2018 Alamos Selección Malbec

Happy Sunday!  As another weekend comes to a rapid close, I've decided to have a nice bottle of Malbec with my Sunday dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I just picked up from my local market yesterday as it was on sale, and bargain hunter that I am, how could I resist?  The 2018 Alamos Selección Malbec made with grapes selected from vineyards in the higher elevations of the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina.  I've become a much bigger fan of Malbec over the years, so let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Malbec.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of vanilla, blackberry, green grass and modest floral undertones.  The first sip reveals a surprising shift from those sweeter aromas to a rush of tart cherry, plum and black currant that transitions easily to some notes of dusty limestone and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tight, but ideal for the long and exceptionally dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very pleasant drinking Malbec and could be an everyday wine at the value price of just $15 at my local market.  This wine practically begs to be paired by a gaucho slicing whatever great beef he has grilled, from picanha to ribeye, filet to beef ribs.  Tonight I am taking that traditional route with a rare grilled New York strip along with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and garlic mashed potatoes.  Cheers!

2018 Tenuta Gugi Valpolicella Ripasso

Happy Saturday!  It's been a rather mellow start to the weekend, with running errands and hanging out a bit with some friends, now I'm ready for a warm dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to take a bit of a spicy route to my meal, and with that I've opened a bottle of wine I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2018 Tenuta Gugi Valpolicella Ripasso, a wine that offers many of the flavors and boldness of an Amarone without the price.  This wine is a blend of  Corvina (60%), Corvinone (20%), Rondinella (15%) and Oseleta (5%) which undergoes a second fermentation with the Amarone skins (e.g. ripasso!).  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, as you might expect from a nice Amarone.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of leather, blackberry and Kirsch with undertones of hearty spice.  Take a sip and you are greeted with a rush of earthy mineral notes intermingled with ripe cherry and plum that just engages your palate before transitioning to some cherry cola an peppery spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat sweet with lively structure providing for a wonderfully velvety dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, even though it might benefit from a few more years in the cellar, it was also a solid value at just $14.  This wine would pair with many classic Italian dishes from risotto and pasta to hearty fire grilled steaks with farro.  Tonight I am taking a rather spicy route with this wine as I happened to find some very nice Hungarian hot peppers at my local market which would be great sautéed with onions and Italian sausage, served with a bit of pasta tossed with garlic and olive oil and topped with shredded Parmesan.  Cheers!

2018 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  The weather really turned cold here this weekend, with highs in the 20s and lows approaching single digits, so it's definitely time for some hearty wine and warm comfort food.  As for the wine, tonight I've opened a bottle of 2018 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington State.  So. let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with excellent clarity, perhaps a bit lighter in color than some big Cabernets.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, Bing cherry, green herbs and a bit of lilac.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of cherry and plum that gives way to some earthy graphite and black pepper midpalate.  The velvety dry finish is based on some well structured tannins and features a bit of vanilla caramel right at the end that brings the wine together.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very pleasant Walla Walla Cabernet that's sure to acquire a bit more heft with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to braised short ribs or wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight I am definitely taking the comfort food route and enjoying this wine with a slow cooked bison Yankee pot roast, with potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and turnips topped with a bit of scallion and fresh parsley.  Cheers!

2019 Birge Cellars Super Tuscan

Welcome to the long weekend!  It's been a busy day of running errands and grocery shopping (we'll see the results of that over the next few days!) and now it's time for a nice relaxing dinner and glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened up a special bottle from one of my colleagues who makes his own wine under his eponymous cellars label.  He gave me this bottle of Super Tuscan he made in 2019, and although I have no idea what the blend is, I can only guess that it blends some Sangiovese with other Bordeaux varietals sourced from Italy.  Given that I'm a firm believer that ignorance is bliss, let's dive into this wine!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, somewhat darker than your typical Sangiovese which is no doubt a testament to the blending of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of green pepper, black cherry and a hint of floral undertones that I find intriguing.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a subdued black fruit blend of black cherry and plum, intermingled with some pomegranate and green herbs.  Midpalate, you see a nice transition to some earthy minerality with hints of mint and floral, before easing into the finish, with youthful tannins that support a classically dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a very pleasant drinking wine that's really highlights the varietals that make a good Super Tuscan.  This wine would pair with a variety of hearty dishes, from big steaks to risotto, hearty stews to generous pasta.  Tonight I am taking the classic Italian route and enjoying this wine with some linguine topped with Italian sausage marinara, fresh basil and shaved parmesan.  Cheers!

2018 Seven Hills Artz Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, another weekend is in the books, and I figure it's time to make a nice Sunday dinner to enjoy before heading into a new work week.  And of course with a nice Sunday dinner, you need to open a nice bottle of wine to enjoy.  Tonight I've opened a wine that I brought back on my summer vacation to Walla Walla, the 2018 Seven Hills Artz Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a single vineyard Cabernet sourced from the Artz Vineyard in the Red Mountain District of the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep crimson color in the glass, with a deep, dark center, just as you would expect from a nice Cabernet.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of leather, blackberry, green grass and earthy notes of dusty limestone.  Take a sip and you're treated to an unexpected rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that gently ease into some earthy notes of graphite and dusty limestone midpalate, with elegant hints of vanilla bean and baking spice.  The tannins are nicely structured, but still a bit youthful, providing for a wonderfully dry finish with a velvety mouthfeel.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I am a big fan for Seven Hills' single vineyard Cabernets (Summit View being my favorite) and this wine certainly devlivers.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from thick grilled steaks to braised short ribs and Yankee pot roast.  Tonight I am going the grilled steak route, enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bone-in bison ribeye, along with some mashed potatoes and oven roasted baby carrots.  Cheers!

2016 Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Saturday!  So today was the day that I took down all the Christmas decorations, so another holiday season is officially in the books (though I'll probably be encountering tinsel until March).  After all that work this afternoon, I've decided to open a bottle of wine that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2016 Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva is a 100% Sangiovese for a classic Chianti, bringing the freshness of Tuscany to your table.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity as you'd expect from the varietal.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of bright red berries, cherry, raspberry, currant and strawberry with undertones of floral and Tuscan herbs.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of red fruit, raspberry, tart cherry and currant that transitions to some earthy notes of tar, tobacco and limestone midpalate.  The tannins are well structured with some bright acidity to provide for a vibrant but very dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant, easy drinking Classic Chianti, that was also a terrific value for just $13!  This wine would pair well with classic Tuscan dishes, from a Bistecca Fiorentina to a Tuscan toast with fava beans.  Tonight I am going more of a traditional Italian pairing, enjoying this wine with some porcini mushroom and truffle ravioli with some Italian sausage marinara.  Cheers!

2017 Tyrus Evan Seven Hills Vineyard Syrah

Happy Thursday!  The weather has turned decidedly winter like over the past week, with today's high reaching only 19 degrees (it hasn't been above freezing for more than a week!) so what better activity that sitting down with a nice glass of red wine?  Tonight I've opened a bottle I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2017 Tyrus Evan Seven Hills Vineyard Syrah, a 100% Syrah sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, with a bit of fuchsia along the edges, a bit more vibrant than the typical Syrah.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of black cherry, plum, cassis and a bit of vibrant floral notes of violets and a hint of cedar.  The first sip leaves you with an impression of a dark forest, with ripe black fruit flavors of plum, cassis and currant rushing over your palate before transitioning to some notes of cocoa powder and a hint of black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but still provide a nice foundation for a smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a classic Walla Walla Syrah, with great fruit and peppery spice, unlike the latest trends in bold minerality from the Rocks District.  This wine was also a terrific value at just $19!  This wine would pair with a variety of hearty winter dishes, from classic beef stew to hearty pasta of Yankee pot roast.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some chorizo and black bean tacos, topped with lettuce, tomato, sour cream, avocado and fresh jalapeno.  Cheers!

2012 DaMa Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy New Year!  Not only is this the first day of 2022, but it's also the first Saturday of the new month, making this a Cellar Saturday, that magical time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  And tonight we open up a new vintage to eligibility, so I've opened a bottle of 2012 DaMa Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  I'll admit, this wine hasn't been in my cellar long, as it was part of some verticals of Cabernet and Merlot included in our fall wine club shipment.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, still vibrant despite its maturity.  A gentle swirl of the glass releases aromas of black cherry, currant and plum, with hints of oak and vanilla undertones, creating an almost tawny sort of vibe.  A sip reveals rich black fruit bursting forth, blackberry, currant and plum that transition easily to some notes of caramel and umami midpalate.  The tannins are supple and create a fine base for the smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderfully mature Columbia Valley Cabernet that is really hitting its stride as a mature wine.  This wine would pair well with hard cheeses, earthy dishes like braised short ribs or wild mushroom risotto, or even a nice steak.  I'm enjoying one such steak tonight with this wine, a rare Angus New York strip, mashed potatoes and some asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!