2019 Hidden Treasure Dead Man's Gulch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I had to work late today, so I am a little behind schedule, but at least I convinced myself that I should have a nice dinner and glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from a recent sale at Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2019 Hidden Treasure Dead Man's Gulch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (81%), Cabernet Franc (14%) and Petit Syrah (5%) sourced from the Howell Mountain and Spring Mountain AVAs of Napa Valley.  Let's see how this wine is evolving after a few years!

The wine is an inky black at the center with lovely garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a quality Napa Cabernet.  The nose presents an intriguing combination of blackberry, currant and boysenberry amid undertones of leather and white floral notes.  Take a sip and you're awash in classic big, bold Napa Cabernet, a rush of ripe blackberry, cherry and plum that give way to earthy mineral notes of dusty limestone and leather before departing with a ring of dark chocolate and cherry.  The tannins are well integrated providing a perfect foundation for the long, velvety smooth dry finish. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classic Napa Cabernet that punches way above its weight class.  I could easily see this as a $50-70 wine, but I bought this wine for only $20!  This wine would pair well with a range of classic American dishes, from smoked brisket to barbecued ribs, classic steaks to braised lamb shank.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared New York strip topped with Béarnaise sauce along with roasted sweet potatoes, onions and Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2023 Pope Valley Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  I've been traveling, so it's been a bit since my last post, but I'm back!  Tonight, I am ready for a nice dinner and a bottle of wine.  After doing a bunch of leaf blowing today, I am ready to relax and given my dinner choice, I think I've opened the right bottle.  The 2023 Pope Valley Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (82%), Petit Verdot (11%) and Petit Syrah (7%) from the Napa Valley AVA of California.  I recently bought this wine from Wines Till Sold Out, so let's see how it's tasting! 

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Napa Cabernet.  The note presents aromas of leather, blackberry and currant amid undertones of basalt and dusty limestone.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, currant and plum that is at once sweet but also savory.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lasts until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as this is a great example of a classic Napa Valley Cabermet at a great value as I bought this one for just $25.  This wine would pair well with a range of hard cheeses and charcuterie, but it practically begs for a nice steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare pan seared New York Strip with a mushroom pan sauce, along with wild mushroom farro and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2021 Castelli del Grevepesa Sasso del Falco Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Saturday!  We went from summer to fall this week, going from the upper 80s on Tuesday to the upper 30s this morning!  With the solid move to fall weather, it's time to start thinking more of hearty meals and nice red wines to go with them.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2021 Castelli del Grevepesa Sasso del Falco Chianti Classico Riserva that I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  As a Chianti Classico, this wine is 100% Sangiovese aged a total of 36 months in Oak.  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a lighter body, bright ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Sangiovese.  The nose presents aromas of strawberry, bright cherry and currant amid some mineral notes and hints of nutmeg.  The first sip is classic rush of tart cherry, currant with a good bit of harvest spice notes, ideal for fall.  The tannins are fine and a bit tightly wound, providing for a smooth dry finish with a good but of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a classic example of a solid Chianti at a classic value price.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from classic Italian pasta, sausage with onions and peppers or eggplant parmesan.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic Midwest fall dinner of roast pork tenderloin, mushroom farro and oven roasted poblanos and broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2023 Browne Family Vineyards Forest Project Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  I had a rather relaxing day, did some chores, a little grading and now I'm ready for dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I recently bought at Costco. The 2023 Browne Forest Project Red Wine is an undisclosed blend of red varietals from the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington, and what makes this wine interesting is the commitment to reducing resource use while engaging in reforestation projects around the country.  The bottle is lighter weight and the lack of paper labels further reduce demand for trees.  It's a very interesting project and laudable goal, but let's taste the wine!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, typical of a Washington Bordeaux-style blend.  The nose presents aromas of green grass, leather, black cherry and plum.  The first sip is a rush of cherry cola and baking spice that eases into some earthy notes of basalt.  The tannins are well structured providing a solid base for the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate the wine a solid 8, but the project a 10.  The wine is just a pleasant drinking everyday wine that would pair well with a wide range of dishes, from burgers and brats to barbecue and steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with our last gasp of summer, spicy barbecued ribs along with a chile relleno casserole with roasted chipotle salsa.  Cheers!

Seven Hills Winery Defiant Chapter 1

Happy Saturday!  I've had a busy day and now it's time for a rather rushed dinner before heading out to see a youth play this evening.  Tonight, I've decided to open a bottle that's been in the cellar for about three years, and since I just received chapters 2 and 3, I thought it would be good to finally open a bottle of Seven Hills Winery Defiant Chapter 1.  This wine is a new creation from Seven Hills, based on fruit from their 4.5 acre parcel in the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater.  This wine is a blend of Syrah (82%), Grenache (11%) and Carignan (7%) from the 2021 and 2022 Vintages.  Let's see how this interesting wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, with nice clarity, a bit darker given the heavy hand of the Syrah in the blend.  The nose presents exotica aromas of blackberry, anise and black olive amid undertones of and hints of violets.  The first sip is a surprising explosion of ripe fruit, blueberry, blackberry and plum that gently subside as the earthy minerality of the Rocks district starts to shine through.  The tannins are soft and supple, classic for Rhone varietals as they gently guide you to the long, smooth finish that will have you reaching for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a much more refined version of so many wines coming out of the Rocks district.  This wine would be perfect for a wide range of fall dishes, from hearty stews and casseroles, to roast beef or chili.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a Mediterranean classic, of Greek pork tenderloin stuffed with feta, roasted peppers and artichoke hearts along with balsamic roasted tomatoes and burrata tossed with linguine.  Cheers!

2013 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cellarius I Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of the new month, which means it's time to raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I have opened a bottle that hasn't been in my cellar long, as I bought it from Wines Till Sold Out back in May.  The 2013 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cellarius I Cabernet Sauvignon is a tribute to 17th Century Dutch-German scholar and map maker, Andreas Cellarius, as Stag's Leap seeks to explore Napa Valley winemaking through a variety of unique perspectives.  For the 2013 vintage, the winemakers explore trellising, specifically Moser trellising which creates a split canopy microclimate resulting in supple and elegant Cabernet.  Let's see if it worked!

The wine has the look of a classic Napa Valley Cabernet, inky black at the center, garnet along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry and oak with subtle floral undertones that let you know something elegant is about to happen.  The first sip is an explosion of ripe blackberry and cherry that is vibrant yet supple at the same time as the ripe fruit gives way to some earthy mineral notes.  As you approach the finish, you are reminded a bit of a tawny port, as the tannins provide the perfect foundation to the velvety smooth dry finish that will have you wanting to slowly sip this wine through an afternoon.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's a fantastic example of a classic Napa Valley Cabernet that exudes quality and luxury.  This wine would pair well with a range of hard cheeses and charcuterie, but it really wants to be enjoyed with a steak, ideally a rich, marbled prime steak that will balance the mouthfeel of this wine.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared prime ribcap on a bed of sauteed mushrooms, onions and peppers, wild mushroom farro and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!