2015 Château Faugères St.-Émilion Grand Cru Classé

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of a new month, so it's time to raid the cellar and find a bottle that's at least a decade in the making!  Tonight, I've gone back to the genesis of my love of red wine, a classic Bordeaux, in this case, the 2015 Château Faugères St.-Émilion Grand Cru Classé that I purchased a few years ago from Wines Till Sold Out.  This particular vintage is a blend of Merlot (80%), Cabernet Franc (15%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%), so let's see how this wine has matured!

The wine seems to be as fresh as the day it was bottled, with deep ruby color throughout.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, charred oak and tawny herbaceousness that will leave you with a firm impression of classic Bordeaux funk.  The first sip is a surprising rush of ripe fruit, tart cherry, raspberry and currant that wash over your palate before easing into some notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but still an ideal foundation for the long, smooth dry finish that reminds me of springtime in Paris.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classically formed St.-Émilion with plenty of fruit, structure and funk to have Bordeaux fans standing at attention.  This wine would pair well with a range of classic French dishes, from Coq au Vin to braised lamb shank.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rather unconventional dinner of an oven roasted stuffed pork chop, steamed sugar snap peas and mashed potatoes and gravy.  Cheers!

2024 Belles d'Eguilles Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I have to confess that I've been completely ignoring rosé season, as I think I may have only enjoyed one bottle this entire summer.  Well, now it's time to make up for my oversight, so tonight I've opened a bottle of 2024 Belles d'Eguilles Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé that I bought last month from Wines Till Sold Out.  I have previously reviewed the 2021 vintage and thought it was all right, but still a good value.  This vintage is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan, so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a very pale peach color in the glass, signaling something crisp and refreshing is on the way for these last few days of summer.  The nose is a refreshing array of summer citrus and tropical fruit, grapefruit, apple and mango with hints of honey and some minerality.  The first sip is delightfully crisp and refreshing, with a cascade of citrus, honeydew, and mango, with hints of red berry and some mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is dry and crisp, a perfect ending for a wine destined for patio sipping.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it impressed me much more than the 2021 vintage.  This wine would be perfect for summer patio sipping (we have 4 more days of summer!) and would also pair well with barbecue, burgers and brats or fajita tacos.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some crispy skin salmon, steamed rice and asparagus.  Cheers!

2015 Château Aney Haut-Medoc

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of a new month, which means it's time to open a bottle of something that's been at least a decade in the making.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that's only been in my cellar for a month or so, as I purchased this bottle at a wine store in Hillsdale, Michigan on a recent steam train excursion.  The 2015 Château Aney Haut-Medoc does not list a specific blend, but given the requirements of this appellation on the left bank of the Gironde, I would guess this is weighted toward Cabernet Sauvignon, along with some Merlot, Petit Verdot, and perhaps a bit of Malbec.  Let's see how this wine is tasting. 

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity, a testament to this classic Bordeaux blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, ripe blackberry, and hints of lilac, a very refined and rich bouquet.  The first sip is just classis Bordeaux, with a rush of blackberry, currant and fig that eases into the classic Bordeaux funk, earthy peat and white pepper spice midpalate.  The finish is supported by soft tannins, providing the classic smooth dry finish that doesn't linger, but makes itself hardly noticeable.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a solid examples of one of my favorite Bordeaux wines.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from hearty pasta to braised short ribs, grilled lamb to classic steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a grilled ribeye along with some grilled portabella mushrooms and linguine tossed with sautéed garlic scapes and broccoli rabe and topped with parmesan.  Cheers!

2021 Le Quart du Roi Côtes-du-Rhône

Happy Sunday!  I confess I've sheltered in place today with the heat wave we've been having, 87 degrees and 78% humidity is not my cup of tea!  So, I did some laundry and a few other indoor chores and now it's time for Sunday dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2021 Le Quart du Roi Côtes-du-Rhône which I bought last year from Wines Till Sold Out.  This wine is a classic Rhône blend of Syrah (50%), Grenache (30%), Cinsault (10%) and Carignan (10%).  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose is chock full of ripe red fruit, cherry, plum and currant with hints of green pepper and dried herbs.  The first sip is a fruit forward affaire, with almost jammy red fruit, cherry, currant and strawberry that eases into some spicy notes of white pepper and a bit of rosemary.  Having tasted many French wines, I come to expect a bit of earthiness on the finish, but this wine is well balanced with firm tannings and a smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderfully drinking and food friendly wine that was a terrific value at just $12.49!  This wine would be exceptionally well paired with unusual, hard-to-pair dishes, like Asian or Indian, which is a good thing, since tonight I am enjoying this wine with some chicken Tikka Masals with lots of veggies over basmati rice and a bit of naan to mop up the sauce.  Cheers!  

2018 Château Fonréaud Listrac-Medoc

Well, it was a busy Saturday, working, then working in the yard, then running errands and now I am more than ready for dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I bought a month or so ago from Costco, the 2018 Château Fonréaud Listrac-Medoc.  I am a big fan of the Medoc in France, as this was one of the first wines I fell in love with on my first trip to France in 1995.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, so what could go wrong?

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a classic Bordeaux look.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of ripe black fruit, leather, basalt and a classic Bordeaux funk.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit at first, which instantly transitions to some notes of earthy peat and ripe plum, before transitioning to notes of black pepper spice, leather and dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are supple yet firm, providing an ideal foundation for the long, smooth dry finish that is classically Bordeaux.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderfully drinking classic red wine, that was a terrific value at under $20 (I don't recall exactly what I paid, but I think it was around $18).  This wine would pair well with classic steaks and chops, hearty pasta dishes, or braised short ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a seared prime New York strip over a bed of sautéed peppers, onions and mushrooms with some oven roasted potatoes.  Cheers!

2022 Château Lamothe Bordeaux

Happy Saturday!  It is hot as blazes here today, I did just a bit of yard work and could not stop sweating, so I decided to run errands and do my grocery shopping in air conditioned locations instead!  Granted it was only 95 today, but with the 70% humidity it was remarkably unpleasant, though not entirely unbearable.  In any case, now that the sun is low, it's time for dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I bought a few months ago from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2022 Château Lamothe Bordeaux is a classic right bank Bordeaux with a heavy hand of Merlot (80%) accompanied by Cabernet Sauvignon (12%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Malbec (4%).  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with great clarity, a testament to the Merlot influents.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of rich leather, earthy peat and oak with defined aromas of blackberry, currant and black olive.  The first sip is a rush of lovely black fruit, blackberry, plum and currant that ease into earthy notes of dusty limestone and olive tapenade midpalate.  The fine grain tannins provide the ideal foundation for the long, smooth dry finish that is classic Bordeaux.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it punches above its weight class, especially considering the price as this wine was a bargain at just $15!  This wine would pair well with a ranges of dishes, from hearty steaks and chops, to pasta or seared salmon.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye with sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms and some grilled corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2015 Château La Tour De Mons Margaux

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of the new month, so time to raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've opened a classic Bordeaux, the 2015 Château La Tour De Mons Margaux, which I think I bought perhaps five years ago, though I don't recall where I bought it.  This wine is a classic Cabernet focused Bordeaux blend from the left bank of Gironde, so let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a classic Bordeaux.  The nose presents aromas of leather, tar, lilac and cherry, the classic earthy funk of Bordeaux.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that transition easily to some earthy notes of smoke, oak, dusty limestone and tar midpalate.  The tannins are expertly crafted, providing a classic Bordeaux dry finish that will have you forgetting you were even drinking wine.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classic Margaux and such a pleasure to enjoy with a great meal or just sipping with friends.  This wine would pair well with braised lamb shank or beef short ribs, classic steak au poivre or hearty stew.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared, grass fed New York strip with sautéed onions and peppers, oven roasted purple potatoes and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2020 Château Haut-Therón Malbec Cahors

Happy Saturday!  I started the day rather mellow, heading to the farmers market and then home to do yard work and that's where the trouble started!  I finished raking all the small sticks from winter and then began my annual war with the dandelions, bending over and digging up three gallon buckets of them, I'm sure I will feel it tomorrow!  In any case, it's time for a nice dinner and bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2020 Château Haut-Therón Malbec Cahors that I picked up in a $150 case sale from Wines Till Sold Out.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

I'll admit, I'm a fan of Argentine Malbec, but I am approaching this French version with an open mind.  The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you would expect from a nice Malbec.  The nose presents aromas of leather, smoky charred oak, spicy pepper and bright red berries.  The first sip is a rather surprising rush of red fruit, cherry, currant and raspberry that transition easily to notes of mint and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are very mellow, providing for a classic French smooth dry finish, that will have you forgetting that you are drinking wine at all.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very classic Malbec, but not as bold as it's long, lost cousins from Mendoza.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hard cheeses, smoked meat or a classic steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye, mashed sweet potatoes and oven roasted broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2015 Chateau Grand Tayac Margaux

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the magical first Saturday of a new month, the time where I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making to share.  Tonight, I've waited so long for a nice Margaux to get to 10 years, so I've opened a bottle of 2015 Chateau Grand Tayac Margaux.  This wine hasn't been in the cellar for a full decade, but it's pretty close, as I know I bought it at least 6 years ago..  In any case, this is a classic Bordeaux composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (27%) and as my high school French guided me, "le reste en Petit Verdot" (3%). I have reviewed other vintages of Margaux from this Chateau, including the 2009 Vintage and the 2011 vintage, so, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The nose presents a classic French Bordeaux profile, leather, earthy peat, lilacs and roasted game.  Take a sip and and your palate is awash in black cherry, mulberry and blackberry, before transitioning to some dusty limestone  and vanilla bean midpalate.  The tannins still stand at attention a decade in, a testament to the classic Bordeaux structure, providing for a bone dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic example of a true Bordeaux that takes you back to a sidewalk café in Paris.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from a classic onion soup, to braised lamb shank, to classic steaks and chops.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared New York strip over some sautéed onions and mushrooms, mashed potatoes and gravy, and oven roasted broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2007 Mouton Cadet Bordeaux

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of a new month, which means it's time to raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making. Tonight, I've opened a bottle that's been in my cellar since 2010, so it definitely qualifies.  The 2007 Mouton Cadet Bordeaux is a blend of Merlot (65%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) and Cabernet Franc (15%), and as I recall, this wine was very inexpensive when I bought it, so let's see if it was worth the wait!

The wine is a lovely garnet color in the glass, with just a hint of amber along the edges, which seems somewhat remarkable after 17 years.  The nose presents subdued aromas of leather, prune and a hint of mint, as the youthful vibrant fruit has long since left the building.  The first sip is classic aged Bordeaux, with a rush of tart cherry, that gives way to some earthy peat and mint midpalate.  The tannins are subdued, providing for the classic dry Bordeaux finish that makes you feel as though you hadn't had a sip of red wine at all.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it seems to be a bit past its prime, but still not bad for what I recall was a sub-$20 bottle of wine.  This wine would pair well with red meat, barbecue, tacos or even pasta.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared New York strip served on potato puree, topped with Béarnaise with steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2020 Château Laurou 'Les Complices' Fronton

Well, I got a lot of chores done today, laundry, mowing, and I broke out the leaf vacuum, as I had some leaves come down in the front yard from a recent storm, but fall is rapidly approaching, so it's good practice!  At any rate, I'm now ready for a nice dinner on my labor day weekend, and a nice bottle of wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2020 Château Laurou 'Les Complices' Fronton that I purchased a month or two ago from Wines Till Sold Out.  This wine has a new varietal for me, as it's a blend of Negrette and Syrah from the southwest of France.  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 presents a wonderful fruity, floral presence, with aromas of blackberry intermingled with violet and rose petals the grab your attention.  The first sip is trip, with the floral notes continuing amid some tart cherry and earthy peat notes, amid robust tannins that coat your palate.  The finish is very dry, with a continuation of the floral notes resulting in an elegant complexity.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderfully drinking wine, but the floral and earthy notes were a bit too much for me.  This wine would pair well with rich foods, much like the foods of France, with lots of heavy cream sauces, like a seafood Newburg, or filet mignon topped with Béarnaise.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a long tradition of Labor Day meals, steamed Maine lobster with drawn butter and corn on the cob.  This meal dates back to my sophomore year of college, when the Civil Air Patrol had their annual fall fundraiser selling lobsters for $5 each!  So, a bunch of my fraternity brothers would each pitch in $10 and we would have a feast!  I still have the lobster pot I bought to cook them in, and thus a tradition was born, though the price has changed a bit.  Cheers!

2019 B by Fonbadet Bordeaux

Happy Sunday!  Well the long holiday weekend is almost over, but there's still time for Sunday dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a nice bottle of Bordeaux that I think I bought a few months back at Costco, and I have no idea about the wine or it's composition, but being a Bordeaux, I can only imagine it has some Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and any other combination of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, so let's just try it out shall we?

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from a nice Bordeaux.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, toffee, earthy mineral notes and baking spice.  The first sip is a rush of stark minerality, with notes of basalt and tar, that transition nicely to some notes of black cherry and cassis, intermingled with black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are classically structured for a Bordeaux, leaving you with a dry finish that you scarcely notice.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it was a solid example of a daily drinker in the heart of France, and like so many Bordeaux, this wine is very affordable as I think I paid about $15 for this one at Costco.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from pasta and jambalaya to hearty steaks and chops.  Tonight I am opting for the latter and enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Cajun spiced ribeye with sautéed onions, mushrooms and peppers and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2018 Vallée des Aigles IGP Côtes Catalanes Carignan

Happy Saturday!  I was planning to do yard work today, but it was too windy to get the leaf blower out, so instead I decided to build my raised garden bed and dig around the foundation of the shed and fill it with river rock to help drainage.  So a productive day of hard work and now I'm ready for a nice meal and glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2018 Vallée des Aigles IGP Côtes Catalanes Carignan that I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  Carignan is mainly used as a blending grape with Southern Rhone blends, and I think this is the first time I've tried the single varietal.  This wine was made from fruit harvested from 60-100 year old vines in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the south of France near the Spanish border and the Mediterranean.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, somewhat reminiscent of a nice Cabernet.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of sweet cherry, raspberry and aged leather, with soft floral undertones.  Take a sip and you're palate is awash in sweet fruit, cherry, raspberry and currant, that has acidity that at first blush makes you think of sweet-tarts candy, but then the taste evolves into some rich minerality and white pepper spice, before the smooth tannins kick in for added complexity on the long dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a surprisingly pleasant expression of a varietal that happily lives in the background.  This wine was also a terrific value at just $14 (I wish I'd bought more!).  This wine would pair well with hearty lamb dishes, beef stew or hearty pasta dishes.  Tonight, I am taking a bold departure and enjoying this wine with a sesame crusted tuna steak topped with sunflower sprouts, steamed rice and broccoli, with a citrus wasabi dipping sauce.  Cheers!

2018 Château Palais Cardinal Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

Happy Sunday!  I finally had at least a few hours to relax this afternoon, but then laundry, rehearsals and other chores broke into my day.  At least now I am ready for a nice glass of wine and a good Sunday dinner!  Tonight I've opened a nice Bordeaux, the 2018 Château Palais Cardinal Saint-Émilion Grand Cru that I bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (73%), Cabernet Sauvignon (23%) and Cabernet Franc (4%), so let's see how it's tasting.

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass with great clarity, just as you'd expect from this Bordeaux appellation.  The nose presents aromas of black cherry, sage and undertones of lavender and oak.  The taste is a subdued affair, with some calming red berry fruit of raspberry and currant up front that transition easily to some notes of baking spice and tart cherry midpalate.  The tannins are well suited for this classic Bordeaux, providing for a finish that's so dry you hardly notice it before reaching for another sip.

I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking classic Bordeaux at a terrific price of just $23.  This wine would pair well with classic hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to braised lamb shank or moules frites.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a lovely wild mushroom risotto topped with some fresh pea tendrils.  Cheers!

2016 Château de Lafaurie-Monbadon Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

Happy Saturday!  I admit I slept in this morning as I was up late last night doing some volunteer cooking, so I took it easy today and did some random chores, grocery shopping and then decided to relax with a cocktail before dinner.  Tonight, I've decided on a different dinner, and that calls for a different wine, so I've opened a bottle of 2016 Château de Lafaurie-Monbadon Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  This wine is a classic Bordeaux, a blend of Merlot (70%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) and Cabernet Franc (15%).  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from such a Merlot heavy blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, cherry and cassis with undertones of violets and a hint of aged leather.  The first sip is a surprising rush of tart cherry that quickly gives way to some sweet blackberry and raspberry, before transitioning to some earthy notes of cedar and dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are still a bit tight, providing for a very sharp dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very easy drinking and food friendly Bordeaux that was also a solid value at less than $14.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops, to braised lamb shank, rich baked pasta to country barbecue.  Tonight, I am once again taking the road less traveled and enjoying this wine with a Japanese style stir fry.  Given the tight grocery budgets we are all facing, I decided to marinade some sliced chuckeye steak (if you are unfamiliar it's very flavorful and usually around $5-6 a pound) in some Bachan's Japanese Barbecue sauce, then christened my Hexclad wok and stir fried with some fresh veggies, served over white rice.  Cheers!

2022 Perle du Sud Rosé

Well, it's Thursday evening and the work week is coming to a close.  It's also been a week of crazy weather, yesterday we had 5.7" of rain in a 12-hour period and now it's unbelievably hot and humid with highs expected in the mid-90s tomorrow!  So, it must be time for rosé!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2022 Perle du Sud Rosé.  This wine is a wonderful blend of Grenache (60%) and Syrah (40%) from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of the south of France.  So let's see if this wine can provide a cool break in the hot weather!

The wine is a lovely pale peach color in the glass, with aromas of pear, strawberry and melon with undertones of tarragon.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of tart cherry, strawberry and honeydew, that transitions to some notes of green grass and mineral notes midpalate.  The acidity is well balanced for a wonderfully crisp dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a wonderfully refreshing summer rosé with the French craft that will have you feeling Mediterranean breezes as you sip.  This wine would pair well with summer salads, particularly caprese salad, light fish dishes or fresh poke bowls.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a cedar planked coho salmon filet topped with lemon and dill, farro and steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2017 Domaine de Fabrègues 'Le Coeur' Languedoc

Happy Sunday!  It's been raining her for much of the day, which is good as it's been very dry for the past month and the farmers and my lawn can use it!  After accomplishing some inside chores today, it's time to make dinner and open a nice bottle of wine.  My selection tonight serves two purposes, first to enjoy a nice wine, but second to try out a new gadget I recently bought.  You see, the wine I am opening is a magnum, which I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out, and not wanting to drink to excess tonight, I plan to try my new Rabbit vacuum wine preserver!  So, after a few glasses tonight, I can seal up the rest of this large bottle until I'm ready to enjoy it.  Now, about the wine, the 2017 Domaine de Fabrègues 'Le Coeur' Languedoc is a blend of Syrah (80%) and Carignan (20%) from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of the South of France.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, as you might expect with such a Syrah heavy blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of vanilla, blackberry and blueberry, with hints of vanilla and earthy mineral notes.  Take a sip and you experience a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, blueberry and tart cherry that ease back into some warm spice, espresso and mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and dark, providing for a wonderfully smooth, dry finish than lingers on your palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a fine example of the wines of the south of France, and it was also a solid value at just $33 for the magnum!  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty stew, pasta with wild mushroom cream sauce, or hearty fish dishes.  Tonight I am taking the latter approach and enjoying this wine with a crispy skin salmon filet with some roasted rainbow carrots and baby beets and steamed purple asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2021 Feu Follet Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rose

Happy Sunday!  It's been a somewhat relaxing day as my cooking was largely completed this morning - more on that in a minute.  And now, for the second time in as many weeks, I've reached back to the wines of summer for an appropriate wine pairing for this evening.  The 2021 Feu Follet Coteaux d'Aix en Provence rose is a blend of Grenache Noir (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), Carignan (20%) and Syrah (10%), and yes, I know that adds up to 110%, but it's what the label said so I don't have the information to correct the percentages, so we'll go with it (incidentally, this is the first time I've ever encountered a percentage blend that did not add up correctly!).  I bought this wine from Wines Till Sold Out last summer, meaning to enjoy it on the patio, but alas better late than never, so let's see how it's tasting in the winter.

The wine is a lovely peach color in the glass, which seemed to be the trend for 2021 roses.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of citrus and strawberry, with undertones of lemon and hints of apple over the top.  Take a sip and flavors of melon, apple and peach dance on your tongue before easing into some modest mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is at first crisp, but then it smooths out to a lingering dryness.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it continues to evolve as you sip, and makes me sad that I didn't enjoy this wine while the patio furniture was still out.  This wine would pair well with a variety of summer fare, from burgers and barbecue, to summer salads and seafood.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some split pea soup that's been simmering in the crock pot all day, made from the ham bone left over from the Christmas party, the richness of the soup is a perfect foil for this wine.  Cheers!

2007 Domaine Berthet-Rayne Chateauneuf du Pape

Happy Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of November which means it's Cellar Saturday, that magical time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight I've opened a bottle I found while rummaging for a half case of a 2004 Rhone that I mentioned to someone last week, and there is was, the 2007 Domaine Berthet-Rayne Chateauneuf du Pape, a bottle that I bought more than 10 years ago when I was still living in Grand Rapids.  This wine of the Pope is fairly traditional in terms of blend, with Grenache (65%), Mourvèdre (20%), Cinsault (10%) and Syrah (5%) from the southern Rhone region of France.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with great clarity, with just a hint of amber along the edges which comes with this level of maturity.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of black cherry, herbs de Provence and earthy notes of tar and basalt.  Take a sip and you're awash with warm fruit and spice, strawberry, cherry and currant with hints of black pepper spice that transitions easily to some notes of peat and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are still well structured and provide a wonderful base to the smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a very pleasing example of this classic Rhone blend that would pair well with a range of dishes, from lamb to bouillabaisse, braised beef short ribs to hearty mushroom risotto.  Cheers!

2018 Chateau Beaumont Haut-Medoc

Happy Sunday!  I've been working in the yard all afternoon, so I am not pretty tired and ready for a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2018 Chateau Beaumont Haut-Medoc that I recently picked up at Costco, which was also a pleasant choice since one of my personal favorite Bordeaux from my first visit to Paris in 1995 was the Haut-Medoc.  This wonderful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot is an ideal way to end my weekend, so let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, as you might expect from this Cabernet heavy blend.  A swirl of the glass reveals classic Bordeaux aromas of leather, black cherry and cassis that beckon you to take a sip.  After imbibing you are confronted with a rush of ripe black fruit intermingled with hints of mint that eases into some black pepper notes midpalate.  The tannins are supple but well integrated, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that is classic Bordeaux. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a great example of the Haut-Medoc I grew up on in the mid-1990s, and it was a terrific value at just $18!  This wine would play well with pasta, seafood and steaks, as well as a great charcuterie wine.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap (also from Costco) on a bed of grilled leeks and topped with horseradish and fresh rosemary, some tomato basil farfalle with some fresh pesto and shredded parmesan, and some bacon maple roasted brussels sprouts!  Cheers!