2015 Château Les Giraudels de Milon Saint-Emilion

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's that magical first Saturday of a new month, when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I believe I bought from Wines Till Sold Out almost three years ago and it's been sitting in my cellar ever since.  The 2015 Château Les Giraudels de Milon Saint-Emilion is a blend of Merlot (75%), Cabernet Sauvignon (13%) and Cabernet Franc (12%), so let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity and just a hint of amber along the edges.  The nose presents classic Bordeaux aromas of cherry, currant and rose petals with just the right amount of underlying funk beneath the surface. The first sip is a surprising rush of tart cherry, toasted oak, dusty limestone and forest floor that all dance together to create the classic Bordeaux funk we love.  The tannins are still a bit sharp, but well suited to the long, smooth dry finish that lingers on your palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a classic Saint-Emilion, but may have a bit too much funk for comfort.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of dishes, from herb crusted rack of lamb to braised beef short ribs, wild mushroom risotto to grilled pork tenderloin.  Tonight, I am taking a bit of a different path and enjoying this wine with a crispy skin black pearl salmon, pearled couscous and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2023 Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Thanksgiving!  Yes, I know it was two days ago, but this is the official start to the holiday season, and in the past 48 hours we've had over a foot of snow, the Christmas lights, garland and wreaths are all up and I am enjoying my "White Christmas" preview!  Of course, the holidays are better with wine, and tonight I've opened bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Woodward Canyon Winery, the 2023 Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a perennial favorite, and I think I've reviewed just about vintage since the 2010 Vintage, so let's see how the latest is shaping up!

The wine has the classic look of a deep, brooding Cabernet, inky black at the center, ruby along the edges.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of earthy, leather, graphite and toasted oak, amid fruit notes of blackberry, cherry and plum.  The first sip is a total fake out from the nose, with a rush of black fruit up front, before moving into earthy notes of dusty limestone, peat and hints of oak midpalate.  The tannins are just the right amount of structure and ease to provide for a delightfully smooth finish that lingers into your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classic expression of Washington Cabernet that is so consistent year after year.  This wine would go perfectly with a fire in the midst of a snowstorm, but as for food, enjoy this one with a range of winter comfort foods, from braised short ribs to alder planked salmon, hearty beef stew to roast lamb shank.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a very beefy dinner of a grilled thick ribeye, mushroom farro and steamed asparagus.  Cheers! 

2021 Mark Ryan Winery Crazy Mary Mourvèdre

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a while since I've had a midweek post, but it's the holiday season and I don't have to work tomorrow so why not?  Tonight I am enjoying a new fall dish, so why not open a wine that is perfect for fall?  In this case, the 2021 Mark Ryan Winery Crazy Mary Mourvèdre, sourced from the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  Let's see how it's shaping up!

The wine is a dark, brooding ruby color in the glass, much more characteristic of a Cabernet, than a Rhone varietal.  The nose presents aromas of lavender, baking spice, prune and smoke, classic for a Mourvèdre.  The first sip is a cleansing rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, currant and plum with plenty of acidity to provide a nice backbone for this wine's structure.  The acidity seems to pause a moment midpalate to let some pepper spice and vanilla bean make a cameo appearance before the dry, sultry finish.  

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just an interesting take on a single Rhone varietal that is just perfect for Fall.  This wine would pair well with aged cheese, hearty braised short ribs, or classic Yankee pot roast.  Tonight, I am veering off into a different autumnal highway and enjoying this wine with a roasted acorn squash risotto topped with a bit of crème fraiche and chopped parsley.  Cheers!