2022 Stolen Horse Syrah

Happy Memorial Day!  It's been a busy long weekend of planting flowers at the cemetery and then planting even more flowers by my house, and with rain much of the weekend, I'm pretty tuckered out by now!  So, I've decided to open a bottle of one of my favorite wines from my recent wine club shipment, the 2022 Stolen Horse Syrah from Bledsoe Family Winery.  This wine is a classic Syrah (98%) co-fermented with Viognier (2%) sourced from the Loess, Flying B Estate and LeFore Estate Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is starting out!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, with a bit of brooding purple at the center, just as you'd expect.  The nose presents aromas of lavender, black cherry and plum intermingled with a bit of ripe olive and tobacco notes.  The first sip is rush of ripe, sweet cherry that evolves into some earthy notes of peat and minerality before an explosion of peppery spice near the finish.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a wonderfully long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classic Syrah, that would pair well with a wide range of dishes, from holiday burgers and brats, to pasta or braised lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic holiday barbecue of baby back ribs, hot honey baked beans and sriracha slaw.  The wine has all the structure to stand up to such a sweet and spicy meal, cheers!

2019 Decero Remolinos Vineyard Malbec

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy weekend, and always sad when it comes to the end and you're not exactly sure what you accomplished!  At any rate, I'm ending the weekend on a high note with a wonderful wine that is perfect for my Sunday dinner choice. The 2019 Decero Remolinos Vineyard Malbec was harvested from vineyards in the Agrelo sub-appellation of Mendoza, planted at an elevation of 3,500 feet.  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, just as you'd expect from a nice Malbec.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals wonderful aromatics of blackberry, leather and white pepper spice.  Take a sip and you're awash in ripe blueberry, blueberry and currant that transition easily to some earthy notes of basalt and green cedar.  The tannins are expertly structured, providing for a velvety smooth dry finish that lingers till your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderful expression of a Malbec that stands well above the standard fare of this varietal.  This wine was also a terrific value available at Costco for just $16!  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, but practically begs to be paired with a gaucho served steak.  And tonight I'm in luck, enjoying this wine with a cowboy ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare with horseradish, roasted garlic and grilled asparagus.  Cheers! 

2022 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carménère

Happy Mother's Day!  I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful day, though I admit mine was a bit subdued, with yard work and chores around the house followed by a bike ride, so now I'm ready for dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of one of my favorite lost varietals from one of my favorite Walla Walla winemakers.  The 2022 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carménère is a 100% Carménère from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington, that was only available to wine club members, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a lovely garnet color in the glass, and a gentle swirl reveals aromas of sweet blackberry, leather and fresh herbs.  Take a sip and experience a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum with a bit of acidity that easily transitions to some notes of vanilla bean and pipe tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are subdued, making for a mellow finish that while dry, is not in your face about it.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a consistent favorite for a food friendly varietal.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from barbecue to tacos, steaks to pizza.  Tonight, I am enjoy this wine with some hatch chile barbecued chicken, pan roasted baby potatoes with onions, peppers and mushrooms, and some fresh broccoli slaw.  Cheers!