2021 Seven Hills Pentad

Happy Saturday!  It's been a somewhat relaxing day today, finishing up a few chores and errands before settling in for dinner before the theatre tonight.  For this post, I've opened up a bottle of 2021 Seven Hills Pentad, a classic Bordeaux style blend of five grape varietals (hence "Pentad") from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (19%), Petit Verdot (9%), Malbec (9%) and Cabernet Franc (8%), so let's see how this previous vintage is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with an inky center, a testament to the heavy hand of Cabernet Sauvignon on the blend.  The nose presents welcoming aromas of leather, cedar and ripe blackberry amid undertones of baking spice.  The first sip is a marked departure from the Cabernet heavy expectations, as you are awash in mellow notes of boysenberry and plum, before the heavy hand of Cabernet makes its presence known with a rush of acidity, leather and earthy limestone midpalate.  The tannins are up front but well structured, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers into your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it represents the best of Walla Walla when it comes to blending Bordeaux varietals, and although I think it's drinking well now, it will likely improve with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with hearty meals, pasta, beef stew, braised short ribs or lamb rack, and of course steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a cowboy crusted ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, oven roasted potatoes and steamed sugar snaps.  Cheers!

2023 Eberle Côtes du Rôbles

Well, what do you know, three days of posting in a row!  I thought it was a good idea to open another one of my mistakenly free bottles of wine, this time it's the 2023 Eberle Côtes du Rôbles.  This wine is a blend of Grenache (58%), Mourvèdre (34%) and Syrah (8%) all harvested from Paso Robles, California.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with a seemingly heavier body than you might expect from a GSM blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals enticing aromas of strawberry, rose petals and green grass that will have you fully engaged.  The first sip is an unexpected rush of sweet ripe fruit, cherry, strawberry and a hint of raspberry that easily transition to some earthy notes of tar and espresso midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, providing for a pleasant dry finish, with a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant and easy drinking Rhône-style blend that would pair well with a variety of dishes, from fish to tacos, barbecue to grilled lamb chops.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared salmon filet, steamed rice and sugar snap peas, as I sip this wine for the remainder of my Monday evening.  Cheers!

2020 Groth Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  On Friday, I needed to stop at my local market to pick up ingredients for a team meeting and cooking event at church, and as I walked down the quiet aisles (pro tip, shopping at 9 pm on a Friday avoids the crowds!) I happened upon a display of clearance alcohol.  I usually check to see if there are any interesting wines on clearance and what should I find but four bottles of tonight's wine for just $10.97 each!  Needless to say, I bought all four that were left and tonight I am enjoying the first bottle of 2020 Groth Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  I reviewed the 2008 vintage here on a Cellar Saturday, highlighting the aging potential of this wine.  Let's see how this vintage is shaping up!

The wine has the classic look of a big Napa Cabernet, inky black at the center, bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is chock full of juicy, ripe fruit, blackberries, cherry and plum, with undertones of eucalyptus and baking spice.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry that gives way to some more nuanced notes of blackberry and currant, before transitioning to some earthy notes of leather, dark chocolate and espresso midpalate.  The tannins are well structured to provide for a smooth dry finish that will leave you reaching for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a lovely example of a big Napa Cabernet that would be well worth it, even if it wasn't a spectacular bargain!  This wine would pair well with many hearty winter dishes, from beef stew and braised lamb shank, Bolognese pasta or Yankee pot roast.  But who are we kidding, this wine practically begs to be paired with steak, and tonight I am enjoying it with a rare grilled thick ribeye along with oven roasted sweet potatoes and cauliflower.  Cheers!

2023 Eberle Zinfandel

Well it's been a great weekend so far!  Today I had a retreat for the folks that volunteer to serve breakfast at the green room at church, and we cooked a couple of delicious chicken dishes that we enjoyed at lunch.  After that, I ran some errands, met with some friends to socialize, and then went to get some groceries, so now it's time to relax with a nice dinner.  And of course, that means opening a bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that was a surprise gift, you see yesterday I received a half case of wine from a winery that my aunt and uncle love. They send me a couple of bottled every Christmas, but apparently the winery made an error and substituted my address for theirs and so I received their wine club shipment!  The winery acknowledged the error and as a result, I got six free bottles of wine!  So, I thought it appropriate to enjoy one tonight, and I've opened a bottle of 2023 Eberle Paso Robles Zinfandel, let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Zinfandel.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry, dried herbs and kirsch that will have you reaching for a sip.  That first taste is a rush of ripe berry fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant that envelop your palate before transitioning to some earthy notes of dusty limestone and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are subdued but still provide a vibrant base for the long, smooth dry finish with a reprise of ripe berries at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking wine that would pair well with a wide range of dishes, from burgers and tacos, to barbecue and Asian wings.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a more refined dinner of surf and turf, a rare, pan seared bison filet mignon, with a steamed lobster tail, mushroom alfredo pasta and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2017 Reininger Tahoma

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a while since I've posted on a Wednesday, so let's make this a little special.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from one of my favorite Walla Walla winemakers, the 2017 Reininger Tahoma.  This wine is not a regular production wine, but the most recent vintage (I reviewed the 2012 vintage here and I have a bottle or two of the 2015 vintage in the cellar, but chose to go out of order!).  Tahoma is a Super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese (42%), Cabernet Sauvignon (33%) and Merlot (25%) from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this latest vintage is tasting!

The color is deeper than a Sangiovese but lighter than a Cabernet, a perfect cross for the blend.  The nose is a welcoming combination of leather, candied cherry, and dried floral notes, that will have you picturing a grocer in Little Italy.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry, that easily transitions to earthy notes of graphite intermingled with vanilla caramel midpalate.  The tannins are a bit sharp, but still a nice foundation for the lingering dry finish with a reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking wine today, but likely to become more interesting over the next few years, highlighting Chuck Reininger's creativity in winemaking.  This wine would pair well with about any dish you could enjoy on a Roman holiday, from pasta to steak, Tuscan toast  to lobster risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared New York strip with oven roasted cauliflower and blistered cocktail tomatoes.  Cheers!

2019 Reininger Walla Walla Malbec

Happy Saturday!  It's been a crazy weather day today, with cold and freezing rain, but I made it through grocery shopping and am back home for a nice dinner and glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that's been hanging around and ignored with it's siblings from 2020 and 2021.  The 2019 Reininger Walla Walla Malbec is a 100% Malbec sourced from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard (86%) and Stone Valley Vineyard (14%) in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting after a few years in the cellar!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a classic Malbec.  The nose presents aromas of violet, espresso and blackberry, an fresh earthy blend that will have you anxious for a sip.  The first taste is a rush of tart cherry, blackberry and espresso that gives way to some earthy loam and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are expertly structured to provide for the perfect foundation for the smooth, long dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a quintessential example of the promise of Malbec in the capable hands of a Walla Walla winemaker.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from braised short ribs to rack of lamb, but honestly this wine just begs to be paired with steak, like the gauchos of Argentina.  Well, we're in luck as tonight I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared filet mignon, mashed potatoes and gravy and steamed asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2020 Woodward Canyon Old Vines Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I had a rather uneventful Sunday, did a little laundry, went to the gym, ran some errands and now I'm ready to finish my weekend with a nice dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a rather special wine, that is seemingly always at the top of the ratings.  The 2020 Woodward Canyon Old Vines Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (94%), Petit Verdot (3%) and Malbec (3%) sourced from the Sagemoor, Wienbau and Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyards in Washington state.  I can't wait to take a sip!

The wine has an inky black look at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, anise, black currant, lemongrass and cocoa that egg you on to take that first sip.  And that sip is a delight as you experience a rush of ripe black fruit that fills your mouth as your brain catches up.  Soon, you are whisked to an Ivy League library with rich leather, anise and vanilla caramel midpalate, before the firm yet smooth tannins set you up for the long, velvety dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's exemplary of what great Washington Cabernet can be.  While this is likely not an everyday sipper, it's well worth opening with family and friends for a special evening.  This wine would pair well with braised short ribs or rack of lamb, but who are we kidding, this big wine wants nothing but steak!  Tonight, I am doing just that, and enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus ribeye, blistered tomatoes on the vine, bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes and gravy.  Cheers!

2015 Cobblestone Atlas Peak Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Well it's the first Saturday of a new month, which means it's Cellar Saturday!  This is the magical day when I raid the cellar for something that's at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2015 Cobblestone Atlas Peak Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon that I purchased from Wines Till Sold Our in 2023.  Even though it's only been in my cellar for about a year and a half, I am hoping this warm vintage Napa Cabernet has withstood the test of time.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, not as heavy and brooding as you might expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry and currant, intermingled with earthy leather and cedar with undertones of anise and white pepper spice.  The first sip is a strange rush of currant, and sweet tarts, that ease into some notes of blackberry, earthy tar and cedar midpalate.  The tannins are well structured and still provide a good backbone for the long, smooth, dry finish with a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a solid example of a nice Napa Cabernet, that was also a descent value at just $27.  This wine would pair well with variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to braised lamb shank or beef stew.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare, pan seared New York strip over sautéed onions and mushrooms, with oven roasted broccoli rabe and a baked potato.  Cheers!