2019 Château Lalande de Gravet Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

Happy Sunday!  Well, since it's the last Sunday of the month, it's time for Dinner in the Diner, where I explore a recipe that once graced the dining cars of some of the classic trains of the 20th Century.  Tonight, I've once again decided to go with a nice Bordeaux with my dinner and I've opened a bottle of 2019 Château Lalande de Gravet Saint-Émilion Grand Cru that I purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (65%), Cabernet Franc (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) hand harvested from 45-year-old vines.  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot heavy blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, cherry and plum, with undertones of espresso, cedar and classic Bordeaux funk.  Take a sip and you are immediately awash in tart cherry fruit that quickly eases into some sweeter notes of plum and blackberry, before transitioning to some notes of dusty limestone and green cedar midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured to provide the base for a long, smooth dry finish that is classic old world.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant tasting Bordeaux that hits all the right notes at a value price of just $20.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a comfort food Sunday dinner of Corn Bread Pie using the recipe from the B&O Railroad (posted below), which is simple to prepare and has a sweet and spicy filling, with a hearty cornbread crust.  I took a few liberties with the recipe and topped it with come shredded cheese and jalapenos to add just a little more zip. Cheers!

2020 Forgeron Cellars Syrah

Happy Saturday!  It's been a half relaxing, but busy day, with shopping, errands and then a trip to the gym, and now I am making dinner before heading out to a new event in town that a friend of mine is putting on.  At least there is wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2020 Forgeron Cellars Syrah.  This wine is composed of Syrah (94%) co-fermented with Viognier (6%) from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, perhaps somewhat heavier than you might expect from a Syrah.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of plum, blackberry, black cherry and peppery spice with floral undertones of violet.  The first sip is a rush of wild flavors, black cherry and plum up front, intermingled with toffee, cocoa powder and oak, before heading back to some black pepper spice at the finish.  The tannins are velvety smooth, making a fine foundation for the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a very pleasant drinking Syrah and certainly not priced out of the range of most consumers.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from braised short ribs to rack of lamb, pork tenderloin to mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some crispy skin salmon, mushroom pasta and asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2019 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir

Happy Sunday!  Well, tonight I've brought out a forgotten bottle of wine, as apparently I've reviewed the 2018 vintage, the 2020 vintage and the 2021 vintage, but now I'm finally getting around to the 2019 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir!  As a loyal shareholder, I am a big fan of Willamette Valley Vineyards' wines, and although the whole cluster Pinot Noir is ideal and approachable on release, tonight we'll find out how they perform five years on!

The wine is a delightful ruby color in the glass with nice clarity, just as you'd expect from the varietal.  A gentle swirl of my Pinot glass reveals aromas of raspberry, bing cherry, green cedar and a hint of eucalyptus.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in ripe red fruit, cherry, raspberry and currant with just a bit of tartness that eases into some earthy notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a smooth, dry finish that lingers with a reprise of berry at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderful example of a solid Pinot Noir, that is approachable and ideal for pairing with a broad range of casual dinner fare.  This wine would be great with barbecue, pizza or tacos, grilled seafood or pasta.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some miso glazed pan seared Coho salmon topped with microgreens, along with some farro and steamed broccolini.  Cheers!

2020 Mark Ryan Manu Propria Ex Animo

Happy Saturday!  Today was relatively relaxing, as I went to the annual train show in Middlebury today, to see a bunch of trains (I bought a couple books and some ephemera), then went to Costco and the supermarket and now I'm ready for dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2020 Mark Ryan Manu Propria Ex Animo, which is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (clone 191 and 337) sourced from a one-acre block of the Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a solid Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, raspberry, black cherry with undertones of green cedar and earthy peat.  The first sip is a rush of ripe cherry, plum and currant that transition easily to some notes of baking spice and vanilla bean midpalate.  The tannins are well structured but definitely take the supporting role for the lingering dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a solid example of the high quality of Cabernet that coming from Washington state today.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of hearty dishes, from pasta, beef stew or prime rib, to steaks, lamb or braised short ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, with oven roasted white asparagus and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2019 Tenute del Neccio Super Tuscan

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!  I admit, as a Bears fan I usually lose interest in football about week 3 of the season, so tonight I am just enjoying a nice quiet dinner and watching a movie.  Yes, that may be lame, but so am I!  So, what's on the menu tonight?  I am having some nice comfort food that reminds me of my childhood, and for no particular reason, I opened up a bottle of 2019 Tenute del Neccio Super Tuscan that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  Unlike many Super Tuscans that rely on blending Bordeaux varietals, this wine relies more on the traditional Tuscan varietals, Sangiovese, Malvasia Nera and Ciliegiolo.  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a lighter color in the glass, reflecting the heavier reliance on Sangiovese in the blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of cherry and plum, intermingled with earthy notes of tar and green cedar.  The first sip a surprising rush of ripe red berries that at first exhibit a hint of sweetness before turning tart.  The earthy mineral notes of dusty limestone come out midpalate before easing into a wonderfully smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant drinking Tuscan wine and a good value under $13.  This wine would pair with a variety of casual dishes (perhaps like you're enjoying at the big game!) from burgers and brats, to pizza and barbecued ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some stuffed cabbage, topped with fire roasted tomatoes and melted mozzarella and provolone.  Cheers!

2016 Château de Lafaurie-Monbadon Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

Happy Saturday!  I admit I slept in this morning as I was up late last night doing some volunteer cooking, so I took it easy today and did some random chores, grocery shopping and then decided to relax with a cocktail before dinner.  Tonight, I've decided on a different dinner, and that calls for a different wine, so I've opened a bottle of 2016 Château de Lafaurie-Monbadon Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  This wine is a classic Bordeaux, a blend of Merlot (70%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) and Cabernet Franc (15%).  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from such a Merlot heavy blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, cherry and cassis with undertones of violets and a hint of aged leather.  The first sip is a surprising rush of tart cherry that quickly gives way to some sweet blackberry and raspberry, before transitioning to some earthy notes of cedar and dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are still a bit tight, providing for a very sharp dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very easy drinking and food friendly Bordeaux that was also a solid value at less than $14.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops, to braised lamb shank, rich baked pasta to country barbecue.  Tonight, I am once again taking the road less traveled and enjoying this wine with a Japanese style stir fry.  Given the tight grocery budgets we are all facing, I decided to marinade some sliced chuckeye steak (if you are unfamiliar it's very flavorful and usually around $5-6 a pound) in some Bachan's Japanese Barbecue sauce, then christened my Hexclad wok and stir fried with some fresh veggies, served over white rice.  Cheers!

2019 Famiglia Castellani Chianti

Well it's Sunday and I am ready to turn my attention to cooking and sipping a nice glass of wine.  As I've had in mind what I am making for dinner, since it has an Italian flair, I thought it appropriate to open a nice bottle of Chianti.  Tonight, I've selected a bottle of 2019 Famiglia Castellani Chianti that I recently picked up from Wines Till Sold Out and their case sale, so you know it was a good value.  This wine is made to the more historical blending standards for Chianti, including the addition of some white grapes, and is a blend of Sangiovese (85%), Canaiolo (10%) and Ciliegiolo (5%).  So, let's see how this classic from Tuscany is tasting!

The wine is a lighter ruby color in the glass with great clarity, as you might expect from a Sangiovese heavy blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, light floral notes of violet, tar and a bit of sweet cherry.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry that eases a bit as it transitions to some notes of dried herbs and earthy peat midpalate.  The fine grain tannins are still a bit tightly wound, providing for a rather brief dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant example of a nice, easy drinking Chianti, which was also a solid value at just $12.50!  This wine would pair well with a wide range of Italian dishes, from hearty pasta and risotto to baked Branzino.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some Italian herb crusted chicken breast along with some fusilli primavera.  Cheers!

2014 Titan Wine Company Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

It's the first Saturday of the new month, which means it's Cellar Saturday!  It's the magical day when I raid the cellar to find a bottle of wine at least a decade in the making to open and enjoy.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that hasn't been in my cellar very long as I purchased it from Wine Till Sold Out a month or so ago.  The 2014 Titan Wine Company Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley and from a very strong vintage.  So, let's see how this wine has performed over the past decade!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals tempting aromas of blackberry, aged leather and baking spice that is reminiscent of an old library, perfect for relaxing on a chilly winter evening.  The first sip is an intriguing adventure, with an introduction of peppery spice and green herbs that transitions easily to some blackberry and plum notes midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, supporting a long, smooth dry finish with a reprise of exotic spices at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just an adventurous wine that belies the normal, boring big Napa Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with rustic dished, from hearty stews to wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight I have taken a traditional route, enjoying this wine with a big Angus ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare along with some grilled broccolini and oven roasted sweet potatoes with herbs de Provence.  Cheers!