2019 Chacabuco Malbec

 Happy New Year's Eve!  It's been a lackluster one to say the least and I along with many others are bidding a bon voyage to 2020 and desperately hoping that 2021 brings better tidings!  To help bid the old year nigh with a fond goodbye, I've decided to open another bottle of wine from the recent Wines Till Sold Out case sale.  The 2019 Chacabuco Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina was produced with grapes from the Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley, where some of the best and most affordable Malbec hails from.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, with garnet at the edges, just as you might expect from the varietal.  The nose is basket of ripe red fruit, cherry, currant and plum that exude a sweetness.  The taste is a rush of ripe cherry, currant and raspberry that eases into some notes of vanilla bean and toasted oak midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat soft at first, with a turn to sharpness for the long, dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant example of an Argentine Malbec at a price ($10) that makes this wine easy to sip.  This wine, like most Malbec would pair well with beef, steaks, roasts, chops, as well as hearty, earthy dishes like a wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight I am going the traditional route and enjoying this wine with some braised short ribs over mashed potatoes and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2017 Pure Bred Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out during their case sale (this one included all wines for $10 each, or $120 per case).  The 2017 Pure Bred Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendocino County California.  I had the chance to go to Costco today and pick up some prime New York strips, so I needed to open a nice Cabernet this evening, so let's see how this one is shaping up!

The wine is a deep, inky, brooding affair at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a California Cabernet.  The nose is a rush or ripe, red fruit, cherry, currant and raspberry, dancing with aromas of green grass and cardamom.  The taste is a bit different from the heavy hand of Napa, with a rush of tart cherry at the outset that transitions to earthy notes of tar and dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are still a bit tightly wound, but a nice backbone to the long dry finish with a kick of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a bit young still but has all the makings of a nice quality Cabernet that's priced for everyday drinking.  This wine would pair well with steaks, chops, barbecue or hearty fall dishes like stews of chili.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with the aforementioned prime New York strip grilled rare, along with some grilled leeks, oven roasted Yukon gold potatoes and steamed asparagus with Hollandaise.  Cheers!

2018 Forgeron Mourvèdre

Happy Sunday!  For today's Sunday dinner, I've decided to make my traditional Christmas ham, so the challenge is what wine to pair with it?  I've long thought that a nice Mourvèdre makes a nice pairing with pork generally, so why not ham as well?  So that's what I've opened, the 2018 Forgeron Mourvèdre, a 100% Mourvèdre from the Heart of the Hill Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this one is shaping up!

The wine is a lovely ruby color in the glass, with crystal clarity, just as you might expect from this varietal.  The wine exudes aromas of blackberry, blueberry and vanilla bean, with undertones of leather and tobacco.  One sip, and a flood of ripe, sweet fruit washes over your palate, blackberry, cherry and currant that eases into some notes of vanilla and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, but still a bit youthful, providing a nice base for the long, dry finish with a nice bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very pleasant drinking example of this pure varietal.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from pasta with cream sauces, cedar planked salmon and lamb.  But, tonight it's time for my traditional Christmas dinner with a wonderful glazed ham, mashed sweet potatoes and green bean casserole (because it's not a holiday without green bean casserole!).  Cheers!

2018 30 Miles Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Boxing Day!  At least to all my friends in the British Commonwealth.  The holidays are winding down, and I like many others are really looking forward to next week when we can put 2020 in the rearview mirror.  But one of the good parts about the holidays are the wine gifts that folks give, and my friend Tennille makes a solid effort to find me a good, value priced wine each year for Christmas, and this year she gave me a bottle of 2018 30 Miles Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  So, let's see how she did this year!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, but not quite as brooding as some of the biggest Napa Cabernets.  One whiff and you are immersed into ripe jammy fruit, blackberry, plum and cassis that transition nicely to some earthy aromas of sandalwood and minerals.  The taste doesn't deviate much from the nose, as blackberry, cherry and currant wash over your palate, before easing into some vanilla and oak midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tight, but offer a nice base for the long, dry finish with plenty of lingering fruit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a really nice everyday Cabernet, that is likely a great value under $20.  This wine would pair naturally with a nice steak, but would also be at home with some hearty pasta or barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime center cut ribeye along with grilled leeks, steamed red potatoes and some asparagus with Hollandaise.  Cheers!

2018 DaMa Stoney Vine Vineyard Syrah

 Merry Christmas!  This being Christmas Eve, I am pretty much done with all my shopping and preparations, presents have been delivered and I am getting ready for a lovely winter's nap in front of the fire with a cup of hot buttered rum, easy on the butter, listening to a rebroadcast of a radio play of "It's a Wonderful Life" that I did with the Elkhart Civic Theatre two years ago.  But before that can happen, it's time for a glass of wine and some dinner.  Tonight I've chosen to open a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2018 Stoney Vine Vineyard Syrah.  This wine is the first that DaMa has produced from Syrah grown in the Rocks AVA, so I expect this 100% Syrah will be a bit more muscular and earthy, hence the image of Hercules on the label.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose is an interesting combination of ripe black fruit, blackberry, plum and currant with strains of savory notes of black olive and umami.  The taste is a rush of black fruit that washes over your palate, with hints of anise and rose petals, that transitions effortlessly to some mineral notes of dusty limestone with this faintest hint of vanilla midpalate.  The tannins are soft and well integrated, providing a velvety smooth, and very dry finish that lingers.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the more approachable Syrahs I've tried from the Rocks District, muscular but not brutish.  This wine would pair well with many classic Syrah pairings, from lamb to salmon, pasta to barbecue.  Tonight I am trying this wine with a new recipe I found on Instagram from a gentleman who goes by the moniker, "dontgobaconmyheart" for Boursin linguine.  I've modified the recipe slightly for such a special dinner as Christmas Eve and replaced the smoked sausage with Jonah crab claw meat.  In any event, the creamy, herb laden sauce on this pasta is ideal with the black fruit and minerality of this wine.  Cheers!

2016 Château Grand Bouchon Médoc

Happy Sunday!  I spent the afternoon finishing the Christmas shopping, but as I was starting think about wrapping all the presents, it was nearing suppertime, so I thought why do today what I can put off until tomorrow?  So instead I've opened a bottle of wine and starting to prepare dinner.  And the wine I've opened is a recent one I purchased from Wines Till Sold Out, as they had a $120 case special, so I selected four different wines and bought a case.  Among them was the 2016 Château Grand Bouchon Médoc, a classic blend of Merlot and Cabernet from the left bank of the Gironde, so let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose is a fountain of raspberry, red plum and vanilla that flows through some earthy mineral notes.  The taste is a rush of blackberry, raspberry and black cherry, with a hint of sweetness among the fruit before transitioning to some notes of dusty limestone and cedar midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat chalky, but complementary to the fruit, providing for a lovely, long dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a very nice example of a Médoc, which is a personal favorite of mine among Bordeax.  This wine would pair well with the classic red meat dishes, from steaks to prime rib, but it would also be great with a fall root vegetable galette or mushroom risotto.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a herb crusted rack of lamb with garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus and a red wine and olive reduction.  Cheers!

2005 Helix Columbia Valley Merlot

Happy Saturday!  So, I've taken the rest of the year off from work, so you might expect me to be posting a bit more, particularly since I have a number of great dinners planned over this time.  Today, however, I was busy Christmas shopping and getting ready for the holidays and came home mid-afternoon to enjoy a virtual "mystery" tasting of Helix Merlots with Chuck Reininger and Dorian Williams, the cellar manager for Reininger Winery.  I was able to order a pack of four "mystery" library Merlots for the tasting, including a 2003, 2005 Columbia Valley, 2005 Stillwater Creek and 2006, and I decided to open just the 2005 Columbia Valley for the tasting (but don't worry, I'll be sure to share the rest with you through future blog posts!).  So let's see how this wine is tasting after 15 years!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry and prune at first, but once it opens up for a few minutes in the glass, the prune gives way to rich black cherry.  The taste is filled with black cherry, blackberry and plum intermingled with Asian spice and smoke that transitions to some notes of vanilla bean midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured with a good bit of acidity, providing for a wonderfully smooth, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just about to peak, perhaps another year or two before it gets over the hill.  This wine would pair well with a lot of casual dishes, from tacos and pizza to burgers and sushi.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bison New York strip served with mashed potatoes and gravy and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2012 Reininger Tahoma

Happy Tuesday!  Tonight is set to be a wonderful evening, as I will be participating in a virtual wine tasting hosted by Chuck Reininger, the founder and genius behind some of the most creative wines coming out of the Walla Walla Valley today.  So among the wines featured in tonight's virtual event is the 2012 Tahoma, named for Mt. Rainier and a nod to Chuck's mountaineering days, this wine is a blend of Sangiovese (47%), Merlot (24%), Cabernet Sauvignon (21%), Malbec (5%) and Petit Verdot (3%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and XL Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  This wine is interesting in that was aged in barrel for eight years before bottling and release this year!  So let's see what the extra time did for this wine.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  Aromas of blackberry, currant and cherry intermingle with earthy notes of leather and hints of floral elements that exude a luxurious vibe.  The taste is a rush of the ripe fruit so prominent in the nose, with some exotic spice notes amid bright acidity that ties it all together.  The tannins are wonderfully soft, but elegantly structured to provide for a long, voluptuous finish that lingers on for what seems like several minutes.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant sipping wine and a wonderfully creative example of the style of winemaking that Chuck is known for.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of fall and winter dishes, from Christmas ham to prime rib, rack of lamb to hearty beef stew.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with the last of my picanha, served with grilled leeks, béarnaise sauce, steamed Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes.  Cheers!

2017 Elodia El Manzano Don Arturo Estate Malbec

 Happy Birthday!  I mean yes, thank you!  It's my birthday today, which means that I went out on my annual hunting trip to get Christmas trees, and today I landed a couple of really nice white pines.  Then I came home, made out Christmas cards and made an apple pie and now it's time for some wine and dinner!  It didn't seem like I did much today, but now that I see the list I'm pretty impressed!  So tonight I've opened a bottle of 2017 Elodia El Manzano Don Arturo Estate single vineyard Malbec from the Uco Valley in Mendoza Argentina which I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out, and you'll see why I've opened this wine when we get to the pairing.  So let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep inky indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Mendoza Malbec.  The nose presents aromas of cherry, blackberry, leather and pumice that shows the character of Argentina.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit that washes over your palate before transitioning to some wonderful earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are vibrant and youthful, but well structured, providing for a very smooth, dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I think this is a new favorite Malbec (truth be told, I ordered four bottles of this one and enjoyed three of them before I got around to reviewing it!).  This wine is an ideal steak wine, which is ideal since I've decided to enjoy this wine this evening with a Brazilian steakhouse favorite of rare grilled picanha!  For those unfamiliar, picanha or sirloin cap, it's a delightfully tender steak, comparable to a filet, but with a lovely cap of fat to add incredible flavor.  Tonight I am grilling this with some bacon roasted brussels sprouts and a baked potato.  Cheers!

2018 Forgeron Walla Walla Merlot

 Happy Sunday!  I wish it was a fun day, but alas I spent much of the afternoon working, but at least it's now wine-thirty and I'm ready for a glass and a nice dinner!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars, the 2018 Merlot.  This vintage is a 100% Merlot from the  Minnick Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington, so let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity, just as you might expect from a pure Merlot.  The nose is a cascade of ripe red fruit, raspberry, currant and cherry intermingled with some earthy forest notes.  The taste is a rush of fruit up front, cherry and currant that transitions nicely to some notes of dried herbs and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins as bright and well integrated for the long, smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very nice example of this often ignored varietal, that I just happen to love.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from lamb to braised short ribs to pasta.  Tonight I am taking the road less traveled and enjoying this wine with some chicken and vegetable green curry over jasmine rice.  Cheers!

2009 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of the new month, so it's time for me to raid the cellar and find something at least a decade in the making to enjoy.  Tonight I've gone with the 2009 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino, a classic Sangiovese wine that has been dubbed the king of Italian wines, and one which I view as needing at least a decade of maturity before coming into its own.  Normally Brunellos aren't even released for more than four years after harvest due to the regulations involved, so it's somewhat easier to let a nice Brunello age in the cellar, since it might only take five more years after purchase.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a wonderful garnet color in the glass with great clarity and just a hint of amber along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, anise and leather, just as you might expect from a pure Sangiovese.  The taste is a rush of tart cherry intermingled with some earthy notes of tar, basalt and tobacco, that eases into some floral notes of dried rose petals midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing a nice base for the long, dry finish with a nice acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a really nice example of a Tuscan classic that is just coming into its own.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of Italian dishes, from pasta and risotto, to a nice thick Tuscan T-bone, aka bistecca Fiorentina.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Italian lasagna, as it's been chilly here today and having a wonderful, warm baked pasta seemed like the thing to do.  Cheers!