2019 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Blend

Happy Sunday!  I did my usual bit of chores today, laundry and mowing, but I left enough time to put a bit of effort into my Sunday dinner, which you'll see in a moment.  For the wine, I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club selection from Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2019 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Blend.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (32%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Malbec (30%) and Petit Verdot (8%) all from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, as you might expect from such a blend.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of brambly black fruit with hints of plum, tarragon, with undertones of earthy cedar.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of ripe black fruit with a hint of sweetness amid flavors of black cherry, plum and mulberry that transition nicely to some notes of graphite and a bit of tart cherry midpalate.  The tannins are like a well build linebacker, providing all the structure needed to support the pleasant, long dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just such a pleasant drinking red wine, ideal for a variety of food pairings, or simply sipping on the patio.  This wine would be ideal with steak, but could also pair well with earthy mushroom risotto, lamb chops or a bison filet.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a wonderful spring dinner of a rare prime ribcap topped with grilled garlic scapes along with radiatore pasta in a pea and morel mushroom cream sauce (I found the recipe here and it was delicious!).  Cheers! 

Mediteranore Rose Côtes de Provence

Happy Saturday!  I was looking for a nice rose to enjoy with dinner tonight and happened upon this non-vintage Mediteranore Rose Côtes de Provence.  This seems to be a somewhat odd rose season, as they have been somewhat harder to find at my local markets and wine stores.  In any case, with summer in full swing and my dinner tonight practically begging for a rose, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a pale orange/peach color in the glass, as you might expect from a rose from Provence.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of peach, strawberry and a hint of camembert and a bit of steel minerality.  Take a sip and you're greeted by orange citrus, peach and fresh cut melon before transitioning to some notes of crisp steel minerality midpalate.  The finish is light, crisp and refreshing with a dryness that is not overbearing, but ideal for summer sipping.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a lovely summer rose and a good value at just $12.  This wine would pair well with summer salads, light fish dishes, seared sea scallops or a lovely ceviche.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a wonderful crab fest, as I picked up some king crab legs at Costco yesterday, which I've steamed along with some corn on the cob and tangy cole slaw.  Cheers!

2019 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Franc

Happy Fathers Day to all those fathers out there!  I have to admit today was a half relaxing and half working day, as I endeavored to rid my yard of poison ivy today (an annual event if you can believe it) followed by mowing and now a bit of relaxation with a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2019 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Franc a 100% Cabernet Franc from the Summit View Vineyard of Walla Walla (a personal favorite vineyard for Cabernet Sauvignon!).  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of fresh oak, black currant, raspberry and hints of dried herbs.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a flood of semi-ripened black cherry, vanilla bean, dried herbs and a bit of white peppercorn before transitioning to some earthy notes of graphite and basalt midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and well integrated providing for a warm but very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderfully drinking Cabernet Franc that will no doubt advance with a bit of time in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of more challenging dishes, from barbecue to pork tenderloin, lamb to Thai curry.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some barbecued baby back ribs along with some grilled corn on the cob, jalapeno bacon beans and fresh baked biscuits with butter and honey.  Cheers!

2018 Bieler Family Born to Run Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Friday!  We are enjoying summer hours now, which means I get the afternoons off on Friday, so today I did some volunteer work, then came home for a bike ride, then a couple limoncello martinis on the porch, and now it's time to get serious!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of really inexpensive wine I recently picked up at Costco, the 2018 Bieler Family Born to Run Cabernet Sauvignon from California (it was mislabled at Costco as being from Washington).  I have to admit I was captivated by the grille of a 1960s Cadillac on the label, but the price sealed the deal to pick up a few bottles, sight unseen.  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 nice Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of green grass, blackberry, plum and hint of kirsch.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, plum, blackberry and blueberry that wash over your palate before transitioning to some earthy notes of dusty limestone and hint of vanilla bean midpalate. The tannins are well structured to provide for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's not a stunner, but for $9 plus tax, this is an excellent everyday Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with anything from burgers and barbecue to steak or lamb.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bone-in ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare served with some grilled asparagus and some grilled garlic scapes (hooray it's garlic scape season!).  The acidity of this wine was ideal to counter the rich fat of a ribeye.  Cheers!

2019 Tinazzi Vinum Italicum Opera No. 3 Red Wine

Happy Sunday! I got back from vacation early yesterday morning, so it's taken me a bit of time to recover, but now I feel ready to get back at it.  I've been working in the yard this afternoon and doing laundry, so now it's time for a nice Sunday dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of super Tuscan that I picked up at Costco a couple weeks ago, the 2019 Tinazzi Vinum Italicum Opera No. 3 Red Wine.  I am not sure of the blend, but I suppose it's Cabernet dominant since the label describes the wine as "full bodied, elegant, intense."  So, let's see what this wine has to offer.

The wine is an inky black at the center with soft ruby along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of oak, black cherry, hints of violet and spice box, quite characteristic of a super Tuscan blend.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of candied cherries and plum that transition to some earthy notes of tar and basalt midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a wonderfully long, dry finish with a reprice of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's an easy sipping wine at a great price of just $16 if I recall correctly.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from steak to lamb, pasta to pizza.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a summer barbecue with North Carolina style beef ribs, chipotle cole slaw, baked beans and corn on the cob.  Cheers!