2021 Forgeron Barbera Barrel Select

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!  I hope you enjoyed a pleasant day with your families, as I have decided to make a special dinner on this hot summer evening, so I struggled with what wine to pair with it until I spotted a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars.  The 2021 Forgeron Barbera was crafted from select barrels of Barbera from the White Bluffs appellation in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  Since the White Bluffs are located on a plateau that can extend the growing season by as much as 45 days over the surrounding areas.  With this classic varietal and the wine makers' commitment to the Piedmont style, this wine seems ideal for my Sunday dinner!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity, just as you'd expect from a nice Barbera.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry and peppery spice notes with undertones of lavender.  The first sip is like stepping into an Italian grocery, a rush of black cherry and blackberry fruit with ample baking spice and floral notes, that ease into some earthy mineral and peat midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, as the acidity takes charge for a lingering dry finish.

I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a very pleasing domestic example of this Italian varietal.  This wine would pair well with grilled steaks, lighter salad with broiled branzino, but tonight I am going more traditional with this wine.  I am enjoying this wine with a crab risotto garnished with sautéed garlic scapes and shaved parmesan.  The acidity of this wine is an ideal foil to the richness of the risotto.  Cheers!

2019 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a whirlwind of a weekend for me, with a lot of work and chores around the house, and after getting up on the roof to blow off debris and blow out the gutters, trimming a bunch of tree branches (and whole trees) and mowing, I am now ready for a relaxing dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from one of my all-time favorite Walla Walla wine producers, the 2019 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine has a brooding, black center with bright crimson along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of black cherry, blackberry and earthy leather and cedar.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit with just the faintest hint of sweetness that transitions to some notes of dusty limestone and dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are well structured and perfectly supportive of the smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just an easy sipping wine, perfect for enjoying with family and friends.  This wine would pair well with hearty steaks, grilled lamb or casual burgers and barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a first of summer, a petite seared filet mignon, with some linguine tossed with olive oil, garlic scapes (hooray they are back in season!) and broccoli rabe, topped with shaved parmesan.  Cheers!