2017 Reininger Malbec

Happy Sunday!  I've been trying to relax a bit today, and I'm not exactly sure how that's been going.  But, things have to start looking up eventually, after all I just opened a bottle of wine!  Tonight I've decided to open up a bottle from one of my favorite Walla Walla wine makers, Chuck Reininger.  The 2017 Reninger Malbec is a 100% Malbec from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, just as you might expect from a nice Malbec.  After some air, you lift the glass and are greeted by the aromas of the gaucho, leather and hearty beef intertwined with white pepper spice and undertones of ripe black fruit, currant plum and a bit of cherry.  One sip and a rush of diverse flavors dance across your palate, plum and cherry fruit, earthy mineral notes with lingering smoke before transitioning to some wonderful candied cherry at the finish.  The tannins are somewhat soft but elegant in their structure, making for a voluptuous dry finish. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a wonderfully pleasant Malbec to sip for an evening or enjoy with a hearty meal.  This wine would pair very well with grilled steak, from beef to elk, along with earthy mushroom risotto.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some braised short ribs, mashed Yukon gold potatoes and steamed asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2015 Raymond Vineyards Atlas Peak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Have you ever had one of those days where you regret getting out of bed in the morning?  Well, that was today!  After all of the snow this winter, it's formed into a bit of a glacier on the flat roof of my garage, so of course it started leaking today and then I was up on the roof trying to chip off three-inch thick ice while trying not to damage the roof even further.  To make matter worse, as soon as I got up on the roof, I knocked the ladder off, fortunately my neighbor was home and could come rescue me.  So at least things are looking up now, as I have theatre tickets tonight and I've opened a bottle of wine.  Fair warning, I am on a bit of a Raymond Vineyards kick, so expect a few as I've ordered four different ones from Wines Till Sold Out (including this one) and I just found another interesting one at my local wine store today.  So, tonight it's the 2015 Raymond Vineyards Atlas Peak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, part of their District Collection.  So, let's see how this wine tastes!

The wine is a deep, ruby color in the glass that seems to call you to take a sip.  Swirl a bit in the glass and you're greeted with luxurious aromas of leather, blackberry and cassis.  On your first sip you embark on journey though a forest of wild blackberry and black cherry before traveling on to some rich vanilla, caramel and hints of spice.  The tannins are smooth and well integrated, providing for a wonderfully, long, velvety dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it punches above its weight class for just $43.  This wine practically begs to be paired with a big grilled steak, but would also pair well with lamb, hearty pasta dishes or even a quality barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some grilled lamb loin chops topped with an olive and red wine reduction, along with some oven roasted Yukon gold potatoes and some grilled asparagus.  Cheers!

2017 Eminent Archon Cabernet Sauvignon

 Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a busy week already, so I might have to keep this short.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2017 Eminent Archon Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendocino County in California, which I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Our (I've apparently been on a WTSO kick lately!).  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was also a fairly good value, so let's see what it has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity, perhaps a little lighter bodied than you might expect from the varietal.  The nose seems a bit tight, with some aromas of blackberry, vanilla and a bit to thyme.  The taste is rather pleasant, with a rush of tart cherry and black plum up front that eases into some black pepper spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, providing for a nice smooth dry finish, with a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, as it's not really a memorable wine, but certainly one that's easy drinking for a weeknight and at $10 there's no guilt!  This wine is a good casual red and would pair well with a variety of easy meals, from burgers and pizza to pasta and steak.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime New York strip, served on some grilled leeks and topped with blistered grape tomatoes along with some asparagus and hollandaise.  Cheers!

2012 Koyle Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  Today has been a somewhat relaxing day of chores (that sure seems oxymoronic), as I've done some laundry, organized a few things and prepped for cooking dinner, so it really hasn't been stressful at all.  And now I'm ready for a nice glass of wine as I start cooking my Sunday dinner, and tonight I've opened a bottle of 2012 Koyle Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon which I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Cabernet Franc (10%) and Petit Verdot (5%) from the Alto Colchagua Valley of Chile.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

In the glass, this wine is a classic deep ruby color, with just a touch of amber along the edges.  After a bit of breathing time, the wine presents aromas of olive tapenade and earthy leather, with undertones of red currant and plum.  Take a sip and it reveals a departure from the nose, with a rush of ripe cherry and currant, with much less of the earthy tones, which are instead replaced with a good bit of minerality midpalate.  The tannins are gripping, and the finish is quite dry, with a reprise of herbal notes.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant drinking Cabernet that might be a few years past its prime, but still a solid value at just $10.  This wine would be ideal with a casual weeknight dinner, with everything from burgers and steaks, to pizza and barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic herb crusted rack of lamb with mashed potatoes, a red wine demi and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2017 Raymond Vineyards Yountville Napa Valley District Collection Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It's been a fairly busy day as I drove up with friends to Grand Rapids for an antique show, and arrived back home in time to open a nice bottle of wine and enjoy a little dinner.  So, tonight I've decided to open a recent purchase from Wines Till Sold Out, from a perennial favorite Napa Valley producer, the 2017 Raymond Vineyards Yountville Napa Valley District Collection Cabernet Sauvignon.  Last year I had an opportunity to taste the 2014 vintage of this wine (you can see here), so let's see what this latest vintage has to offer!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice, big Napa Valley Cabernet.  Swirl a bit in the glass and take a whiff and you're greeted by aromas of leather, blackberry and a hint of cardamom that dare you to take a sip.  And once you give in, you are hooked, as the flavors of black plum, blackberry and cassis wash over your palate before transitioning to some notes of vanilla bean and pipe tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are rounded and well integrated, providing as stellar base for a long, smooth dry finish with a nice bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a great tasting and classic big, bold Napa Valley Cabernet.  As such, this wine practically begs to be paired with a big grilled steak, and I think it would pair very well with a broad range of steaks, from the rich fattiness of a ribeye to a well seasoned New York strip.  Tonight I can oblige, as I'm enjoying this wine with a rare, pan seared prime filet mignon, along with some oven roasted sweet potatoes and some asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2018 Banknote Wine Company "Revenue" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, I freely admit when I saw a note about this wine on Wines Till Sold Out, I immediately knew this wine was money!  Ok, enough of the cheesy puns today, but since the FedEx guy was kind enough to deliver this wine this afternoon, I felt a near obligation to open a bottle with dinner.  The 2018 Banknote Wine Company 'Revenue' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the a Atlas Peak AVA in Napa.  With a great label and wine from a great region, let's have a taste!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  Raise the glass and your are greeted with aromas of blackberry, currant and cassis with savory undertones of balsamic and white pepper.  At your first sip, you immediately recognize the quality that went into the bottle, with a rush of black fruit washing over your palate, blackberry, currant and cherry, that eases into some mineral notes along with some cedar and hint of anise midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, providing for a great backbone on the long, dry finish that lingers as you contemplate another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a great example of a big, bold Napa Cabernet at an incredible bargain of just $30.  This wine naturally begs to be paired with a big steak dinner, though it would also find a nice home among rack of lamb, braised short ribs or even a hearty pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bit of surf and turf, with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye, topped with a skewer of Cajun spiced grilled shrimp, mashed potatoes and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2016 Basel Cellars Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's been a rather busy day, mainly working to get all the details for my upcoming course set, so I can begin teaching!  And since I just finished, I figure it's time for a nice glass of wine, and tonight I've opened a nice bottle of Washington wine that I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2016 Basel Cellars Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Double River and Phinny Hill Vineyards in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine stacks up!

The wine is a wonderfully deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Columbia Valley Cabernet.  The nose is vibrant, earthy and savory, with aromas of black cherry and currant intermingled with notes of mushroom, dried herbs and smoke.  On the first sip, the nose comes through and you're presented with a remarkably Bordeaux-esque affair, with ripe black cherry, currant and blackberry up front, that transitions nicely to some caramel and vanilla midpalate.  The tannins are soft but well integrated for a long, smooth dry finish that lingers.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a very pleasant, everyday red and at a value price of $15, you don't feel guilty opening a bottle every day!  This wine is the ideal casual red, and would pair well with everything from burgers to barbecue, pizza to paella, but tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye over a bed of grilled leeks with some steamed red potatoes and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2011 Clarendon Hills Brookman Vineyard Merlot

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of the month and a perfect opportunity to raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Though I often have to dig deep for Cellar Saturday wines, this one I didn't have to dig at all since it's only been in my cellar a few weeks thanks to an opportune buy from Wines Till Sold Out!  The 2011 Clarendon Hills Brookman Vineyard Merlot is a 100% Merlot from the Brookman Vineyard in the McLaren Vale in South Australia.  It's been a while since I've enjoyed an Australian wine that wasn't Syrah, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  As you lift the glass, you catch aromas of black cherry, currant and hints of mocha with undertones of leather and earthy spice.  On your first sip you are greeted with a rush of black plum, cherry and currant that dance with notes of vanilla, before transitioning to wonderful fresh herb notes of thyme and white pepper midpalate.  The tannins are well structured and velvety, providing for a wonderfully dry finish that lingers amid a reprise of herb notes.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking Merlot and a terrific value at just $22!  This wine would pair well with many hearty dishes, from lamb to steak, or a warm shepherd's pie as the temperature dips near zero here this evening.  But tonight, I'm taking the road less traveled and enjoying this wine with a homemade risotto Milanese topped with pan seared sea scallops.  Cheers!