2018 Mark Ryan Crazy Mary Mourvèdre

Happy Thursday!  Today I had an eye doctor appointment, so now that my vision is getting almost back to normal, it's time for dinner and a glass of wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent release from Mark Ryan Winery, the 2018 Crazy Mary Mourvèdre.  This wine was a limited production (just 210 cases) of 100% Mourvèdre from the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, very classic for the varietal.  The nose is chock full of warm red fruit, cherry, currant and cassis, with floral hints of violets and rich earthiness.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, cherry, blueberry and currant that transition nicely to some earthy notes of tobacco and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are firm but refined, providing the perfect base for the long, dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just pleasant to drink and one of the better example of a pure form of the varietal.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from summer barbecue to pasta, lamb chops to pork tenderloin.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a Thai green curry chicken with vegetables over jasmine rice (I had a surplus of Thai basil in the garden, so I had to use it!).  Cheers!

2011 Tikveš Vranec Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  It was exceedingly hot today, so I spent much of the day indoors, doing some chores and some online work, including a wine blog post!  As for the wine, tonight I'm enjoying a bottle that's been in the cellar for a number of years, the 2011 Tikveš Vranec red wine.  Vranec is one of the most popular varietals in Macedonia, where this wine was produced, and interestingly, the name means "strong, black and powerful horse (black stallion)" which I found interesting as the glass I poured certainly did this imagery justice.  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is really a black stallion in the glass, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of prune, blackberry, peppery spice and wild game, very stallion-esque.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, currant and plum that transition nicely to some notes of cocoa powder and green grass midpalate.  The tannins are robust, providing for a very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a very interesting wine that was also fairly inexpensive if I recall.  This wine would pair marvelously with venison or duck, with the fruit and earthy character accenting the game character.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a plain Jane Sunday dinner of grilled ribeye, along with some mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2018 Mark Ryan Monkey Wrench

Happy Saturday!  I have to admit I took it easy for much of the day, though I did run some errands and cut the grass, but to be fair it was really hot today!  In any case, it's time for a nice dinner and glass of wine, and tonight I've opened some wine that just arrived yesterday from Mark Ryan Winery.  The 2018 Mark Ryan Monkey Wrench marks the second vintage of this wine (see my review of the 2017 vintage here) and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (68%), Merlot (18%), Cabernet Franc (13%) and Petit Verdot (1%) from five different vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this latest vintage is tasting!

The wine has the look of a solid Cabernet-focused blend with a deep, inky center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is full of leather, surrounded by ripe black cherry, blueberry and baking spice.  The taste is a rush of rich fruit, black cherry, currant and plum that transitions easily to some white pepper spice midpalate.  The velvety tannins and balanced acidity provide for an ideal base for the lingering dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I think this vintage is just a bit better than the first, providing for the aging potential of a great Bordeaux-style blend, but at a very approachable price.  This wine would pair well with many weeknight dishes, from burgers and pizza to tacos and steak.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye, with the last of the grilled garlic scapes, some blistered cherry tomatoes and charred broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2017 Reininger Sangiovese Grosso

Happy Sunday!  It's been thunderstoming and raining off and on all day today, which is good since I've spend much of it cooking (more on that in a bit).  In light of my dinner choices and since I just received a new shipment of this wine from Reininger Winery, my decision on what to drink tonight was fairly obvious.  I've decided to open a bottle of the 2017 Reininger Sangiovese Grosso, a 100% Sangiovese Grosso from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  Unlike a traditional Sangiovese, this wine is made from a clone of the varietal from Montalcino that is used to make Brunello.  As a big Brunello fan, I was tempted to let this one age for 10 years, and I have a few bottles for that, but I couldn't help opening up one tonight, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass with just a tinge of amber along the edges, just as you might expect from it's Italian cousins.  The nose presents aromas of ripe cherry, strawberry overlaid with hints of anise and tobacco.  The taste is a rush of ripe red fruit, cherry, currant and mulberry that transitions easily to some notes of dark chocolate and spice box midpalate.  The tannins are soft which combined with a kick of acidty, provides for a vibrant and voluptuous dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the best Sangiovese wines I've tasted from Washington.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from classic Italian pasta with marinara, to Bisteca Fiorentina.  Tonight I've taken a completely different route, as my local supermarket had lamb rack on sale, so I decided to look up how to make the classic Hell's Kitchen herb crusted rack of lamb recipe (hat tip to the helpful video from Chef Christina Wilson here) along with potato puree, ratatouille with bravas puree and of course the lamb sauce, of a red wine and olive reduction.  And unlike my steaks, I prefer my lamb well done, so cheers!

2015 Columbia Crest Syrah

Well, it was sweltering today, but I still ended up getting some yard work done, including redoing some flagstone, digging up some unwanted trees, pulling weeds and mowing, and now I am surely ready for a nice dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2015 Columbia Crest Syrah from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  I think I may have bought this at my local market a year or two ago, so let's see how this wine from one of Washington's biggest producers tastes.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from a Syrah.  The nose is full of raspberry, green grass and mint with an undertone of tar.  The taste is a burst of red berry fruit, raspberry, cherry, currant and strawberry that transition nicely to some earthy peat and graphite midpalate.  The tannins are medium bodied, providing for a nice, smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a very pleasant drinking Syrah at a value price (I doubt I paid much more than $10 for this bottle).  This wine would be ideal for casual dinners, from pizza and burgers to barbecue and tacos, but tonight I'm going the other way and enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime filet mignon with some of the last of the garlic scapes of the season, along with roasted baby potatoes and pearl onions and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2018 Board Track Racer Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine that was literally delivered to me today, the 2018 Board Track Racer Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.  Board Track Racer is Mark Ryan's second label and they produce some great drinking wines at very attractive prices, and the Reserve Cabernet is a new effort made from the best barrels from the vintage.  This limited production wine (just 225 cases) is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (91%), Merlot (6%), Petit Verdot (2%) and Cabernet Franc (1%) from the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this young wine is tasting!

The wine has the classic look of a Cabernet, with a deep inky center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a cascade of ripe jammy fruit, blackberry, plum and currant with undertones of mint and lavender.  The taste is rush of rich fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that ease into notes of vanilla and caramel midpalate, with a hint of graphite at the finish.  The tannins are still a bit tightly wound, providing for a very smooth dry finish that lingers in the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's very approachable now, but could improve with a few years in the cellar (thankfully I bough extra, so we can revisit this one in the mid-2020s!).  This wine would pair well with a variety hearty, yet casual dishes, from steaks and barbecued ribs to burgers and brats.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic plate of beef tacos, as the fruit accentuates the spice of the beef and coolness of the sour cream and avocado.  Cheers!

2014 Raymond Yountville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  This has been a busy day of yard work, I went up on the roof and blew off all the leaves and oak pollen from the spring and recent storms, and then blew out the gutters, then finally pulled weeds and mowed, so I am definitely ready for a glass of wine.  Tonight's wine is a special treat the 2014 Raymond Yountville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  I've been a fan of Raymond since I first visited them on the Napa Valley Wine Train back in 2015 (see that post here).  I happened to find this special limited production wine on Wines Till Sold Out, so let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose is chock full of ripe fruit, Bing cherry, blackberry, currant and a bit of herbal notes that remind me of the smell of the winery on my first visit.  The taste is a rush of ripe red fruit, cherry, raspberry, currant and strawberry that transitions easily to to some hints of oak, vanilla and caramel midpalate.  The velvety tannins are ideal for the wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a great example of a multidimensional Napa Valley Cabernet, exhibiting bold flavors with subtle notes that add to the complexity of this wine.  It would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from big steaks and chops, to venison and pork tenderloin.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime New York strip, along with grilled garlic scapes, bacon roasted asparagus and oven roasted mini potatoes with olive oil and fresh thyme.  Cheers!

2013 Forgeron Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Tuesday!  It's been a weird few days of weather around here, where it's been super hot and humid, but then randomly in the afternoon we have a thunderstorm, despite zero forecasts for any rain!  So, at least I still have wine, and tonight it's a bottle that's been in the cellar for a few years, the 2013 Forgeron Cellars Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.  So let's see how this wine has shaped up over the past few years!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry, cherry and a hint of floral notes.  The taste is a rush of black cherry fruit up front that transitions to come notes of cocoa powder, and a bit of tarragon at the back end.  The tannins are soft, with making for a wonderfully long, dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant and easy drinking everyday Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from prime steaks and chops, to barbecue and pasta.  Since I made so much food for the fourth of July long weekend, so tonight I am enjoying this wine with random leftovers.  Cheers!

2010 Robert Storey Cellars Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Independence Day!  Not only is this a wonderful holiday, it also happens to be the first Saturday of the new month, meaning it's Cellar Saturday!  That wonderful day when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  I admit, last month I completely messed up and missed Cellar Saturday, so this month I am opening a 2010 Robert Storey Cellars Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon!  This 100% Cabernet has been in my cellar for quite a few years, so let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice California Cabernet.  The nose presents jammy fruit aromas of blackberry, cherry and plum over hints of lavender and green cedar.  The taste is classic Alexander Valley Cabernet, with a rush of jammy fruit, blueberry, blackberry and currant that transitions nicely to some earthy notes of smoke, tar and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but still balanced to provide the frame for the long, smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking Cabernet that was a good value as well.  This wine would pair well with a variety of summer dishes given its Zin-like fruit character, from barbecue to burgers and brats.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye, with grilled garlic scapes (maybe the last of the season!), leeks and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2011 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Merlot

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Even though it's about 90° today, I managed to go for a nice bike ride after work and now it's time for a glass of wine and a bit of dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottled I stumbled upon in the cellar a few days ago, the 2011 L'Ecole No. 41 Estate Merlot.  This wine is produced from fruit mainly from the Seven Hills Vineyard (58%) with the remainder sourced from the Ferguson Vineyard (42%).  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, very characteristic of a high-quality Merlot.  The nose presents aromas of leather, strawberry, cherry and hints of tobacco.  The taste is a rush of cool black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that dance on the palate before shifting to some notes of vanilla bean and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are still fairly robust despite the time in the cellar, resulting in a wonderfully long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a combination of classic old world style Walla Walla Merlot with some added minerality from the Ferguson fruit.  This wine would pair well with steak, hard aged cheeses or a variety of summer grilling fare.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some grilled steak and shrimp tacos.  Cheers!