2015 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I have to admit that I haven't been relaxing as much as I should today, as I've had a lot of work to catch up on (the price you pay for being your own boss I guess!) but now it's time to relax with a nice glass of wine and dinner.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2015 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (82%), Malbec (8%), Cabernet Franc (8%) and Petit Verdot (2%) from the Seven Hills, Octave, Pepper Bridge and Yellow Jacket Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA.  I have to admit that I usually wait a few years before opening a bottle of Pepper Bridge Cabernet, but given how warm the 2015 vintage was, I am taking a risk that this wine might be somewhat more approachable in its youth, so let's see if I'm right!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents warm aromas of black cherry and blackberry, with a bit of earthy iron and smoke underlying some light purple floral notes.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward, with a rush of ripe black fruit that gives way to some wonderful warm cinnamon and mocha notes midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully structured, and well integrated providing for a long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers.

Certainly this wine, like previous vintages shows some nice aging potential, but fortunately for tonight's dinner, the warmer vintage is very approachable in its youth.  Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 with an opportunity to improve into the early 2020s.  This wine practically begs to be paired with a hearty beef dish, whether steak, roasts, prime rib or hearty stew, this wine would do well.  But tonight, I happen to have a prime New York strip I picked up at Costco yesterday, which I'm enjoying with some grilled Brussels sprouts and sauteed onions and peppers.  Cheers!

2015 Seven Hills Summit View Vineyard Clone 191 Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It's been an eventful couple of days, but I won't bore you with the details.  The important thing is the weekend is in full swing and I need a glass of wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of the second vintage of a wine that I've been liking more and more, you might say it's grown on me, the 2015 Seven Hills Summit View Vineyard Clone 191 Cabernet Sauvignon.  You see, when the 2014 vintage of this wine was first released (you can see my review of that wine here), Seven Hills also released a limited production Cabernet from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard, which I really took a shine to.  But I have to admit, a couple years on and the Summit View is quickly becoming one of my favorite Cabernets, so let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep inky consistency at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a wonderful combination of earthy aromas, leather, graphite, over some subtle notes of ripe black fruit.  The taste is a rush of blackberry and kirsch that envelop the palate before smoothly transitioning to some wonderful warm black pepper spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured and incredibly well integrated, providing the ideal foundation for the long, smooth and velvety dry finish, that leaves you with just a hint of warm spice on the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, I am having trouble deciding whether I like the first vintage or this one better, so I guess that makes it a tie.  Again, like the 2014 vintage, I plan to lay most of this down for a few years, as it will surely get even better with a few years in the cellar.  As for pairings, like it's older siblings, this wine is a perfect big steak wine, as the spice and fruit are ideal in complementing a rich prime steak.  And tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare prime ribcap, big baked potato and some fresh grilled asparagus.  A perfect weekend dinner, cheers!

2014 Anvil Walla Walla Merlot

Good Sunday afternoon!  I know it's been a remarkably long time since I've posted, but I am going to make up for it over the next couple weeks.  You see, I took a bit of a vacation to go out to Walla Walla for the 2018 Reveal auction and had a wonderful few days enjoying the wine, food and wonderful friends in my favorite wine-making area, so I promise at least three posts on that trip, with plenty of photos!  But for tonight, I've just decided to relax with a nice bottle of 2014 Anvil Merlot, a 100% Merlot from the Minnick Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA.  I tasted this in the Forgeron tasting room last weekend, so I couldn't wait to get home where my wine club shipment was waiting for me.  So let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is a lovely deep indigo with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Merlot.  The nose is a generous helping of blackberry and black cherry overlaid with hints of mint and earthy mineral notes.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit that envelopes your palate, washing it with rich notes of cassis, that gradually reveals layers of wonderful minerality and black pepper spice.  This finish is velvety smooth and very dry, with well integrated tannins that make this wine a joy to sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it has to rank near the top of my favorite examples of Merlot.  This wine would pair well with a broad array of dishes, from steaks and chops, to prime rib, to your favorite pasta dish, but tonight of course I'm enjoying this with steak.  Tonight it's a rare prime filet mignon with grilled leeks and brussels sprouts and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Valley Merlot Cabernet Franc

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle that I've been anticipating for a while, and since I just got my spring wine club shipment from L'Ecole I can try it!  The 2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Vallet Merlot Cabernet Franc, a blend of Merlot (50%) and Cabernet Franc (50%) from the Seven Hills and Ferguson Vineyards.  I've heard such good things about the right bank style blend, so let's give it a try!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from these two varietals.  The nose is a symphony of earthy mineral notes, dusty basalt, leather and graphite (hat tip to the Ferguson Vineyard) over subdued black fruit notes with a bit of black pepper spice at the end.  The taste is just divine, particularly if you're a Merlot fan like I am, a rush of black cherry and currant give way to some black pepper spice and course mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is young, but about as solid as you could expect, with lush tannins supporting the long, smooth and velvety dry finish that lingers on.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a fabulous expression of the varietals and the terroir of these two powerhouse vineyards.  This was highly anticipated, but it's still an incredible value for just $36 retail!  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from roast beef to braised short ribs to wild salmon, but it practically begs to be paired with a steak.  So tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled filet mignon, baked potato with all the fixin's and some grilled leeks and Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2007 Domaine du Grand Tinel Chateauneuf du Pape

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of a new month, that magical day when I raid the cellar and open a bottle that's at least 10 years from harvest.  Tonight I've decided to open a wine of the Pope, the 2007 Domaine du Grand Tinel Chateauneuf du Pape, a classic blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre that traces its roots back to when the Pope was a French resident!  So let's see how this wine has matured!

The wine is a deep ruby color, a tribute to the Syrah in the blend.  The nose is a classic combination of green grass, floral notes and rich black fruit notes.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward with a rush of plum, black cherry and currant that washes over the palate before transitioning to some course mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are quite reserved, providing for a wonderful, long, smooth and dry finish, with a reprise of blackberry at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a lovely example of a nice, approachable Chateauneuf du Pape.  This wine would pair nicely with southern Mediterranean dishes, to fresh shellfish, to classic pasta dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with panko crusted chicken, creamy pesto penne and haricots verts.  Cheers!

2012 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's been a very busy day, so what better way to end it than with a nice glass of wine?  Tonight I've opened a bottle from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, the 2012 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (96%) and Petit Verdot (4%) from the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  I've had this wine in the cellar for a few years, so I thought it was time to give it a try!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a glorious cascade of delightful floral notes of violets and roses, overlaying some rich black fruit, cherries, blackberries and currant.  The taste reminds me of what I love about Chuck Reininger's work, wonderful expression of terroir with wonderful stark minerality coursing over lovely vibrant fruit notes, with fine grain tannins supporting the long, smooth, voluptuous finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as you'd be hard pressed to find a better, more expressive Cabernet for the price.  This wine would be ideal with a variety of hearty dishes from steaks to braised short ribs to classic Italian sausage with onions and peppers.  But tonight I am going classic meat and potatoes, enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Kansas City style bone-in strip steak, with grilled leeks and rainbow carrots, along with some mashed potatoes and gravy.  Cheers!