2020 Eberle Paso Robles Barbera

Happy Saturday!  Today was a day of modest achievement, as I visited with some friends, then went grocery shopping, then came home and started preparing for my taxes, which was quite the adventure (at least is doesn't seem like I'll be writing any large checks in April!).  And now it's time to relax with a bottle of wine as I cook some of what I bought at the store today.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Eberle Paso Robles Barbera, which was a Christmas gift from my aunt and uncle, as they are big fans of this winery and Paso Robles wines generally.  This wine is a 100% Barbera from the Bootjack Ranch (35%), Steinbeck (33%) and Partridge (32%) vineyards in Paso Robles.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bright garnet color in the glass, with great clarity.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of blackberry, fig and cherry, with undertones of vanilla bean, dried sage and toasted oak.  A first sip is a rush of ripe fruit, black cherry, plum and blackberry that easily shifts gears toward some oak and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but still provide for a very smooth dry finish than lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a very pleasant drinking wine that would pair well with a range of dishes.  This wine would be ideal with hearty Italian pasta dishes, lamb, venison, or earthy wild mushroom risotto. Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Sunday dinner a day early, herb crusted roast beef with carrots, celery, onions, sweet potatoes and regular potatoes, along with a fresh gravy I made with the broth. Cheers!

2018 Saint Veeder Mount Veeder Crouse Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Thursday!  It's been a busy week, but at last I have a night free tonight so I can enjoy a nice dinner and a good glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I purchases not too long ago from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2018 Saint Veeder Mount Veeder Crouse Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the 7th vintage produced by St. Veeder, sourcing the fruit from 30-year-old vines in the Mount Veeder appellation of Napa Valley.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of leather, bold black fruit notes of blackberry, currant and plum, with undertones of anise and cassis.  Take a sip and you plunge into the depths of big, bold Napa Valley Cabernet, with a rush of ripe black fruit at the front, blackberry, currant and cherry that transition easily to some notes of toasted oak and vanilla bean midpalate.  The tannins are subdued, but well integrated, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish, with a hint of sage at the very end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic big bold Cabernet that would pair well with big steaks, hearty pastas, earthy mushroom risotto or braised short ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye, grilled leeks and oven roasted white asparagus.  Cheers!

2019 Manu Propria Ex Animo

Happy Saturday!  It's been a day or errands, memorial services and volunteer work today, so now I'm ready for a bit of relaxation and a nice dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine that just came out and I was fortunate to secure a few bottles given the limited production.  The 2019 Manu Propria Ex Animo is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington. This is the first time I've been able to secure some of this wine since the 2015 Vintage and I'm looking forward to this wine as it is made with some Clone 191, which is the same Cabernet clone used in the Seven Hills Summit View Cabernet, which is a long-time personal favorite.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, a testament to the varietal.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of leather, ripe cherry and plum with just a hint of floral notes.  The first sip is a rush of cherry that's at first tart, and then evolves into a ripe sweetness, along with some ripe red plum that linger into some mild earthiness of oak and a hint of mint midpalate.  The tannins are silky smooth, providing for a delightfully smooth dry finish that lingers into a reprise of tart acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it is a wonderfully classic Cabernet that shines through the classic Bordeaux-esque characteristics that make me love Washington wine.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty winter dishes, from beef stew and chili, to prime rib or hearty pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a big honkin' porterhouse grilled rare, with some blistered cherry tomatoes, grilled leeks and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2021 Feu Follet Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rose

Happy Sunday!  It's been a somewhat relaxing day as my cooking was largely completed this morning - more on that in a minute.  And now, for the second time in as many weeks, I've reached back to the wines of summer for an appropriate wine pairing for this evening.  The 2021 Feu Follet Coteaux d'Aix en Provence rose is a blend of Grenache Noir (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), Carignan (20%) and Syrah (10%), and yes, I know that adds up to 110%, but it's what the label said so I don't have the information to correct the percentages, so we'll go with it (incidentally, this is the first time I've ever encountered a percentage blend that did not add up correctly!).  I bought this wine from Wines Till Sold Out last summer, meaning to enjoy it on the patio, but alas better late than never, so let's see how it's tasting in the winter.

The wine is a lovely peach color in the glass, which seemed to be the trend for 2021 roses.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of citrus and strawberry, with undertones of lemon and hints of apple over the top.  Take a sip and flavors of melon, apple and peach dance on your tongue before easing into some modest mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is at first crisp, but then it smooths out to a lingering dryness.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it continues to evolve as you sip, and makes me sad that I didn't enjoy this wine while the patio furniture was still out.  This wine would pair well with a variety of summer fare, from burgers and barbecue, to summer salads and seafood.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some split pea soup that's been simmering in the crock pot all day, made from the ham bone left over from the Christmas party, the richness of the soup is a perfect foil for this wine.  Cheers!

2020 Helix Columbia Valley Tempranillo

Happy Saturday!  Today was a bit of a relaxing day, though I may be the only one that finds running errands relaxing.  So, after the farmer's market, the supermarket and visiting with some friends, I am now back home and ready for a relaxing dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Reininger Winery, the 2020 Helix Columbia Valley Tempranillo.  This wine is a blend of Tempranillo (76%), Syrah (19%) and Malbec (5%) from the Stone Tree, Phinney Hill and Stone Valley Vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  After a gentle swirl, you're greeted with all manner of fruit and funk, blackberry, chalk, vanilla bean, peat and dusty limestone with just a bit of twang at the end.  Take a sip and the funk evaporates like a distant memory as you are treated to all manner of blackberry, from fresh to jam to compote, before easing into some notes of pipe tobacco and a hint of dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are chewy, providing for a wonderfully full, velvety dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a pleasure to sip, but I just wish there was a bit more in the center.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from classic risotto and pasta, to hearty stews and robust fish dishes.  Tonight I am taking a different tack, and enjoying this wine with a dinner that should not be paired, a wonderful pretzel crusted chicken with mashed potatoes, gravy and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2021 Claire-Voie Coteaux D'Aix en Provence Rose

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a while since I've managed a mid-week post, and tonight it's a throwback to summer.  Given January in Indiana is not even remotely warm and sunny, I thought it might be nice to hearken back to the warm evenings on the patio enjoying a lovely glass of rose with friends.  Ironically, tonight's wine is one I bought from Wines Till Sold Out back in the summer, but time flew by and before I knew it, the leaves had fallen and the patio furniture was put into storage.  So, tonight I've opened the 2021 Claire-Voie Coteaux D'Aix en Provence Rose, a blend of Syrah (60%), Grenache Noir (30%) and Vermentino (10%).  Let's have a glass!

The wine is a lovely peach color in the glass with gold hues along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of green grass, fresh citrus, and the faintest hint of passion fruit.  The first sip is a rush of tart green apple, strawberry and peach that eases into some mineral notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tight, leading in to a faint note of bitterness on the finish (a nod to the Vermentino) which is crisp and dry.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant rose overall, but I could do without the slight bitterness on the finish.  This wine would pair well with seafood, summer salads or lighter pasta dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a panko crusted grouper filet with jasmine rice and shaved Brussels sprouts with bacon, maple and pomegranate (my new favorite preparation this winter).  Cheers!

2012 Lachini Willamette Valley Estate Pinot Noir

Well, it's the first Saturday of a new month and new year, which makes it Cellar Saturday!  This is the magical day where I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making, and tonight I have something a bit off the beaten path.  I bought a bottle of the 2012 Lachini Willamette Valley Estate Pinot Noir just a few months ago from Wines Till Sold Out, as it seemed a terrific bargain, so why not try some?  So, let's see what this Pinot Noir from the Chehalem Mountains of Oregon has to offer!

The wine is a deep rose color in the glass, somewhat lighter than your typical Pinot Noir.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, cherry, sweet lilac and hints of forest floor, a classic funky combination for this varietal.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe cherry that cascades through your palate, transitioning easily to some earthy elements of fresh cut grass and peat midpalate.  The tannins are quite subdued, but still bring forth a delightfully dry finish that lingers lightly for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, and although I am not the biggest fan of Pinot Noir, I find this wine to be an interesting departure.  As for pairings, this wine would pair well with a variety of aged cheeses, earthy dishes like wild mushroom risotto, or hearty winter favorites like Yankee pot roast or hearty beef stew.  Tonight I am taking that latter approach and enjoying this wine with some braised elk and bison short ribs on creamy mashed potatoes with some oven roasted carrots.  Cheers!

2019 Pepper Bridge Trine

Happy New Year!  Hard to believe we are in 2023 as time seems to be accelerating (or perhaps I'm just getting older).  So to celebrate the first day of the new year with a wonderful dinner, we need a wonderful wine as well.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2019 Pepper Bridge Trine, a classic example of a fine Bordeaux style blend from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Franc (42%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Merlot (16%), Malbec (8%) and Petit Verdot (4%) sourced from the Seven Hills, Waliser, Octave, and Pepper Bridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  Having opened this wine about 90 minutes ago, let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass, and a gentle swirl reveals aromas of ripe red fruit, raspberry, cherry and currant, layers of fresh herbs and some mineral notes.  The first sip is a rush of ripe red fruit interwoven with layers of semi-sweet chocolate, light floral notes and consistent mineral notes that give the wine an interesting complexity.  The tannins are well structured providing for a wonderfully consistent dry finish that seems to linger for minutes. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's usually a house favorite when I have it on hand.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty winter dishes, from prime steaks to braised short ribs, hearty beef stew to classic mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with my new year's feast of a pan seared filet mignon topped with béarnaise along with a butter poached lobster risotto and some oven roasted carrots.  Cheers!