2021 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Franc

Happy Saturday!  I have been trying to relax today after two busy days of volunteer work as well as some near disasters with my plumbing and A/C on Wednesday, it's been a challenging week to say the least.  And that my friends is why the Lord gave us wine to cheer our hearts.  Tonight I've opened up a wine club exclusive bottle from Seven Hills, one of my all time favorite wineries in the Walla Walla Valley.  The 2021 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Franc is a 100% Cabernet Franc sourced entirely from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass with excellent clarity.  A gentle swirl of the glass releases aromas of black cherry, vanilla bean and toffee with undertones of peppercorn and a hint of sage.  As the first sip washes over your palate, a rush of ripe cherry, black raspberry and plum tickle your senses, before evolving into some earthy notes of graphite and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are soft but well integrated, providing for a luxurious, smooth dry finish that seems to linger until you next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's an excellent example of pure bottling of what is historically a blending varietal, providing room for the grape to shine and highlight some of the wonderful characteristics of Walla Walla fruit.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from steaks and chops to pasta Bolognese, barbecued ribs to spicy chicken fajitas.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye, with grilled hatch chiles and poblano peppers, and oven roasted rainbow carrots.  Cheers!

2019 Forgeron Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I feel like I got a lot accomplished this weekend as I managed to trim all the hedges yesterday before I had 16 people over for a cookout (and yes, my arms are really sore today, thanks for asking!).  Then today I finished the yard work with some mowing before easing into some dinner and wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2019 Forgeron Cellars Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon that I got in a wine club shipment last spring I think.  In any case, this wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Minnick Hills and Seven Hills Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky purple color in the glass, a testament to a pure Cabernet.  Take a whiff and you're treated to a cascade of aromas of ripe blackberry and currant, intermingled with floral notes of lilac and classic dark chocolate that is such a tradition of Walla Walla Cabernets.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black cherry, blackberry and cassis that transitions well to some notes of dark chocolate and mocha midpalate, amid undertones of dusty minerality.  The tannins are a bit sharp early, but they open up nicely with some time, supporting the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's a really pleasant drinking wine now, but I think it will improve markedly with a few more years in the cellar.  It's also a good value at just $35 before any club or case discounts.  This wine would pair well with a variety of late summer and early fall dishes, from grilled steaks and barbecue to eggplant parmesan or hearty beef stew.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse, grilled poblanos and hatch chiles and some roasted white and purple potatoes.  Cheers!

2020 Mark Ryan Underground Wine Project Idle Hands Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  It's been a long and busy day for me, starting at the crack of dawn as this month I am volunteering to make breakfast for the worship team at church, then it was back home for a full day of yard work.  I trimmed a lot of branches, pulled weeks and then mowed.  By 5:30, I was ready for the end of the work day and now it's time for a nice glass of wine and a hearty dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Mark Ryan Underground Wine Project  Idle Hands Red Wine.  This project started as a venture between Mark Ryan and the folks from Sleight of Hands Cellars, but eventually Mark Ryan bought out the venture to expand distribution.  In any case, particular wine is a blend of Merlot (49%), Cabernet Sauvignon (42%), Petit Verdot (7%) and Malbec (2%) all from the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  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 Merlot and Cabernet in the blend.  The nose presents aromas of leather, black cherry, green herbs and hints of graphite.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, blackberry and cassis that ease effortlessly into some earth notes of peat, dusty loam and graphite.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a velvety dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking blend that is quintessential Washington.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from grilled steaks and chops, to burgers, brats and barbecued ribs.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse, grilled hatch chiles, steamed green beans and corn on the cob.  An ideal summer Sunday dinner.  Cheers!

2019 Trestle Glen Vineyards Sonoma Valley Zinfandel

Happy Sunday!  It was rainy and dreary today, so that means catching up on work and doing laundry!  At least there is still wine, and tonight's selection, which I bought from Wines Till Sold Out, combines two of my favorite things, wine and trains!  Trestle Glen Vineyards name and label pay homage to the Sonoma Valley Railway that ran between Sonoma Town and the village of Glen Ellen between 1882 and 1907.  The 2019 Trestle Glen Vineyards Sonoma Valley Zinfandel is a classic example of the varietal with the accompanying high alcohol (in this case 15.3% ABV).  So, let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, somewhat lighter than you might expect from a classic jammy Zinfandel.  The note presents aromas of blueberry, plum with undertones of nutmeg, cedar and peppery spice.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of jammy fruit that is intertwined with some earthy notes of cedar, tar and basalt before transitioning to some white pepper spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are soft, allowing for the acidity in the wine to bite a bit at the smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant drinking Zindandel that would be ideal for casual dinners, especially at the price of just $17!  This wine would pair well with everything from barbecue to tacos, pizza to steak.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a special steak fajita dinner.  This weekend I had the chance to buy a nice round steak at my local market that was harvested from our recent 4H county fair, so truly farm to table!  I grilled the steak with some spices then added sautéed onions and hatch chiles and topped them with all the accoutrements!  Cheers!

2011 Notre Vin Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée L'Étrier

Happy Saturday!  And of course, since this is the first Saturday of a new month, that make this Cellar Saturday, that magical time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've selected a wine that has only been in my cellar for a few weeks, but it's been in someone's cellar since 2011 before I bought this bottle from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2011 Notre Vin Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée L'Étrier is a Classic Napa Valley Cabernet blended with a bit of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a big, bold Napa Cabernet.  Take a whiff and you are greeted with plum, graphite, aged leather and a touch of fig for good measure.  The first sip is a rush of black cherry that is at first sweet, then tart, then back to sweet, before easing into some earthy notes of dusty limestone and peat midpalate.  The tannins are still fairly robust, providing a pivotal backdrop for the long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.  

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classic big, bold Napa Valley Cabernet that fans will appreciate.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of dishes, but like most big Cabs, this one practically begs to be paired with a big, juicy steak.  And we're in luck!  I am enjoying this wine tonight with a rare grilled T-bone along with grilled hatch chiles, blistered cherry tomatoes and corn on the cob.  Cheers!