2022 Mark Ryan Olivia Grace Red Wine

Happy Wine Wednesday!  With the semester coming to a close, I might be posting more during the week, so watch out!  Tonight I've opened a bottle that's been in the cellar for a couple year, and I'm finally getting around to exploring it.  The 2022 Mark Ryan Olivia Grace Red Wine is a blend of Grenache (59%), Syrah (36%) and Mourvèdre (5%) all sourced from the Olsen Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this Rhône style blend is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, characteristic for the blend.  The nose presents a classic combination of fruit and earthy character, with aromas of strawberry, currant and cherry amid undertones of tar and basalt.  The first sip is a marked departure from what the nose prompted you to expect, with a rush of tart cherry, red currant and raspberry that eases into some notes of dried herbs and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a long, smooth dry finish with a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's an interesting and well balanced effort at a GSM blend.  This wine would pair well with venison or lamb, hearty braised short ribs or cedar planked salmon.  Tonight, I am taking a different path and enjoying this wine with a midweek dinner of seared sausage with boursin cream sauce tossed with pasta and vegetables.  Cheers!

2021 Mark Ryan Winery Crazy Mary Mourvèdre

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a while since I've had a midweek post, but it's the holiday season and I don't have to work tomorrow so why not?  Tonight I am enjoying a new fall dish, so why not open a wine that is perfect for fall?  In this case, the 2021 Mark Ryan Winery Crazy Mary Mourvèdre, sourced from the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  Let's see how it's shaping up!

The wine is a dark, brooding ruby color in the glass, much more characteristic of a Cabernet, than a Rhone varietal.  The nose presents aromas of lavender, baking spice, prune and smoke, classic for a Mourvèdre.  The first sip is a cleansing rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, currant and plum with plenty of acidity to provide a nice backbone for this wine's structure.  The acidity seems to pause a moment midpalate to let some pepper spice and vanilla bean make a cameo appearance before the dry, sultry finish.  

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just an interesting take on a single Rhone varietal that is just perfect for Fall.  This wine would pair well with aged cheese, hearty braised short ribs, or classic Yankee pot roast.  Tonight, I am veering off into a different autumnal highway and enjoying this wine with a roasted acorn squash risotto topped with a bit of crème fraiche and chopped parsley.  Cheers!

2023 Helix Marvin Red Wine

I seldom get to review a new wine like I am tonight, but fortunately I received a couple bottles of the new 2023 Helix Marvin Red Wine in my last wine club shipment.  This wine is named for Marvin Tucker, who is the grandfather of the Tucker family, who are partners with Chuck in the wine business.  This particular vintage is a blend of Cinsault (49%), Mourvèdre (33%) and Grenache (19%) from the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this new wine is tasting!

The wine is a lighter style, with bright ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of strawberry jam, hints of lavender and undertones of earthy tar.  The first sip is a rush of ripe red fruit, strawberry, cherry and raspberry that excite your palate before transitioning to some notes of earthy basalt and graphite.  The tannins are supple and ideal for a dry finish that fully embraces the fruit, allowing for a continuity you seldom find.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking and food friendly wine.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of dishes, from summer caprese salad to alder planked salmon, steak and brats to barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a fall classic of grilled lamb loin chops, roasted fingerling sweet potatoes and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2015 Force Majeure Parvata

It's the first Saturday of the new month, which means it's Cellar Saturday, that glorious time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that hasn't been in my cellar very long, as I bought it earlier this year from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2015 Force Majeure Parvata is a Southern Rhone-style blend of Mourvèdre (46%), Syrah (34%) and Grenache (20%) from the Force Majeure Estate Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  So, let's see if this wine is singing or if it's past its prime as some reviewers projected shortly after release.

The wine is a lovely, deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd like to see from such a blend.  The nose presents its own adventure with aromas of leather, blackberries and currant that jump to some smoked meat and dried herbs, then back to dark chocolate and hints of peppery spice.  The first sip is wildly decadent, with a rich velvety mouthfeel and flavors of ripe blackberry and plum up front, before an easing into some smoked duck and peppery spice, ahead of some earthy basalt at the finish.  The tannins are still right there, thick and chewy and playing their essential role in the long, smooth dry finish that lingers for what seems like ten minutes.

The experts were clearly wrong, as this wine is still singing well past their drinking window into 2023, and I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's one of the best Southern Rhone-style blends I've had from Washington state.  This wine would pair well with a variety of soft cheese, rack of lamb or classic steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared New York strip over a bed of sautéed onions and mushrooms along with a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2022 Woodward Canyon Grenache Mourvèdre Syrah Malbec Red Wine

Happy Easter!  Although the weather forecast was for rain, it's been an absolutely beautiful sunny day in the low 60s, perfect for relaxing and finishing the last bit of yard work for the weekend.  And of course there is Easter dinner to look forward to, and tonight is a good one, ideal for a new blend from Woodward Canyon that arrived a week or two ago.  This is what I affectionately call a GSMM blend with the addition of Malbec.  This wine is a blend of Grenache (41%), Mourvèdre (29%), Syrah (24%) and Malbec (6%) from the Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from this blend.  The nose presents rustic aromas of green grass, earthy peat and undertones of ripe blueberry, cherry and currant.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, blackberry and currant that wash across you palate with just the right amount of sweetness before transitioning to some notes of forest floor and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are youthful but well behaved, providing for a wonderful smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a step up from the standard GSM blend, as the Malbec really gives this wine some nice backbone.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to pappardelle Bolognese, lamb to ratatouille.  Tonight, I am going the classic lamb route, but rather than the standard rack of lamb, I found a lamb loin roast at my local market, so a boneless rack of lamb!  I served this herb crusted with mashed potatoes, oven roasted Brussels sprouts and a red wine reduction.  Cheers! 

2023 Eberle Côtes du Rôbles

Well, what do you know, three days of posting in a row!  I thought it was a good idea to open another one of my mistakenly free bottles of wine, this time it's the 2023 Eberle Côtes du Rôbles.  This wine is a blend of Grenache (58%), Mourvèdre (34%) and Syrah (8%) all harvested from Paso Robles, California.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with a seemingly heavier body than you might expect from a GSM blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals enticing aromas of strawberry, rose petals and green grass that will have you fully engaged.  The first sip is an unexpected rush of sweet ripe fruit, cherry, strawberry and a hint of raspberry that easily transition to some earthy notes of tar and espresso midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, providing for a pleasant dry finish, with a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant and easy drinking Rhône-style blend that would pair well with a variety of dishes, from fish to tacos, barbecue to grilled lamb chops.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared salmon filet, steamed rice and sugar snap peas, as I sip this wine for the remainder of my Monday evening.  Cheers!

2022 DaMa GSM

Happy Saturday!  Today I went on my annual hunting trip to bag a couple of trees to decorate for Christmas, and it was a successful venture (more on that tomorrow).  I also had a chance to meet some new friends at a wine bar that opened here in town, which could be an interesting development, but again more on that later.  Tonight, I am focused on enjoying a nice bottle of wine that would offer an excellent pairing with my dinner this evening.  The 2022 DaMa GSM is a classis blend of Grenache (52%), Syrah (30%) and Mourvèdre (18%) from the Yakima Valley of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a lighter bodied affaire, with bright garnet color in the glass, just as you might expect.  The nose presents aromas of strawberry and plum, intermingled with notes of lavender, green grass and basalt.  The first sip has a lot going on, a rush of cherry cola with a hint of tartness that will have you second guessing what is happening in you mouth. Midpalate you are treated to some ripe black fruit and undertones of floral notes and earthiness.  The tannins are well integrated providing for a wonderfully mellow dry finish, with a reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine an 8.5, as it's a very good example of a pleasant drinking GSM that is food friendly.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from hearty pasta to crispy skin salmon, braised lamb to prime steaks.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classing pairing of risotto with butter poached lobster tail as the subtle fruit and mild acidity pair well with the richness of the dish.  Cheers!

2022 DaMa Wines GSM

Happy Monday!  Back-to-back posts, though this one is a bit later than usual, only because I had a long day of work.  At any rate, it's time for wine, and tonight I've opened a bottle from the recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2022 GSM.  This wine is a blend of Grenache (52%), Syrah (30%) and Mourvèdre (18%) from the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a somewhat lighter body, with bright ruby color, just as you'd expect from a good GSM blend.  The nose presents aromas of lilac, strawberry and a bit of rustic earth.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of vibrant red fruit, cherry, plum, strawberry and currant that completely envelop your palate before transitioning to some lively notes of white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing an ideal foundation for the long, smooth dry finish.

I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a fine example of the quality GSM blends emanating from Washington, and it's just a pleasant wine to drink.  This wine would pair well with a variety of holiday dishes, including a very popular bird that's likely on many of your menus this coming Thursday!  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a sesame crusted Ahi tuna steak, with steamed rice and sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2015 Force Majeure Parvata

Happy Sunday!  Well, I finished the last of the leaves today, but by tonight there are even more in the yard, so I guess I know what I'll be doing next weekend!  In any case, it's time for my Sunday dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle from a Washington producer about which I have heard good things, but have never had a chance to try, but fortunately I sourced a few bottles from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2015 Force Majeure Parvata is a blend of Mourvèdre (46%), Syrah (34%) and Grenache (20%) from Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting and whether I made a good pairing choice for my dinner!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a testament to the heavy hands of Mourvèdre and Syrah in the blend.  A gentle swirl and the nose reveals aromas of earthy peat, cured meats with an undertone of a variety of black fruit, from currant to blackberry to cherry, but honestly the aromas are supremely understated in this wine.  The first sip packs a wallop, which is not what you would expect based on the subdued aromas, a rush of sweet black fruit, that easily transitions to some notes of vanilla, dark chocolate and a hint of tawny port.  The tannins are well integrated for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers on your palate as your mind catches up to your palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's just a fabulous example of some of the southern Rhone style blends being produced in Washington today.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty, earthy dishes, from seared duck breast, to braised lamb shank.  Tonight, I am taking a very different approach with this wine and enjoying it with a last gasp of summer, barbecued beef back ribs, sriracha slaw and baked beans.  Cheers!

2020 Forgeron Cellars Mourvèdre

Happy Taco Tuesday!  I bet you'll never guess what's for dinner tonight... In any case, I needed to find something to pair with my tacos, which I find to be an adventurous food for pairings as you can go anywhere from an Argentine Malbec to Napa Cabernet to Spanish Rioja.  Today, I've taken the road less traveled and am enjoying them with a Rhone blending varietal, the 2020 Forgeron Cellars Mourvèdre!  This wine is a 100% Mourvèdre from the Heart of the Hill Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, a bit darker than you would see in the Grenache that you might normally blend with Mourvèdre.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of sweet cherry, mint and tawny port, with mild oak undertones.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black cherry, currant and plum that ease into some earthy notes of dusty limestone and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are robust and well integrated for the long, smooth dry finish that will have you quickly reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I think it's one of the better examples of a Mourvèdre that I've tasted.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from steaks and barbecue, to Mediterranean Cioppino, but as I alluded earlier, tonight I am enjoying this wine with some fajita steak tacos with all the trimmings.  This wine holds up exceptionally well to the spice I employ, cheers!

2021 DaMa GSM

Happy Saturday!  It was a wild day of yard work, as I mowed for the first time this year, but had to pause for a while to let a thunderstorm pass, but I finally finished, then changed the oil and tuned up the lawn mower, so I feel accomplished!  And now, for a nice glass of wine with dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2021 GSM.  This wine is a blend of Grenache (56%), Syrah (29%) and Mourvèdre(15%) from the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a lovely bright ruby color in the glass, it really is gem-like in the light, with a bit of fuchsia along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, tart cherry and bits of earthy sandalwood and peat.  Take a sip and you're awash with rich, sweet fruit, blueberry, marionberry and cherry that dance around until you ease into some hints of cardamom and earthy notes.  The tannins are somewhat subdued but they still manage to hold everything together for a wonderfully smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's an adventurous wine that will have your palate going in multiple directions.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from pastas and risotto, to Sunday roast beef.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bit of a Pacific Northwest pairing of crispy skin salmon with a lemon dill cream sauce, along with some roasted sweet potatoes with red onion and jalapeno, and some steamed rainbow cauliflower.  Cheers!

2019 Mark Ryan Numbskull

Happy Wine Wednesday!  This is the second day of my long Christmas vacation as I had 11 vacation days left that I needed to use by year end, so I'm finally catching up on work around the house and blog posts among other things.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine I brought back from my Walla Walla trip last year.  The 2019 Mark Ryan Numbskull is a classic GSM blend of Syrah (53%), Mourvèdre (25%) and Grenache (22%) from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So, let's see if I picked the right wine for my Wednesday dinner!

The wine is a bright garnet in the glass, exactly as you might expect from such a blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of black cherry, anise, baking spice and a bit of dusty loam.  The first sip is a rush of sweet black cherry that transitions nicely to some earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are well structured providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish with just a kick of spice at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a very pleasant example of what Washington wine makers are doing with Rhone varietals.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from lamb to butter chicken, hearty pasta to prime steaks.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled veal rib chop along with roasted root vegetables and steamed broccoli.  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!

2020 Mark Ryan "Crazy Mary" Mourvèdre

Happy Sunday!  It was the first full day of leaf activity, with the blower, the vacuum and lots of tiring labor!  But, at least I've caught up for a week and am ready to enjoy Sunday dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I recently received from Mark Ryan Winery, the 2020 Crazy Mary Mourvèdre, which is a blend of Mourvèdre (78%) and Syrah (22%) from the Ciel du Cheval and Red Willow Vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, which is characteristic of the varietals.  A gentle swirl of the glass unlocks aromas of strawberry, red currant and hints of smoke and pipe tobacco.  Take a sip and you know you're in for a ride with crazy Mary in the driver's seat, a rush of strawberry and sweet red berry fruit up front veers into some spicy pepper notes before spinning right back to some earthy tar, tobacco and black tea notes before heading right off the cliff for some salty mineral notes on the finish.  The tannins are supple and unobtrusive, making a parting gift for the long, smooth dry finish that beckons you to take another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the better vintages I've tried, with wonderfully intriguing characteristics that would be wonderful to enjoy with friends.  This wine would pair well with a variety of fall dishes, from venison to roasted rack of lamb, hearty beef stew or braised short ribs, but tonight I am going the Pacific Northwest route and am enjoying this wine with salmon!  Specifically, I am enjoying this wine with my Sunday dinner of crispy skin black pearl Scottish salmon, steamed brown rice and some oven roasted baby carrots and beets.  Cheers!

2020 Hampton Water Languedoc Rosé

Well, it's certainly feeling a lot more like summer, highs today in the upper 80s (with mid-90s predicted for tomorrow!) and humidity of 85% it seems perfect for a nice bottle of rosé!  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2020 Hampton Water Languedoc Rosé.  This wine is another collaboration between fame and wine, as it's the result of a collaboration between Jon Bon Jovi and his son Jesse, along with Gerard Bertrand to create a unique rosé from the Languedoc region in the south of France.  This wine is a blend of Grenache(60%), Cinsault (15%), Mourvedre (15%) and Syrah (10%).  So, let's see how refreshing this wine can be on a hot, humid evening!

The wine is a pale peach color in the glass, which seems to be the trend among rosé the past couple years.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of peach, strawberry and a bit of citrus that invites you to imbibe.  Take a sip and you're transported to the beach, with a rush of wonderful fresh fruit dancing on your palate, intermingled with some earthy notes of basalt.  The finish is wonderfully crisp and dry with just a hint of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's an ideal everyday rosé and a good value at just $19.  This wine would pair well with a variety of summer dishes, though it practically begs to be consumed with seafood.  Which comes in handy as tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bit of low country boil as I picked up some crawfish over the weekend, along with corn and potatoes and some creole and Old Bay seasoning makes for a perfect summer patio meal.  Cheers!

2020 Helix SoRho

Happy Sunday!  I have been hard at work in the yard all afternoon, having made an impulse buy of 11 flats of flowers at my local Menard's store, so I spend the afternoon planting impatients in the bed by my dining room and garage, before finishing the afternoon mowing just ahead of the rain! So, now I am ready for a nice glass of wine with my Sunday dinner and tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Reininger Winery.  The 220 Helix SoRho is a blend of Mourvèdre (47%), Grenache (28%) and Cinsault (25%) from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this vintage is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, with nice clarity as you might expect from Rhone style blend.   A swirl of the glass reveals an intriguing combination of aromas of cedar, cherry and raspberry with undertones of light floral notes.  The first sip presents a rush of ripe red fruit, cherry, raspberry and currant that dance on your tongue, with a hint of tartness and bitterness triggering thoughts of cranberry.  The tannins are mellow, offering a gentle back beat as the fruit sings in harmony on the wonderfully long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant drinking southern Rhone style blend that's ideal for summer sipping and enjoying with a broad range of dishes.  This wine would pair well with barbecue, lamb, pizza or tacos, almost universal for mid-week dinners!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with my Sunday dinner of garlic and olive oil marinated grilled pork tenderloin along with some steamed broccoli and grilled corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2012 Penfolds Bin 138

Well, it's the first Saturday of February, making this Cellar Saturday!  It's a magical day where I raid the cellar to find a wine to open that's at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that was a recent holiday gift from some longtime friends, the 2012 Penfolds Bin 138 Red Wine.  This wine is a classic GSM blend of Shiraz (aka Syrah 66%), Grenache (23%) and Mataro (aka Mourvèdre, 11%) from the Barossa Valley of South Australia.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from this blend.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of ripe red fruit, currant, strawberry and cherry intermingled with earthy notes of tar, black olive and cedar.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of ripe fruit, cherry, raspberry and currant that transition to some notes of green olive, basalt and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully structured to provide for a velvety, dry and meaty finish on this Australian bulldog.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant wine with some interesting, earthy and meaty characteristics that make for great conversation, but perhaps a more challenging pairing.  This wine would be good with some heartier meals, with bold spice and flavor, like a venison tenderloin, curried lamb or spicy bison chili.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a gilled veal loin chop, rice and Madras lentils and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

Woodward Canyon NV Red Wine

Well, it's finally starting to feel like fall, with highs in the 50s and lows in the 40s, and with that it seems that leaves and pumpkins and preparing for the winter will soon be upon us.  In the meantime, I'll enjoy the local high school football games and a whole lot of yard work, along with some wonderful big red wines.  Tonight is one such wine, a perennial favorite for and everyday drinking red wine, the Woodward Canyon non-vintage red wine.  This one is a combination of Cabernet Franc (46%), Merlot (18%), Barbera (16%), Petit Verdot (7%), Cabernet Sauvignon (5%), Chardonnay (4%!), Syrah (1%), Mourvedre (1%), Grenache (1%), and Dolcetto (1%). These wines were sourced from vintages including 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 from the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity, a testament to the two right bank Bordeaux varietals.  A quick swirl in the glass releases aromas of leather, oak, violet and undertones of black cherry.  Take a sip to have a rush of blackberry, black cherry and currant wash over your palate, with intermittent hints of earthy tar and spice box, before transitioning to some peppery spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are nicely integrated to support the smooth dry finish that is very old world in style.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's such a treat to drink and a wine you can enjoy often at just $25.  This wine would really pair well with just about anything, from steaks and chops, to barbecue and pizza.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a barbecued chicken breast along with some oven roasted root vegetables (see I told you fall was here!) and some steamed Italian green beans.  Cheers!

2018 Helix So Rhô

Happy Memorial Day!  This is a day that we honor those who gave their lives in service to our country.  It's a day that I spend each year heading to the cemetery to plant flowers on the graves of my family members.  But in addition to the more somber aspects of this holiday, it's also a time for parades and spending time with family and friends enjoying the first cookouts of the summer.  Today I am definitely participating in the food aspects, and to set the mood I've opened a bottle of 2018 Helix So Rhô, a southern Rhône style blend of Mourvèdre (42%), Cinsault (30%) and Grenache (28%) from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this one is tasting.

The wine is a beautiful garnet color in the glass, with nice clarity.  Raise the glass and you're greeted by aromas of black raspberry, currant and strawberry intermingled with an intriguing blend of dried herbs that hint at the adventure that awaits.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in ripe red fruit flavors, cherry, strawberry, plum and currant that take a easy detour to some notes of dark chocolate and black pepper spice midpalate.  The fine grain tannins make an ideal base for the long, smooth dry finish with just a slight kick of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's just another stellar vintage in a long line of successful Rhône style blends the Chuck and his team have produced.  This wine would pair well with some hard to pair dishes, like Indian curry, Moroccan dishes or even barbecue.  Which is fortunate as tonight I've made some South Carolina style barbecued chicken breasts, with a tangy mustard barbecue sauce, along with corn on the cob, pasta salad and Sriracha cole slaw.  Cheers!

2019 DaMa Wines Columbia Valley GSM

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I just finished mowing since I couldn't do it on Sunday since it was raining, and now I'm ready for a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2019 Columbia Valley GSM, because who doesn't like a nice GSM?  This wine is a blend of Grenache (46%), Syrah (39%) and Mourvèdre (15%) from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a beautiful garnet color in the glass, with a somewhat lighter weight and great clarity.  Swirl the glass and take a whiff and you're greeted by classic aromas of strawberry, red currant and hibiscus with undertones of earthy minerals.  Take a sip and the rush of red fruit washed over your palate, with flavors of raspberry, strawberry and sweet cherry that transition nicely to some earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are soft, but just the right base for a long dry finish, with some bright acidity right at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as this is a really fruit forward, easy drinking blend, just what makes a GSM so great.  Casual sipping or enjoying with dinner, this food friendly wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from wild mushroom risotto, to steaks, to barbecued ribs.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Bison New York Strip along with oven roasted baby potatoes and asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!