2021 Forgeron Cellars Grenache

Happy Sunday!  I had a chance to do a little relaxing today, went out to see a movie in addition to doing laundry and a little office work, so now it's time for a nice Sunday dinner and glass of wine.  For dinner, it's the last Sunday of the month, which means it's time for "Dinner in the Diner" when I try a recipe that was once features on one of the classic passenger trains of the 20th Century.  But first, the wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2021 Forgeron Cellars Grenache, which is a 100% Grenache from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an easy garnet color in the glass, just as you might expect from this varietal.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, currant and a hint of mint over the top.  Take a sip and you're in for a rush of ripe fruit, cherry, currant and plum, that transitions to some notes of cinnamon and spice midpalate. The tannins are well integrated, providing for a lovely dry finish with some lingering earthy notes at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking, food friendly, lighter red wine ideal for the summer months (did I mention it was 82 degrees here today?).  Tonight, I am pairing this wine with a classic recipe from the dining cars on the Pennsylvania Railroad, Seafood Newburg!  It doesn't get much more classically 20th century than seafood in a sherry cream sauce!  I admit I took a few liberties with this recipe and added just scallops and shrimp, as that's what I had on hand, but I also added some peas to give it a little color as well.  The spice and tart fruit of this wine are a perfect foil to the richness of this dish.  Cheers!

2021 Bledsoe Family Winery "The Mac" Red Wine

Happy Tuesday!  I thought it was about time for a random wine post in the middle of the week, so here we go!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of an inaugural release of a new wine from the Bledsoe Family Winery.  The 2021 "The Mac" red wine is named for Drew Bledsoe's father and is a blend of Syrah (36%), Merlot (34%) and Petit Verdot (30%) all sourced from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is starting out!

A deep ruby color, and a gentle swirl of the glass get us started on this adventure, with green grass, ripe cherry, dusty limestone and floral undertones on the nose.  The first sip is an explosion of disparate fruit, tart cherry, blueberry, currant and marionberry that wash across your palate painting images of the mountain west.  The tannins are well balanced, providing a depth and complexity that will have you contemplating the experience as you reach for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a delightful example of an unusual combination of varietals that truly express the whole that's greater than the sum of its parts.  This seems like a very food friendly wine that would pair with anything from steaks and chops to hearty pasta, barbecue or burgers.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic Northwest pairing of pan seared sockeye salmon with a lemon dill cream, steamed rice and asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2021 Mark Ryan Winery Lonely Heart Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a very busy few weeks for me, with work, the theatre and just trying to keep up with household chores, I haven't had much time to post!  Yesterday I finally picked up my lawnmower from being repaired and today I got to mow for the first time this year as well as digging up a 5-gallon bucket of dandelions!  And now it's time to relax with a glass of wine and a nice dinner.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2021 Mark Ryan Winery Lonely Heart Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Quintessence Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black at the center with deep ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a pure Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of black cherry, leather, oak and a hint of marionberry, with undertones of vanilla and tobacco.  The first sip takes your breath away with a lush expression of ripe black fruit, boysenberry, cherry and currant, with a gravelly underbelly.  The tannins are perfectly structured providing for a velvety mouthfeel and a classically smooth dry finish with just a hint of mint at the end. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wine that would pair well with some of the biggest of dishes but keeps it's composure just sipping on the patio.  This wine would be ideal with big steaks, rack of lamb or braised short ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with an Asian barbecued ribeye served with grilled leeks, oven roasted fingerling potatoes and maple bacon Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2021 DaMa Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy Sunday!  It's been a gorgeous day here, sunny and 75 degrees.  I did a bunch of yard work, including digging up a couple buckets of dandelions, trimming some branches from a spruce tree, and transplanting a maple tree, then I went for a bike ride and then relaxed on the porch before dinner.  I am ready for a mild taste of summer with my dinner tonight, but first I'm opening a nice bottle of wine from the recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2021 Walla Walla Valley Merlot from the First Light Vineyard.  I am a big fan of Merlot, so let's see what Mary and the crew have done with this release!

The wine is a lovely ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of sweet cherry, blackberry and vanilla bean, creating a lovely, rich aroma that beckons you to take a sip.  The first tastes is a wonderful rush of ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry and cassis, that transition to some lovely dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are supple and somewhat subdued, providing for a velvety smooth finish with lingering fruit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking Merlot that would pair nicely with a broad range of dishes, but would also be a fine wine to sip on the porch with friends on a summer evening.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse, marinated with some Japanese barbecue sauce and topped with some sunflower sprouts, grilled leeks, grilled corn on the cob and some maple bacon Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2020 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Petit Verdot

Happy Sunday!  I had a matinée performance today, but that gave me some time to get my dinner in the oven between Church and heading to the theater, so I feel as though I accomplished a lot today!  So as I relax on this Sunday evening, I am ready to enjoy some wonderful comfort food for Sunday dinner, along with a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a Bordeaux varietal from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, the 2020 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Petit Verdot.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from this often blending grape.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, leather and oak, amid undertones of violet and lilac.  The first sip is an adventurous ride between fruit and spice, with a rush of black cherry, blackberry and currant dancing amid baking spice, vanilla bean and anise before easing into some tawny spice midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully vibrant, providing for a lovely backbone to the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a perfect balance of sweet ripe fruit and earthy dryness that makes this an ideal wine for enjoying with food or just sipping with friends.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to beef stew and hearty pasta.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some braised short ribs, served over roasted garlic mashed potatoes and red wine reduction, with oven roasted broccoli rabe.  Cheers!