2014 Yao Ming Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  Let me say first that I've been working today, which is not ideal since Sunday should be for relaxing and enjoying a nice glass of wine.  Well, at least it's now time for the nice glass of wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I bought at Costco, maybe a year or more ago, the 2014 Yao Ming Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  This was a wine that Costco was only carrying for a limited time and I think I bought one of, if not the last bottle at my local warehouse.  So, let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, just a bit lighter than you might expect from a big Napa cab.  The nose is a refined combination of leather, smoke, oak and vanilla, reminiscent of a classic, old-school library. The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, cherry, blackberry and plum that wash over the palate before transitioning to some wonderful mineral notes of dusty limestone and basalt midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a wonderfully smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a very nice drinking Napa Cabernet, but it doesn't strike me as a standout wine.  Like most Napa Cabernets, this wine practically begs to be paired with a big steak, but it would also do well with pasta, lamb, or roasts.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a nice rare grilled Angus T-bone served on a bed of grilled leeks and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2015 DaMa Collage

Well, it's officially the first day of autumn (yeah, don't get technical with me, I know the astronomical autumnal equinox is supposed to be Monday, but the first day of fall has always been the 21st of September).  And since it's now fall, it was of course time to bust out the leaf vacuum, as my yard was already partially covered in leaves!  Ironically enough, it was also crazy hot today, as I think we peaked at 87!  So, tonight I'm resting in the air conditioning with a glass of wine, specifically, the 2015 DaMa Wines Collage, a blend of Merlot (53%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) and Cabernet Franc (7%) from the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, tart cherry and fig, with hints of lilac over the top.  The taste is cool and smooth, with a burst of cherry cola at the front that evolves into some vanilla bean and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are firm but well structured, layering 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 just a very pleasant sipping wine that would pair well with a variety of dishes, from pasta to steaks to wild salmon.  Since I'm tired and not in the mood for cooking anything elaborate, tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple dinner of Trader Joe's lobster ravioli topped with tomato cream sauce and shaved parmesan.  Cheers!

2015 Double Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Tuesday!  It seems like we've just started and this has already been a busy week, so it's time to take a bit of a break with a nice glass of Washington wine.  I bought this particular wine a few weeks ago from Wines Till Sold Out and it's from a producer that I'm not as familiar with, the 2015 Double Canyon Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), Merlot (14%), Malbec (6%) and Petit Verdot (3%) from the Double Canyon Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this one is shaping up!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose is an interesting display of ripe black fruit, green grass, dried herbs and hints of lavender that portend a rather fruit forward wine.  The taste is a rather subdued affair, with a rush of ripe cherry, blackberry and plum that transitions to some notes of vanilla bean and pipe tobacco midpalate.  The fine grain tannins are a bit chewy, but provide a nice base for the long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very drinkable Cabernet and a terrific value at just $20!  This wine would pair well with steak, and well, really it's just begging to be consumed with steak!  And it's a good thing too as tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bone-in Kansas City strip grilled rate with fire roasted hatch chiles and oven roasted root vegetables.  Cheers!

2016 Seven Hills Winery Walla Walla Merlot

Happy Sunday!  I apologize for the long hiatus since my last post, but last week was just insanely busy for me, so perhaps this week I might make up for it.  Tonight I've decided to open up a bottle for Sunday dinner from one of my long-time favorite Walla Walla wineries, Seven Hills and the 2016 Seven Hills Vineyard Merlot, made from Merlot on some of the oldest blocks of the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The color is classic Merlot, with a deep ruby in the glass with a somewhat darker tone at the center.  The nose is a cascade of dusty limestone, cherry and an overlay of soft floral aromas that just exude the high quality of the wine.  The taste is a rush of cherry cola, that transitions to some spicy black pepper notes midpalate, before easing into some notes of kirsch on the finish.  The tannins are nicely structured and well integrated, providing for a wonderfully smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a consistent performer and favorite Merlot for me.  This wine would be ideal paired with a broad range of dishes, from summer grill favorites, to hearty pasta to grilled salmon.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a lovely Sunday dinner of a rare grilled filet mignon with a red wine reduction, haricots verts almondine and a baked potato.  Cheers!

2008 Tero Estates Windrow Vineyard Hill Block Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's the first Saturday of the month, and that means it's Cellar Saturday!  That glorious time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in waiting.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I bought on one of my many trips to Walla Walla, though I can't be sure which one, perhaps I brought this back from the 2014 trip.  In any case, tonight's wine is the 2008 Tero Estates Cabernet Sauvignon from the Hill Block of the Windrow Vineyard, a historic vineyard in the AVA first planted in 1981, though the Hill Block is relatively new, having been planted in 1998.  I remember buying a few bottles from the Tero/Flying Trout tasting room on the first floor of the Marcus Whitman Hotel and quite enjoyed the wine I tasted (I think this was before their combining with Waters and 21 Grams).  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (94%) and Cabernet Franc (6%) for a bit of polish.  So let's see how well this wine has developed over the past decade!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of dusty limestone, with start mineral aromas over mild hints of blackberry, cassis and hints of lavender.  The taste is a complete departure from the stark mineral aromas you just experienced, as it's a rush of ripe, sweet black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that transitions beautifully into some notes of mocha, dark chocolate and a bit of pepper on the finish.  The tannins are very well structured, providing ample backbone for the long, smooth and very dry finish that just lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a fabulous Walla Walla Cabernet that could pair well with a broad range of dishes.  I would enjoy this wine with steak, but I don't see this a primarily a steak wine, rather it would be wonderful with some lamb with herbs provencale, Copper River salmon or a variety of hearty Italian pastas.  The latter is what I'm enjoying tonight as I've paired this wine with a new concoction of jambalaya pappardelle, which consists of cherry tomatoes with andouille sausage and shrimp and a bit of fresh basil and oregano and fire roasted hatch chiles.  The hit of the spice and pasta with the ripe fruit of this wine is a fabulous combination.  Cheers!

2016 A Moveable Feast Cabernet Sauvignon

What a day!  After working all day I decided to cut the grass before dinner, and of course I hit a rock and now I have to take my mower into the shop to see if there was any permanent damage.  So, I need a good dinner and a nice glass of wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of Napa Valley Cabernet that I purchased from Wines Till Sold Out, and which will be a future wine club selection, the 2016 A Moveable Feast Cabernet Sauvignon (though I don't think they spelled movable right).  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a big Cabernet.  The nose is a rather subdued affair, with some notes of leather, smoke, olives and a bit of spice.  The taste is a real departure from what you were expecting based on the aromas, with a rush of ripe cherry and blackberry fruit that transitions seemlessly to some mineral notes midpalate.  The fine grained tannins are well structured and integrated for a lush mouthfeel on the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a nice new world Cabernet that is easy drinking but doesn't offer a lot of complexity.  Of course it was also a pretty good value at just $18, making it an easy everyday drinker.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from pasta to steaks to barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare prime, bone-in ribeye with fire-roasted hatch chiles, some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato.  Cheers! 

2013 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Malbec

Happy Labor Day!  So I've been working in the yard all day, after delivering a half ton of watermelons for my Church to hand out at the local parade, so now I am ready for dinner and a nice glass of wine.  I stumbled upon tonight's wine as I was perusing the cellar and the stained labels on this wine reminded me that I bought this on my great motorhome trip to Walla Walla in 2015, and on the way home as I was driving through a very smoky Hell's Canyon, a case of wine fell off the dinette seat and one bottle broke, staining the labels on the rest of the bottles in that case.  So I present a stained bottle of 2013 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Malbec!

The wine is deep and brooding, just as you'd expect from a nice Malbec.  The nose is an elegant combination of leather, smoke and ripe black fruit, with just a hint of lavender over the top.  The taste is classic Malbec, with a rush of blackberry, cherry and plum up front that transition nicely to some mineral notes of dusty limestone midpalate, with a nice bit of black peppery spice.  The tannins are very well integrated, for the long, smooth and velvety dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a Malbec that a Cabernet lover like me finds eminently enjoyable.  This wine practically screams to be paired with a steak (or any sword of beef from a Brazilian steakhouse), but it would also pair well with hearty braised short ribs, or even a classic lamb chop.  Tonight I am obliging the gauchos and enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Snake River Farms Wagyu Kansas City strip along with bacon roasted brussels sprouts and a big baked potato.  Cheers!