2018 Gramercy Cellars Walla Walla Syrah

Happy Saturday!  I started the day running all sorts of errands, then I got home and worked all afternoon, so now I'm ready for a nice dinner and a glass of wine. Tonight, I've opened a bottle of wine I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out, who occasionally sources some outstanding Washington wines, and tonight's is no exception.  The 2018 Gramercy Cellars Walla Walla Syrah is a blend of Syrah from three different vineyards, Les Collines, which is a perennial strong source of Syrah, their own estate vineyard, Forgotten Hills and Holy Roller Vineyard, from the Rocks District, which has its own identity in the world of Syrah.  As a fan of Syrah, I can't wait to see how this wine has developed!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with a more medium body.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of boysenberry, lavender and a good bit of forest floor, revealing the earthy character of Walla Walla Syrah.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry that backs off to reveal some blackberry and boysenberry fruit, easing into some umami and dusty limestone and black pepper spice midpalate that is classic for Rocks District Syrah.  The tannins are voluptuous, providing for a velvety, smooth dry finish with a bit of acidity that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a shining example of the Walla Walla terroir and its impact on producing great Syrah.  This wine was also a terrific value at just $25, one you could sip on the weeknights, or enjoy with friends at a nice dinner party.  Speaking of which, this wine would pair well with a range of dished, from rack of lamb and risotto, to classic salmon and steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared, crispy skin Scottish black pearl salmon filet, mushroom pasta and oven roasted broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2021 Forgeron Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

What an arctic blast we have been experiencing the past couple days!  The low last night was -6 and the high today was barely above zero, so needless to say I have been huddled indoors.  But at least there is good food and wine to take a bit of the chill away and tonight I've opened a bottle of 2021 Forgeron Cellars Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet sourced from the Minnick Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bit lighter in body than your typical Cabernet, emblazoned with bright ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents welcoming aromas of leather, toasted oak and warm cherry pie that beckons you to take a sip.  That first sip is a rush of ripe blackberry, plum and cherry with a good bit of acidity, which transitions to some earthy notes of dusty loam, vanilla bean and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are youthful but well behaved, providing for a lovely, smooth dry finish with just a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine an 8.5, as it's a very nicely composed Cabernet that will likely improve a bit with some time in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty winter dishes, from beef stew and braised short ribs, to baked pasta or risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared bison New York Strip, oven roasted white and purple potatoes and steamed green beans almondine.  Cheers!

2016 Aruma Malbec

Happy Sunday! it's been a heck of a week, but now I have some time for a nice bottle of wine with my Sunday dinner.  Given my penchant for beef, tonight I've opened a bottle of 2016 Aruma Malbec that I purchased from Wine Till Sold Out. This wine is a 100% Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina, which is a classic region for this wine. So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Malbec.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, white pepper, cassis and earthy basalt.  Take a sip and you are awash in ripe cherry, blackberry and currant, that transitions easily to some ripe fruit notes, before easing into some dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a long, smooth dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall. I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a classic steak friendly wine a a value price (I think I bought this one for under $20!).   This wine would pair well with almost any beef dish, as well as braised lamb, chili or steak tacos.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled T-bone steak, oven roasted candy stripe beets and broccolini.  Cheers!

2021 Seven Hills SHW Founding Vineyard Merlot

Happy Sunday!  It was a rather melancholy weekend, as I spent a good portion of it taking down all the Christmas decorations and putting them away.  Even though the house is festive for a full month out of the year, it just seems to short when it all comes to an end.  In any event, after that I did some chores and clean up around the house and now it's time for a nice dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2021 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Merlot, a 100% Merlot from the original vines planted by Seven Hills founder Casey McClellan and his father in the early 1980s.  I previously reviewed the 2017 vintage and the 2020 Vintage, so let's see how this one is shaping up!

The wine is deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from this classic varietal.  A gentle swirl of the glass presents aromas of candied plum, blackberry and undertones of vanilla bean and violet that will have you on the edge of your seat.  Take a sip and your taste buds are unexpectedly elevated as the ripe fruit your nose expected is overwhelmed by earthy notes of basalt and cedar intertwined with toasted oak and caramel before that long-expected fruit makes an appearance with lovely blackberry, ripe plum and cherry.  The tannins are balanced with a bit of acidity that provides for a wonderfully smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as this Merlot is proving itself to be a consistent performer over the past five years.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of dishes, from steaks and lamb, to hard cheeses and pasta.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic Pacific Northwest inspired Sunday dinner of pan seared salmon along with creamy butternut squash pasta and oven roasted broccoli rabe and red peppers.  Cheers!

2021 Seven Hills Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  I had a rather relaxing day, doing some chores, going to the gym, and now getting ready to make Sunday dinner and enjoy a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2021 Seven Hills Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from some of the oldest blocks of the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  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 Cabernet led Bordeaux style blend.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blueberry and hints of lavender amid subtle notes of tobacco and black pepper.  The taste is a mind-bending rush of tart cherry, intertwined with blackberry and blueberry creating a fruit cocktail before transitioning to some notes of dried herbs and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but well structured to provide the backbone to the lingering dry finish that will have you easily reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classic Washington version of a Left Bank Bordeaux.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops, braised lamb shank or wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare, pan seared filet mignon, mashed potatoes and shaved Brussels sprouts with bacon, pomegranate and 25-year white balsamic.  Cheers!

2009 Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Irpinia Aglianico

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of a new month (and new year!), that magical time where I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that has actually been in my cellar only a month or so, as I bought it in a mystery six-pack of red wine from Wines Till Sold Out not too long ago.  The 2009 Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Irpinia Aglianico is from southern Italy and is one of the first mature bottles of this varietal that I've tried, as usually I have consumed Aglianico when younger.  So, let's see how a bit of age has expressed itself in this wine!

The wine is a much deeper purple color in the glass, with just a hint of amber along the edges as one would expect with a bit of age.  The nose presents aromas of ripe plum, leather, spice box and dried herbs, with the classic aromas of anise and black pepper spice you often see in an aged Italian red wine.  The first sip takes me back to dinners in Rome in the 1990s, with a rush of fruit that is quickly overtaken by some wonderful notes of anise, leather and spice, leading to earthy notes of forest floor and dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but supportive of a lovely dry finish that evolves with every sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a lovely expression of the nuance and complexity of aged Italian red wines.  This wine would pair well with many hearty Italian dishes, from classic carbonara to sausage and peppers, lasagna to classic spaghetti and meatballs.  Tonight, I am going the classic route and enjoying this wine with a stuffed manicotti, with marinara and a simple mixed green salad with sage blossom vinaigrette.  Cheers!