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!
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