2021 Reininger Carmenere

Happy Saturday!  It's been a relaxing day of running errands, then a bike ride before I finalize my plans for the first day of classes on Monday!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, Chuck Reininger!  The 2021 Reininger Walla Walla Carmenere is one of the longest production runs of this "lost Bordeaux" varietal, in fact, I think I've reviewed almost every vintage since 2009 (you can peruse them here). Tonight, I've opened a bottle of the 2021 vintage, which is out of order as I've previously reviewed the 2022 vintage and the 2023 vintage, but let's go back in time and see what was going on five years ago!

The wine is a beautiful ruby color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose presents aromas of leather, bright raspberry, green grass and a hint of mocha.  The first sip is a rather tawny affair, with a rush of ripe black fruit that easily transitions into some earthy elements of leather, vanilla bean and black strap molasses.  The tannins are subtle but well structured, providing an ideal base for the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a wonderful and easy drinking edition of this forgotten varietal.  This wine would pair well with a range of summer casual dinners, from burgers and brats to grilled steaks and barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some barbecued ribs, steamed corn on the cob and sriracha cole slaw.  Cheers!

2023 Reininger Carmenere

Happy Sunday!  Tonight marks the end of my weekend of All-American meals, so let's make it a good one!  What a fantastic semiqincentennial weekend, with great food, wine and fireworks to celebrate the greatest nation on earth!  For the last celebratory night, I've opened a bottle from a perennial favorite Washington producer (see, we can't celebrate the founding without Washington!), Chuck Reininger.  The 2023 Reininger Carmenere is a 100% Carmenere completely sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, sparking like a gem.  The nose presents aromas of dusty limestone, black cherry, green grass and blackberry, beckoning you to take a sip.  That first taste is a rush of ripe, rustic berries, black cherry, marionberry and currant, with a good bit of tartness before transitioning to some notes of vanilla bean and oak midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated and subdued, bringing nice structure to the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this a solid 9, as Chuck has seemingly mastered the craft of this lost Bordreaux varietal.  This wine would pair well with a range of summer favorites, from burgers and brats to steaks and tenderloin.  Tonight, I am taking a classic approach and enjoying this wine with barbecue, but not just any barbecue.  I am enjoying this with slow cooked barbecued baby back ribs with Yankee black strap molasses barbecue sauce, coleslaw and fresh corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2024 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere

Happy Sunday!  I spent the day doing some indoor chores and relaxing, so not particularly productive, but that's what weekends are for!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from one of my long-time favorite Walla Walla producers, Seven Hills Winery.  The 2024 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere is a made from a varietal that not long ago was thought extinct, so let's see how this lost Bordeaux varietal is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass while the nose presents aromas of blackberry, cherry and plum with undertones of green grass and spice.  The first sip is a refreshing burst of ripe berries with a bit of tartness underneath that eases into some notes of blueberry compote midpalate.  The tannins are subdued, but fully structured to provide a long, smooth dry finish with a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant, easy drinking red that would pair well with a range of summer dishes.  This wine would pair well with barbecued ribs, burgers or brats, ideal for the 4th of July.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some beef kabobs and fresh corn on the cob.  It's been a while since I've brought out the skewers, but this turned into a wonderful summer dinner.  Cheers!

2022 Reininger Carmenere

Happy Sunday!  I spent the afternoon at our wonderful county 4-H fair looking at all the animals and exhibits, seeing a show and enjoying just a bit of fair food.  Now that I'm home, I am looking to enjoy a lighter Sunday dinner with a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2022 Reininger Carmenere which I believe will go well with my chosen dinner menu.  This wine is a 100% Carmenere sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this one is tasting.

Great color of bright ruby in the glass, with a somewhat lighter body.  The nose is chock full of red and black fruit with intermittent aromas of vanilla, caramel and baking spice that signals your mind to expect something special.  The taste is a rush of tart cherry up front that eases into some notes of blackberry and plum, with undertones of peppery spice.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish with a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's a classic Reininger edition of this nearly lost Bordeaux varietal.  This wine would pair well with hearty steaks and chops, salmon, or summer caprese salads.  Carmenere always makes me think of the south of France for some reason, so for tonight's dinner, I am pairing this wine with a Mediterranean dinner of grilled octopus with a variety of summer vegetables seasoned with smoked salt and herbs de Provence.  Cheers!

2023 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere

Happy Saturday!  I spent the afternoon in the yard, pulling a lot of weed and inadvertently transplanting some irises that I pulled up with some of the weeds.  But now it's time to relax in the air conditioning and maybe stop sweating for a while, and of course enjoy dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2023 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere, a wine made from the "lost" Bordeaux varietal that's made a come back over the past few decades.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass and the nose presents aromas of ripe berries, raspberries, blackberries and currant, that give way to notes of leather, dark chocolate and tobacco.  The first sip is an interesting combination of ripe red fruit with hints of mint, that transitions to some notes of earthy peat and dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and supple providing just the right base for a lovely warm, dry finish. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it strikes me as easy drinking and food friendly.  And speaking of food, I have a pronounced habit of enjoying a nice Carmenere with tacos, as this strikes me as a perfect taco wine.  To be sure, it would also pair well with pasta, steaks, barbecue or pizza, but tonight it's steak fajita tacos with all the trimmings!  Cheers!

2020 Seven Hills Pentad

Today was my annual pilgrimage to Illinois to plant flowers at the cemetery for all my family members and at least the weather was very pleasant.  Five flats of flowers planted and now I'm ready for a nice dinner and a glass of wine, before the serious flower planting commences tomorrow.  Tonight I've opened a perennial favorite, and although I have gone out of order in reviewing the 2021 vintage before this one, I am happy to share the 2020 Seven Hills Pentad this evening.  This wine is a blend of the five primary Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carmenere, but I can't find the fact sheet for the 2020 vintage, so we'll just have to enjoy this wine without knowing the breakdown of the blend.  Here goes nothing!

The wine is has a hearty look in the glass, inky black at the center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of green grass, leather and undertones of blackberry and currant.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit that transitions easily to some earthy notes of olive tapenade, and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a wonderfully dry finish that has just enough earthy funk to pay homage to the Bordeaux heritage.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's a classic version of what Walla Walla does so well with Bordeaux style blends.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from rack of lamb to braised short ribs, thick steaks to grilled octopus.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled T-bone steak with cowboy crust seasoning, oven roasted purple fingerling potatoes and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2021 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Well hello there!  It's been almost a week since we've talked, and now that work is getting back to a more normal pace, I am hopeful that I can enjoy some of the wines that have been stacking up around my house.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a wine club shipment from one of my favorite Walla Walla wine makers, the 2021 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (79%), Petit Verdot (7%), Malbec (7%), Syrah (5%), Carménère (1%) and Petite Syrah (1%) from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of black cherry, black raspberry and currant, with undertones of spice box and vanilla bean.  The first sip and you're awash with wonderful black fruit that coats your palate before easing into some notes of dark chocolate, black tea and some dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are well structured to provide the foundation for a very Bordeaux-esque style dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a very respectable Walla Walla Cabernet that's also a terrific value at just $35, before any wine club discounts.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty and rustic dishes, from braised short ribs to grilled lamb, but more than anything, this wine would cry out for a big, juicy steak.  Well, wouldn't you know it, my local market had ribeyes on sale, so tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye with sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms, corn on the cob and steamed brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2022 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carménère

Happy Mother's Day!  I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful day, though I admit mine was a bit subdued, with yard work and chores around the house followed by a bike ride, so now I'm ready for dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of one of my favorite lost varietals from one of my favorite Walla Walla winemakers.  The 2022 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carménère is a 100% Carménère from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington, that was only available to wine club members, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a lovely garnet color in the glass, and a gentle swirl reveals aromas of sweet blackberry, leather and fresh herbs.  Take a sip and experience a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum with a bit of acidity that easily transitions to some notes of vanilla bean and pipe tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are subdued, making for a mellow finish that while dry, is not in your face about it.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a consistent favorite for a food friendly varietal.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from barbecue to tacos, steaks to pizza.  Tonight, I am enjoy this wine with some hatch chile barbecued chicken, pan roasted baby potatoes with onions, peppers and mushrooms, and some fresh broccoli slaw.  Cheers!

2015 Cinco Reserva Red Blend

Happy Saturday!  Yesterday I stopped at my local wine store and went into the "back room" where they have all the better and more expensive wines and I found the wine I've opened tonight.  The odd thing was that this wine was only $12.97, so I'm not even sure why it was in the pricy wine room.  In any case, I was intrigues by this wine, "Cinco" as it's a blend of five different varietals from Chile: Carmenere (38%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Syrah (20%), Merlot (7%) and Carignan (5%).  So. let's see how this Cinco blend is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a testament to the impact of the Cabernet on the blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry and cherry with hints of peppery spice undertones.  The first sip is a rush of ripe plum, cherry and blackberry that transitions easily to some earthy notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing for a velvety smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's a wonderfully easy drinking red that could be an everyday wine at this price.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from steaks and lamb to barbecue or tacos.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some mustard barbecued chicken thighs, oven roasted sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2021 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere

Happy Independence Day!  It's very hot today, but I still got a bunch of yard work done and now I'm ready for some cookout feast and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened up a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Seven Hills, the 2021 Walla Walla Carmenere.  I needed a wine to go with 4th of July food, so let's hope this one fits the bill!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from this lost Bordeaux varietal.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of ripe blackberries, blueberries and baking spice, with undertones of vanilla bean.  Take a sip and those warm spice aromas quickly succumb to cool fruit, as blackberry, blueberry and plum wash over your palate before transitioning to warm spicy notes of white pepper intermingled with cocoa and mocha notes midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a velvety smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a perennial favorite from Walla Walla and such a versatile, food-friendly wine.  This wine would pair well with steak, chops, pasta or hearty fish like salmon, we well as casual summer foods like barbecue and burgers.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some barbecued baby back ribs along with some roasted corn on the cob, mustard baked beans and cucumber salad.  Cheers!

2019 Seven Hills Pentad

Merry Christmas!  I'm preparing a wonderful Christmas dinner that is far from my usual fare, so this calls for a special wine as well.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2019 Seven Hills Pentad, the most recent vintage of this special blend of five varietals from the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Carmenere, Malbec and Merlot creating a real taste of some of the best varietals Washington state has to offer.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, a testament to the heavy hands of Cabernet and Malbec in the blend.  Take a whiff and you're greeted with aromas of tobacco, anise, dark chocolate and dusty limestone, quite a departure from many more fruit laden Cabernet blends.  The first sip reveals wonderful black cherry and raspberry notes that ease into some flavors of vanilla bean and cardamom midpalate.  The tannins are quite subdued making for a delightfully pleasant, smooth dry finish that is reminiscent of a fine Bordeaux.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it certainly lives up to previous vintages that take the best of what the harvest offers to make a truly special wine.  And as I mentioned, I am enjoying this wine with a special Christmas dinner of a mid rare rack of venison, with potato puree, wine pepper sauce and shaved Brussels sprouts with maple, bacon and pomegranate.  Overall, a wonderfully earthy dinner on this traditional holiday.  Cheers!

2018 San Pedro "1865" Carmenere

Happy Sunday!  It seems that summer is starting to calm down, we've seen hot and humid and rather chilly evenings on consecutive days, so I'm hoping for consistency!  As I get ready for Sunday dinner, I've decided to open a bottle of a recent Costco find, and one of my favorite varietals, Carmenere, the lost Bordeaux grape.  Carmenere was long thought extinct thanks to the phylloxera plague in 1867.  It was later discovered in Chile, having been cultivated since 1850 from French cuttings mistaken for Merlot.  The 2018 San Pedro "1865" Carmenere is named for the winemaker's founding year, and is sourced from a variety of vineyards in Chile's Del Maule Valley.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, as you might expect from a pure Carmenere.  A quick swirl in the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, plum with some mineral notes of basalt and a hint of green cedar.  A taste reveals flavors of black cherry and currant that ease into notes of tobacco and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are rather subdued, but still find time to support a supple, dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant drinking wine and a solid value at just $13.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from tacos to pizza, pasta to steak.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with the latter two, a rare grilled New York Strip along with some garlic scapes and asparagus sautéed in olive and tossed with linguine and topped with shaved parmesan and a bit of purple basis.  Cheers!

2018 Reininger Carmenère

Happy Vernal Equinox!  It's been a modestly relaxing day, I spent some time with friends this morning and then went grocery shopping and stopped at the local Ace Hardware for some essentials.  The weather was nice, so I went for a bike ride and just got back in time to open a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2018 Reininger Carmenère which is a 100% Carmenère from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a nice deep, inky purple with bright ruby along the edges.  A nice whiff and aromas of black raspberry, cherry and plum intermingled with a bit of oak and olive tapenade.  Take a sip and there is a brief rush of ripe black fruit, black raspberry, cherry and currant that transitions to some notes of pomegranate and hints of white pepper midpalate.  The tannins are supple, yet well structured, providing a perfect base for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's definitely one of the better examples of the varietal I've had in a while.  This wine would stand up to a rare grilled steak as well as any Cabernet, but would also pair well with lamb, or even a spice curry.  Tonight, being it's the first official day of spring, I am yearning for summer, so I'm enjoying this wine with some barbecued pork spare ribs, along with sriracha slaw and Dr. Pepper baked beans.  Cheers!

2018 Casillero del Diablo Carmenère

 Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a while since I've posted as I've been on a vacation road trip over ten days, driving from Indiana to Yellowstone and stopping at all manner of sites in between.  Tonight I hosted a virtual wine tasting with some of my coworkers and since we were focused on tasting a single varietal (Carmenère), I needed to find a bottle that everyone could find at their local market.  So, I chose the 2018 Casillero del Diablo Carmenère from Chile.  I was inspired to do this varietal tasting based on one held by Chuck Reininger a few months back that highlighted this lost Bordeaux varietal.  Let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, typical of a nice Carmenère.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, raspberry, green grass and a bit of Bordeaux style funk.  The taste is far less fruit forward than suggested by the nose,with subdued flavors of blackberry and currant that transitions to some earthy notes of tar and graphite intermingled with cocoa powder and black pepper.  The tannins are well structured providing a base for the soft dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, as it's a nice everyday drinking wine at a value price of just $10.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steak and lamb to chorizo tacos.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a truffle salted filet mignon along with some roasted baby potatoes I picked up at the farmers' market in Douglas, Wyo. last saturday and some steamed green beans with slivered almonds.  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 Reininger CPR Carmenere

So tonight I have the pleasure of enjoying another virtual wine tasting with Chuck Reininger (aka the CPR on this wine's label) and we will be tasting the 2014 CPR Carmenere.  Of course what's not to love about tasting a wine with the person that created it, I just wish I wasn't on eastern time!  Chuck will be joined by Sadie Drury, the vineyard manager at the Seven Hills Vineyard in Walla Walla, where the grapes for this wine originated.  This wine was very limited production, just 42 cases of 100% Carmenere from the Seven Hills Vineyard in Walla Walla, so let's see how it's shaping up!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose is at first a delicate affair with aromas of cedar, lavender and white pepper spice which opens up to some wild blackberry and currant.  The taste is a rush of black cherry, pomegranate and plum that transitions easily to hints of charred meat and olive tapenade midpalate.  The soft tannins usher in a nice bit of acidity and peppery spice amid the long, smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just starting to come into its own after aging more than five years in barrel.  This wine would be excellent with grilled lamb, filet mignon or sesame crusted pork tenderloin, but tonight, since it's raining, I am staying indoors with and enjoying this wine with a classic linguine carbonara.  Cheers!

2017 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Carmenere

Happy Saturday!  Well I got a some shopping done today since it was raining for much of the day, so I made a trip to Costco just for the halibut (Waka Waka!) which you can see more of below.  So what wine could I pair with my favorite fish?  I've decided on a recent wine club selection from Reininger, the 2017 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Carmenere.  This wine is a 100% Carmenere from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with a bit of dark indigo at the center.  The nose is an interesting combination of black currant, peppery spice and a bit of earthy peat..  The taste is a rush of tart cherry, raspberry, currant and a good portion of white pepper spice that transition to some lovely notes of cherry cola, cocoa and the barest hint of mint.  The tannins are very fine with a balance of acidity that brings a velvety dry finish that has you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a really wonderful example of the "lost Bordeaux varietal."  This wine would pair very well with a broad range of rich dishes, from a cheese risotto to hearty pasta with cream sauce, roast lamb to a casual barbecue.  Tonight I am going a bit off the beaten path and enjoying this wine with a pan seared halibut filet along with some farro and oven roasted rainbow carrots, for a dinner that is both light and hearty.  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!

Reininger CPR Third Edition

Happy Boxing Day!  Well as with all the holiday rush, I confess I've been sorely neglecting the wine blog, and for that, I apologize.  Now that the rush is over, I have time to do more, though don't get too excited as it seems I'm also battling a cold which could hamper my wine blogging efforts.  To make up for that, I've opened up a bottle of very unique wine to share with you tonight, the Reininger CPR Third Edition.  Of course, the CPR represents Chuck Reininger's initials, and this wine comes in editions rather than vintages, as you see, this wine was inspired by the Solera blending tradition, where each year they bottle 20% of the wine and replace it with wine from the new vintage.  As a result you have a wine consisting of eight varietals from nine different vintages!  I reviewed the inagural edition here: CPR First Edition and had a chance to barrel taste the third and fourth editions on a visit to Walla Walla in 2017 (see: here), and since I was in an odd mood, I decided to skip the second edition and go right to the third tonight.  This edition is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (26%), Syrah (19%), Cabernet Franc (16%), Petit Verdot (10%), Merlot (9%), Malbec (7%), Sangiovese (7%) and Carmenere (6%) from the Ash Hollow, Pepper Bridge, Phinny Hill, Seven Hills, Stone Tree and XL Vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA from vintages spanning 2005-13.  So let's see how this intriguing blend is tasting!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose exudes a cascade of wild berries, amid earthy aromas of leather, cardamom and some delicate floral notes.  The taste is a rush of cool black fruit, black raspberry, cherry and plum that excites the senses before transitioning to some wonderful notes of vanilla bean, a hint of cedar accentuated by some white pepper spice.  The flavors just dance around the palate until the fine grain tannins and delightful acidity cut in to establish a dramatic finish that lingers for what seems like hours.  This is certainly a wine that could pair exceedingly well with a variety of food, but it's also the kind of wine that will continue to develop nuances of flavor as you sip it throughout an evening.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a delight to drink and experience the evolution of flavor over an evening.  It's also a very food friendly wine as I could see myself enjoying this wine with everything from steak to barbecue, tacos to oven roasted salmon, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled petit prime New York strip, with some grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes with a merlot reduction.  Cheers!

2017 Seven Hills Pentad

The holiday season can be such a busy time I hardly even have time to enjoy a bottle of wine!  Today was a whirlwind of activity as I completed my Christmas decorations, including decorating three trees, hanging up the Edison lights and setting up the big train set around the big Christmas tree in the family room (I haven't done that in at least four years!) and now I'm ready for dinner and then tacking the Christmas card list!  So tonight I've opened up a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Seven Hills Winery and normally I wait at least a year or two to open a Pentad, but I recently had a conversation with my friend Jacque at Seven Hills and she told me that a local wine professional gave her a hint to open the wine in the morning and just leave it all day and then decant it about an hour before you plan to drink it.  So, I've used this trick for the 2017 Seven Hills Pentad I've opened tonight, though since this is the first time I've tried this wine I'll have no way of knowing if it worked!  At any rate, the Pentad for 2017 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%) with the balance divided nearly equally between Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenere, so now off to the wine!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from such a blend.  The nose is chock full of leather, oak, ripe black fruit, spicy pepper and a hint of tobacco, that signals your brain it's in for a treat.  The taste is a rush of blackberry, cherry and plum that easily give way to some wonderful spice notes of white pepper.  The tannins are gracefully smooth providing nice balance and structure for the long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers with a reprise of cherry cola.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a pleasure to drink now but will surely mature and really shine over the coming decade.  This wine is perfect for the holidays as it would pair well with everything from Christmas ham to prime rib.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a New York strip grilled rare on top of some grilled leeks
along with a big baked potato with all the trimmings and some bacon roasted purple Brussels sprouts.  Cheers and now it's time to make out Christmas Cards!