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!
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