2018 DaMa Wines Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  Yesterday was a full day of leave blowing and vacuuming, so I barely had time for anything but rest (in fact I fell asleep around 9 pm!).  But tonight I am in much better spirits, ready to cook a nice Sunday dinner and enjoy a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2018 DaMa Wines Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon, that was a recent wine club shipment.  This wine is a full Cabernet sourced from the Heather Hill Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington, so let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, with a classic darkness at the center.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of cherry cola, cedar and warm peppery spice that captures your imagination.  Take a sip and a flood of ripe black fruit envelopes your palate, black cherry, plum and marionberry that transition effortlessly to some notes of dried herbs and Asian spice midpalate.  The tannins are well structured and integrated providing a great foundation for the long, smooth and beautifully dry finish that lingers on your palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking Cabernet that can stand up to some hearty fall dishes.  This wine would pair well with steaks, prime rib, wild mushroom risotto, or classic barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a thick Angus ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, on a bed of grilled leeks with some asparagus with hollandaise and a big baked potato with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2005 Helix Columbia Valley Merlot

Happy Saturday!  So, I've taken the rest of the year off from work, so you might expect me to be posting a bit more, particularly since I have a number of great dinners planned over this time.  Today, however, I was busy Christmas shopping and getting ready for the holidays and came home mid-afternoon to enjoy a virtual "mystery" tasting of Helix Merlots with Chuck Reininger and Dorian Williams, the cellar manager for Reininger Winery.  I was able to order a pack of four "mystery" library Merlots for the tasting, including a 2003, 2005 Columbia Valley, 2005 Stillwater Creek and 2006, and I decided to open just the 2005 Columbia Valley for the tasting (but don't worry, I'll be sure to share the rest with you through future blog posts!).  So let's see how this wine is tasting after 15 years!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry and prune at first, but once it opens up for a few minutes in the glass, the prune gives way to rich black cherry.  The taste is filled with black cherry, blackberry and plum intermingled with Asian spice and smoke that transitions to some notes of vanilla bean midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured with a good bit of acidity, providing for a wonderfully smooth, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just about to peak, perhaps another year or two before it gets over the hill.  This wine would pair well with a lot of casual dishes, from tacos and pizza to burgers and sushi.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bison New York strip served with mashed potatoes and gravy and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2013 Reininger Cima

Well this has been a sunny Sunday, so I took advantage and spent the last five hours blowing and raking leaves!  Ironically enough I think that may be more time than I spent enjoying the shade of said leaves this past summer!  So after that fun I am ready to relax with a nice glass of wine, and tonight it's a wine that's been six years in the making, though it only arrived within the last couple weeks, the 2013 Reininger Cima.  Cima means peak in Italian, and this super Tuscan style wine is an ode to Chuck Reininger's mountaineering days and is crafted of Sangiovese and Bordeaux varietals with an extended time aging in barrel before release, similar to many of the best known Italian wines.  This vintage is a blend of Sangiovese (41%), Cabernet Sauvignon (27%), Merlot (27%) and Petit Verdot (5%) from the Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills and XL Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  I had a chance to barrel taste this vintage on a visit to Reininger in 2017 (see here: 2017 Vacation to Walla Walla Wine Country - Day 2) and it's been waiting six years, let's see how this wine tastes!

The wine is a lovely ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity, a tribute to the heavy emphasis of Sangiovese in the blend.  The nose is a lovely tribute to Tuscany, with aromas of leather, smoke, dried violets and pipe tobacco amid ripe berry fruit.  The taste is a rush of cool fruit, cherry, plum, black raspberry and loganberry that just dance around your palate before easing into notes of Asian spice and vanilla bean midpalate.  The soft tannins and bright acidity provide for a velvety mouthfeel and an elegant dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as this one is certainly on par with the 2006 and 2007 vintages, and extends the streak from 2011 and 2012.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty fall dishes, from roast beef to stew to hearty steaks and mushroom risotto.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a wonderful Italian dinner of linguine with mussels simmered in red wine and San Marzano tomatoes.  Cheers!

2012 Reininger Cima

TGIF!  Man it's been a long week and I'm glad the weekend is here, though I'll probably be busy all weekend catching up on chores around the house.  But at least it's now wine o'clock and I am opening a good bottle tonight, the 2012 Reininger Cima, Chuck's interpretation of a Super Tuscan blend.  The 2012 vintage was barrel aged for six years before release (see this wine is actually new!) and is a blend of Sangiovese (50%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Sauvignon (22%) and Petit Verdot (3%) from the Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills and XL Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting so early in its life!

The wine is a lovely deep garnet color in the glass, a bit fuller bodied than your typical Sanviovese heavy blend.  The nose is a mellow combination of vanilla bean, sandalwood, lilac and a hint of Asian spice intermingle to bring your taste buds to attention.  The taste shifts you 180 degrees, as your mind was expecting something spicy and you are hit with a rush of ripe black fruit, currant, cherry, plum that subsides into some soft notes of vanilla and cassis midpalate.  The tannins are soft, juxtaposed against some nice acidity to balance the long, smooth and pleasingly dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wine you can explore for hours as you sip - a wine that goes against the stereotypes for the main varietal.  This wine is a great sipper, but could also pair well with anything from seared tuna to hearty pasta, to steaks and chops.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap topped with grilled garlic scapes, some oven roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and an big baked potato with all the fixin's.  Cheers!

2002 Young Ridge Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

It's the first Saturday of the new month, so of course that means it's Cellar Saturday!  It's that lovely day when I raid the cellar for some bottle that's been developing for a decade or more.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that's been developing for a while, but it just hasn't been in my cellar that long, the 2002 Young Ridge Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which I recently bought on Wines Till Sold Out.  While not quite to the level of 2007 or 2012-14, the 2002 Napa vintage was characterized by a mild growing season and some late season warmth that pushed the ripening, resulting in concentrated fruit.  So let's see how this wine is tasting now that it's old enough to get a driver's license!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center with garnet along the edges.  The nose is expressive of age and maturity, with notes of ripe plum, with blackberry and cassis along with some earthy aromas of leather and graphite.  The taste is remarkably fruit forward, with a blast of ripe cherry, blueberry and plum at the outset, that transition to some wonderful Asian spice and mineral notes midpalate that give the wine the character of a mature Bordeaux.  The tannins are quite smooth and well integrated, for a long, and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it is fully mature and drinking marvelously right now.  This wine would pair well with a nice steak, roasts and lamb, hearty pasta dishes or hard cheeses.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled steak, along with a baked potato with sour cream and scallions, and grilled asparagus and broccoli rabe.  The rich fruit in the wine is nicely balanced with the bitterness of the broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2012 Ardente Select Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Taco Tuesday!  I bet you'll never guess what's for dinner...in any case you don't have to guess the wine as tonight I've opened a bottle that was just delivered today from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2012 Ardente Select Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (92%), Merlot (6%) and Cabernet Franc (2%) from the Atlas Peak district of Napa Valley.  We know what a solid vintage Napa had in 2012, so let's see how this wine stacks up!

The wine has the classic Cabernet look, deep inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a luxurious combination of leather, oak, smoke and spice notes over subtle layers of black fruit.  The taste is a subdued rush of blackberry and black cherry up front that evolves into notes of dark chocolate, Asian spice and dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, presenting a nice complexity that's so often missing from big Napa Cabernets, while the finish is long, voluptuous and very dry.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderful, high-quality Cabernet that was also a great bargain at just $25.  This wine would be perfect with a rare bone-in New York strip, prime rib or braised short ribs, but tonight is Taco Tuesday, so I'm enjoying this wine with some steak tacos!  The richness of the fruit is a perfect foil to the earthy spice of my taco meat, cheers!

2014 Sullivan Artist Series Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Thirsty Thursday!  It's been very hot and humid here all week long, so you might expect that I'd be opening a nice chilled rose on this sultry evening, but you'd be wrong!  It's so hot I don't even want to venture out of the air conditioning, so I've gone the other way and opened a big, bold Cabernet Sauvignon!  Tonight I will enjoy the 2014 Sullivan Artist Series Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that I recently bough at a Wines Till Sold Out Napa Valley marathon, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, classic for a Napa Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, black plum and a hint of mint over the top.  The taste is a wonderful marriage of fruit and spice, with some ripe fruit up front that gives a hint of sweetness, with notes of kirsch and ripe plum intermingled with some white pepper and Asian spice notes.  The finish is quite nice, with a reprise of fruit sweetness along with the well structured tannins providing for a long, smooth and very dry finish that has you asking for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's a very nice quality Napa Valley Cabernet that was also a bargain as I snagged this $85 bottle for just $30 on WTSO!  This would be a nice steak wine, but I could also see it pairing well wits braised short ribs or steak kabobs. But alas, since I don't want to go out to grill, I'm enjoying this one tonight with some spinach ravioli and tomato basil cream sauce.  Cheers!

2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Ferguson

Happy Friday!  It's been a long week, so I am sure glad that the weekend is here and the weather is supposed to be lovely!  So to start the weekend off right I am grillin' and uncorkin' and tonight I've uncorked a bottle of 2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Ferguson, a limited production (890 cases) blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (61%), Merlot (27%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Malbec (6%) from the Ferguson Vineyard in Walla Walla.  I recall barrel tasting the first vintage at the vineyard about three years ago, and I've previously reviewed the 2011 (see here) and 2013 (see here) so let's see how the even year stacks up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, the sort of color composition that gets your mouth watering.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, leather, tar and a hint of mint and violet.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry and cherry that transitions effortlessly to some mineral notes of basalt and spicy black pepper and Asian spice midpalate.  The finish is smooth, dry and lingering with well structured tannins lending some vibrancy at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5 as this is my favorite of the three vintages I've tried.  It's an ideal dinner wine, as it could go with a variety of wonderful dishes, from salmon to roast beef, but tonight of course I'm enjoying this wine with steak!  In fact, it's a rare grilled bone-in Angus ribeye with a spinach salad, grilled leeks and asparagus and a baked potato.  I'll enjoy this wine with my steak and then move this party to the patio where I can continue enjoying it into the wonderful summer evening.  Cheers!

2013 Le Grand Noir Cabernet Sauvignon

Ahhh...taco Tuesday, and what shall I drink?  Wine of  course, and I was thinking of a nice rose to preview for summer, but the weather has taken a turn toward the chilly, so I've decided to hold off and instead, tonight it's a bit of a bargain wine that I picked up a couple weeks ago at one of my favorite Grand Rapids wine and food retailers, G. B. Russo & Sons!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2013 Le Grand Noir Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) and Syrah (15%) from France.

The wine looks like a classic Cabernet, with deep ruby color and nice clarity.  The nose presents lovely aromas of blackberry and cassis and a hint of green grass and tar over the top.  The taste is actually quite nice for a young Cabernet, with a rush of ripe fruit up front, raspberries, black cherry and plum with a nice transition to some Asian spice and mineral notes of basalt and limestone midpalate.  The tannins are young and vibrant, providing for a very smooth, long and bone dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, as it's still young but drinking very nicely.  It was also a great bargain at just $10, which would make this an ideal, everyday wine that would pair well with grilled steaks, roasted meats and tacos!  Yes, tonight I am celebrating taco Tuesday with some chorizo tacos with fresh salsa verde and this wine is a great match.  Cheers!

2006 Laurona Montsant

Happy Sunday!  Time for a homemade Sunday dinner of comfort food, but always a question on what wine to serve with it.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2006 Laurona Montsant red blend from Spain.  This is a new wine for me, as Montsant is a region in Catalonia that produces red blends with many of the traditional Spanish varietals.  This particular wine is primarily Garnacha and Carinena with a bit of Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon to balance things out.

The wine is a lovely bright ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents lovely aromas of black currant, anise and black cherry along with some Asian spice notes.  The taste is very fruit forward, with a rush of black cherry, currant and some blackberry that transitions nicely to some lovely notes of vanilla and cinnamon midpalate.  The finish is very nice, much bigger than your typical Spanish wine based on Garnacha or Tempranillo, as the tannins are robust, offering a lingering dry finish that evolves as the wine opens up.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely, well structures wine and a solid value (I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for just $19).  It's ideal for rustic dishes from the Mediterranean (think paella) or some classic American comfort food.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with my Sunday dinner of stuffed cabbage!  The fruit and spice notes really pair well with the richness of the meat stuffing and spice of the tomato reduction.  Cheers!

2012 Maison Bleue "Bourgeois" Grenache

Another hump day comes to an end, let's celebrate with a glass of nice wine!  Tonight I've recovered from my eye exam and pupil dilation, so now I can actually see what I'm typing once again!  With the return of my eyesight, I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 Maison Bleue "Bourgeois" Grenache from Columbia Valley, a blend of Grenache (90%) and Syrah (10%).  I am a big fan of Maison Bleue, so I can't wait to see what this latest wine club selection will hold!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass with awesome clarity, making it look like a real jewel.  The nose is a lovely, vibrant combination of red currant, strawberry and some lovely Asian spice and a bit of pepper, that braces you for a bit of sweet and savory.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit up front, cherry, blackberry and cassis that transitions smoothly to some warm spice notes midpalate.  The fine tannins provide just enough backbone for what is arguably one of the most elegant, lingering dry finishes I've experienced in quite some time.  I just typed that entire sentence and the finish is still going!

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 9, with plenty of room to grow with some time in the cellar.  I really like Grenache, and this one, in my opinion, rivals some of the best of the Rhone Valley.  Tonight I am enjoying this one profusely, along with a standard mid-week meal of rare grilled prime sirloin, some grilled leeks, steamed asparagus and roasted fingerling potatoes.  Such an elegant wine, I'm just sorry I don't have something better to eat with it!

2007 Elk Cove Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Merry Christmas!  Yes, I know it's only Christmas Eve, but this is the night when I typically watch a whole bunch of Christmas movies while gorging myself on Chinese food, since it won't leave me too full for the real feast tomorrow!  I just returned from the gym, just to make me feel good about myself before the feast of obesity begins, all the presents are wrapped and I just placed my order at the Jade Garden, so I may as well open a bottle of wine to enjoy this evening, and tonight it's one of my all time favorite Oregon Pinots, the 2007 Elk Cove Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.  Now in all the time I lived in Portland, I never got into the Pinot scene like everyone else it seems, but I did find this one that appealed to me, a big bold Cabernet and Bordeaux drinker that wasn't the light, whispy Pinots that you often find in Oregon or Burgundy!

Now I'll admit I had a hard time finding this wine today, I tore the cellar apart, looking in case after case, knowing had to be there somewhere, and alas I found it in a half case of Languedoc!  So here we are, a beautiful deep garnet color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose is just a rush of Oregon Pinot memories, rustic earthy elements of peat, leather, blackberries and fresh herbs.  The taste is a burst of fruit, plums, black cherries and cassis, all of which blend together for some earthy mineral notes of limestone, cedar intermingled with Asian spice midpalate.  The finish is remarkably smooth, without the tannins and dryness that you can get from a Cabernet, this one is just all around pleasant to drink from start to finish!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely example of the fine Pinots coming from the Willamette Valley, but it's probably reached it's peak for drinking now.  As I mentioned, tonight it's Christmas Eve which means Chinese food, so I'm pairing this with some wonderful Kung Po chicken, steamed dumplings and spring rolls, some of my favorites!  Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

2010 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, 'tis the season to have lots of fun and good food, and since I was good today and went to the gym, I figured I deserved a treat for dinner, so I've opened up a very nice bottle of wine, the 2010 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon!

The wine is an inky black color at the center, leading to some bright ruby along the edges with nice clarity.  The nose is just lovely, with notes of black licorice, tarragon, blueberry and some Asian spice.  The taste is quite refined, with a some subdued flavors of cassis, blueberry and notes of espresso up front which transition to some elegant flavors of pipe tobacco, dusty limestone and white pepper midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with nicely structured and well integrated tannins supporting the long, lush, absolutely bone dry finish that just beckons another sip.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 9, with still more potential to improve with some cellaring over the next decade or so.  This is a perfect steak house sort of wine, with great flavor, nicely structured but not overpowering, the perfect complement to a nice rare steak, with lucky for me I happen to have this evening!  Tonight I'm pairing this wine with a rare grilled cowboy cut ribeye about 3" thick along with a baked potato and some grilled brussels sprouts.  So much meat and rich flavors to make this a bottle well worth the price (I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for just $60, about $10 less than the usual price).  But it's the holidays and I think I deserve a nice present to myself!  Cheers!

2004 Valentina Cubi Morar Amarone della Valpolicella

Well, it's the first Saturday of November and that means it's officially "Cellar Saturday" that time when I open a bottle of wine that's been given some time to mature in the cellar.  Tonight's feature is one that I actually bought fairly recently, the 2004 Valentina Cubi Morar Amarone della Valpolicella, a 10-year-old Amarone that should just about be hitting it's prime about now!  And for those of you who are unfamiliar with Amarone, it's a classic northern Italian wine made from the Corvina and Rondinella grapes which are partially dried (for up to 120 days) before pressing.  The result is usually a much more concentrated and powerful red wine that is a personal favorite.

This wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with a bit of opacity.  The nose is classic Amarone, rich fruit notes of raspberry and raisin, over cascading aromas of leather, white pepper and just a hint of lavender.  The taste is quite subdued up front, with some mild flavors of blackberry and cherry intermingled with vanilla and pipe tobacco, that gives way to some spice notes of white pepper and Asian spice midpalate.  The tannins are very nicely integrated, supporting a long, flavorful and very dry finish.  A very classic Amarone.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it is a fine example of the wine and a nice value, as I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for just $30.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple dinner of rare grilled New York Strip with grilled leeks, a baked potato and some steamed green beans.  This wine would also pair well with a lot of Northern Italian dishes, such as a nice wild mushroom risotto with a bit of Asiago shaved on top, wow I'm making myself hungry again!  Cincin!

2011 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon

Well the weekend is here, I left work, went to the gym, picked up something for dinner and now I'm ready to relax with a bottle of 2011 Joseph Phelps Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  I bought this one from G.B. Russo's up in Grand Rapids, and here is what Dave Russo had to say about the wine:

"When I visited Napa Valley a couple of months ago to taste wines in advance of release, I was very impressed with how the 2011Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon tasted.  It reminded me of the elegant, classic style Phelps Cabs used to have twenty years ago, before the production of their top wine, Insignia, was expanded.  My guess is, like other Napa wineries, they made less of the flagship wine Insignia in the difficult 2011 vintage and put a lot of that juice into the standard Phelps Cab.  This wine is drinking beautifully now.  It has a silky black-fruit character and very polished tannins, and a gently earthy finish.  I like the fact that this is a more classic style, not the high octane – sharp tannin style that so many Napa Cabs seem to have these days."

 Needless to say, I bought some for me and my boss but tonight is the first I've opened a bottle so here goes nothing!

The wine has such a rich color, dark crimson in the center leading to a bright ruby along the edges, classic of a Napa Cabernet.  The nose is at first somewhat fruity and spicy, with notes of black cherry and anise, but then it transitions to some earthy notes of leather, iron and moss.  The taste is a quick blast of dark fruit, plum, blackberry and cassis, which then transitions to some lovely warm spice notes of white pepper, dried herbs and Asian spice.  The finish was quite nice, with velvety smooth tannins supporting a long, smooth, dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.  The wine is certainly drinking very well now, and I agree with Dave, this is much more of a classically styled Cabernet.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a beautiful Cabernet, but it's definitely not for your everyday table wine as I bought this one on sale for $65 a bottle.  Tonight I am enjoying it with a thick Hereford ribeye grilled rare and served with some grilled zucchini (thanks Emily!) and a giant Amish baked potato (you should see these things, there were 4 potatoes in a 5-pound bag!).  Salut!

2012 Oliver Winery Dry Red Blend

What a day!  Saturdays are always full of chores but today was off the charts!  I started at the local nursery and bought some new hydrangeas and astilbe for the back yard, then went grocery shopping, then mowed the yard, then planted the plants and with all that activity I'm now up to 18,520 steps so far today and I haven't even had a glass of wine!  Well that's about to be corrected as I found a bottle of 2012 Oliver Winery Dry Red Blend at the local supermarket on sale.  Now I must admit I'm a bit skeptical of this as Oliver Winery is based out of Bloomington, Indiana, and I remember when I was in graduate school at Indiana University, the winery was known for white wines and sweet fruit wines, but definitely not the dry reds that I so love.  The interesting thing about this wine was that the grapes were sourced from California, but the wine was made here, so here goes nothing!

The wine is a bit lighter in color but it has nice clarity and a deep ruby at the center of the glass.  The nose is certainly better than I was expecting, some nice blackberry and black currant notes along with some green grass and hint of spice.  The taste is rather fruit forward, but not overpowering, nice fresh dark fruit flavors of blackberry and currant which transitions rather abruptly to some Asian spice and fresh herbs midpalate.  The finish is nice and dry, but it's very short, making it a bit disappointing, but still not a bad effort overall.

I would rate this wine a solid 7, it won't knock your socks off, but it's a pretty decent wine for only $8!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled T-bone, baked potato and some haricots vert, as this wine has enough backbone to pair quite well with beef.  I can't say this will be a go to wine in my house, but I wouldn't have any problem serving this to my guests.  A new perspective on the old home town winery, cheers!

2009 DaMa Wines Cowgirl Cab

It's always astounding to me, that even in the face of a three-day weekend how little I get accomplished around the house!  Here I had plans on cleaning, getting everything ready for my barbecue next weekend, and all I managed to do is replant some grass and clean the kitchen, so much for my own productivity miracle.  At least there is always some good wine to enjoy as I grill my last meal of the weekend, and tonight it's the 2009 DaMa Wines Cowgirl Cab, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State.

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass with excellent clarity.  The nose is warm and full of ripe black fruit, blackberries, cassis, and black cherry with hints of smoky black pepper and Asian spice.  The taste is really quite nice, a burst of fruit at the outset that quickly transitions to some earthy notes of green grass and limestone.  The finish is really quite nice, the tannins are somewhat subdued creating a smooth, warm finish that is very dry, perfect for a big beefy dinner!  Speaking of beefy dinner, this was the adorable dog that welcomed me to the DaMa tasting room in Walla Walla when I visited in 2013:

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, its a very nice Cabernet that is drinking quite well right now, and the price is a super bargain at just $21 from the winery.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York Strip (how could you get anymore cowgirl than a rare steak?), some grilled leeks and corn and a baked potato with all the fixin's.  The dryness of the wine really is a perfect foil to some hearty grilled meat and for that I am quite thankful.  Cheers!

2011 Ravenswood Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel

Tonight I've decided to have an old fashioned cookout, and what's better with a cookout than a fabulous Zinfandel?  And of course we know the best Zins come from Lodi, and specifically from old vines and that's what I've opened tonight, the 2011 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel from Lodi!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with very nice clarity.  The nose is classic Lodi Zin, rich ripe black fruit, blackberries, black cherry, blueberries and plum over a smoky layer of leather and cedar intertwined with some green grass and herbs.  The taste is just a pleasure from the first sip, with rich jammy fruit bursting forward that transitions effortlessly to some black pepper and Asian spice notes midpalate.  The finish is warm, smooth and very dry with well structured tannins that give this wine a backbone that's ideal for summer barbecue fare.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a great example of a classic Lodi Zinfandel, and at a spectacular price of only $12 at my local wine merchant, G.B. Russo's.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a classic midwest cookout of grilled brats on pretzel buns accented with spicy brown mustard, horseradish, sweet pickled red cabbage, and some egg and mustard potato salad on the side.  Summer is such a great time for food!

2001 Chateau Meylet Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Tonight is the first Saturday of June, and you know what that means, it's Cellar Saturday!  A time for me to open a more mature wine that I've been saving and enjoy it for no good reason at all!  And tonight's Cellar Saturday feature is a wine that my Aunt and Uncle brought back for me from their trip to French wine country last year, the 2001 Chateau Meylet Saint-Emilion Grand Cru!

The wine is a nice ruby color in the glass with just a hint of brown along the edges, with limited opacity.  The nose is interesting, with notes of rich, jammy fruit, cherries, blackberries, plums and raisins, that transitions to some Asian spice and leather with a hint of smoke.  The taste is classic Bordeaux, with a burst of ripe black fruit up front, plum, blackberry and blueberry that transitions effortlessly to some notes of green tea, dusty limestone and moss midpalate (this is what I would call classic Bordeaux "funk").  The finish is delightful, with very sophisticated and well structured tannins forming the foundation for a long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that could only come from Gironde!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, mainly because I just love classic Bordeaux and this is a prime example of their age worthiness as this one is drinking very well right now, and it's only a teenager!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare, seared Kansas City style T-bone, grilled leeks, baked potato and some fresh steamed asparagus just picked in Michigan.  A wine like this is just perfect with a great grilled steak as the dark fruit and mineral qualities are the perfect balance for the char on the meat.  Salut!

2009 Cliff Creek Cellars Merlot

I love travel don't you?  Even if it's just for work and you barely have time to think much less enjoy a glass of wine. But sometimes in your travels you discover some wonderful new wines that you just have to share, and this was the case on Friday as I was waiting for my flight home from Portland.  If you ever happen to find yourself in PDX, the Made in Oregon store has a lovely selection of Oregon wines, and since it's past Security, you can buy as much as you want and carry it on the plane with you! On Friday, they were having a tasting of Cliff Creek Wines, a producer from Southern Oregon located in Gold Hill, Ore. to be exact (about halfway between Grant's Pass and Medford along I-5).  At the tasting I was fortunate to sample the red wine, the Merlot, the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Syrah, and needless to say I fell in love with the Merlot!

The wine itself is a dark ruby leading to an inky black center, classic for a nice Merlot.  The nose is just chock full of ripe black fruit, blackberry, plum and cassis, that transitions effortlessly to some nice Asian spice and coffee notes.  The taste is classic, big bold Merlot, with bright fruit up front that transitions to some stark minerality mid palate, limestone, leather and cedar.  The finish is divine, with nicely structured tannins that provide the perfect foundation for the long, dry and velvet smooth finish.  This is the kind of Merlot I'm used to drinking from the Walla Walla Valley, but who knew they were producing wines this nice down in southern Oregon?

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I really did fall in love with it on my first taste at PDX, and it's such a terrific value as well!  This wine was normally priced at $21.95, but with the 10% discount at the tasting it was under $20!  In fact when I bough 2 bottles of Merlot and a bottle of Syrah and the total was far less then I was expecting I added another bottle of the Merlot (which in hind sight was a real strain on my arms carrying that bag!).  Tonight I enjoyed this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse topped with some grilled leeks along with some mashed potatoes and green beans almondine.  Such a great wine for a big ol' steak!