2018 Terroir Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Monday!  Yes, it's the beginning of the week, but why not enjoy a nice dinner and a bottle of wine?  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2018 Terroir Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Merlot (18%) and Cabernet Franc (7%) from a variety of Napa Valley Vineyards.   So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Napa Valley Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass releases luxurious aromas of leather, anise and tobacco with undertones of violet and ripe blackberry, cherry and currant.  Take a sip and you're palate is awash in black jammy fruit that transitions easily to some earthy notes of dusty limestone and black pepper spice and a hint of dark chocolate.  The tannins are a bit youthful, providing for a vibrant, but very dry finish that lingers.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it a very pleasant Napa Valley Cabernet, and at just $17, it can be an everyday red wine too!  This wine would pair well with big steaks, but I could also see enjoying this wine with lamb, barbecue or even a warm winter beef stew.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare pan-seared filet mignon along with some cheesy potatoes and asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2019 La Pruina Primitivo di Manduria

Happy Sunday!  I've had a rather relaxing day compared to last Sunday when I was flying across country.  So I've opened a nice bottle of Italian wine to enjoy with my dinner, the 2019 La Pruina Primitivo di Manduria.  I recently bought this bottle from Wines Till Sold Out, and I thought the description was intriguing.  Primitivo is the most famous and popular wine from the Puglia region of Italy, the "heel" of Italy, and this wine comes from Manduria, where the red soil of Taranto creates wines that have more acidity and earthy character.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases the classic earthy aromas of leather, tobacco and peppery spice intermingled with ripe black fruit.  The first sip reveals a rush of blackberry, currant and plum that transition easily to some smoky spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but strong enough to balance the classic acidity the region is known for.  The finish is dry but juicy, making for a very food friendly wine.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a versatile wine that is also a bargain at just $15.  As mentioned, this wine is versatile when it comes to pairing, as you could enjoy it with mussels as they do in Taranto, or perhaps with some classic barbecue or pizza for an easy weeknight dinner.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some chicken and vegetables that I've cooked in some Tikka Masala simmer sauce I picked up at Costco, over some steamed basmati rice.  Cheers!

2017 Seven Hills McClellan Vineyard Malbec

Happy Saturday!  I've been running around a bit today doing errands and now I am ready for a nice dinner and glass of wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I've been waiting for, and finally picked up in my Grand Rapids office last week.  The 2017 Seven Hills McClellan Vineyard Malbec is a pure Malbec from the McClellan Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with a bit of pitch at the center.  A gentle swirl of the glass releases aromas of blackberry, leather, kirsch and dusty loam that just brings me back to a summer day in Walla Walla.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of black fruit, blackberry, cherry and mulberry that transition easily to some earthy mineral and classic spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are well structured providing for a velvety smooth, dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it reaches a perfect crossroads between classic Malbet and bold Cabernet, a wine ideal for a big steak dinner!  This wine would pair well with steaks and chops, but also braised short ribs, lamb chops or venison.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with an uber prime ribeye that is reminiscent of wagyu, grilled rare along with some mashed potatoes and asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 3

Happy Saturday!  It turned cold here today, with the temperature dropping from the high 30s to a current reading of 19 and headed to 12 overnight!  What a good excuse to open up a big Cabernet to have with dinner?  Tonight I've opened a bottle of Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 3, which is made by Chuck Wagner, who also owns Caymus.  I bought this bottle from Wines Till Sold Out, but it's also widely available at Costco and other wine retailers, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine has a classic Cabernet look, dark indigo at the center and bright ruby along the edges.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of leather, blackberry, blueberry and vanilla bean.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of ripe, jammy black fruit, blackberry, plum and cassis intermingled with some earthy notes of tar and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are nicely integrated, with a bit of acidity bringing some balance to the jammy fruit on the smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant drinking wine, but is more akin to a Zinfandel than a traditional Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with barbecue, pizza or teriyaki glazed pork tenderloin.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus New York Strip, and some steamed asparagus with hollandaise sauce.  Cheers!

2017 Heart of the Valley Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The weekend is rapidly approaching, so I thought I might get a head start with a nice bottle of wine with my dinner this evening.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent find on Wines Till Sold Out, the 2017 Heart of the Valley Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, though from a less than stellar vintage, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from a Cabernet, though it's a bit lighter in weight than the standard Napa fare.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry and sage, intermingles with some subdued spice notes.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, currant and a bit of prune, that transitions easily to some notes of smoke and cocoa powder midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but there is a good bit of acidity on the long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's not a "knock your socks off" Napa Cabernet, but it's an easy everyday wine for just $20.  This wine would pair well with steaks and chops as well as barbecue or even tacos.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a tomahawk and tots, a rare grilled bison tomahawk ribeye topped with melted bleu cheese, along with some tater tots!  An ideal Thursday dinner!  Cheers!

2018 Helix Cima Piccola

Well, it's Tuesday and I've decided to make a wine blog post!  I am making a nice dinner for this midweek night and thought why not enjoy a nice bottle of wine as well?  So, tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club selection from Reininger Winery, the 2018 Helix Cima Piccola.  This Super Tuscan inspired wine is a blend of Sangiovese (50%), Merlot (33%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (17%) sourced from the Phinny Hill, Stillwater Creek and Seven Hills Vineyards of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity as you might expect from a Sangiovese heavy blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of cherry, red currant, cedar and dusty limestone.  Take a sip and you experience a marked shift from what your nose was expecting, with a rush of ripe cherry, blackberry and currant that's almost sweet on the palate, before transitioning to some earthy mineral notes of basalt and limestone.  The tannins are fine grained and seemingly ever present, providing for a wonderfully long, smooth dry finish that lingers.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a very pleasant drinking Super Tuscan style blend, that will likely improve with another year or so in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of dishes, from classic Italian pasta, to seafood or hearty stews.  Tonight I am taking a more classic approach and enjoying this wine with a risotto alla Milanese topped with some pan seared sea scallops.  The lighter style of this wine makes it ideal with the gentle flavors of saffron and seafood.  Cheers!

2016 Bergevin Lane Vineyards Moonspell Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy day of cooking and work, but at least this evening I have the opportunity to relax a bit with a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened up a bottle that I brought back from my road trip to Walla Walla last summer, the 2016 Bergevin Lane Moonspell Cabernet Sauvignon.  I had the chance to buy some of their 2009 vintage from a local restaurant when I first moved back to Elkhart (you can see my review of that wine here) so I was thrilled when I happened upon their tasting room on my last trip, bringing back a few bottles.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is an inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you would expect from a nice Cabernet.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of green grass, earthy limestone and hints of green herb, a breath of the Walla Walla Valley, as I took a whiff and was immediately taken back to my visit last summer.  Take a sip and you're treated with a rush of fruit, tart cherry, black raspberry and currant, that transitions effortlessly to some warm spice notes, along with some earthy minerals midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured providing a great base for the long, smooth dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a classic rendition of a Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  I really enjoyed the 2009 vintage when I tried it, and this one is no different, a refreshing taste that brings me right back to the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with big hearty meals, from steaks and chops, to Yankee pot roast, venison loin to rack of lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a bone-in bison ribeye along with some roasted golden beets and potatoes, along with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2012 Penfolds Bin 138

Well, it's the first Saturday of February, making this Cellar Saturday!  It's a magical day where I raid the cellar to find a wine to open that's at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that was a recent holiday gift from some longtime friends, the 2012 Penfolds Bin 138 Red Wine.  This wine is a classic GSM blend of Shiraz (aka Syrah 66%), Grenache (23%) and Mataro (aka Mourvèdre, 11%) from the Barossa Valley of South Australia.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from this blend.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of ripe red fruit, currant, strawberry and cherry intermingled with earthy notes of tar, black olive and cedar.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of ripe fruit, cherry, raspberry and currant that transition to some notes of green olive, basalt and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully structured to provide for a velvety, dry and meaty finish on this Australian bulldog.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant wine with some interesting, earthy and meaty characteristics that make for great conversation, but perhaps a more challenging pairing.  This wine would be good with some heartier meals, with bold spice and flavor, like a venison tenderloin, curried lamb or spicy bison chili.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a gilled veal loin chop, rice and Madras lentils and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!