Happy Wine Wednesday! It's been a while since I've made a mid-week post, so here we are! Tonight I was making a red meat dinner, so I thought it appropriate to open up a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery. The 2023 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (89%), Petit Verdot (4%), Malbec (4%), Merlot (2%) and Cabernet Franc (1%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Octave and Yellow Jacket vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington. Let's see how this wine is starting out!
The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with nice body, just what you'd like to see in a nice Cabernet. The nose presents a classic Bordeaux-esque combination of black cherry, blackberry and currant amid hints of dark chocolate, graphite and light floral notes that are waving to invite you in for a pleasant evening. The first sip wraps your palate in ripe black fruit, earthy minerals and hints of anise and dried herbs before transitioning to some vanilla caramel and peppery spice midpalate. The tannins are well integrated, providing the structural backbone for a long, smooth dry finish that will compel you to take another sip.
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a consistent old-world style of Cabernet that is a favorite every year. This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to roast lamb, hearty beef stew to pasta. Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a bistro classic pan seared hanger steak with a mushroom cream sauce, parsley buttered red potatoes and steamed asparagus. Cheers!
