2021 Reininger Sangiovese Grosso

Happy Sunday!  I think I had a productive day, mainly because I feel like I'm about to collapse on the couch!  I went to church, then rehearsal this afternoon, then I pulled two gallon buckets of dandelions (I think it's getting better since it's one less bucket than last weekend!) and then I mowed for the first time this year before starting dinner.  Which brings me to the wine for this evening, the 2021 Reininger Sangiovese Grosso from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is tasting and whether I made the right choice for my Sunday dinner!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with great clarity, just what you'd like to see in a Sangiovese Grosso.  The nose presents enticing aromas of candied cherry, strawberry with some hints of lilac.  The first sip is a blast of ripe red fruit, cherry, strawberry and currant, but with none of the sweetness the nose was projecting.  Midpalate, you have some notes of pipe tobacco and white pepper spice, before a reprise of warm berry cobbler.  The tannins are silky smooth, providing a perfect base for the long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic tasting Italian varietal that pays homage to the European heritage.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, but it really needs to be paired with the food of Italy, from hearty Florentine steak, to classic pasta, from baked lasagna, stuffed shells to a hearty Bolognese.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a long-time favorite, bucatini with mussels fra diavalo, topped with fresh basil and shaved parmesan.  Cheers!

2022 Woodward Canyon Grenache Mourvèdre Syrah Malbec Red Wine

Happy Easter!  Although the weather forecast was for rain, it's been an absolutely beautiful sunny day in the low 60s, perfect for relaxing and finishing the last bit of yard work for the weekend.  And of course there is Easter dinner to look forward to, and tonight is a good one, ideal for a new blend from Woodward Canyon that arrived a week or two ago.  This is what I affectionately call a GSMM blend with the addition of Malbec.  This wine is a blend of Grenache (41%), Mourvèdre (29%), Syrah (24%) and Malbec (6%) from the Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  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 blend.  The nose presents rustic aromas of green grass, earthy peat and undertones of ripe blueberry, cherry and currant.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, blackberry and currant that wash across you palate with just the right amount of sweetness before transitioning to some notes of forest floor and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are youthful but well behaved, providing for a wonderful smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a step up from the standard GSM blend, as the Malbec really gives this wine some nice backbone.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to pappardelle Bolognese, lamb to ratatouille.  Tonight, I am going the classic lamb route, but rather than the standard rack of lamb, I found a lamb loin roast at my local market, so a boneless rack of lamb!  I served this herb crusted with mashed potatoes, oven roasted Brussels sprouts and a red wine reduction.  Cheers! 

2020 Château Haut-Therón Malbec Cahors

Happy Saturday!  I started the day rather mellow, heading to the farmers market and then home to do yard work and that's where the trouble started!  I finished raking all the small sticks from winter and then began my annual war with the dandelions, bending over and digging up three gallon buckets of them, I'm sure I will feel it tomorrow!  In any case, it's time for a nice dinner and bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2020 Château Haut-Therón Malbec Cahors that I picked up in a $150 case sale from Wines Till Sold Out.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

I'll admit, I'm a fan of Argentine Malbec, but I am approaching this French version with an open mind.  The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you would expect from a nice Malbec.  The nose presents aromas of leather, smoky charred oak, spicy pepper and bright red berries.  The first sip is a rather surprising rush of red fruit, cherry, currant and raspberry that transition easily to notes of mint and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are very mellow, providing for a classic French smooth dry finish, that will have you forgetting that you are drinking wine at all.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very classic Malbec, but not as bold as it's long, lost cousins from Mendoza.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hard cheeses, smoked meat or a classic steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye, mashed sweet potatoes and oven roasted broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2022 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Palm Sunday!  As we head into Holy Week, I find it's a good time to take stock of the important things in life and let the things of the world fade.  Our faith and our families are among those important things, and one of the best ways to celebrate with family is with a good meal accompanied by a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I'm having both, and the wine I've opened is the 2022 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (86%), Petit Verdot (6%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Merlot (4%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Octave and Yellow Jacket Vineyards in 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.  The nose is an elegant affair, with aromas of aged leather, ripe berries and undertones of lavender and vanilla bean.  The first sip is a rush of cool fruit, blueberry and currant with just the faintest hint of sweetness, that easily gives way to some earthy home cooking midpalate, with baking spice and anise with some light hints of pepper.  The tannins are a bit tight, but very well structured, providing a solid foundation to the velvety smooth dry finish.

I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking Cabernet with all of the character and nuance of the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with the heartiest of dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty baked pasta, thick steaks to Texas barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared bison ribeye with sautéed mushrooms, onions and peppers, steamed asparagus with hollandaise and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2022 DaMa Wines Walla Walla Merlot

It was a beautiful day here, with lots of sunshine, but unfortunately we didn't quote make it into the 60s so my hope that spring will arrive is still alive.  I am excited to go see a play at the Elkhart Civic Theatre tonight, but before that, I need to have dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that just arrived in a wine club shipment yesterday.  The 2022 DaMa Wines Walla Walla Merlot is a 100% Merlot from the XL Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from the varietal.  The nose reveals aromas of bing cherry, with undertones of rose petals and a hint of mint.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry that quickly mellows to some notes of caramel and dark chocolate midpalate, with a reprise of fruit, blueberry and blackberry.  The tannins are a bit in your face, which is all good when they take their place as the backbone of the smooth and exceedingly dry finish that reminds me of a nice right bank Bordeaux.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking well now, but will likely be much more approachable with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from classic steak to grilled veal chops, rack of lamb to hearty pasta.  Tonight, I am going a bit off the beaten path and enjoying this wine with some Italian sausage with onions and peppers and bucatini sautéed in garlic and olive oil and tossed with broccoli rabe and asparagus.  Cheers!

2015 Reininger Tahoma

Well, it's the first Saturday of the new month, meaning it's Cellar Saturday!  This is the special day when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2015 Reininger Tahoma, a classic Bordeaux style blend that is a specialty of Washington wine makers.  This wine is a blend of Sangiovese (50%), Merlot (22%), Cabernet Sauvignon (22%), Malbec (3%) and Petit Verdot (3%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and XL Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Of note, this wine was aged in barrel eight years before release, giving a very different character to this wine.  Just a couple months ago I reviewed the 2017 vintage, so let's see what the older sibling has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with a heartier look than the prevalence of Sangiovese would suggest.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, leather, and hints of floral.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, currant and blackberry that transition effortlessly to some notes of earthy peat and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are vibrant and well structured, providing for a very dry yet velvety smooth finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classic example of a Washington blend, but also highlights the creativity of Chuck Reininger and his team.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from classic ratatouille to Yankee pot roast, hearty pasta to braised lamb shank.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with an Angus ribeye grilled rare along with some grilled leeks and steamed asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!