2021 Doubleback Merlot

Well, it's been a long week, and I think I can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel as we heard toward the weekend.  And one bright spot is a virtual wine tasting tonight with Drew Bledsoe and Josh McDaniels of Doubleback Winery, so what better way to celebrate than opening a bottle of their first vintage of Merlot!  The 2021 Doubleback Merlot is a blend of Merlot (94%) and Cabernet Franc (6%) from Shafer Vineyard which is on the north side of the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington, adjacent to the Leonetti Upland Vineyard, which is known for quality Merlot.  So, let's get a taste with the virtual tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, as you might expect from a high-quality Merlot.  A gentle swirl releases aromas of vanilla bean, ripe red fruit and a hint of oak.  The first sip is a rush of ripe red fruit, plum, raspberry and currant that transitions to some dark chocolate and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are soft, and well suited for the warm dry finish.  During the tasting, Drew mentioned a story about a Merlot symposium they held at Doubleback before they even started making a Merlot, and the screenwriter from Sideways showed up.  He mentioned how he noted that he had a lot of guts showing up to a Merlot symposium after he singlehandedly killed Merlot, but he responded that he didn't kill Merlot, he saved it.  There were a lot of mass-produced, low-quality Merlots at the time, and the movie served as a catalyst to the good producers to elevate the quality of the varietal.  I thought that was an interesting perspective!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a pleasant drinking Merlot that really shows the earthy texture of the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from barbecue to steak, spicy tacos to soft cheeses.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic comfort dish of stuffed cabbage!  I made this batch a bit spicy, but this wine stands up well to it.  Cheers!

2022 Underground Wine Project Mr. Pink Rosé

Happy day after St. Patrick's Day!  Despite what a long week I've had, I've decided to open a new bottle of wine to enjoy with my traditional dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2022 Underground Wine Project Mr. Pink Rosé.  The Underground Wine Project was a collaboration between Mark McNeilly (Mark Ryan Winery) and Trey Busch and Jerry Solomon (of Sleight of Hand Cellars) who began this collaboration in 2009.  And here we are.  The 2022 Underground Wine Project Mr. Pink Rosé is a blend of Sangiovese (58%) and Syrah (42%) from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a lovely pale peach color in the glass, just as you'd hope for an ideal summer rosé.  Take a whiff and you're greeted with aromas of peach, strawberry and honeysuckle that might trick your brain into expecting a sweeter wine.  Take a sip and the tropical fruit notes come right to the forefront, but then ease back to let some subtle floral notes of  jasmine and honeysuckle come forward, even as you experience some buttery notes reminiscent of Chardonnay.  The flavors come together for a wonderfully crisp dry finish with a reprise of floral at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a super pleasant drinking rosé, ideal for sipping on the patio this summer.  This wine would pair exceptionally well with salmon, fresh summer salad, particularly caprese or just plain hanging out with friends.  Tonight, I've paired this wine with my traditional St. Patrick's Day dinner of slow cooked corned beef, cabbage, carrots and potatoes along with some buttered soda bread.  Cheers!

2020 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It's been a while since I've had a weekend all to myself, and so this weekend I'm celebrating with some wine and food!  So, tonight I've opened a bottle that came from a recent wine club shipment from one of my favorite wineries, Seven Hills.  I have enjoyed a few bottles already, but here is my blog debut of the 2020 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a classic Walla Walla Cabernet from the McClellan Estate Vineyard, which is adjacent to the Seven Hills Vineyard.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is an inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges as you might expect from a classic Cabernet.   A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, anise, and classic dried spice and oak that brings me back to tastings in the barrel room at the winery.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant that transition to some earthy notes of tar, pipe tobacco and dusty loam midpalate.  The tannins are perfectly structured to provide a long, smooth dry finish that will leave you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic example of a great Walla Walla Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from rare grilled filet mignon, to hearty pasta dishes to a summer barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a great cowboy ribeye (that I bought at my local market today) grilled Pittsburgh rare, with blistered cherry tomatoes and grilled white asparagus with bacon.  Cheers!

2011 Alienor 'Le Troubadour' Lake County Red Wine

Happy Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of March, which make this Cellar Saturday, that magical time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that hasn't actually been in my cellar very long, as I recently bought it from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2011 Alienor 'Le Troubadour' Lake County Red Wine is a blend of  Merlot (41%), Syrah (32%) and  Cabernet Franc (27%) from the Lake County AVA of the North Coast of California.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from the heavy hand of these varietals.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blueberries, prune, dried moss and undertones of mint and anise.  Take a sip and your tastebuds surprise you with a rush of fresh ripe fruit, cherry, blackberry and plum, that transition to notes of subtle spice and earthy gravel, intertwined with a dark espresso.  The tannings are still quite robust, leading you to the smooth, dusty dry finish that lingers through your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking wonderfully right now, and at just $20, you could easily sip this throughout the week.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty, earthy dishes, from duck to wild mushroom risotto, grilled lamb to a smoked curry.  Tonight I am taking a completely different road and enjoying this wine with some quick tacos before my second to the last performance this evening.  Cheers!

2019 Helix Cabernet Franc

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a busy few weeks with rehearsals for the play that I'm in, along with work and everything else, it seems I haven't had much time to blog.  But at least tonight I have some time to review a nice bottle of wine that was a recent wine club shipment from Reininger Winery.  The 2019 Helix Cabernet Franc is one of those special wines made from what is normally a Bordeaux blending varietal, but the fine folks in Walla Walla have been lifting those varietals to new heights.  This vintage is a 100% Cabernet Franc from the Weinbau Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA in the Columbia Valley of Washington, so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a lovely ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from this varietal.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, raspberry, hints of lavender and a white pepper spice.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of ripe red fruit, raspberry, cherry and strawberry that transition easily to some earthy notes of tar, leather and basalt midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing a seamless smooth dry finish, with a reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a wonderful example of the heights these former blending grapes can reach when properly tended.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from steaks and lamb chops, to ristotto or chili.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Pacific Northwest sort of dinner, with a crispy skin Scottish pearl salmon filet on a bed of farro along with some steamed asparagus.  Cheers!