2020 Anvil Syrah

Happy Sunday!  And since it's the last Sunday of the month, it's time for Dinner in the Diner, where I explore a recipe from the dining cars of some of the most famous passenger trains of the 20th Century.  So, what to pair with my dinner?  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Anvil Syrah, the premium label from Forgeron Cellars.  The 2020 vintage is a 100% Syrah from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see what this wine has going on!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, with moderate body and clarity, just what you'd expect from a nice Syrah.  The nose reveals aromas of blackberry, blueberry and eucalyptus with undertones of basalt minerality.  The first sip is a rush of sweet black fruit, blackberry, blueberry and currant that dance around a bit of cocoa powder and toasted oak midpalate, with a trail of black peppery spice.  The tannins are still a bit sharp, but still provide for a long, smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a wonderful example of a single-vineyard Syrah from one of the premier areas of Washington for production of this varietal.  This wine would pair well with a variety of fall dishes, from braised short ribs, to rack of lamb, earthy wild mushroom risotto to Beef Wellington.  Tonight, I am taking a road less traveled and enjoying this wine with a recipe from the diner on the New York Central, the individual deep dish chicken pie from the 20th Century Limited.  The recipes for the filling, crust and rich sauce (this is superb) are presented below (though to be fair, I substituted boneless chicken breast for the white/dark meat combination suggested).  Cheers!

2022 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy Saturday!  I am exhausted.  I decided to clear leaves today, which meant getting up on the roof to blow them off and clear the gutters, then blowing the front yard, then blowing from the ground cover in the back yard so I could then get them all up with the leaf vacuum, so now I really need a nice dinner and a glass of wine before I collapse!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a wine club selection that arrived yesterday, the 2022 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Valley Merlot.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!  

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice body and clarity, just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of blackberry, cherry, lavender and kirsch, that beckon you to take a sip.  That first sip is a dynamic layering of flavors from an initial rush of ripe berry, which transitions to some notes of vanilla, caramel and tawny port before leading into some peppery spice notes near the finish.  The tannins are well structured to provide nice body for the long, smooth dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a perennial favorite for this underappreciated varietal.  This wine would pair well with a variety of fall dishes, from Yankee pot roast to braised short ribs, lamb chops to grilled steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare, pan seared grass fed New York strip, bacon maple roasted Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato.  Cheer!

2022 DaMa Wines Grenache

Happy Thursday!  Since I was too busy to post last weekend, I decided to do a midweek post.  Tonight, I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine club selection from DaMa Wines, the 2022 Columbia Valley Grenache.  This wine is a perennial favorite of mine, as it's a 100% Grenache, offering a true perspective on this fascinating and food-friendly varietal.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is lighter bodied, exuding a bright ruby color, just as you'd expect from a nice Grenache.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of leather, violet and kirsch, with undertones of peppery spice.  The first sip is a rush of sweet fruit up front, strawberry, plum and raspberry, that takes an unexpected turn toward some tart cherry midpalate.  The tannins are supple and supportive of the smooth dry finish, with just a hint of spice at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a really interesting take on Grenache, that is likely the best vintage I've had from DaMa. This wine would pair well with a wide range of hearty fall dishes, from braised short ribs to butternut squash bisque, herb-crusted rack of lamb to wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic fall dinner of grilled pork tenderloin and blistered cherry tomatoes, served with mashed sweet potatoes and oven roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2020 Woodward Canyon Estate Merlot-Cabernet Franc

Happy Sunday!  The weekend is almost over, and this weekend time seems to have been going by faster than usual, so here we are with a bottle of wine and Sunday dinner.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of wine that was recently delivered from Woodward Canyon, the 2020 Woodward Canyon Estate Merlot-Cabernet Franc is a blend of Merlot (75%) and Cabernet Franc (25%) that was the result of a collaboration between vineyard manager and second-generation owner, Sager Small and winemaker, Kevin Mott to commemorate the birth of Sager's daughter just before the 2020 harvest.  The wine was aged for 20 months in 100% neutral barrels, in an effort to highlight the character of each varietal.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, just as you'd expect from the heavy weighting of Merlot in the blend.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry and currant, intermingled with some dusty gravel and a hint of anise.  The first sip leaves your palate awash in ripe black fruit, plum, currant and blackberry that subside in some earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are plump and well structured, giving credit to the impact of the Merlot in the blend, providing for wonderfully smooth dry finish, with a reprise of current at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just an interesting and pleasant drinking blend.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from traditional steaks and chops, to braised short ribs or rack of lamb.  Tonight, I am taking a different approach as I tried my hand at Indian butter chicken, though I couldn't resist adding a bunch of vegetables as well, served over basmati rice with a bit of naan on the side.  Cheers!

2022 Mark Ryan 216 Miles to Go Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I spent the afternoon working in the yard and enjoying the sunny, cool weather, and now it's time for dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of the inaugural vintage of a new Cabernet from Mark Ryan that was just delivered to me last week.  The 2022 Mark Ryan 216 Miles to Go Cabernet Sauvignon tells the story of the humble beginnings of Mark Ryan Winery and the 216 mile trip between Woodinville and the vineyards in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Merlot (10%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (1%) from the Phinney Hill and Quintessence Vineyards of Washington.  So, let's see how this first vintage is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a solid Washington Cabernet.  The nose reveals aromas of tart cherry, green grass and dusty loam.  The first sip is an adventure, with a rush of tart cherry, raspberry and currant that easily transitions to some notes of dark chocolate and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are well structured to provide for a warm dry finish that will have you imagining an afternoon at a wonderful Red Mountain vineyard at harvest time.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a very pleasant Cabernet at a price under $40.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from barbecue to tacos, hearty pasta to braised lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic Sunday dinner of a rare grilled T-bone, baked potato and bacon roasted broccolini.  Cheers!

2010 Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Grenache

Happy first Saturday of October, which of course means it's Cellar Saturday, that magical day where I raid the cellar for a wine at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that hasn't been in my cellar very long, as I bought it from Wines Till Sold Out back in August.  The 2010 Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Grenache is a 100% Grenache grown from old vines in South Eastern Australia, using whole berry fermentation with wild yeast, in an effort to enhance the Provencal character of the wine.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting 14 years after harvest!

The wine is a lovely ruby color in the glass, with a hint of amber along the edges as you might expect from such a vintage.  A gently swirl of the glass reveals aromas of earthy tar, black cherry, vanilla bean and hints of leather.  The first sip is a rather surprising rush of fruit, with black cherry, fig and plum that easily transition to some earthy notes of peat and wild mushroom midpalate, before easing into some black pepper spice at the finish.  The tannins are silky smooth, providing for a velvety smooth dry finish that will have you quickly reaching for another sip.

Overall, I appreciate this wine for it's decidedly French character, despite being grown a half a world away.  This wine would pair well with a variety of Mediterranean dishes, from grilled lamb, mellow seafood or braised short ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a Mediterranean classic of grilled octopus with grilled summer squash, red onions and peppers.  Cheers!