2017 DaMa Wines Cabernet Franc

Happy Saturday!  It's so relaxing when I don't have 6 or 8 hours worth of leaves to collect on a Saturday, so today I ran some errands, visited with friends, and cut up a Coho salmon I bough at Costco yesterday (more on that later!).  So tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2017 Cabernet Franc from the XL Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a beautiful garnet color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose presents a cascade of varying aromas, with a wave of earthy aromas, leather, green grass and basalt that transitions to so some red currant and strawberry.  The taste is quite unique. as I think of many of the Cabernet Francs I've tried, perhaps an ode to the Chinon area of the Loire Valley than Mary referenced in her write up on this wine.  There is a rush of red currant, raspberry intermingled with some wonderful minerality and hints of fresh herbs and lavender.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but still provide plenty of structure for the long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a great representation of a lighter bodied Cabernet Franc that presents more diverse pairing opportunities.  This wine would pair well with many seafood dishes, from Dungeness crab to charred octopus, but would also feel at home with venison or lamb.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled Coho salmon steak, along with grilled white asparagus and some steamed faro.  Cheers!

2017 Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon

 Well Happy Black Friday!  I must admit, although I'm not much of a black Friday shopper, I did go to Costco today, but mainly to get a wreath and some fresh garland to do my traditional day after Thanksgiving outdoor Christmas decorating.  Mission accomplished!  So now it's time to have a nice bottle of wine and a dinner that does not involve turkey of any sort.  Tonight's wine is the latest vintage of a wine that I've enjoyed for quite a while, the 2017 Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon.  This vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Cabernet Franc (13%), Petit Verdot (1%) and Merlot (1%).  So let's see how this vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass and the nose presents aromas of leather and green grass, before opening up to some lovely fruit notes of blackberry, currant and cherry amid warm spice notes.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that wash over your taste buds before transitioning to some notes of cedar, warm caramel and cocoa midpalate.  The tannins are expertly structured presenting a lovely base for the long, and velvety dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's easily lived up to its namesake as one of the premier Cabernets of Washington state.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty pastas to big steaks.  Of course I'm in luck as I happened to receive a shipment of steaks from Wild Fork Foods (I highly recommend them, see their site: https://wildforkfoods.com/) on Wednesday, so tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a big honkin' tomahawk ribeye grilled rare with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2018 DaMa "Venus" Syrah

Happy Taco Tuesday!  I bet you'll never guess what I'm having for dinner tonight but the wine is a different story.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, which has been a personal favorite from Walla Walla for quite some time now.  Tonight's wine is one of a pair of intriguing wines, this one the feminine one, the 2018 DaMa "Venus" Syrah from the Lonesome Springs Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, quite classic for a nice Syrah.  The nose is an inviting combination of floral notes, violet and rose petals with a hint of green grass with some undertones of sea spray and a hint of ripe fruit.  The taste is a rapid departure from the nose with a rush of fruit, blackberry, tart cherry and marionberry that wash over your palate before transitioning to notes of vanilla bean, toasted oak and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are superbly structured, offering a voluptuous balance between the acidity and long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as this is just a wonderful example of what a nice Washington Syrah can be.  The fruit, acidity and spice notes make this an ideal wine to pair with bold flavors, from mussels fra diavalo to a Cajun crawfish boil, and of course tacos!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some classic chorizo and bean tacos topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato and sour cream a perfect balance of heat and cool.  Cheers!

2014 Reininger Cima

Happy Sunday!  It's been a relatively relaxing weekend, in which I was planning to do some yard work, but the weather today didn't cooperate, so amidst the cold rain I took the afternoon off and decided to watch movies and nap (sometimes simultaneously!).  Tonight I've decided to cook indoors and needed something of an Italian flair, so I settled on a recent wine club selection from Reininger Winery, the 2014 Cima, well anticipated having been aged in barrel for the past six years.  This wine is crafted in a style of a super Tuscan blend, mixing the classic Sangiovese with some Bordeax varietals.  For this vintage the blend is Sangiovese (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), Merlot (17%) and Petit Verdot (8%) from the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a lovely deep garnet color in the glass, a testament to the heavy doses of Sangiovese and Cabernet in the blend.  The nose classic of a Tuscan blend, with aromas of cherry, raspberry and currant intermingled with green cedar, violet and dried spices reminiscent of an old Italian grocery in New York.  The taste is a rush of tart cherry, with wisps of smoke and charred oak that transition to some blackberry and raspberry midpalate.  The fine grain tannins offer a perfect base for the long voluptuous dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking and elemental wine, the speaks to its complexity as well.  This wine would pair well with a variety of classic Tuscan dishes, from bistecca alla fiorentina, to classic pasta dishes to fava beans on Tuscan toast.  Tonight I am going with a bit of a classic Italian dinner of fusilli with hearty meat sauce with hot Italian sausage with onions and peppers topped with shaved parmesan and fresh basis.  The fruit and earthy notes of this wine are perfect with a spicy pasta, cheers!

2015 Mark Ryan Water Witch

Thank goodness it's Friday!  It's been a busy week for me and I'm looking forward to relaxing a bit this weekend ahead of the holiday.  So tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I randomly came across in the cellar (don't ask me why I haven't opened this wine for a couple years) the 2015 Mark Ryan Winery Water Witch!  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (30%), Cabernet Franc (8%) and Petit Verdot (2%) from the Quintessence Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges.  The nose is a cascade of wild berries, blackberry, raspberry, strawberry and cassis lingering over aromas of vanilla bean and spice.  The taste is a voluptuous burst of black fruit that washes over your palate before transitioning nicely to some notes of cocoa powder midpalate.  The tannins are finely structured, providing a velvety mouthfeel and excellent structure to the long, smooth dry finish that bites back with some white pepper spice and tarragon.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking Bordeaux style blend that highlights the craft of Washington.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty fall dishes, from braised short ribs to wild mushroom risotto, lamb chops to beef stew.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Prime New York strip topped with béarnaise sauce and served with some grilled white asparagus.  Cheers!

2018 Pepper Bridge Winery Seven Hills Red Wine

Happy Thursday!  It's been a busy week and it seems things are finally getting under control in my life, well at least as good as can be expected.  It was unusually mild here today, so I had the chance to go for a quick bike ride in the 45 minutes between when I finished work just after 5:00 and when it got dark, so at least I feel like I accomplished something healthy today.  And now for the remainder of my healthy efforts, I've decided to open a bottle of 2018 Pepper Bridge Vineyards Seven Hills red wine.  The blend on this wine changes with each vintage, but all the fruit is sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard to highlight what this long-standing Walla Walla Vineyard has to offer.  The 2018 vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Cabernet Franc (17%), Merlot (9%), Malbec (9%) and Petit Verdot (9%).  So let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with deep indigo at the center, a sure indication of the heavy hand of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend.  The nose is a mesmerizing combination of blackberry, cherry and cassis intermingled with hints of cedar and exotic spices and a mild undertone of citrus.  The taste is a cool rush of cherry and blackberry that washes over your palate before easing into some mineral notes of dusty limestone.  The tannins are vibrant and supportive of a velvety mouthfeel amid the long, smooth and exceptionally try finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic, high quality Bordeaux style blend from a premier Walla Walla producer.  This wine is ideal for fall, sipping on the sofa in front of the fire, but it would also pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from pasta to lamb, steaks to roast beef.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse with some grilled leeks and asparagus.  Cheers!

2017 True Grit Reserve Petite Sirah

Well, anyone that knows me is well aware that I am a big fan of the Duke, John Wayne, which of course means that I could never pass up a wine with "True Grit" on the label.  So as I was browsing the wines at Costco this weekend I had to pick up a bottle of 2017 True Grit Reserve Petite Sirah from Parducci Wines.  This Mendocino County California wine represents what is truly interesting to me of the California wine scene outside of Napa - interesting varietals with interesting terroir!  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, characteristic of a nice Petite Sirah (which as I always say, seems to be neither petite nor Syrah).  The nose presents a cascade of aromas, blackberry, cherry amid wild game notes that exude a sense of pioneering wonder.  The taste is an absolute rush of cool black fruit, blackberry, blueberry and plum that envelop the palate before transitioning to some notes of dark chocolate and while pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are very chewy, providing nice backbone for the long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasure to sip and would give any big Cabernet a run for it's money when it comes to food pairing.  This wine was also a terrific value at just under $14 at Costco (I think I might need to get some more!).  As for pairing, this wine practically begs for steak, but would also do well with hearty pastas, braised short ribs of hearty chili on a cold fall evening.  Tonight I can oblige with a rare grille petit Angus porterhouse with grilled leeks and asparagus.  Cheers!

2018 Bledsoe Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

Well this wine almost went past the boards as I received eight bottles with my wine club shipments and I was down to three bottles (now two!) before I had a chance to review this wine.  The 2018 Bledsoe Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), Merlot (11%) and Syrah (11%) from the Bob Healy, Loess, Seven Hills and Golden Ridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is shaping up before I head out to the theater this evening!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with great clarity, as you might expect from a nice Walla Walla Cabernet.  The nose is a rather subdued affaire, with a bit of green grass and mint under black cherry and fig aromas.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, plum and mulberry that transitions nicely to some dusty limestone and cocoa midpalate.  The tannins are still a bit tightly wound, but well integrated for a lingering dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it seems to have taken a step back in this vintage (formerly, under the "Flying B" label, this wine peaked with the 2016 vintage in my opinion).  This wine would be a very good steak wine, and would pair well with a variety of hearty fall and winter dishes, from beef stew to hearty pasta dishes.  Tonight I'm trying something new, as I bought some pre-marinated Korean beef bulgogi at Costco, so I've prepared that with some jasmine rice.  Cheers!

2007 Domaine de Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's that magical first Saturday of the month where I raid my cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  And tonight I have to admit, I am exhausted!  Yesterday the city came by to pick up leaves and my pile filled two 2 1/2 ton dump trucks and today I started over again and did the front yard and roof and replaced about half the pile they just took!  Needless to say if you see any funny typing on this post, I've likely fallen asleep with my head on the keyboard.  Oh, the wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of the wine of the pope, the 2007 Domaine de Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape, a wonderful blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre from a family that's been producing since 1345!  This particular wine was produced from grapes produced by lower yielding 40-year old vines, so let's see how it's shaped up for the past 13 years!

The wine is a vibrant garnet color in the glass with a bit of amber along the edges.  The nose is a pleasant combination of tart cherry, raspberry with an undertone of mint.  The taste is surprisingly fruit forward, with a rush of cherry and strawberry that transitions to some earthy notes of tar and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are soft but well structured, providing an ideal foundation for the smooth, dry finish that lingers on the palate with a reprise of raspberry.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a well done example of a nice Chateuneuf du Pape with all the character you could want.  This wine would pair well with a variety of fall dishes, from roasts and stews, to pasta or risotto.  Tonight I am going a bit off the beaten track, as my local market had a special on chicken leg quarters for just 19￠ a pound, the only catch was you had to buy a 10-pound bag!  So I've been enjoying a lot of chicken this week including tonight as I've made some chicken Tikka Marsala over some basmati rice to go with this wine.  Cheers!

2016 Anvil Dionysus Cabernet Sauvignon

 Happy Friday!  It's been an inordinately long week, and although I haven't posted, you can rest assured that I still consumed a lot of wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars, the 2016 Anvil Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (89%) and Petit Verdot (11%), from blocks 11 and 13 of the Dionysus Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  Since I've been ready for a glass of wine since noon, let's see what this baby has to offer!

The wine is a deep indigo at the center, with bright garnet around the edges, just as you might expect from an expansive Cabernet.  The nose is chock full of fruit, black raspberry, cherry and currant intermingled with fresh herb notes lingering over the top.  The taste is a rush of rich black cherry that dances around your tongue, beckoning the flavors of green grass, cocoa and fig to join the dance.  The tannins are nicely rounded, providing for a generous mouthfeel and a solid base for the lingering dry finish that leaves you asking for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classically formed Washington tribute to the Bordeaux of the left bank.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty fall dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty pasta with Bolognese sauce, lamb chops to hearty chili.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a big honkin' Angus T-bone steak grilled Pittsburgh rare with some grilled leeks and Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2012 Barons Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

 Ok, let me start by saying by all accounts I should be asleep on the couch right now, after spending so much of the weekend battling the leaves!  Yes, it's ,y annual battle, but today was the epitome of the battle as not only was I battling the leaves, I was also battling wind and our first snow of the season!  But alas, I think we are now past the halfway point, so it's all downhill from here (famous last words!) and now it's time for a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2012 Barons Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvigon (90%) and Merlot (10%) from the Hedges Estate Vineyard in the Red Moutain AVA.  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, suggesting a big wine.  The nose is classic big Washington red wine, suggestive of a Bordeaux style, with some black cherry, and plum edging toward prune, vanilla bean and suggestive spices.  The taste is a rush of black cherry and cola, that transitions to some notes of mint, dark chocolate and spicebox midpalate.  The tannins are round, but I have to admit the finish left me wanting, as it was just a bit flat.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's probably approaching it's peak but still a nice easy drinking Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with a lot of heaty fall and winter dishes, from beef stew, to the venison chili I had last night.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Sunday dinner of a rare grilled Angus T-bone on a bed of grilled leeks, some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!