2021 Reininger CPR Reserve Chardonnay

Happy Saturday!  I spent the afternoon trimming hedges and mowing, and since it was in the upper 80s and humid, I am now sweaty and tired and ready for a nice dinner and glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a rare white wine, the 2021 Reininger CPR Reserve Chardonnay which was just released a few weeks ago.  I secured a couple bottles, and I thought it would pair well with my dinner this evening.  This wine is a 100% Chardonnay from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA of Washington.  This wine was aged for nearly two years in a large French Oak barrel, so let's see how it's shaping up!

The wine is a pale golden color in the glass as you might expect.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of pear, lemongrass and oak with undertones of orange blossom.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of exotic flavors that have your mind doing summersaults with citrus, melon and mineral notes that exude refreshment and reserve.  The sur lie fermentation creates such a velvety mouthfeel you might find yourself at times thinking you were drinking a hearty red wine, before you come back to earth and enjoy the remaining moments of a buttery dry finish that lingers on your palate for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it has to be my favorite Chardonnay and perhaps my favorite white wine.  This wine is ideal for summer, but could easily extend to fall, and would pair well with light fish or seafood, summer salads or crisp and light pasta dishes.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some pan seared sea scallops on a bed of baby arugula, along with some roasted elote corn on the cob.  A taste of summer has arrived, cheers!

Reininger CPR Fifth Edition

Happy Sunday!  Ok, I have to admit after looking at my blog to see which of the past editions of CPR I've reviewed, it seems I've only done the odd ones, with the first edition here and the third edition here it seems like I've completely ignored the second and fourth, even though I know I have bottles of them around here somewhere!  In any case, I recently received an e-mail about the sixth edition, so I thought it might be good to open a bottle of the fifth!  For those unfamiliar, the CPR wines are the chance for Chuck Reininger to explore and create wines with multiple varietals across multiple vintages to create a truly interesting blend.  The fifth edition is composed of Syrah (25%), Carmenère (13%), Malbec (13%), Cabernet Sauvignon (12%), Merlot (12%), Sanvgiovese (11%), Cabernet Franc (7%) and Petit Verdot (7%)  sourced from six different vineyards across vintages from 2005-17.  So let's see what the fifth edition has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass while the nose presents aromas of black cherry, blueberry and blackberry, amid undertones of dried spices, anise and meat.  The taste is a rush of blackberry, cherry and currant that dance on your palate before transitioning to some notes of black pepper spice and caramel midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully structured and expertly integrated into the wonderfully smooth and dry finish that surprises your with just a hint of Bordeaux-esque at the very end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's just a delightfully interesting and complex wine that shows you new sides to itself with every sip.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, but you likely won't notice as this wine will likely steal top billing from whatever dinner you're serving.  Even so, tonight I am pairing this wine with something special, a grilled Picanha steak that I recently bought from the Kansas City Steak Company, along with some grilled chili peppers, leeks, oven roasted baby potatoes and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  For those unfamiliar with Picanha, it's a sirloin cap with a big cap of fat that is served in Brazilian steakhouses on a large skewer, with the tenderness of a filet and the flavor profile of a ribeye (you can learn more by watching this video.  Cheers!

2014 CPR Carmenere

Happy Tuesday! Tonight is a special weeknight post since I have a couple of reasons for opening this wine tonight.  The first is the wonderful crock pot recipe that's been slow cooking all afternoon and the second is a virtual wine tasting tonight that's featuring this wine and it's maker!  Tonight I've opened a recent wine club shipment from Reininger, the 2014 CPR Carmenere, which Chuck Reininger will be tasting via Zoom later this evening!  This wine is a 100% Carmenere from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose is a wonderful combination of leather, ripe black fruit, peppery spice and forest floor that's brings a roaring campfire to mind.  The taste is a rush of cherry cola, black currant and pomegranate that dance around before transitioning to some notes of white pepper spice and vanilla bean midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured with a bit of sharp acidity despite this wine spending its toddler years in barrel, ultimately letting loose for the wonderfully smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as this wine is arguably one of the best examples of this lost Bordeaux varietals that I've tasted.  This wine would pair very nicely with a rare grilled steak, pork tenderloin, hearty pasta or even just sipping on the patio this summer.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with my crock pot recipe of Cajun smothered potatoes with andouille sausage and shrimp.  Cheers!