broccoli rabe.  The rich fruit in the wine is nicely balanced with the bitterness of the broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2012 Pulchrum Crespiello

Happy Friday!  I am ready for the weekend, though my tree guy came by today to review the branches that will need to be cut back this fall and he was nice enough to point out some patches of poison ivy that I'll now need to address this weekend...ugh.  But before that fiasco commences, I figure I have time for a nice bottle of wine with dinner, and tonight it's a new wine and a new varietal.  I got an e-mail from Wines Till Sold Out a month or so ago highlighting a wine made from a a nearly extinct varietal and they had me!  The 2012 Pulchrum Crespiello (aka Vidadillo) is a wine from Carinena in northwest Spain grown on vines planted in 1900 (so this is old vine for sure!).  This varietal was well known in the 12th century, but not always known for quality (comparisons to vinegar are common) thought winemaking techniques have advanced in the past 900 years.  Vidadillo is somewhat similar to Garnacha, but with larger darker berries with thicker skins, the wines from this varietal are often darker and more tannic than a typical Garnacha.  So let's see how this wine tastes!

The wine is certainly darker than a Garnacha, appearing more like a Cabernet or Merlot in the glass.  The nose is a pleasant combination of black currant, floral notes and a hint of balsamic (hello vinegar!) that doesn't give you brain much to go on for taste expectations.  The taste thought is quite an experience, with a brief rush of ripe blackberry and currant that transitions nicely to some wonderful caramel and spice notes midpalate before an edge of balsamic just before the finish.  The tannins are robust but well structured, providing for a long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a really interesting wine from a varietal I've not tried before.  This is the sort of wine that would pair well with a variety of hard to pair dishes, like Indian or Moroccan food, but it would also pair well with pasta, roasts or game and of course, steak.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled chuckeye steak along with some glazed baby carrots and potato puree.  Cheers!

2013 Kirkland Signature Brunello di Montalcino

Well, I've been out of it a little while and everyone gets delusions of grandeur!  Yes, I've been away for a few days, but now I'm home and feeling like I need a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine from Costco's Kirkland Signature brand.  I'm fascinated by the variety of wine they decide to private label, and a couple weeks ago I bought a couple bottles that intrigued me, this first one being a 2013 Brunello di Montalcino.  Now granted I like a nice Brunello, but typically let them age a good decade before opening them, but since this one was relatively inexpensive, I've dispensed with the cellar aging.  So let's dig in!

The wine is a light ruby color in the glass, with great clarity, just as you'd expect from a nice Sangiovese.  The nose is a classic combination of red fruit, strawberry, raspberry and tart cherry intermingled with some green grass, dried herbs and a bit of charcoal.  The taste is a rush of red berries, which transitions to some tart cherry notes midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat muted, but the finish is still rather expressive and dry, with some spicy notes at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, as that's about what I would expect from a just released Brunello.  The wine would likely mature with a bit of age, but it was still a good value for under $30.  This wine would pair well with a variety of Italian dishes, from risotto to pasta and seafood.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some porcini mushroom and truffle ravioli topped with some creamy pumpkin and butternut squash sauce.  The red fruit and bright acidity of the wine are a nice complement to the richness of the ravioli.  Cheers!

2016 Stolen Horse Syrah

Happy Sunday!  I spent the afternoon reading and doing laundry after a day of yard work yesterday, so now I'm ready to relax with a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I'm opening a recent wine club selection from the Bledsoe Family Winery, the 2016 Stolen Horse Syrah.  I've been a fan of this Syrah for a while so I'm looking forward to seeing what the latest vintage has to offer.  This wine is a Syrah (93%) that was co-fermented with viognier (7%) from the Loess and Lefore Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep violet color in the glass, with a bright fuchsia along the edges.  The nose is a lovely combination of blackberry, blueberry and plum, intermingled with some wonderful dusty mineral and smoke.  The taste is a rush of fruit up front, blueberry cobbler, blackberry and plum that transitions wonderfully to some earthy notes of leather, dusty limestone and a hint of mint midpalate.  The tannins are well developed, but youthful, providing a solid base for the long, smooth dry finish which features just a bit of black pepper spice at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's drinking well now, but it will likely improve considerably with a year or two in the bottle.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steak to barbecue to tacos, but tonight I am going in a completely different direction.  I am enjoying this wine with an alder planked coho salmon filet with lemon and dill, some oven roasted candy stripe beets and a four cheese risotto.  The earthy flavors of the wine really complement the salmon, while the rich fruit and acidity are perfect foils for the richness of the risotto.  Cheers!

2014 Glenelly Glass Collection Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It was another busy day, but tonight I have a chance to enjoy a new wine and a mainly Costco dinner.  The wine is also from Costco, purchased last weekend, the 2014 Glenelly Glass Collection Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stellenbosch region of South Africa.  I have to admit I haven't tried many South African wines, though I've heard some good things, so let's give this one a try!

The wine is deep inky indigo at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, classic for the varietal.  The nose is an interesting combination of green grass, mint, blackberry and currant.  The taste is a pleasant surprise, with a rush of cherry cola and dark chocolate up front which transitions to some tobacco and spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's very mass produced (11,000 cases), but it doesn't taste mass produced (that's saying a lot).  It's also a solid value as I think this one was $10 at Costco.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty beef and lamb dishes, ideal for fall.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a mostly Costco meal of prime sirloin cap steak with green Thai curry seasoning, mashed potatoes and gravy and haricots verts almondine. Cheers!

2015 Catena Malbec

Hooray for Taco Tuesday!  I bet you'll never guess what I'm having for dinner, so to go with that marvelous food, I've opened a bottle of 2015 Catena Malbec that I bought at Costco last weekend.  Catena is a well regarded Malbec producer in Mendoza, Argentina, and this particular wine is sourced from the family vineyard in the foothills of the Andes.  So let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges.  The nose is a wonderful combination of earthy leather, black cherry, mocha and dark chocolate with just a hint of lavender over the top.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit up front, blackberry and cherry that transition almost imperceptibly to some coarse mineral notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  There is a hint of tart cherry on the finish, as the well developed tannins provide the base for the long, smooth 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 a remarkably smooth Malbec that meets my taste (I'm not a big Malbec fan so that's a big deal!) and it's a solid value at about $16.  This wine would pair with a variety of steaks, beef short ribs, or just about anything you can imagine a gaucho eating.  But given the day, I am enjoying this wine tonight with some chorizo and bean tacos with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2016 Flying B Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

So today as I was about to head out and run some errands, the UPS guy showed up with my Bledsoe Family Wines fall wine club shipment!  Woo hoo!  What a way to head into the weekend!  So I've decided to open a bottle of the 2016 Flying B Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon and see how the second vintage is tasting (I reviewed the first vintage here).  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) and Syrah (15%) from the Bob Healy, Lefore, Loess and Seven Hills Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  I had a chance to meet the winemaker, Josh McDaniels last spring and I was impressed, so let's see how he's done with this wine!

The wine is a deep inky purple at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a quality Cabernet.  The nose is chock full of blueberry, raspberry and green cedar aromas that give you a strong sense of what you're about to experience.  The taste is just a showstopper, much beyond what the aromas had me expecting.  A harmony of earthy green grass overlaid with floral hints, that reach higher to notes of dark chocolate and tobacco amid the full and velvety mouthfeel.  The tannins are silky smooth as the dry finish just marks the apex of a tasting experience that should rightfully last an entire afternoon.

It's hard to describe this wine without superlatives, so I would happily rate this wine a solid 9.5, perhaps one of the best wines I've tasted this year and such a big leap beyond the first vintage (though I really liked that one too!).  This wine practically begs to be paired with a big, rich, prime steak grilled to perfection, but I could also just see myself sipping this one on the porch tonight!  I am enjoying this wine with a marinaded tagliata steak along with a loaded baked potato and grilled Brussels sprouts, but none of that seems very important to me right now.  Cheers!