2017 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Tuesday!  It's sure been strange living in pandemic times, but at least there are always brighter sides to the circumstances, like this morning when I filled my gas tank for just $1.54 a gallon!  Unfortunately, there are a lot of people hurting right now, whether from this horrible virus or just because of the turmoil it's caused in the economy.  Although I may not be able to help them directly, I am still trying to live as normally as possible, supporting local businesses and the Washington wine industry.  So in that spirit, tonight I've opened a bottle from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, Chuck Reininger!  The 2017 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) and Merlot (15%) from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry and black cherry, with just a hint of blueberry.  The taste is a dance party of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry, plum and currant all playfully enmeshed on a floor of velvety tannins that escort you gently to penultimate hints of anise and peppery spice ahead of the elegant and smooth, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic Cabernet that really highlight's Chuck's wine-making style and the wonderful quality of Walla Walla's old-world style.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of hearty dishes, from steak and lamb to Italian sausage and cedar planked salmon, but tonight is Taco Tuesday, so I am enjoying this wine with some classic beef tacos, with fresh jalapenos on wonderful corn tortillas.  Cheers!