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!
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