2016 Cobblestone Vineyards Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Happy Sunday!  Today was an adventurous afternoon as I harvested the first of my tomatoes and then proceeded to immediately use the tomatoes and basil I grew myself to make 3 quarts of sauce, my first sauce of the year and a special one since it is the product of my own agricultural urges!  And though I used some wine in making the sauce, I've decided to open up something completely different to enjoy while the jars of sauce are processing.  The 2016 Cobblestone Vineyards Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a wine I bought last year from Wines Till Sold Out, and is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot from the best of the fruit from the 2016 vintage. So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is an inky black at the center with garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry and toasted oak with undertones of plum and cassis.  The first sip is not at all what I was expecting, a rush of tart cherry envelops your palate, easing into some dusty limestone and tawny port notes midpalate.  The fruit continues to cascade in your mouth as you get to the white pepper spice near the finish, which is supported by velvety smooth tannins for a classic long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's drinking well now, but would likely improve even more with some time in the cellar.  This wine was also a good value at just $27 when I bought it.  This wine would pair well with meat, especially red meat!  This would do well with hearty steaks, rack of lamb, grilled pork tenderloin or even barbecued ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled T-bone steak, grilled broccolini and hatch chiles, and mushroom pasta.  Cheers!

2022 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Malbec

Well, happy Saturday!  It seems that since I reviewed the last vintage of tonight's wine last Father's day, I might be a couple months behind schedule! Oh well, it's been a hot summer and being a winter baby, I will excuse my lack of motivation in the heat and humidity (today it hit 90 degrees with 70% humidity today!).  In any case, tonight's wine is the 2022 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Malbec, which if Malbec is involved surely means there is a hunk of beef waiting for me, 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 a nice Malbec.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, black cherry, smoke and vanilla bean that beckon you to take your first sip.  That sip is a rush of ripe berry and earthy complexity washing over your palate, starting with some dark cherry and blueberry intermingled with some vanilla bean and smoky oak that transition easily into some mineral notes of dusty limestone and hints of white pepper midpalate.  The tannins are well structured but definitely background players in the long, smooth dry finish with just a hint of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderful example of what Washington can do with a varietal like Malbec.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from a wild mushroom risotto to braised lamb shank, grilled steak to fajitas.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye, along with some roasted hatch chiles, steamed Italian green beans and fresh corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2023 Wines of Substance Ro Rosé

Happy Sunday!  Well, even though it seems that summer is oh so quickly easing into fall, there are still a few weeks left in rosé season, and since it's hot and sticky here today I am going full steam ahead with a 2023 Wines of Substance Ro Rosé that I recently picked up at Costco.  This wine is made from Syrah sourced from the Buckshot Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is pale peach color in the glass, ideal for a nice rosé.  The nose presents aromas of tart apple, grapefruit and a bit of honeysuckle, that has summer written all over it.  Take a sip and you have an interesting complex of smooth summer fruit flavor, melon, peach, strawberry and a hint of citrus that isn't nearly as pronounced as the nose would suggest.  The tannins are well hidden, providing for a smooth dry finish that is very different than you standard crisp finish of a rosé.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely sipping wine that was also a terrific value at just $10.  This wine would pair well with summer evenings on the patio, caprese salad or lighter seafood dishes.  Tonight, I am making this a pure Pacific Northwest experience and enjoying this wine with a miso and sesame glazed wild Alaskan sockeye served with steamed rice and Italian pole beans I bought at the farmer's market.  Cheers!

2021 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Well hello there!  It's been almost a week since we've talked, and now that work is getting back to a more normal pace, I am hopeful that I can enjoy some of the wines that have been stacking up around my house.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a wine club shipment from one of my favorite Walla Walla wine makers, the 2021 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (79%), Petit Verdot (7%), Malbec (7%), Syrah (5%), Carménère (1%) and Petite Syrah (1%) from the Walla Walla 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 nice Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of black cherry, black raspberry and currant, with undertones of spice box and vanilla bean.  The first sip and you're awash with wonderful black fruit that coats your palate before easing into some notes of dark chocolate, black tea and some dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are well structured to provide the foundation for a very Bordeaux-esque style dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a very respectable Walla Walla Cabernet that's also a terrific value at just $35, before any wine club discounts.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty and rustic dishes, from braised short ribs to grilled lamb, but more than anything, this wine would cry out for a big, juicy steak.  Well, wouldn't you know it, my local market had ribeyes on sale, so tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye with sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms, corn on the cob and steamed brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2020 Raymond Mountain District Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a while since I've posted, and I blame that on a despicable work schedule along with a dreaded summer cold I've been battling (so my sense of smell might not be as accurate this evening!).  In any case, I'm ready for a relaxing Sunday dinner following a weekend of work (see above) and given my planned meal, I couldn't think of a better wine to open than the 2020 Raymond Mountain District Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  I think I bought this one several months back from Wines Till Sold Out, so let's see how this fire tainted vintage is tasting.

The wine is a brooding ruby color in the glass, with a dark center as you'd expect on a nice Napa Cabernet.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of earthy leather, green grass and hints of blackberry amid undertones of minerality.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry, blackberry and currant that awash your palate before transitioning to some notes of dark chocolate and espresso midpalate.  The tannins are velvety and provide an ideal base for the long, classically Napa dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic big honkin' Napa Valley Cabernet that I bought for a solid value price at just $40.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from hearty pasta and braised short ribs, to barbecue and lamb.  Of course, for me a big honkin' Cabernet calls for a big honkin' steak, so tonight I am enjoying this wine with a tomahawk grilled Pittsburgh rare, served with roasted hatch chiles and fresh sweet corn I picked up at the farmer's market yesterday.  Cheers!