2022 Mark Ryan Winery Dead Horse Cabernet Sauvignon

Well it's been a rainy day that turned much colder, and now I'm ready to head out to the theater for a play after dinner, but there's always room for wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of wine that's been in the cellar for a couple years, the 2022 Mark Ryan Winery Dead Horse Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (88%), Merlot (5%), Cabernet Franc (3%), Malbec (2%) and Petit Verdot (2%) from the Quintessence, Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun Vineyards in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just what you like to see.  The nose presents aromas of earthy graphite and oak intermingled with notes of blackberry and currant that get your mouth to watering.  The first sip is a rush of black fruit, that quickly evolves into multiple layers of mineral, spice and earthy notes so classic in Washington Cabernet.  Midpalate, we settle on some vanilla caramel notes with a tail of peppery spice on the finish.  The tannins are well integrated into the warm and exceedingly dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9 as it's a very pleasing and drinkable Cabernet in its youth.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from pasta to hearty stews, braised short ribs to rack of lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a grilled bone-in ribeye with some charred Romanesco and a big baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheers!

2015 Seven Hills Klipsun Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of a new month, which means it's time for me to raid the cellar and open a bottle at least a decade in the making!  Tonight it's a special selection from one of my favorite Walla Walla wine makers, the 2015 Seven Hills Klipsun Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a perennial favorite harvested from some of the oldest vines in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine has matured!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of prune, leather and earthy basalt as it opens up.  The first sip is a blast of black fruit, ripe plum, cherry and currant, intermingled with earthy minerality and peppery spice that sings with mature notes.  The tannins are still vibrant with a strong backbone for the lingering dry finish that will have you pleasantly surprised at this mature wine.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it seems to be just hitting its stride.  This wine would pair perfectly with fall, as the hearty structure of this wine is ideal for chilly temperatures and hearty meals, like beef stew, braised short ribs or big steaks.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a big porterhouse grilled rare, with some steamed asparagus and a baked potato.  Cheers!

2017 Seven Hills Klipsun Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's a beautiful Tuesday, it's sunny and about 75 degrees outside so it seems like springtime has arrived in earnest!  And tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from one of my favorite Walla Walla wine makers, Casey McClellan and the 2017 Seven Hills Klipsun Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.  I'm anxious to go sit out on my porch and enjoy a sunset with this wine so let's get to it!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, classic for a great Cabernet.  The nose is a very Bordeaux-esque affair with lots of ripe cherry, dried herbs, oak and tobacco that just dare you to take a sip.  The taste is a rush of black cherry and plum up front that transitions easily to some notes of savory herbs and dark chocolate midpalate.  The dusty tannins mark a pleasurable surrounding for such a wonderfully full, structured dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasure to drink right now, but would like improve even more with some time in the cellar.  With a limited production of just 149 cases, this is a wine to grab while you can!  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from lamb to mushroom risotto to hearty pasta, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse with some of the biggest bacon roasted Brussels sprouts I've seen!  Cheers!

2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Klipsun Cabernet-Merlot

Well the week is certainly moving along, and unfortunately we are back to winter after we thought spring finally arrived last weekend, it was only 40 degrees when I got up this morning!  So in that light, having a somewhat heavier wine might be appropriate to keep the chill at bay.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Klipsun Cabernet Merlot blend from the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Merlot (40%) from the Klipsun vineyard, which was originally planted in 1984 and has become one of my favorite vineyards for Cabernet.  So let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from the blend.  The nose presents aromas of smoke, dusty limestone, ripe black cherry and blackberry with just a hint of lilac layered over the top.  The taste is a rush of rich, ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant that transitions nicely to some notes of caramel, mocha and dusty limestone midpalate.  The fine grain tannins offer ample support for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just an exceptionally pleasant wine to just sip in the evening, by a warm fire in late May!!!  This wine would pair well with big steaks, chops, Sunday Yankee pot roast or even some great barbecue.  But tonight, I'm enjoying this wine with just some leftovers, so clearly my focus this evening is on the wine and not the food!  Cheers!

2015 Mark Ryan Dead Horse Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday! I must admit tonight's wine lead me to a bit of housecleaning, or "reorganization" if you will.  So yesterday I received my "Big Dissident" wine club shipment from Mark Ryan Winery, and I started feeling a bit guilty as I realized in addition to the two boxes I received Friday, I had eight boxes in my cellar that I still hadn't opened!  So I committed to rotating my stock and opening a box to drink tonight, alas I opened a box that contained the 2015 Dead Horse Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (88%), Merlot (8%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petit Verdot (1%) from the Ciel du Cheval, Klipsun, Obelisco and Quintessence Vineyards in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this tastes!

Ok, I have to admit that I poured a glass of this wine and went out to the deck to just enjoy it and my first thought was, "Wow..."  This is the sort of Washington Cabernet that will make all those Napa Valley Cabernet Snobs just crap themselves (pardon my French).  The nose is a cascade of leather, graphite, green grass and black fruit that signals to your brain that something special is coming right at you.  The taste is a rush of blackberry, cherry and smoky elements that just elevate your senses, like a splash of cold water on you face where you exclaim, "What just happened?!?"  The tannins are velvety smooth and expertly integrated, making for a long, velvety smooth and exceptionally dry finish that rivals m view of perfection.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, though I could go higher as I just thoght this wine was fantastic (so glad I let it sit for a couple years!).  This wine would pair well with the biggest of steaks (and tomorrow I'll be enjoying another bottle with friend and a prime rib roast) but tonight I'm enjoying this wine with some crispy fish tacos along with some mango sriracha slaw and jalapenos!  Cheers!