2020 Maison Bleue Lisette Rosé

Happy Sunday!  I spend a good portion of the afternoon decorating Christmas trees, and I'll admit I did not quite finish, but at least there is wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Maison Bleue Lisette Rosé.  I know it's a bit past rosé season, but what the heck.  This wine is a pure Grenache rosé from the Summit View Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington, so let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a lovely pale peach color in the glass, with aromas of peach, green grass and hints of rose petals.  Take a sip and you're greeted with crisp citrus, melon and fresh herbs that wash over your palate before transitioning easily to some notes of strawberry and earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is crisp and very dry with a reprise of peach and white floral notes and the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's an ideal summer sipper, perfect for friends on the patio.  This wine would be ideal with a range of summer salads, from a citrus and pomegranate with arugula, to roasted beet and feta.  This wine would also pair well with some curry chicken and vegetables, or classic lighter seafood, like alder planked salmon or pan seared halibut.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some steamed snow crab legs with drawn butter, ideal for a Sunday dinner!  Cheers!

2016 Pambrun Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I admit I've taken the opportunity to relax a bit today, outside of doing a bit of laundry and grocery shopping, I've just taken it easy today.  Which of course means that I have extra energy for cooking and enjoying a bit of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle from a winery that I have an indirect ownership interest in, as it's owned by Willamette Valley Vineyards, which I bought and brought home from Walla Walla on my vacation a little over a month ago (wow time flies!).  This wine is full Cabernet sourced from two of my favorite vineyards, the Seven Hills Vineyard and the Summit View Vineyard in the Walla Walla Vallet.  The 2016 Pambrun Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted by Jon Meuret, the founder of Maison Bleue, who I've been a fan of since I visited back in 2014 or 2015.  It also has a connection to Jim Bernau, founder of Willamette Valley Vineyards, who traces his ancestors back to the early settlements of eastern Washingron back in the 1830s, so this is a nice crossroads of serendipity in wine!  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine has a classic Cabernet looks, with deep inky black and bright ruby along the edges.  A quick swirl releases aromas of blackberry, black cherry and cassis with undertones of minerality, including graphite, earthy loam and hints of dried herbs.  Take a sip and and a rush of black fruit envelops the palate with black cherry, blackberry and black currant that takes a bow and surrenders the stage to some anise and smoky flavors with hints of black pepper spice.  The tannins are supple and well structured, providing an ideal backdrop for the velvety smooth, lingering dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just perfect for sipping on the patio (though maybe not on a hot and humid night like tonight) or enjoying with a hearty dinner.  This wine would pair well with lamb, hearty roast beef, or an earthy mushroom risotto.  Tonight I have taken the direct approach and am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye, along with grilled leeks an peppers, along with some Italian green beans from the farmers market and some Boursin cream pasta with sun dried tomatoes.  Cheers!

2016 Maison Bleue Voyageur Syrah

Happy Saturday!  It's been a day of intense yard work, as today was hedge trimming day!  I managed to trim all the bushes and hedges in the front yard, and my arms and back will be paying the price tomorrow, and I still need to do the back yard and rake up all the branches!  In any case, I have to clean up for the theater tonight, so I've opened a bottle of 2016 Maison Bleue Voyageur Syrah.  It's been a while since I've had any wines from Maison Bleue, despite the fact that I am a shareholder in the vineyard as they don't ship to Indiana!  But having recently visited Walla Walla, I brought back a case of Maison Bleue and Pambrun wine, so I'm set for a while!  This particular vintage is a 100% Syrah sourced from the Les Collines, Stone Valley and Yellow Jacket Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  A gentle swirl releases aromas of black raspberry, currant and ample mineral notes of graphite and dusty loam.  A sip reveals an unexpected rush of vibrant, sweet fruit, blackberry, currant and plum that dance around your palate before easing into notes of floral notes of violets intermingles with some tobacco and herb notes.  The tannins are supple bringing the finish to a climactic moment that brings you a sigh of easy satisfaction as you reach of another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant drinking classic Syrah from the Walla Walla Valley, unpretentious and approachable.  This wine would pair well with a variety of challenging dishes, from spiced Moroccan chicken, to green curry to a classic lamb.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a summery dinner of maple sesame wild sockeye along with some chilled pasta salad and sriracha slaw.  Cheers!

Walla Walla Wine Tasting Vacation - Day 3

Happy Independence Day!  Well, it's my second to last day in Walla Walla doing some wine tasting, and it was a busy day!  I started this morning with a trip down to Pendleton to visit the woolen mills (don't ask me why I thought shopping for a wool scarf and blanket when it was 102 degrees was a good idea!), as well as Hamley's, the old west store (I may have also done some vodka tasting at the Oregon Grain Growers distillery).  Then I came back up to Walla Walla for a wine tasting at Maison Bleue, which is owned by Willamette Valley Vineyards, of which I am a proud shareholder.

Unlike the last time I tasted here, the Maison Bleue tasting room now has the Pambrun line of Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux style blends which were very nice!  Next I went to AK Mercado for lunch.  This is the restaurant started by chef Andrae Bopp, who is a long-time fixture in the Walla Walla food scene, operating a catering business and a small place out of a gas station.  I enjoyed the brisket, braised short rib and grilled cod tacos which were phenomenal!

After lunch I went to the first of two Mark Ryan tasting rooms.  The old one which has been there for the better part of a decade is the one I've been to many times, and is now focused on the core Mark Ryan label.  

The Mark Ryan Annex is devoted to the other Mark Ryan labels, such as the Board Track Racer, Lu & Oly, and Monkey Wrench.  In any case, the wines were still great, and I was able to pick up a bottle of 2019 Numbskull GSM blend which was sourced from Red Mountain fruit as well as the new "bubbles" white wine, which will be featured on the patio at some point this summer.

So, another wonderful day of wine tasting to wind up my trip, next stop Glacier National Park!

2013 Maison Bleue Voyageur Syrah

Happy Saturday!  I have to admit, this was a day that started easy enough, with a trip to the farm stand for some fresh sweet corn, but then I returned home to about 6 hours of yard work and now I really need to relax!  Well tonight I've dug up a bottle from the cellar that I haven't reviewed before, the 2013 Maison Bleue Voyageur Syrah from the Yellow Jacket Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  So let's see how this wine has matured over the past few years!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, classic for a nice Syrah.  The nose expresses aromas of ripe blackberry, currant and plum over hints of violet and baking spice.  The taste is a tawny rush of ripe black fruit, layered flavors of blackberry, plum, cherry and currant that give way to some notes of white pepper spice, smoke and charred meat midpalate. The tannins are still wonderfully firm and structured, filling the mouth and providing an ideal foundation for the long, smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasurable Syrah to sip on the patio or enjoy with a variety of foods.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from grilled steak to lamb chops, braised short ribs to salmon, but tonight I am taking the road less traveled and enjoying this wine with a modified seafood boil.  I am enjoying this wine with steamed snow crab legs, buttered red potatoes with parsley and the aforementioned corn on the cob.  Cheers!

My 2017 Washington Wine Top-10 List

Well 2017 is about to come to a close, which is when everyone starts publishing top-whatever lists of events, products, etc. so I thought why not start one of my own?  I have a real affinity for Washington State wines, and I've reviewed a lot of them in 2017, so why not publish a top-10 Washington Wine list?  Here are the simple rules: 1) the wine must have been the subject of a blog post in the calendar year; 2) the wine must be from Washington State; 3) the wine must have been rated 9 or higher (there are a lot of wonderful wines that I rated below 9, but I had to narrow this down somehow!).  Based on this population, I then chose my top-10, half objectively (i.e. the #1 wine could not have been rated lower than the #10, etc.) and mostly subjectively (i.e. what I liked best).  Along with the top-10 wines, I also narrowed down my top-5 Washington producers, based on how many times their wines were rated 9 or above.  So without further adieu, here are my top-5 Washington Wine producers based on the number of wines rated 9 or higher in 2017:

#5 Forgeron Cellars
Forgeron is one of those producers that I discovered as a result of a personal recommendation (I think it might have been Julie Titus at Seven Hills when I asked here where I should go tasting downtown sometime back in 2010 or so).  Forgeron was started by Marie-Eve Gilla in 2001, who made a name for herself with her wonderful Chardonnay, but I really enjoy her wines made from some of the less used varietals in the Columbia Valley, like Primitivo and Malbec.  Forgeron had two wines rated above 9 and both made my top-10 wine list.

#4 Doubleback Winery 
Doubleback Winery traces its roots back to 2007 when NFL quarterback and Walla Walla native, Drew Bledsoe retired and planted his estate vineyard, McQueen, on the southern end of the Walla Walla AVA.  Since he launched Doubleback in 2008, with collaborator and childhood friend Chris Figgins of Leonetti Cellar, he has produced some world class Cabernet Sauvignon, but has also expanded the winery to include the Bledsoe Family, Flying B and Stolen Horse labels in an effort to produce great wines that are approachable for a broader audience.  Doubleback and the related labels had three wines rated at or above 9, one of which made my top-10 list.

#3 Reininger Winery
Reininger Winery has been a long-time favorite of mine, as ever since I first met founder and head winemaker Chuck Reininger, I've felt a wonderful connection in that he approaches the creation of his wines in a way that really matches what I appreciate in Walla Walla wines.  From taking broad creative steps with multiple varietals across multiple vintages, such as with his great Desiderata project, he consistently produces eminently drinkable wines that exemplify the true sense of place in the Walla Walla Valley.  Reininger and second label Helix had 4 wines rated at or above 9 in 2017 and one of them made my top-10 list.

#2 L'Ecole No. 41
L'Ecole No. 41 was one of the first wineries I visited on my very first trip to Walla Walla back in 2001.  At that time the winery in the old schoolhouse was one of the first you encountered as you drove in from the west on US 12.  When I first tasted the wines at L'Ecole and neighboring Woodward Canyon, I knew there was something special about the wines of Washington, and particularly Walla Walla.  L'Ecole produces some of my favorite Bordeaux style blends in the valley, including the newer Ferguson blend and my all-time favorite blend, the Perigee.  L'Ecole had six wines rated at or above 9 in 2017 including one on my top-10 list.

#1 Seven Hills Winery
I will always hold a special place in my heart for the very first wineries I visited on that first trip to Walla Walla back in 2001.  On that trip, after visiting the wineries on the outskirts of town on US 12, I came downtown and tasted wine at Seven Hills, which is still in the same location around the corner from Whitehouse Crawford restaurant.  Founder and head winemaker, Casey McClellan has done remarkable work in raising the quality and profile of Walla Walla wines, and keeping with the focus on Bordeaux style blends, his Pentad is one of my favorites whenever it's produced (like any great artist, Casey only makes Pentad when all the conditions are right).  Seven Hills had seven wines rated 9 or above in 2017, with two wines on my top-10 list.

Other wineries that had wines rated 9 or higher in 2017 include: Maison Bleue Winery, Mark Ryan Winery, Milbrandt Vineyards, Result of a Crush, Sleight of Hand Cellars and Tero Estates.

And now, the top-10 Washington Wines of 2017!  (each are linked to the original blog post with summary below).

#10 2014 Maison Bleue Voyageur Syrah
Maison Bleue does such a wonderful job with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, and since I'm a big fan of Syrah, this one made the list.  The 2014 Voyageur Syrah is a deep ruby color in the glass, with just the heft you'd like to see from a nice Syrah.  The nose is chock full of violets, blueberry and blackberry overlaid with hints of smoke and black pepper spice.  The taste a rush of ripe berries, that transitions nicely to some fresh herbs and chipotle spice midpalate.  There is a bit of a reprise of fruit and a bit of kirsch on the finish, with the soft tannins supporting the long, smooth and very dry finish.  Rating: 9

#9 2013 Anvil Cabernet Sauvignon Dionysus Vineyard Columbia Valley
Anvil is Forgeron Cellars' higher end label, and they do a wonderful job with Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is the first of two from Forgeron on my top-10 list.  The 2013 Anvil Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep inky black color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges,  The nose is a wonderful combination of ripe blackberries, currants and a hint of violet floral notes intermingled with some defined spice notes of black pepper over a hint of smoke.  The taste is just wonderful with some ripe fruit that submits to some lovely spicy pepper notes at the outset, transitioning nicely to some dark chocolate and dried fruit notes midpalate, as you're set up for a reprise of spicy pepper on the long, smooth and luxurious finish.  Rating: 9

#8 2015 Mark Ryan "Little Sister" Columbia Valley Merlot
Mark Ryan has been a growing favorite of mine since I first visited the Walla Walla tasting room back in 2012 (maybe?) and not just because he names his wines after Pearl Jam songs.  Yes, I am a flannel-wearing grunge fan of the 1990s, but these are some seriously good wines.  The 2015 Little Sister Merlot is a deep, inky purple with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is an intriguing blend of leather, tart cherry, cardamom and baking spice.  The taste is classic, old school Merlot with a rush of ripe fruit up front, cherry, currant and plum, that transitions to some interesting notes of buttered popcorn jelly belly midpalate.  The finish is smooth, with young tannins providing a bit of punch to the long, smooth and dry finish.  This wine is such a pleasure to drink!  Rating: 9

#7 2014 Doubleback Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon
Since my first visit to Doubleback a few years ago, I've been impressed with the quality and aging potential of the Cabernet.  Now with a broader array of wines at more value conscious price points, I'm finding even more to love.  The 2014 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep, inky color at the center, with nice bright garnet along the edges.  The nose is a rich combination of blackberry, currant, oak and a bit of kirsch.  The taste is a velvelty burst of ripe black fruit, plum, blackberry and cherry that envelops your mouth as the flavors transition to some wonderful earthy, mineral notes of dusty limestone overlaid with mocha and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are still youthful, leading to a bit of acidity on the long, smooth and very dry finish.  Rating: 9

#6 2014 L'Ecole No. 41 Ferguson
I had the chance to visit the Ferguson Vineyard with L'Ecole founder Marty Clubb back in 2013 (you can see that post here) and it was fascinating to see some of the underlying characteristics of the vineyard that really express themselves in the wine.  The Ferguson blends have been consistently excellent since the inaugural vintage in 2011 (you can see that one here).  The 2014 Ferguson is a deep, inky purple in the glass.  The nose is a beautiful combination of leather, blackberry and dusty mineral aromas that really speak to the terroir at Ferguson.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit up front, black cherry, blackberry and plum that transition to some lovely mineral and smoky notes midpalate.  The finish is near perfect, with well structured tannins providing the backbone and just a hint of spice and characteristic Bordeaux "funk" coming in at the end of the long, smooth, and very dry finish.  Rating: 9

#5 2011 Reininger Cima
As I mentioned above, Chuck Reininger continues to impress with his mastery of blending and he is perhaps one of the most creative winemakers in the Walla Walla Valley today.  The 2011 Reininger Cima is a lovely bright ruby in the glass, typical of the Sangiovese in this Washington Super Tuscan.  The nose is a symphony of soft leather, graphite and spice box with emerging hints of ripe cherries and rose petals.  The taste is surprisingly youthful despite the more than five years this wine spent in barrel, with lovely notes of strawberry, cherry and red plums bursting forth at the outset, only to give way to some lovely notes of black pepper spice and tart cherry midpalate, no doubt a testament to the wonder of Sangiovese.  The finish was velvety smooth, as the tannins were mature and expertly integrated to provide a lasting dry finish that begs you to take another sip.  Rating: 9

#4 2014 Seven Hills Pentad
Casey McClellan has been doing wonders for Walla Walla wine since Seven Hills was founded back in 1988 and the Pentad is the pinnacle of the Walla Walla Bordeaux style blend for Seven Hills.  Casey will only make this wine when conditions are right, so we were lucky to have vintages in 2014 and 2015, but there have only been eight vintages of Pentad prior to 2014!  The 2014 Pentad is a deep inky color with bright ruby along the edges, suggestive of the heavy presence of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend.  The nose is a lovely combination of leather, blackberry, clove and dried spice that welcomes you to take a sip.  The taste is wonderfully smooth and balanced, with casual notes of ripe black fruit intermingled with mocha and dark chocolate that transitions to some lovely green herb notes just before the finish.  And the finish is lovely, with chewy tannins that make for a long, firm and exceptionally dry finish that lasts a minute or more.  This is the first of two wines from Seven Hills in my top-10 list.  Rating: 9 - 9.5

#3 2014 Forgeron Malbec
This is the second wine from Forgeron on my top-10 list, and this one makes this list as a true rarity, a wine I really loved, even though it was from a varietal that I don't love.  I am not a fan of Malbec, despite it's waning popularity, but this wine is enough to convert even me to being a fan of the varietal.  The 2014 Forgeron Malbec is a stunning, deep purple color in the glass, picture perfect for Malbec.  The nose is a symphony of aromas that bring you to images of gauchos in the Andes of Argentina, leather, smoke, black cherry and hints of white pepper spice and mocha over the top.  The taste is refined and complex, pretty much the opposite of a big, gut punching Cabernet that's so popular among so many today.  There is a rush of ripe fruit up front, cherry, pomegranate and currant that transition effortlessly to some notes of peppery dark chocolate midpalate.  The finish is just the best part of this wine, with incredibly polished tannins supporting a velvety smooth finish that seems to last the better part of five minutes.  Rating: 9 - 9.5

#2 2014 Seven Hills Pepper Bridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
This is the second wine from Seven Hills on my top-10 list, and by far my favorite wine from them in 2017!  This was a new wine with incredibly limited production that likely will not be made again, so enjoy it while you can!  The 2014 Seven Hills Pepper Bridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a deep, inky purple at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a magnetic chorus of leather, cedar, boysenberry and a hint of white pepper that combine to suggest something really special is about to happen to your palate.  The taste is an eye opening rush of fruit, with pronounced black cherry that settles in to some more subtle notes of mocha and dark chocolate.  The tannins are still young but remarkably smooth and well integrated, providing the perfect backdrop for the long, voluptuous and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more. Rating: 9.5

#1 2014 Sleight of Hand Cellars "The Psychedelic Syrah"
The best Washington Wine of 2017 in my opinion is one that was a recommendation from someone at another Washington winery.  It's impressive to me how much of a community there is among the winemakers of Walla Walla, where everyone can view and enjoy the product of competitors in a way that honors the artistry of winemaking as a whole.  So when Julie from Seven Hills recommended this wine to me, I immediately called and ordered some and I wasn't disappointed.  The 2014 Psychedelic Syrah is a deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose is just an explosion of everything that's great about Syrah, green grass, lavender, green olives, smoke and minerals with lovely undertones of ripe purple fruit.  The taste is like nothing I've experienced before, it just takes me right back to the many lovely tasting rooms in Walla Walla, with wild earthy flavors, bursts of ripe cherry, blackberry and blueberry, earthy limestone, licorice and smoke that just give you such a sense of the place that produced this wine.  The tannins are elegant, creating a velvety mouthfeel than envelops you creating a long, dry finish that's silky and very memorable.  This is appropriately names, as this was a psychedelic experience!  Rating 9.5

And there you have it, my first ever top-10 list of Washington wines for 2017.  Best wishes for another wonderful year of Washington wine in 2018!

Taste My Vacation Dinner!

As you know, I spent a wonderful week of vacation in Walla Walla last month, and to help celebrate and share my experiences with my friends, I hosted a "Taste My Vacation" dinner with individual courses and wine pairings.  And now is my chance to share that with everyone else virtually!  So enjoy the photos and taste my Walla Walla vacation!

The first course was a classic summer Caprese salad, with fresh tomatoes and fresh mozzarella topped with 25-year balsamic, Tuscan herb olive oil and fresh basil.  This appetizer was paired with a lovely 2014 Maison Bleue Bourgeois Grenache, with lovely fruit and mineral notes that perfectly accented the sweetness of the balsamic and creaminess of the mozzarella.

The second course was wasabi seared sea scallops over a bed of baby arugula tossed with 25-year white balsamic.  This course was paired with a 2015 Helix rose, the dry rose was a nice contrast to the sweetness of the white balsamic.

The main course was a grilled price ribcap with roasted asparagus and butter braised Yukon gold potatoes.  This course was paired with a 2014 Seven Hills Clone 191 Cabernet Sauvignon which perfectly accented the robust flavors of the steak and the creaminess of the potatoes.

Ant to end the evening, we had a lovely summer dessert of vanilla ice cream topped with espresso balsamic, fresh raspberries and 86% dark chocolate.  A lovely finale to the taste of my vacation.  Cheers!

2017 Vacation to Walla Walla Wine Country - Day 3

Well my third day of vacation presented the opportunity to accomplish some of the things I failed to get to the day before.  I started the day going back out to the west side to visit the two wineries that started may affinity for Walla Walla nearly two decades ago.

The school bell that you can ring at the entrance to L'Ecole No. 41.

My first stop was to the old school house on U.S. 12, the home of L'Ecole No. 41.  I had the chance to meet with Jaime, the wine club manager (though I''m not sure what her current title is), and she's always a pleasure to spend time with.  We had a nice conversation over some wonderful 2014 Perigee and 2014 Ferguson as well as the new vintage of Candy Mountain red wine, all wonderfully delicious!

The Woodward Canyon Tasting Room.

Next it was off to Woodward Canyon which it right next door.  I felt bad as I'd met Cory, the tasting room manager at the pre-harvest dinner a few nights before and said I'd visit the next day but I failed!  So I made up for it as we tasted through some wonderful wines, including the 2010 Estate Reserve, a classic Bordeaux style blend of Merlot, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Now the 2010 and 2011 vintages were very cool, and although they were somewhat disappointing when younger, they are really starting to shine now.

The Maison Bleue tasting room in Walla Walla.

After Woodward Canyon, I went back downtown where I first stopped at Maison Bleue where I tasted through some of their wonderful Rhone blends.  They have one of the most beautifully decorated tasting rooms in Walla Walla, and Cynthia handles the tastings so well.  I am not a huge Pinot Noir fan, but I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed their new Pinot under the J. Meuret label.

The newly re-branded Bledsoe Family Winery tasting room.

Next I stopped at Graze for lunch and then to the Bledsoe Family Winery tasting room.  Bledsoe has undergone some changes recently as they established the Bledsoe Family Wines label to be a somewhat more approachable family of wines while retaining the Doubleback label positioned at the premium end.

Photo of the "Cadaretta" in the Cadaretta Winery tasting room.

After Bledsoe, I went across the tracks to visit Cadaretta to taste some wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon and blends.  They have also gone through some changes as they sold the Buried Cane and their other secondary labels.

The DaMa tasting room on Main Street, be sure to taste the Tempranillo!

I went to the DaMa Wines tasting room next, which is always a pleasure.  I was fortunate that Mary, the proprietor and winemaker was there, so I had a chance to chat with her a bit and taste some of the new 2014 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon which will be released this fall (and I'm really looking forward to that release!).

Pepper Bridge Winemaker Jean-Francois Pellet and Ox & Cart Executive Chef
Jacob Crenshaw provided for a wonderfully tasteful evening.

I ended my day at the Ox & Cart for a winemaker dinner featuring Jean Francois Pellet, the partner and winemaker at Pepper Bridge.  He's been doing this since 1999, and interestingly enough I remember having dinner with a good friend and mentor when I lived in Seattle in 2003 and he brought a bottle of JF's first vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon to dinner!

Caramelized Wagyu beef, chanterelle mushrooms and butter braised potato puree
paired with 2014 Pepper Bridge Winery Trine.

Ox & Cart is a wonderful farm-to-table restaurant in Walla Walla that exemplifies the wonderful array of produce available throughout the Walla Walla Valley.  We had a wonderful four course dinner with pairings at each course, but by far may favorite was the caramelized Wagyu beef with chanterelle mushrooms and butter braised potato puree paired with 2014 Pepper Bridge Winery Trine.  Of course we were invited to come out to Pepper Bridge for a tasting, but you'll have to wait for a future post to hear about that!

2014 Maison Bleue Voyageur Syrah

Happy wine Tuesday!  I know I'm a day early for Wine Wednesday, but what the heck?  Tonight I have decided to open a recent wine club selection from Maison Bleue Winery, one of my emerging favorite producers of Grenache, Syrah and GSM blends.  Now it's the 2014 Maison Bleue Voyageur Syrah, a blend of 100% Syrah from the Yellow Jacket Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  So let's see how this wine tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with just the heft you'd like to see from a nice Syrah.  The nose is chock full of violets, blueberry and blackberry overlaid with hints of smoke and black pepper spice.  The taste a rush of ripe berries, that transitions nicely to some fresh herbs and chipotle spice midpalate.  There is a bit of a reprise of fruit and a bit of kirsch on the finish, with the soft tannins supporting the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasure to drink and a fine example of what this varietal can achieve on its own.  This wine would pair exceedingly well with a variety of hearty dishes, but could hold up just as well to some lighter fare for the summer.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a lovely cedar planked wild Alaskan Sockeye filet along with some garlic scapes and broccoli rabe sauteed in olive oil and tossed with linguine and parmesan.  The ripe fruit and spice notes of the wine play exceedingly well with the richness of good wild salmon.  Cheers!

2013 Maison Bleue "Bourgeois" Grenache

Happy Sunday and Happy Father's Day!  Well, my day was rather uneventful as I spend most of the afternoon doing work, but now it's time to relax with a nice dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2013 Maison Bleue Bourgeois Grenache, a limited production (187 cases) 100% Grenache made with fruit from the Boushey and Monette's Vineyards in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  I reviewed the 2012 vintage (see here) about a year ago, so let's see what this vintage has to offer!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of raspberry, red currant, white pepper and slate.  The taste is a refreshing burst of fruit, raspberry, currant and tart cherry that transitions to some wonderful flavors of white pepper and smoke midpalate.  The finish is delightful, as the robust tannins provide for a bit of spice on the smooth, dry finish that keeps you wanting more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I just love the Grenache that's produced by Maison Bleue!  This wine would be ideal for somewhat lighter fare, perfect for summer drinking with fresh fish or seafood.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with sea scallops seared with toasted sesame oil on a bed of fresh spinach along with herb roasted fingerling potatoes and steamed Brussels sprouts.  The fruit of this wine really accents the richness of the scallops and the spice of the potatoes.  Cheers!

2011 Maison Bleue "Le Midi" Boushey Vineyard Grenache

You know, it's been a while since I reviewed the previous vintage of this wine, so I thought it might be time to try the 2011 Maison Bleue "Le Midi" Boushey Vineyard Grenache (you can see my review of the 2010 vintage here).  I am a fan of Maison Bleue and a big fan of this Grenache, so let's see how I like this one!

The wine is a beautiful bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity, like looking at a glass of pure gemstone.  The nose is brilliant, with aromas of leather, tart cherry, green herbs and a hint of blackberry.  The taste is just lovely, with a blast of ripe berries, blackberry, raspberry and a bit of plum that transitions effortlessly to some notes of tart cherry and smoke midpalate.  The finish is sublime, with well structured tannins supporting a long, voluptuous and very dry finish, just as you would expect as the varietal fully expresses itself.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, so yes, I am still a very big fan!  This wine would go very well with a variety of hearty winter stews, grilled meats or roasts, but I've decided to take a different path this evening.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with some pan seared seas scallops served over a bed of baby arugula dressed in aged white balsamic along with some wild mushroom risotto.  The wine plays such a great foil to the richness of the scallops and the earthiness of the mushrooms, it could not be a better choice tonight.  Cheers!

2012 Maison Bleue Metis

Well, this past week or so has just been a whirlwind of activity, between my normal travel schedule and some amazingly bad luck with flight delays, I've had no time for blog posts of any sort (though rest assured, I still had time to drink some wine!).  So I'll make up for it tonight, as for my 500th  blog post, I've opened a bottle of 2012 Maison Bleue Metis, a lovely blend of Syrah (70%), Grenache (25%) and Mourvedre (5%) that I picked up on my vacation in Walla Walla.

The wine is a lovely, deep ruby color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose exhibits an intriguing combination of ripe berries, smoke and floral notes that really urges you to take a sip.  The taste is classic GSM, heavy on the S, with flavors of blackberry and pomegranate bursting forth, only to ease back into some herbs and smoky, earthy notes midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat rustic, but form a perfect foundation to under gird the long, smooth and very dry finish that leaves you wanting more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a great example of the fine Rhone blends coming out of Walla Walla now, and since I received a wine club discount, this one was a super bargain (even though it's worth every penny of the regular price).  Although this wine will pair well with the classics, lamb, beef and wild game, tonight I'm enjoying this with a baked chicken breast topped with some prosciutto and smoked provolone along with a bit of linguine with garlic and olive oil and some steamed haricots verts.  Cheers!

My final day of tasting in Walla Walla!

On my last full day of wine tasting in Walla Walla, I had the chance to visit a few tasting rooms that I've been to before and one new one.  I started the afternoon at DaMa Wines on Main Street, and though I've tasted there first in 2012 (and loved their '07 Sangiovese), this was a nice tasting with Mary, the Ma of DaMa.  We tried the 2012 Syrah, which I really liked (and bought), as well as the 2010 and 2011 DaMaNation GSM blends, and of course I couldn't make up my mind so I bought one of each.  I also scored a couple bottles of the 2014 Rose of Cabernet Franc before it sold out.  Overall a very fun and delicious tasting.

The fun DaMa tasting room, some really wonderful wines here!

Next I was off to Mark Ryan, which was a new discovery on my last trip to Walla Walla.  Based in Woodinville, they opened a tasting room in Walla Walla about three years ago, and on my last trip in 2013, I fell in love with the Dissident, a classic Bordeaux style blend.  This time I was able to taste the 2013 Dissident, which was outstanding, the 2013 Board Track Racer "the Shift" which was a great blend of mainly Syrah with just a bit of Grenache to smooth things out.  Finally, I tasted the 2012 Numbskull GSM blend, which was a classic blend of Grenache (26%), Syrah (58%) and Mourvedre (16%), and how could I leave without a bottle of each, as well as some Crazy Mary and I managed to snag a couple bottles of the 2014 Rose which is sold out just about everywhere!

This is the front of the Mark Ryan tasting room, with new motorcycle!

After Mark Ryan, I went to a tasting room that was new for me, Spring Valley Vineyard.  I've seen the Uriah and Frederick available at my local wine store, but I was fascinated by the family history presented by their wines, with the flagship wines named after Spring Valley founder Uriah Corkrum and his son Frederick.  They had some really nice blends, including the Uriah, which was a great Merlot dominated blend as well as the Muleskinner, which was a really nice Merlot.  Needless to say, I couldn't escape without buying a half case to bring home!

This is the Maison Bleue tasting room, very French and very comfortable!

The last stop was the Maison Bleue Tasting room, where Mike took me through their fantastic array of wines based on Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre.  We tasted the 2012 Metis, a blend of Syrah (70%), Grenache (25%) AND Mourvedre (5%) which was very nice.  Next was the 2012 Bourgeois, a blend of Grenache (90%) and Mourvedre (10%) that I really liked when I reviewed it in June (Click on the Link for that one), but Mike had just opened this bottle and it needed some time to open up.  The last wine we tasted was the 2012 Voyageur Syrah (100%) which was so nice, probably my favorite wine we tasted.

That was my last day of tasting, but fear not, this is not my last post of my trip.  I've saved the best to last, so we can wrap up Washington Wine Month with a blast tomorrow!

2012 Maison Bleue "Bourgeois" Grenache

Another hump day comes to an end, let's celebrate with a glass of nice wine!  Tonight I've recovered from my eye exam and pupil dilation, so now I can actually see what I'm typing once again!  With the return of my eyesight, I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 Maison Bleue "Bourgeois" Grenache from Columbia Valley, a blend of Grenache (90%) and Syrah (10%).  I am a big fan of Maison Bleue, so I can't wait to see what this latest wine club selection will hold!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass with awesome clarity, making it look like a real jewel.  The nose is a lovely, vibrant combination of red currant, strawberry and some lovely Asian spice and a bit of pepper, that braces you for a bit of sweet and savory.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit up front, cherry, blackberry and cassis that transitions smoothly to some warm spice notes midpalate.  The fine tannins provide just enough backbone for what is arguably one of the most elegant, lingering dry finishes I've experienced in quite some time.  I just typed that entire sentence and the finish is still going!

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 9, with plenty of room to grow with some time in the cellar.  I really like Grenache, and this one, in my opinion, rivals some of the best of the Rhone Valley.  Tonight I am enjoying this one profusely, along with a standard mid-week meal of rare grilled prime sirloin, some grilled leeks, steamed asparagus and roasted fingerling potatoes.  Such an elegant wine, I'm just sorry I don't have something better to eat with it!

2012 Maison Bleue "Voyageur" Syrah

Wow, it's been while since I've posted on my blog!  And no, it's not because I've been exceptionally lazy, but because I've been so darn busy at work!  I was out of the office for the last 10 days of March traveling to Houston, Dallas, Austin, Boston and New York, I think I was home less than I was gone during the month!  So let's get back to business, time to open a great bottle of wine, and tonight't should be a good one, from one of my favorite producers of Grenache and Syrah, Maison Bleue!  Tonight I've opened a wine club selection that arrived in my office when I wasn't even there, the 2012 Maison Bleue "Voyager" Syrah!  This wine was made from 100% Syrah, with a limited production of just 192 cases.

The wine is a lovely bright ruby color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose is lovely, with aromas of green herbs, macerated plums, black pepper and tobacco, it's the kind of wine that makes you feel good just inhaling the aromas surrounding it.  The taste is so rich and sophisticated, not your average Syrah by any stretch.  This one has a lovely bit (emphasis on bit) of fruit at the outset, cherry, blackberry and cassis, that transitions effortlessly to some wonderful spice and mineral notes of black pepper and just a hint of anise.  The tannins are well rounded, offering a foundation for an exceptionally smooth, dry finish (not the mouth-puckeringly dry of so many wines today, much more like the fine dry reds of France).

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a great wine, but the price prevents it from being your everyday Syrah at $55 ($46.75 with the wine club discount).  This wine would be great with a variety of rustic beef dishes, pizza, or tonight's dinner, homemade tacos!  The rich fruit and hearty minerality are perfect foils to a hearty steak taco with crisp veggies and homemade guacamole.  Cheers!

2011 Maison Bleue Liberte Syrah

Well, it's been a long week, lots to do at work, but it was a really successful week so now it's time for a little time to relax and celebrate the good things that happened this week!  And for that I've decided to open up a bottle of 2011 Maison Bleue Liberte Boushey Vineyard Syrah from the Yakima Valley of Washington.  For those who don't remember, I first found out about Maison Bleue just after they opened their tasting room in Walla Walla and I was suitably impressed with the quality of the wines I tried.  So later when they started I wine club I was happy to join so I could continue enjoying their wines.

This syrah has a classic bright ruby color in the glass.  The nose is a lovely combination of rich black fruit, blackberries, plums and black currant intermingled with leather and a hint of anise.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward with a burst of blackberries and plum, but that transitions effortlessly to some nice smoky and earthy notes midpalate, with some nice coarse minerality that adds to the complexity of this wine.  The finish is quite nice, well rounded tannins provide a nice foundation for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's a very solid example of a Washington syrah that should improve with a few more years in the bottle.  The wine would pair very well with a lot of big meaty dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a nice grilled salmon steak served over a bed of baby kale with white balsamic reduction and a nice baked potato.  Finally a relaxing dinner at home!