2014 Canto dei Mori Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Wine Wednesday!  When I was growing up, Wednesday was Prince spaghetti day, and what goes better with spaghetti than a nice Italian wine?  Tonight I have a classic, the 2014 Canto dei Mori Chianti Classico Riserva, a 100% Sangiovese from Tuscany.  I am a big fan of Tuscan red wines, whether the classics based on Sangiovese or Super Tuscans incorporating Bordeaux varietals, these wines are invariably interesting and a solid value for the price.  So let's see how this Chianti is tasting!

The wine is a light garnet in the glass with great transparency, just as you'd expect from the varietal.  The nose is rather subdued affair, with notes of ripe cherry, dried rose petals and some mineral notes.  The taste is classic Chianti, with a rush of tart cherry up front that transitions nicely to some notes of strawberry and vanilla midpalate.  The tannins are soft, providing a bit of balance to the acidity in the wine, and a soft, dry finish that lingers a bit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a nice, easy drinking Chianti that's ideal for midweek dinners, and it's a solid value at just $12 from Wines Till Sold Out!  This wine would pair well with a broad range of Italian dishes, from classic pastas to mushroom risotto, to a nice proscuitto and capocollo anti pasti.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple pasta with spinach alfredo sauce topped with a bit of shaved Parmesan.  Tutti a tavola a mangiare!

2016 Helix Cabernet Franc

Happy Taco Tuesday!  Guess what's on the menu for dinner tonight.  Okay, surprise, it's tacos, but what to pair with them?  Well tonight I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Reininger and Helix, the 2016 Helix Cabernet Franc.  First I have to say that I love the new Helix label, if you haven't seen it before it's quite impressive!  As for the wine, this is a 100% Cabernet Franc from the Weinbau and XL Vineyards in the Wahluke Slope AVA of the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose is a warm breath of mountain air from south central Washington, with aromas of leather, ripe blackberry and a hint of cedar over the top.  The taste is subdued layering of black fruit, blackberry, cherry, currant and plum, overlaid with some notes of smoke and white pepper spice.  The tannins are rounded but gripping, providing for a wonderfully voluptuous, long dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I fell in love with Chuck's Cabernet Franc from the XL Vineyard at the Reveal Walla Walla auction two years ago, and the addition of some of that wine to this blend really makes this a favorite.  This wine would pair well with a variety of casual dinners, from pizza and barbecue to mac & cheese or tacos!  Tonight, being Taco Tuesday, I'm enjoying this wine with some classic beef tacos, as the fruit and richness of this wine really pair well with the spice and smokiness of the beef.  Cheers!

2017 Peaks & Tides Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Monday!  I feel like I got more done today than I probably did, but we'll just go with it!  After working all day, I went to the gym and now I'm ready for dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that was a Christmas gift from a long time friend, and last year she gave me a bottle of the 2015 vintage and this year the 2017 Peaks & Tides Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose is a wonderful combination of earthy leather, green grass, blackberry and a hint of mint over the top.  The taste is a rush of tart cherry at the outset that eases into some ripe blackberry and plum.  Midpalate we have some lovely black pepper spice notes as the acidity takes the drivers seat with the dusty tannins along for the ride on the long, smooth and delightfully dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a nice everyday Cabernet for under $20 that would pair well with lamb, steaks or barbecue (or just about anything you might serve up for the big game this weekend).  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a boneless ribeye grilled rare with some grilled broccoli rabe and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2015 Forgeron Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  Today was a catch up on errands and things I've been meaning to get done for a little while, like getting my oil changed and my tires rotated, doing laundry and now I'm ready to relax for the evening with a nice dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a recent wine club bottle from Forgeron Cellars, the 2015 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (94%) and Malbec (6%) from the Minnick Hills, Seven Hills and Birch Creek Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine 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 a layered and complex affair with notes of leather and oak cascading to notes of toffee and vanilla, before ending up with some ripe black fruit notes of cherry and blackberry.  The taste is a rush of ripe blackberry, cherry and plum up front that give way to some note of vanilla with a bit of peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are fine and well integrated, with balanced acidity that gives this wine a decidedly old work character amidst a long, smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasure to drink (and at only $35, it's punching well above it's weight class!).  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty winter dishes, or just simply sipping by the fire.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a boneless ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  The rich fruit and balanced acidity in this wine make it great with a rich, fatty steak.  Cheers!

2013 Charles Krug Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well it was a chilly Monday, but somehow I managed to go to the gym and come back and grill under the eve of the garage, so all things considered, it wasn't a bad start to the work week!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine that's been in my cellar for a few years, but I finally got around to opening it, a wine from one of my favorite Napa Valley producers, which I've visited a few times, the 2013 Charles Krug Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  So let's see how this wine has matured!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Napa Cabernet.  The nose is chock full of leather, cassis and blackberry, beckoning you to take a sip.  The taste is a rush of cool, black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that transitions nicely to some notes of mint and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are still a bit sharp, providing some nice backbone for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a lovely example of a pleasant and approachable Napa Cabernet that is a decent value (current vintages are running about $25).  This wine would pair very well with a variety of hearty winter dishes, from stew to chili to braised short ribs, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a petit prime heart of ribeye, grilled rare and topped with bleu cheese, along with some bacon roasted purple Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2016 Château Sénéjac Haut-Médoc

Well, it's Sunday and I've spent the day lounging around the house as it's been snowing much of the day, but that's okay, since sometimes you just need a day to relax.  And with relaxation often comes a bit of wine and tonight I've opened a bottle that I picked up at Costco yesterday, the 2016 Château Sénéjac Haut-Médoc.  Now when I first learned to love red wine it was in Paris, where I was working for three weeks, and the office receptionist was kind enough to give me a primer on Bordeaux and the subtleties of each type (surely I had to get some Margaux, as that was the best, but don't forget the Saint-Emilion, Saint-Estephe and Pomerol!).  I still have a bottle of '86 Margaux that I brought back from that trip amidst the case of wine I carried back on the plane.  But when I got home I really fell in love with some nice Haut-Médoc wines, likely due to their reliance on Cabernet in the blend.  This particular wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (51%), Merlot (36%), Cabernet Franc (9%) and Petit Verdot (4%), so let's see how this is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, classic coloration for the Cabernet heavy blend.  The nose is a refreshing breath of fresh Gironde left-bank air, with aromas of leather, cherry and blackberry with hints of toasted vanilla over the top.  The taste is a rush of ripe red fruit, cherry, currant and cassis that transitions nicely to some earthy aromas of dusty limestone and smoke midpalate.  The silky smooth tannins provide the ideal base for a classically dry Bordeaux finish that is at once elegant and muscular.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's been some time since I've been able to enjoy a nice Bordeaux, and at just $17, this was also a solid value.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from pasta to steak, lamb to seafood, or just sipping with friends and family.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a lemon pepper wild Alaskan salmon filet along with a Meyer lemon and dill cream sauce, some oven roasted purple carrots and jasmine rice.  Cheers!

2014 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  Last night we got about five inches of snow but by this morning, the temperature warmed up such that it was raining and by the time the rain stopped, I was left to shovel before it all freezes again tomorrow, as this high is only supposed to be in the teens.  So basically I spent the afternoon pushing water around the driveway with a snow shovel.  Needless to say, I could use a nice glass of wine, and tonight it's one that's been in the cellar for a few years, the 2014 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Napa Cabernet.  The nose is a interesting combination of leather, green grass, vanilla and mint that suggests a rather full Napa palate.  The taste is a rush of black cherry, currant and plum with an overlay of anise and vanilla bean, that transitions to notes of cedar and spice midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, providing for a lush, luxurious and very dry finish that lingers on the palate for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic big Napa Cabernet with a luxurious balance that makes this wine great for special occasions.  Like most big Cabs, this wine would pair well with big steaks, lamb or hearty roasts, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a big honkin' New York strip grilled Pittsburgh rare with some grilled broccoli rabe and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2016 Mark Ryan Little Sister Merlot

Happy Sunday!  I just relaxed today, watched a movie and am getting ready for a mellow Sunday dinner, and since I read about a Washington Merlot Challenge on Twitter, I've decided to get started tonight.  As most of you know, I'm a big fan of Merlot, despite the idiocy of Hollywood movies, so it wasn't exactly an arm twister to get me on board the Merlot challenge train!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I got from a wine club shipment a little over two years ago (my how time flies!), the 2016 Mark Ryan Little Sister Merlot, a 100% Merlot from the Phinney Hill and Red Willow Vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a beautiful ruby color in the glass, classic for the varietal.  The nose is an earthy rush of leather, charcoal and graphite with just a hint of violet and a bit of raspberry jam over the top.  The taste is a cool bit of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and a bit of currant that transitions to some notes of dusty limestone and white pepper spice midpalate.  The wine is a bit more tannic than a typical Merlot, which is expressive of Washington state, creating a wonderfully smooth and very dry finish than lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a lovely expression of the high quality Merlot that's produced in the Columbia Valley.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of casual weekday or weekend dishes, from barbecue and pizza to steaks and pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some simple beef tacos topped with all the good stuff.  Cheers!

2011 L'Ecole No. 41 Perigee

Well, it's been a chilly and rainy Saturday, a perfect sort of day to curl up on the couch for a nice nap.  Although I didn't nap today, I did find this to be a relaxing day and now it's time to open up a nice bottle of wine and enjoy dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that's been sitting in the cellar for quite a while (not really sure why it was sitting there that long), the 2011 L'Ecole No. 41 Perigee.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (20%), Cabernet Franc (10%), Malbec (6%) and Petit Verdot (4%) from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.  This is one of my all time favorite Bordeaux style blends from Washington, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep inky indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is an earthy mineral playground with aromas of dusty limestone, leather and basalt intermingled with ripe black fruit notes and a hint of mint over the top.  The taste is a subdued rush of cool black fruit, cherry, blackberry and plum that eases into some floral notes of lavender intermingled with cherry cola midpalate.  The tannins are chewy providing for a voluptuous and smooth finish that is dry as a bone, but which lingers on the palate for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a thick, tannic wine that is ideal for cold rainy nights and easily enjoyed with a big steak.  This wine would pair well with steaks and chops, hearty stews, venison or rich pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip along with a baked potato with sour cream and chives and some steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2016 Forgeron Malbec

Happy Sunday!  I am happy to report that I got a lot accomplished today, including my laundry and going to see the new Star Wars movie, it was not that great, but I suppose given what they had to work with it was as good as could be expected.  In any case, tonight I've decided to open a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars, the 2016 Malbec.  This wine is a 100% Malbec from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope 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 garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a Malbec.  The nose exudes aromas of leather, graphite, anise and smoke, that is often present from wines produced in the Wahluke Slope.  The taste is a rush of ripe berries and plum that transitions easily to some earthy notes of sage and dried herbs before some white pepper spices comes out at the finish.  The tannins are dusty but well integrated, creating the foundation for the wonderfully velvety smooth, dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's right up there with the 2014 Vintage as a favorite Malbec.  This wine sould paird well with a variety of dishes, from classic steaks to barbecue to pizza, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple bucatini Bolognese for a nice, hearty Sunday dinner that pairs so well with this wine.  Cheers!

2010 JP Azeitão Red Wine

Have you ever had one of those days where it seems everything you try to do goes horribly wrong?  Well today was one of those days.  I started out early as I needed to go to a funeral, and when I started to make breakfast, my toaster didn't work, which was a real disappointment as I've had it for years and it was a really nice 4-slice toaster.  So no worries, I can run out and get a new toaster in the afternoon when I get back from the funeral.  So I make my toast in a frying pan, not the best but it worked.  Then we start for the funeral and realize that for some reason it was postponed by a week, I've never had that happen before, but I suppose as good a reason as any to go out for a second breakfast.  I come back for the toaster adventure, found one online which would be a good replacement and order it, but then realize I need to make toast tomorrow, so I head out and buy one, get it home and it doesn't work, so back to the store to exchange it (though to a normal, rational human, this might have been a clue about the toaster and the electrical outlet), finally came home with another new toaster and it doesn't work either!  Well the clueless wonder that I am thinks maybe I should check the breaker box and sure enough, the kitchen outlet breaker was tripped, so virtually my entire day was just wasted effort!  At least now I will have three functioning toasters and it's also the first Saturday of the month and the new year, which means it's Cellar Saturday, when I get to open a bottle of wine at least a decade in the making!  Tonight it's one of my only bottles of Portuguese wines which has been in my cellar for at least seven years, the 2010 JP Azeitão, a blend of Castelão (a grape used in making port that can be harshly tannic in its youth), Aragonez (the Portuguese version of Tempranillo) and Syrah.  So let's see if this wine will turn my day around!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose is an interesting combination of green grass, tar and leather with a hint of mint at the back.  The taste is rush of ripe fruit, with black plum, almost a prune character, cherry and hint of black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are still fairly taut after a decade, providing for a very well structure and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, as it's a pleasant wine but nothing particularly special.  This wine would pair well with a variety of Mediterranean dishes, from paella to bouillabaisse to hearty steaks.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with an herb butter braised cod filet with some farro and applewood bacon roasted purple Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2013 Secco-Bertani Original Vintage Edition

Happy New Year!  It's been a relaxing day and I've done some reading and watching of the "Twilight Zone" marathon and now it's time for a New Year's dinner and tonight I am going totally Italian given my recent day trip to Chicago and Eataly!  My wine for the evening is a 2013 Secco-Bertani Original Vintage edition red wine from the Veneto region of Italy (this is in Northern Italy) that I picked up on the recent trip.  This wine is primarily made from Corvina grapes (80%), Sangiovese Grosso (10%), Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) and Syrah (5%), according to a blend from an original recipe from 1888, so let's see what it has to offer!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass with great clarity, somewhat lighter, in the style of a nice Sangiovese.  The nose is a wonderful blend of earthy leather, lavender and a combination of herbs that reminds me of many of the small grocers in Little Italy.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, cherry, blackberry and plum that transitions effortlessly to some notes of spice box, nutmeg and tea midpalate.  The tannins are very fine, providing a nice backdrop for the long, dry finish as the acidity kicks in to provide notes of tart cherry at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking Italian red wine that would pair exceedingly well with a broad range of Italian cuisine, from Tuscan toast to risotto to classic pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with an old Italian favorite comfort dish of braciole served over a plate of bucatini with plenty of fresh basil.  The fruit and spice of this wine just complements the hearty beef and spice of the braciole so well.  Cheers!