2019 Seven Hills Pentad

Merry Christmas!  I'm preparing a wonderful Christmas dinner that is far from my usual fare, so this calls for a special wine as well.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2019 Seven Hills Pentad, the most recent vintage of this special blend of five varietals from the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Carmenere, Malbec and Merlot creating a real taste of some of the best varietals Washington state has to offer.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, a testament to the heavy hands of Cabernet and Malbec in the blend.  Take a whiff and you're greeted with aromas of tobacco, anise, dark chocolate and dusty limestone, quite a departure from many more fruit laden Cabernet blends.  The first sip reveals wonderful black cherry and raspberry notes that ease into some flavors of vanilla bean and cardamom midpalate.  The tannins are quite subdued making for a delightfully pleasant, smooth dry finish that is reminiscent of a fine Bordeaux.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it certainly lives up to previous vintages that take the best of what the harvest offers to make a truly special wine.  And as I mentioned, I am enjoying this wine with a special Christmas dinner of a mid rare rack of venison, with potato puree, wine pepper sauce and shaved Brussels sprouts with maple, bacon and pomegranate.  Overall, a wonderfully earthy dinner on this traditional holiday.  Cheers!

2018 Anvil Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Friday!  This is day 11 of my Christmas vacation (mental note to take more PTO throughout the year in 2023!) and after the blizzard that was a dud, I did some volunteer work this morning and am now ready to relax with a nice dinner and a glass (or bottle) of wine.  Tonight I've opened a recent wine club bottle from Forgeron Cellars, the 2018 Anvil Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.  I've reviewed previous vintages, including the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, so let's see what the latest vintage has to offer!

The wine has the classic look and feel of a big, bold Cabernet in the glass.  Take a whiff and you're immersed in aromas of a classic college library with leather, dusty limestone, lavender and hints of pipe tobacco that practically beg you to take a sip.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry, plum and currant that transition easily to some tart pomegranate and cardamom midpalate.  The tannins are subdued, but well integrated, providing for a delightfully smooth dry finish that leaves you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's become a perennial favorite Cabernet from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  This wine would of course be great with big steaks and chops, roast lamb or braised short ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this with my Christmas Eve Eve dinner of a rare grilled filet mignon, topped with Béarnaise sauce along with some shaved Brussels sprouts with bacon, maple and pomegranate and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2019 Seven Hills Summit View Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  I spent some time shopping and wrapping the last of the Christmas presents before preparing dinner and getting ready for our second performance of "It's a Wonderful Life" done as a 1940s radio play.  In any case, I've a short while to relax before heading to the theater and getting dressed, so why not have a glass of wine?  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2019 Seven Hills Summit View Cabernet Sauvignon, one of my all time favorite Cabernets, so let's see how this latest vintage is shaping up!

The wine has the look of a big, bold Cabernet, just as you'd expect from this wine.  After a gentle swirl, take a whiff and you're enveloped by aromas of fall, with notes of blackberry, cherry, cedar and just a faint undertone of mint.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit cascading from black cherry to plum to currant before transitioning to some earthy mineral notes of dusty limestone and basalt midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it certainly lives up to the standard of the clone and the vineyard.  This wine practically begs to be paired with a steak, but it would also go well with pasta, hearty stews or even a simple midweek burger night.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled elk strip steak, roasted baby cauliflower and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2019 Mark Ryan Numbskull

Happy Wine Wednesday!  This is the second day of my long Christmas vacation as I had 11 vacation days left that I needed to use by year end, so I'm finally catching up on work around the house and blog posts among other things.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine I brought back from my Walla Walla trip last year.  The 2019 Mark Ryan Numbskull is a classic GSM blend of Syrah (53%), Mourvèdre (25%) and Grenache (22%) from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So, let's see if I picked the right wine for my Wednesday dinner!

The wine is a bright garnet in the glass, exactly as you might expect from such a blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of black cherry, anise, baking spice and a bit of dusty loam.  The first sip is a rush of sweet black cherry that transitions nicely to some earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are well structured providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish with just a kick of spice at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a very pleasant example of what Washington wine makers are doing with Rhone varietals.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from lamb to butter chicken, hearty pasta to prime steaks.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled veal rib chop along with roasted root vegetables and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2020 Maison Bleue Lisette Rosé

Happy Sunday!  I spend a good portion of the afternoon decorating Christmas trees, and I'll admit I did not quite finish, but at least there is wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Maison Bleue Lisette Rosé.  I know it's a bit past rosé season, but what the heck.  This wine is a pure Grenache rosé from the Summit View Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington, so let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a lovely pale peach color in the glass, with aromas of peach, green grass and hints of rose petals.  Take a sip and you're greeted with crisp citrus, melon and fresh herbs that wash over your palate before transitioning easily to some notes of strawberry and earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is crisp and very dry with a reprise of peach and white floral notes and the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's an ideal summer sipper, perfect for friends on the patio.  This wine would be ideal with a range of summer salads, from a citrus and pomegranate with arugula, to roasted beet and feta.  This wine would also pair well with some curry chicken and vegetables, or classic lighter seafood, like alder planked salmon or pan seared halibut.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some steamed snow crab legs with drawn butter, ideal for a Sunday dinner!  Cheers!

2020 Pepper Bridge Winery Walla Walla Merlot

Happy Saturday!  This was a busy day for me as I had to find a new Christmas tree farm for my trees this year as my previous farm had run out of any trees over 6'/  So after driving to Fort Wayne, I bagged to wonderful spruce trees for my annual hunting trip for trees.  And now it's time for a little relaxation and dinner before the daylong decorating party tomorrow.  Tonight I've opened a bottle from the Pepper Bridge wine club shipment that literally arrived today, shortly after I got back from the tree farm!  The 2020 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Merlot is a blend of Merlot (92%) and Malbec (8%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Waliser Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, classic for a nice Merlot.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, raspberry and herb notes of thyme and cardamom with just a hint of cinnamon underneath.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of black fruit with prominent flavors of vanilla bean, cherry and a hint of mint that transition to some dark chocolate midpalate.  The soft tannins are a lovely set up for the wonderfully smooth, lingering dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking nicely now, but could benefit from a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with classic steaks, hearty pasta or a wonderful winter venison stew.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap, grilled leeks, bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2016 Lasorda Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I've spent the afternoon wrapping presents and getting ready for my first neighborhood Christmas party this evening.  But first I need to cook dinner and enjoy a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I bought a couple years ago at a local wine shop, the 2016 Lasorda Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, so let's see how it's tasting!

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 prune, boysenberry and toasted oak, with just a hint of mint underneath.  Take a sip and you're blasted with a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, currant and cassis that transitions nicely to some notes of dark chocolate and mocha midpalate.  The tannins are refined, providing the base for a very 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 everyday Cabernet that would pair well with a variety of big beef dishes, from steaks to prime rib to braised short ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Kansas City strip along with some bacon roasted white asparagus and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2011 Clarendon Hills Grenache

Happy Cellar Saturday! It's the first Saturday of the month, that wonderful time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making to enjoy.  Tonight I've open a bottle that's older, but hasn't been in my cellar very long, as it was a recent purchase from Wines Till Sold out.  The 2011 Clarendon Hills Grenache is a 100% Grenache from the McLaren Vale region of southern Australia.  Though this region is well known for Syrah, let's see what this fellow Rhone varietal has to offer.

The wine is a bright ruby in the glass, with a hint of amber along the edges.  Take a whiff and you're treated to aromas of strawberry, cherry and blackberry intermingled with earthy notes of peat and dusty loam.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in vibrant berry fruit flavors, with just a hint of sweetness, before transitioning to some wonderful earthy mineral notes and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are robust, providing a solid backbone for the long, smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a real testament to the potential for this varietal under extended maturity.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from steaks and chops to barbecue or classis paella.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of herb crusted rack of lamb, with a wine and berry cardamom reduction and oven roasted rainbow cauliflower.  Cheers!