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!

2007 Catena Cabernet Sauvignon

So I was down in Dallas this week, and once a quarter we visit one of our favorite clients for their quarterly earnings release and conference call, and typically late night we finish our work then go out to dinner at Fogo de Chao, which for those of you unfamiliar Fogo de Chao is a Brazilian churrascaria steakhouse with locations around the US.  For the carnivores among us, this restaurant is paradise, as fully costumed gauchos go to each table with giant skewers of freshly grilled meat, ranging from top sirloin to bacon wrapped filet mignon to grilled lamb chops.  Every item is delicious, and rather than going up to a buffet, you simply have a card at your table, if you flip the green side up, they bring you meat, red side up means you need a little break.  It's really an amazing dining experience that everyone should try once in your life, unless you're vegan of course!

So at dinner, we typically have our host, the CEO of our client select the wine, and he has yet to disappoint!  That night he selected a 2007 Catena Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina.  Now certainly Argentina is known not for Cabernet but for the classic Malbec which has put the nation on the wine map over the last decade or so, but I must admit, I'm not a big Malbec fan and the Cab was exceptional! 

The wine had a nice nose of blackberry, leather and earth, not unlike a very nice Cabernet from Napa or the Columbia Valley.  But the taste was wonderful, very dry, with flavors of black cherries and licorice and a long smooth finish.  As for my rating, I would put this one at a solid 9, but again I was not privy to the cost which might move that rating up or down, especially given restaurant pricing!  So I learned that Argentina does more than great Malbecs and as always the high protein diet is exceptional at Fogo de Chao!