2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Grenache

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a rather odd weather day here, with sun and calm, gusty wind and pouring rain, all this afternoon!  So after enduring all that, I thought it might be nice to open a bottle of wine and relax this evening.  After digging a bit in the cellar, I found a bottle of 2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Grenache, from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  Over the years I've become familiar with this vineyard and it produces some wonderful Grenache and Syrah, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with a lighter weight and great clarity.  The nose a warm rush of red fruit and floral notes, with aromas of strawberry, tart cherry and kirsch, intermingled with violet and undertones of tar.  The taste is just beautifully fruit forward, with a rush of cherry, raspberry and strawberry that illuminate your tastebuds, before transitioning to some some earthy notes of tar and dusty limestone midpalate.  The earthy minerality of this wine shines through a wave of peppery spice notes at the finish.  The tannins are smooth and well integrated, providing for a pleasant, long dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a beautiful example of the varietal and a pleasant, food friendly wine.  This wine would be ideal for summer (as fall chill is in full swing!) and would pair well with burgers and brats, barbecue, or summer roasted beet and feta salad.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some spicy chicken fajita tacos, along with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2015 Michel-Schlumberger Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It's been a busy day and since I'm entertaining tonight, I'll have to make this quick!  Oh, who am I kidding, I can't do anything quick.  So tonight I've invite some friends over for dinner and we are having some filet mignon (some will have prime beef while those of us more adventurous will have bison!) and what goes better with filet then a nice Napa Valley Cabernet.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2015 Michel-Schlumberger Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon.  This is the fourth vintage I've enjoyed of this wine, though not in order, as I've sampled the 2013, 2014 and 2016 previously.  I bought this wine from Wines Till Sold Out, and it is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (81%), Merlot (9%), Syrah (4%), Zinfandel (4%) and Cabernet Franc (2%) from Napa Valley Vineyards in Yountville (69%), Southeast Napa (11%), St. Helena (10%), Rutherford (5%), Stags Leap (3%), Oakville (1%), and Howell Mountain (1%).  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is deep, brooding affair, with inky black at the center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a rush of ripe jammy fruit up front, with blackberry, cherry and prune amid earthy aromas of oak and smoke.  The taste much more subdued than the nose suggests with a mellow blackberry and plum up front that transitions to some notes of tobacco and a hint of lavender midpalate.  The chalky tannins make for a rich mouthfeel and provide a nice base for a long, dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a remarkably pleasant, old world style Cabernet from the new world of Napa Valley.  This wine would of course pair well with steak, but it would also be ideal with lamb, pork tenderloin or earthy wild mushroom risotto.  As I mentioned earlier, tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bison filet mignon along with some garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus.  Cheers!

2017 Megan Anne Pinot Noir

 Happy Sunday!  I admit I've been slacking on by blogging duties, but I've been battling a cold which has inhibited my wine reviewing.  But tonight I've opened a bottle of Pinot Noir (those of you paying attention will note that I'm not the biggest pinot fan, but what the heck!), this one the 2017 Megan Anne Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, which is Mark Ryan's label for Oregon Pinot Noir.  I bought several bottles of this vintage from Wines Till Sold Out, when I saw the offer at nearly half price, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a little richer in color than many Pinot Noirs, but still with great clarity and a nice crimson color.  The nose is chock full of ripe red fruit, cherry and marionberry, with earthy aromas of peat and tar, with a ribbon of vanilla strung throughout.  The taste is a rush of cherry and raspberry that bows to some vanilla and caramel intermingled with earthy peat midpalate.  The tannins are a bit sharp, but well structured for the lingering dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, which it pretty high for a varietal that's not my favorite.  This wine would pair well with a variety of lighter dishes, from classic halibut, Dungeness crab or wild mushroom risotto, but I think it might also pair well with game, such as venison.  Tonight I am taking that route, enjoying this wine with a rare seared bison filet mignon with a rather whimsical pairing of tater tots and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2018 Pine & Brown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, I just returned from my evening bike ride, so now that I've done my exercise for the day, I can make up for it with a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that just arrived yesterday from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2018 Pine & Brown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (95%) and Petit Verdot (5%) from the Oakville District of Napa Valley.  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 might expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose is a classic blend of leather, black fruit and a hint of lavender over the top. The taste is classic big Napa Cabernet with a rush of black currant, cherry and blackberry, that transitions easily to some notes of cedar, and mocha midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing a nice backbone for the long, smooth dry finish with a nice accent of black pepper spice.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking Cabernet from a solid Napa Valley vintage.  This wine obviously craves a steak, but would also pair well with easy weeknight dishes ranging from pasta to pizza or burgers.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some steak fajita tacos (it is Taco Tuesday after all!) with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2015 Seven Hills Ciel du Cheval

Happy Saturday!  It's been somewhat rainy here today, so I've been stuck indoors, reading and doing some work on the computer.  But now it's time to make some dinner and have a nice glass of wine.  For this evening, I've opened a bottle of 2015 Seven Hills Ciel du Cheval, a classic Bordeaux style blend from the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  I visited Walla Walla in August of 2015, and I can attest that it was a remarkably warm vintage with harvest beginning earlier than any year in recent memory.  We'll see what impact that heat had on the wine, which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (41%), Merlot (36%), Petit Verdot (13%) and Cabernet Franc (10%).  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with an inky center, reflecting the character of its two main varietals.  The nose is an interesting combination of ripe blackberry and cherry intermingled with some floral notes of lilac, with undertones of earth.  The taste is a rush of ripe blackberry and cherry, with notes of fig and black pepper midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing nice body to the long, smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate with a reprise of black pepper spice.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classically styled Washington red blend that marries new world fruit with old world style.  This wine would pair well with lamb, steaks, pasta or risotto, or even just sipping on it's own on a warm late summer evening.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Prime New York strip, with some grilled leeks and peppers, along with some steamed purple cauliflower.  Cheers!

2017 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon

 Happy Wine Wednesday!  This had been a crazy day by all accounts, starting with a power outage, the second in a week - it's like I'm living in California but with crappy weather!  Speaking of California, that's where tonight's wine hails from, the 2017 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon, from a long-time favorite producer from Paso Robles. Oddly enough, it seems I've developed a trend of only enjoying the odd-year vintages of Justin Cabernet, as I've enjoyed the 2013, 2015 and now the 2017.  So let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is an inky deep indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a solid Cabernet.  Take a whiff and you are treated to a rush of ripe blackberry, cherry and plum, with hints of lavender underneath, suggesting more of an old-world style of Cabernet.  The first sip is a rush of jammy fruit at first, that eases into some earthy notes of green grass and sharp mineral notes.  The tannins are firm, but well integrated, setting the stage 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, and at just $24 it's one you can enjoy on a weeknight.  This wine would pair well with beef, lots of beef, as well as casual summer dishes from burgers to barbecue to pizza.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus New York strip, with some fire roasted peppers, oven roasted baby potatoes and some steamed Italian beans.  Cheers!

2007 Stag's Leap Napa Valley Petite Syrah

 Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of the new month and that means it's time to raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making and tonight I've opened a special wine from a stellar Napa Valley Vintage, the 2007 Stag's Leap Napa Valley Petite Syrah.  I am a fan of Petite Syrah as I find that it's generally neither petite nor very Syrah like, as it tends to be a much bigger, bolder wine.  I've decanted this wine and let it open up a bit so let's see how it's shaping up!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, much more reminiscent of a Cabernet.  The nose is an interesting combination of ripe black fruit intermingled with a bit of mint, green herbs and earthy notes of tar and basalt.  The taste is exactly what you might expect from the aromas, with a rush of jammy fruit that quickly subsides to reveal flavors of green olives, white pepper and a bit of earthy funk midpalate.  The tannins are quite subdued revealing a soft, voluptuous dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's an excellent sipping wine that might be a year or two past it's prime.  This wine would pair well with just about any Labor Day fare, from grilled steak to barbecued ribs.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus New York Strip, along with some grilled leeks, fire roasted peppers and grilled corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Valley Syrah

 Happy Taco Tuesday!  I bet you'll never guess what I'm having for dinner.  And for some reason, one of my favorite wines to enjoy with tacos is a nice Syrah, and I've opened a good one tonight.  The 2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Estate Walla Walla Syrah is a 100% Syrah sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass with nice clarity and body.  The nose exudes aromas of leather, black pepper and hints of violet that bring to mind some old-world charm.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, with blackberry, plum and blueberry, with a bit of tart cherry midpalate.  There is a good bit of earthiness and texture to this wine that provides for some interesting tastes as the wine opens up while sipping throughout an evening.  The tannins are firm and well integrated for the long, dry finish that hits you with a bit of bitter chocolate at the very end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a really pleasant drinking and food friendly wine.  This one would pair well with anything from grilled steaks to barbecue, to shrimp skewers or pasta (ideal for the upcoming Labor Day weekend!).  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some simple beef taco with cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and jalapenos on fresh corn tortillas.  Cheers!