I had such high aspirations for how this day would progress, the yard work and errands that I would accomplish, and I pretty much got nothing done except spreading some GrubX on the lawn and going for a bike ride. At least it's the first Saturday of the month, which means it's Cellar Saturday, that magical time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making. Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2006 Helix Columbia Valley Merlot, from Chuck Reininger's second label, so let's see what this wine has to offer!
The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, classic for a nice Merlot. A quick swirl in the glass and you can drink in aromas of candied plum, black currant, toasted oak and an array of spice notes reminiscent of an old Italian grocery. A long sip reveals a rush of blackberry, cherry and currant that washes over you before transitioning to some wonderful earthy notes, smoke and peppery spice midpalate. The tannins are well behaved, providing for a wonderfully smooth, dry finish with a kick of acidity at the end.
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a beautifully old-world style Merlot that is meant for sipping with friends. This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from steaks and lamb to risotto or seared tuna steak. Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a big honkin' Angus ribeye that was grilled rare, along with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and horseradish to round it out. Cheers!
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