Happy Sunday! I made the critical error of pulling weeds and then mowing in the current heatwave, and now that I've been indoors for 4 hours I think I may have finally recovered from the heat! In any case, it's time for a nice dinner and a nice bottle of wine. Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2020 Helix Cabernet Sauvignon XM, which is one of the latest trends pioneered by Chuck Reininger in allowing wine to age in barrel for an extended period of time, hence the XM for extended maturation. This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (89%), Tempranillo (7%) and Malbec (4%) from the Phinny Hill, StoneTree, and Stone Valley Vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington. Let's see if this wine was worth the wait!
The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity, but a bit lighter than your typical Cabernet. The nose presents aromas of leather, oak amid hints of black pepper, umami and black olive. The first sip is a rush of ripe cherry, blueberry and currant that transitions easily to notes of charred meat, tobacco and dried herbs midpalate. The tannins are smartly structured, providing a velvety, smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's an interesting departure from your typical big, bold Cabernet. This wine would pair well with summer dishes, from grilled burgers and brats to steaks and barbecued ribs. Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with an eclectic Sunday dinner of a grilled porterhouse with garlic scapes, steamed purple broccoli and risotto alla milanese. Cheers!
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