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!