2015 Seven Hills Vineyard Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It seems like the weekend just flew by and now it's time for Sunday dinner, where did the time go?  Well, at least it's time for opening a nice bottle of wine, and despite my extensive cellar of Seven Hills Wines, this wine was a recent buy from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2015 Seven Hills Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet sourced from the original wines planted by wine maker Casey McClellan and his father in 1980.  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 high-quality Cabernet.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, cherry and cassis with bits of herb and tobacco.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of ripe black fruit flavors that wash over your palate, black cherry, currant, mulberry and plum that transition to some notes of dusty limestone and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth a beautifully structured for an elegant dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just exactly what a nice Walla Walla Cabernet should be, and this wine is just reaching its stride at age 7.  This wine would pair well with steaks, chops, or even barbecue and burgers if summer ever arrives!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip, along with some steamed asparagus with hollandaise and some porcini mushroom farro.  Cheers!

2019 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  Tonight I had some friends over for a wonderful dinner after having spent several hours this afternoon helping with taxes, so it was good to settle down for a nice meal and an equally nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine from a wine club shipment that literally arrived yesterday, so I've opened a bottle of 2019 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon a perennial favorite from the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with the classic look of a high-quality Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, black cherry, with the faintest notes of violet.  Take a sip and your palate is awash with ripe black cherry, blackberry and plum, easily transitioning to some notes of dusty loam and oak midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth and well integrated, providing for a delightful dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just another solid vintage of a great Cabernet from a great producer.  This wine would pair well with the classic steak, but would also do well with some earthy mushroom risotto, or some hearty comfort dishes, like beef stew or even barbecue.  Tonight I've invited some friends over for some grilled prime center cut ribeyes topped with béarnaise sauce and served with cheesy potatoes and some maple bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2018 Seven Hills Pentad

Happy Friday!  It's been a long week, but at least it seems to have gone by relatively fast, so now I can relax a bit on the weekend.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine shipment I received from Seven Hills Winery, one of my favorite Walla Walla wine producers (this was even before they started shipping to my home state!).  The 2018 Seven Hills Pentad is a special blend that is not produced with every vintage, as historically Casey (and presumably now Bobby is continuing the tradition) would only produce Pentad when all the stars were aligned to make a truly special wine.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (42%), Merlot (25%), Petit Verdot (13%), Malbec (12%) and Carmenere (8%) al sourced from the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  So, let's see how this one is shaping up!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, reminiscent of a big bold Cabernet (which is likely a major contributor to the blend).  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry and cassis joined with some dusty mineral notes that will have you thinking of an classic college library.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of ripe black fruit encased in some dusty minerality before transitioning to some notes of tobacco and cocoa powder midpalate.  The tannins are vibrant and perfectly suited to the velvety, bone-dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's a really remarkable wine that would be ideal for a special occasion.  This wine would pair well with big juicy steaks, rack of lamb or venison tenderloin.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing, a rare grilled dry aged porterhouse that I picked up at a local butcher yesterday, along with some oven roasted rainbow carrots.  Cheers!

2019 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a long week and unfortunately my weekend was pretty short, but let's see if we can at least go out on a positive note!  Tonight I've opened a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from one of my long-time favorite Walla Walla wine producers, the 2019 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Though the most recent vintages are under the guidance of a new winemaker (who I also hold in high regard) I am confident this wine will not disappoint, so let's have a taste!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a quality Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, leather, oak and just a hint of violet.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that dance around your palate before easing into some notes of vanilla and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a luxurious and velvety dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's still young but drinking very nicely now.  I imagine it will be even better with a few years in the cellar.  This wine practically begs to be paired with a big juicy steak (which I can accommodate) but would also pair well with hearty pasta, barbecue or rack of lamb.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye along with some oven roasted fingerling potatoes and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2019 Lone Tree Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It's been a long week, and I confess I've probably consumed more alcohol than normal, but let's try to get back to normal.  This has been a rainy Saturday, so I've had at least a bit of time to relax and now I'm ready to open a bottle of wine I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2019 Lone Tree Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced entirely from the Napa Valley, 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 "big" quality Napa Cabernet.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry, green grass and currant that beckon you to take a sip.  And that first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, currant and cherry that transition easily to some notes of white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated and provide for a long, smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant drinking Napa Valley Cabernet that would be easy to sip on it's own or with a big steak.  And that's exactly what this wine practically begs to be paired with, a thick grilled ribeye or porterhouse, but once again, tonight I am taking the road less traveled.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some seared beef tenderloin medallions and some linguine tossed with garlic and sautéed broccoli rabe topped with shaved Parmesan and fresh basil.  Cheers!

2019 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Franc

Well, with a big wine club shipment last week, I suppose I should have expected to make this a Seven Hills weekend!  Tonight I'm having my neighbors over for a classic home-spun Sunday dinner and so I thought one of the recent wines would be a perfect one to accompany our dinner, the 2019 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Franc.  This single varietal wine was blended from fruit from the McClellan Estate Vineyard and the Summit View Vineyard, which are located on the southern end of the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass with nice clarity, just a bit less heavy looking than you might expect from a Cabernet Sauvignon.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of vanilla, anise, ripe blackberries and a hint of white pepper spice.  Your first sip is a rush of ripe blackberry, cherry and plum that transitions to some earthy notes of dusty limestone and dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are silky smooth, providing for a wonderfully lush, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderful example of a single-varietal bottling of what is usually a blending grape.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from risotto and beef stew to prime rib or cedar planked salmon.  Tonight we are enjoying this wine with a Sunday dinner of braised bison short ribs with mashed potatoes and bacon maple roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2019 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  I spend the day running errands and it seems like I've been busy all day but haven't really accomplished much, though at least I got some groceries and found a nice photo of Yosemite at the local thrift store for only $1, so, I guess that's something.  I am also heading to a stand-up comedy show tonight featuring some friend that took a stand-up class and will hopefully be entertaining us tonight.  In any case, it's nice that Seven Hills Winery is once again able to ship directly to my house, so tonight I am enjoying a recent wine club feature from them, the 2019 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of leather, black raspberry, cherry and a hint of violet, beckoning you to take a sip.  That sip reveals a rush of ripe black fruit intermingled with some tart cherry before transitioning to some earthy notes of dusty limestone and cocoa powder midpalate.  The tannins are silky smooth and well integrated, making for a luscious and very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic example of what a Walla Walla Cabernet should be.  This wine would pair well with a big steak, venison or lamb, but would also pair well with some hearty black bean chili or wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight I am taking the road most traveled and enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye along with some grilled leeks and asparagus and oven-roasted fingerling potatoes I picked up at the farmer's market this morning.  Cheers!

2017 11*14 'The Definitive' Spring Mountain Cabernet Blend

Well, that weekend went quickly!  I did manage to get some yard work done yesterday when it was sunny and in the mid-70s, but today was just more work.  At least I can sit down to Sunday dinner and enjoy a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2017 11*14 'The Definitive' Spring Mountain Cabernet Blend from Napa Valley that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (66%), Cabernet Franc (17%), Merlot (16%) and Petit Verdot (1%) from the Spring Mountain AVA of Napa Valley.  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, a testament to the heavy hand of Cabernet in the blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass releases aromas of blackberry, leather and dusty loam that beckon you to take a sip.  And that first sip reveals ample black fruit, blackberry, plum and currant that transitions easily to notes of mocha and hints of cedar midpalate.  The tannins are soft and chalky, providing for a velvety smooth and very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking Bordeaux style blend from a region known for more single varietal offerings.  This wine would pair well with big steaks, grilled lamb, braised short ribs or even classic tacos.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse with some steamed asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2008 Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Aglianico

Well, it's the first Saturday of the month and that means it's Cellar Saturday!  This is the magical day when I raid the cellar and find some wine that's at lease a decade in the making.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that hasn't been in my cellar very long, as I recently purchased it through the Platinum selection at Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2008 Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Aglianico is a deep, brooding wine that is well known in the southern regions of Italy, particularly near Puglia, and it usually strikes me as a hearty wine to balance out the lighter wines of Tuscany and north.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, much more reminiscent of a big Cabernet, and classic for this black skinned varietal.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of leather, blackberry, currant and an interesting freshness amid notes of anise and cocoa powder.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of blackberry, plum and cherry that transitions easily to some notes of volcanic ash and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are exceptionally structured, providing for a velvety yet bone dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a great wine to remind you of why you should love Aglianico.  This wine would be idea with a big grilled porterhouse,  a hearty roast beef or even a spicy pasta dish.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with an Italian classic of sweet Italian sausage sautéed with onions and peppers and served with some vermicelli with garlic and olive oil topped with shaved Parmesan.  Cheers!

2019 Helix Pomatia (aka Tucker Legacy Red)

Happy Friday!  Yes, I've been neglectful of my wine blogging duties, but I am back for hopefully a good weekend.  So, today I received my wine club shipment from Reininger Winery and was a bit surprised when three big boxes of wine were dropped off by my friendly UPS man.  I recalled ordering a case of Helix Pomatia and then the normal shipment, but silly me, it appeared I accidentally ordered a case of Pomatia in January when it was too cold to ship and then called to add a case to my March wine club shipment as well!  Despite my rabid incompetence, I can assure you that extra case will not go to waste (perhaps an office wine club selection?).  So, since I have so much of this wine now, I'm enjoying a bottle of the 2019 Helix Pomatia, which was recently renamed the Tucker Legacy Red wine.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Syrah (32%), Merlot (10%) and Petit Verdot (2%) from the Phinny Hill, Stillwater Creek and StoneTree Vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  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 releases aromas of leather, oak and wild berries with a hint of cedar.  Take a sip and you have a rush of berries, blueberry, cherry and mulberry intermingled with a bit of umami before transitioning to some notes of vanilla and sandalwood midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing a solid base for the long, smooth dry finish with a slight kick of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a perfect everyday red wine that punches way above it's weight class.  It's also a terrific value, as this wine was just $18 with the wine club discount (which I highly recommend you join, or at least get on the waiting list!).  This wine would pair with a broad range of weekday dishes, from barbecue and burgers, to pizza and pasta.  Tonight I am taking the everyday approach and enjoying this wine with some linguine and Italian sausage marinara with a bit of shaved parmesan and fresh basil.  Cheers!