2023 Reininger Syrah

Happy Sunday!  It was a bit cloudy today, so I didn't get much done in the yard, but at least I finished the laundry, so it wasn't a complete waste.  And now I am ready for a nice Sunday dinner, which of course means that I need to pick an appropriate wine.  Tonight, I've settled on a perennial favorite, but a new vintage with the 2023 Reininger Syrah.  This wine is a 100% Syrah harvested from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's have a taste, shall we?

The nose is a rush of roasted game and fruit, with aromas of cherry, blackberry and currant intermingled with dried herbs, leather and beefy notes, amid charred oak.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry, boysenberry and currant amid dried herbs, earthy peat and dusty limestone that transition easily to some notes of tawny port bank black olive notes midpalate.  The tannins are well structured providing an ideal base for the long, smooth dry finish with a reprise of spice. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a consistent high-quality Syrah that pairs well with food.  This wine would pair well with a range of summer dishes, from summer salads to alder planked salmon, barbecued ribs to grilled brats.  Tonight, I am taking a classic approach and am enjoying this wine with a herb crusted rack of lamb over potato puree and steamed snow peas.  Cheers!

2023 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Memorial Day!  I spend the day planting flowers at the cemetery for my family, and now it's time to enjoy the classic cookout that we all enjoy.  Before I get to grilling, it's time to open a nice bottle of wine. Tonight it's a recent wine club shipment from a Walla Walla favorite, Pepper Bridge!  The 2023 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red Wine is a blend of Merlot (37%). Cabernet Sauvignon (27%). Malbec (27%) and Petit Verdot (9%) all harvested from the Pepper Bridge Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this latest vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with great clarity. A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, cherry and leather with undertones of oak.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, blackberry and currant that transition easily to some notes of charred oak and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.  

I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant red wine, ideal for meals or just sipping on the patio with family and friends.  This wine would pair well with braised short ribs, rack of lamb or hearty pasta, but what it really wants is a big honkin' steak!  And we are in luck, as I am enjoying this wine with a prime tomahawk ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare on a bed of sautéed onions and mushrooms with fresh grilled corn on the cob and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2021 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Syrah

Happy Sunday!  I have the day off tomorrow so I've been doing more than my share of relaxing today!  In any case, we eventually come to a time to start making dinner and enjoying a nice glass of wine.  Given my eclectic dining preferences, I've decided to select the wine before diving headlong into dinner.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a wine club shipment (I can't say if it is recent!) from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, Reininger Winery!  The 2021 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Syrah is a 100% Syrah sourced evenly from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

With an approachable deep ruby color in the glass, this wine presents aromas of leather, bing cherry, lilac and plum enticing you to take a sip and get this party started!  That first sip is a plunge into sophistication and nuance, within a fun party atmosphere.  Floral notes and hints of baking spice and luxurious leather and basalt that easily surrender to ripe red fruit notes of cherry, raspberry and currant.  The tannins are expertly structured to provide the ideal backbone for a long, smooth dry finish that lingers on your palate for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of my favorite Syrah's from the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine is a perfect accompaniment for a range of tough-to-pair dishes, from barbecue to any number of pork dishes, Thai to Indian and tonight I am taking this wine to task and enjoying it with some chicken and vegetables in a Filipino Caldereta tomato sauce served over steamed basmati rice.  The bright fruit and earthiness of the wine is a perfect foil to the richness of this dish.  Cheers!

2022 Reininger Syrah

Happy Sunday!  I've been somewhat relaxed today, taking a break before doing a full day of flower planting and yard work tomorrow.  So, to celebrate my doing nothing, I've made a wonderful Sunday dinner and have opened a bottle of 2022 Reininger Syrah.   This wine is a 100% Syrah sourced from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Syrah.  A gentle swirl of the glass and you're greeted with aromas of rich black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum just dripping with sweetness amid undertones of anise and baking spice.  The first sip is an intriguing rush of ripe black fruit that melts into notes of tea, black licorice and earthy loam midpalate.  The tannins are silky smooth, with bit of acidity on the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant example of the vibrant Syrah that Chuck and his team are producing in the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would be ideal for sipping on the patio in front of a fire, or if you must eat, try this one with some grilled venison, lamb or carne asada.  Tonight, I am enjoying this with my Sunday dinner of rack of lamb with potato puree, red wine reduction and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2022 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Saturday!  I have to admit, I had intended to get a bunch of work done today, but I ended up spending some time with friends, going to the farmers market and picking up some groceries and before I knew it, it was time to make dinner and get to the theatre for tonight's performance!  Oh well, the best laid plans of mice and men I guess, but at least there is wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of the recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2022 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Walla Walla Red Wine.  This latest vintage is a blend of Merlot (40%), Malbec (30%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) all from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from these varietals.  Swirl the glass gently and you're treated to aromas of blackberry, plum and cherry intermingled with baking spice, sage and a bit of vanilla caramel.  The first sip is a rush of candied cherries and boysenberry that is the opposite of what your nose had you expecting, before you take another turn toward some dusty limestone and green cedar midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and well integrated, providing for a delightfully smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a perennial favorite and a prime example of why Walla Walla does so well with Bordeaux style blends!  This with would pair well with a wide range of hearty dishes, from beef stew to braised lamb, hearty pasta to cedar planked salmon.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared prime New York strip, with blistered cherry tomatoes and some linguine tossed with garlic, asparagus and broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2017 Reininger Tahoma

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a while since I've posted on a Wednesday, so let's make this a little special.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from one of my favorite Walla Walla winemakers, the 2017 Reininger Tahoma.  This wine is not a regular production wine, but the most recent vintage (I reviewed the 2012 vintage here and I have a bottle or two of the 2015 vintage in the cellar, but chose to go out of order!).  Tahoma is a Super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese (42%), Cabernet Sauvignon (33%) and Merlot (25%) from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this latest vintage is tasting!

The color is deeper than a Sangiovese but lighter than a Cabernet, a perfect cross for the blend.  The nose is a welcoming combination of leather, candied cherry, and dried floral notes, that will have you picturing a grocer in Little Italy.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry, that easily transitions to earthy notes of graphite intermingled with vanilla caramel midpalate.  The tannins are a bit sharp, but still a nice foundation for the lingering dry finish with a reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking wine today, but likely to become more interesting over the next few years, highlighting Chuck Reininger's creativity in winemaking.  This wine would pair well with about any dish you could enjoy on a Roman holiday, from pasta to steak, Tuscan toast  to lobster risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared New York strip with oven roasted cauliflower and blistered cocktail tomatoes.  Cheers!

2019 Reininger Walla Walla Malbec

Happy Saturday!  It's been a crazy weather day today, with cold and freezing rain, but I made it through grocery shopping and am back home for a nice dinner and glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that's been hanging around and ignored with it's siblings from 2020 and 2021.  The 2019 Reininger Walla Walla Malbec is a 100% Malbec sourced from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard (86%) and Stone Valley Vineyard (14%) in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting after a few years in the cellar!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a classic Malbec.  The nose presents aromas of violet, espresso and blackberry, an fresh earthy blend that will have you anxious for a sip.  The first taste is a rush of tart cherry, blackberry and espresso that gives way to some earthy loam and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are expertly structured to provide for the perfect foundation for the smooth, long dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a quintessential example of the promise of Malbec in the capable hands of a Walla Walla winemaker.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from braised short ribs to rack of lamb, but honestly this wine just begs to be paired with steak, like the gauchos of Argentina.  Well, we're in luck as tonight I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared filet mignon, mashed potatoes and gravy and steamed asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2020 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  I have to admit that it really doesn't matter how I plan, I never seem to get as much done during the weekend as I had hoped, and this weekend was no different.  I planned on catching up on some reading during the rain this afternoon, and that didn't happen, but at least I am now making Sunday dinner and enjoying a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Pepper Bridge Vineyard red wine, which is an annual blend that Pepper Bridge does based solely on fruit sourced from their namesake vineyard.  For 2020, this was a blend of Merlot (39%), Malbec (30%), Cabernet Sauvignon (22%) and Petit Verdot (9%).  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 the Merlot and Malbec in the blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of anise, tarragon and hints of violet amid undertones of peppery spice.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant with a velvety texture that just grabs your attention.  The fruit transitions well to some dark chocolate and herb notes midpalate, even as the fine grained tannins deliver you to the long, smooth finish that will have you clamoring for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderfully bold wine that practically begs for a grilled steak, hence a perfect wine for summer grilling season.  This wine would be ideal with the aforementioned steaks, but also with summer smoked brisket, barbecued ribs or even simple burgers and brats for Independence Day celebrations.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip topped with Béarnaise and served with grilled purple asparagus.  Cheers!

2019 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Blend

Happy Sunday!  I did my usual bit of chores today, laundry and mowing, but I left enough time to put a bit of effort into my Sunday dinner, which you'll see in a moment.  For the wine, I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club selection from Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2019 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Blend.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (32%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Malbec (30%) and Petit Verdot (8%) all from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, as you might expect from such a blend.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of brambly black fruit with hints of plum, tarragon, with undertones of earthy cedar.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of ripe black fruit with a hint of sweetness amid flavors of black cherry, plum and mulberry that transition nicely to some notes of graphite and a bit of tart cherry midpalate.  The tannins are like a well build linebacker, providing all the structure needed to support the pleasant, long dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just such a pleasant drinking red wine, ideal for a variety of food pairings, or simply sipping on the patio.  This wine would be ideal with steak, but could also pair well with earthy mushroom risotto, lamb chops or a bison filet.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a wonderful spring dinner of a rare prime ribcap topped with grilled garlic scapes along with radiatore pasta in a pea and morel mushroom cream sauce (I found the recipe here and it was delicious!).  Cheers! 

2018 Seven Hills Winery Pepper Bridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's been a busy week, and after a bike ride it's time to open a nice bottle of wine and enjoy a wonderful dinner.  Tonight I've opened a classic Walla Walla Cabernet from one of my favorite wine makers and vineyards.  The 2018 Seven Hills Winery Pepper Bridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a classis Cabernet from a section of the Pepper Bridge Vineyard that exemplifies the best of what Walla Walla Cabernet can be.

The wine is a deep, brooding color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  A gentle swirl releases aromas of violets, blackberry and cherry intermingled with dusty loam.  Take a sip and you are treated to a rush of ripe fruit as cherry, blackberry and currant cascade to earthy notes of dusty limestone, mint and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are expertly structured to form the base of the long, lush and wonderfully dry finish that will have you asking for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a perennial favorite and a great example of what the Walla Walla Valley and this classic vineyard can produce in a Cabernet.  This wine is easy to sip on it's own, but would also pair well with lamb, classic steaks and chops, as well as hearty fall pasta dishes.  Tonight, inspired by last night's episode of Masterchef with French dishes inspired by Chef Ludo Lefebvre, I am enjoying this wine with a steak frites, a classic French bistro dish of rare New York strip topped with béarnaise and some purple potato fries.  Cheers!

2018 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Saturday!  It's still a bit chilly here, though we made it into the 50s today at least, so I just spent my Saturday going to Costco and getting my grocery shopping done, as well as spending some time with friends.  And now it's time for a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of the recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2018 Pepper Bridge Vineyard red wine!  This wine is a blend of Merlot (38%), Malbec (31%), Cabernet Sauvignon (22%) and Petit Verdot (9%) from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from this blend of varietals.  A quick swirl releases aromas of blackberry, cherry and boysenberry, with undertones of leather and a hint of lilac.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of black cherry intermingled with dusty limestone, that transitions easily to notes of vanilla and caramel midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing a nice backbone for the long, smooth and very dry finish, with a bit of blueberry at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a very pleasant drinking blend that would be great with food or just sipping on the patio.  This wine would pair well with a big steak, grilled lamb or hearty Italian sausage, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled tomahawk ribeye along with some grilled leeks and white carrots.  The Malbec in the blend really stands up well to a rare steak.  Cheers!

2014 Reininger Cima

Happy Sunday!  It's been a relatively relaxing weekend, in which I was planning to do some yard work, but the weather today didn't cooperate, so amidst the cold rain I took the afternoon off and decided to watch movies and nap (sometimes simultaneously!).  Tonight I've decided to cook indoors and needed something of an Italian flair, so I settled on a recent wine club selection from Reininger Winery, the 2014 Cima, well anticipated having been aged in barrel for the past six years.  This wine is crafted in a style of a super Tuscan blend, mixing the classic Sangiovese with some Bordeax varietals.  For this vintage the blend is Sangiovese (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), Merlot (17%) and Petit Verdot (8%) from the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a lovely deep garnet color in the glass, a testament to the heavy doses of Sangiovese and Cabernet in the blend.  The nose classic of a Tuscan blend, with aromas of cherry, raspberry and currant intermingled with green cedar, violet and dried spices reminiscent of an old Italian grocery in New York.  The taste is a rush of tart cherry, with wisps of smoke and charred oak that transition to some blackberry and raspberry midpalate.  The fine grain tannins offer a perfect base for the long voluptuous dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking and elemental wine, the speaks to its complexity as well.  This wine would pair well with a variety of classic Tuscan dishes, from bistecca alla fiorentina, to classic pasta dishes to fava beans on Tuscan toast.  Tonight I am going with a bit of a classic Italian dinner of fusilli with hearty meat sauce with hot Italian sausage with onions and peppers topped with shaved parmesan and fresh basis.  The fruit and earthy notes of this wine are perfect with a spicy pasta, cheers!

2017 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Walla Walla Red Wine

Well, things just continue to get weird during this whole pandemic.  Today I stopped at Walgreens and they finally had toilet paper in my preferred brand so I picked up some, but then I went to the grocery store and was informed that I was buying too much meat as I had three packages of steak and they are only allowing two...so now I'm really getting worried!  If it took two months to get toilet paper back on the shelves, I shudder to think how I'll survive months without steak!  This may turn in to a wine and ramen noodle blog!  In any case, to celebrate the two steaks I got, I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2017 Pepper Bridge Vineyard red wine.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (52%), Malbec (23%), Petit Verdot (13%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (12%), all from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.  So let's see how this vintage is tasting!

The wine is an inky affair at the center, with bright fuchsia along the edges, as you might expect from a Merlot- and Malbec-heavy blend.  The nose is a pleasant combination of ripe blackberry, currant and blueberry with hints of leather and anise.  The taste is a rush of blueberry and blackberry in jammy quantities, that transitions to some mineral and earthy notes midpalate.  The tannins are stout, which combined with the surprising acidity provide for a vibrant, and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking nicely now, but will likely soften a bit with some time in the cellar.  This wine would pair with a variety of dishes, from barbecue to pasta, pizza to steak, as the fruit just makes a great partner for great food.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Madras curry rubbed T-bone on a bed of grilled leeks, with a baked potato and some steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2017 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Tuesday!  It's sure been strange living in pandemic times, but at least there are always brighter sides to the circumstances, like this morning when I filled my gas tank for just $1.54 a gallon!  Unfortunately, there are a lot of people hurting right now, whether from this horrible virus or just because of the turmoil it's caused in the economy.  Although I may not be able to help them directly, I am still trying to live as normally as possible, supporting local businesses and the Washington wine industry.  So in that spirit, tonight I've opened a bottle from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, Chuck Reininger!  The 2017 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) and Merlot (15%) from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry and black cherry, with just a hint of blueberry.  The taste is a dance party of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry, plum and currant all playfully enmeshed on a floor of velvety tannins that escort you gently to penultimate hints of anise and peppery spice ahead of the elegant and smooth, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic Cabernet that really highlight's Chuck's wine-making style and the wonderful quality of Walla Walla's old-world style.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of hearty dishes, from steak and lamb to Italian sausage and cedar planked salmon, but tonight is Taco Tuesday, so I am enjoying this wine with some classic beef tacos, with fresh jalapenos on wonderful corn tortillas.  Cheers!

2016 Reininger Malbec

Thank goodness it's Friday!  It's been a long week and I'm definitely in need of a weekend.  So to start things off right I've decided to open a bottle from one of my favorite Washington wine makers, Chuck Reininger.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2016 Reininger Malbec, a 100% Malbec from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA.  So let's dive right in, the weekend is wasting away!

The wine is a deep, inky purple color in the glass with bright garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Malbec.  The nose is a wonderful, warm cascade of ripe fruit intermingled with earthy notes of leather and cedar.  The taste is classic Malbec, with a rush of black fruit, blackberry, boysenberry and currant that envelops the palate befoer giving way to hints of mint, cedar and black pepper spice midpalate.  The finish is delightful, with the fine grain tannins providing for a soft and supple finish that is dry but not nearly as sharp as I've found on many Argentine interpretations of the varietal.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a really wonderful example of a Malbec with somewhat of a softer side.  This wine would pair very well with grilled steaks and chops, a smoked beef brisket, or barbecued beef ribs, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with pacific northwest steak, or a coho salmon steak as they call it here!  The salmon steak is served with a molasses bacon glaze along with some steamed wax beans and wild rice.  Cheers!

2015 Pepper Bridge Vineyard

Happy Thursday!  It's been a busy day today, seems like I haven't had a moment to catch my breath, so it's definitely wine o'clock now!  And tonight I've opened a bottle of the most recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Vineyards, the 2015 Pepper Bridge Vineyard red wine, a blend of Merlot (46%), Malbec (31%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (23%) from the estate vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep, brooding, inky color in the glass, classic for Pepper Bridge red wine.  The nose presents aromas of black cherry, interlaced with hints of cedar and baking spice.  The taste is a rush of blueberry and tart cherry up front that transitions to some wonderful notes of dusty limestone, cherry cola and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are still a bit sharp in their youth, providing for a long, and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking well now, but I can see this one developing into a lovely wine with a few years in the cellar.  This wine is ideal for big meals, steak, chops, classic pasta dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare prime petit filet mignon, potato puree and steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2015 Reininger Walla Walla Malbec

Oh the weekend, so far it's been not incredibly hot, but boy has it been humid!  That said, I've opted against hanging out on the patio tonight (of course we might also be expecting a thunderstorm or two, so instead I'm enjoying the air conditioning and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of my latest wine club shipment from one of my favorite Walla Walla wineries, Reininger!  Chuck Reininger and his team do such a wonderful job with their wines, exploring different varietals and producing exceptional wines that really express the character of the Walla Walla AVA.  So I've opened up a bottle of the 2015 Reininger Walla Walla Malbec, a 100% Malbec from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard, so let's see how this one tastes!

The wines is a deep inky color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a quality Malbec.  The nose is a lovely combination of green grass, vanilla bean, leather and dried herbs, that beckons you to take a sip.  The taste is just a treat, with voluminous black fruit up front, blackberry, plum and currant that just envelop the palate before transitioning to some dusty mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, providing the foundation for a wonderfully long, smooth dry finish with a brief reprise of some peppery spice at the end.

Of course you'll recall that I'm not the biggest Malbec fan, but I am a huge fan of this wine!  Chuck really does a fine job with the varietal that could easily make the stoutest Argentine jealous, so I gladly rate this wine a solid 9.  This wine would be perfect with a big steak, roast game, or even barbecue, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with some simple tacos!  The dark fruit and great mineral notes are perfect paired with a bit of spice, cheers!

2008 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee

Happy Friday!  I trust you all has a wonderful week, mine was somewhat busy, particularly this afternoon as I was rushing around to get everything I need for my "Taste My Vacation" dinner party tomorrow night (more on that in another post!).  But at least during all that rushing around, I found a wonderful piece of meat for my dinner tonight and when I got home I found a lovely bottle of wine to have with it, the 2008 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (29%), Malbec (8%) and Cabernet Franc (3%) from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is that of a classic Bordeaux style blend, ripe blackberries, cherries and cassis with undertones of leather and basalt.  The taste is much less fruit forward than I was expecting, but really starting to sing beautifully, as an initial rush of cherries and black stone fruit give way to pleasing notes of cherry cola, dark chocolate and dusty limestone midpalate.  The finish is just lovely, as you have notes of fresh herbs and wonderfully integrated tannins that give this wine a wonderfully smooth, voluptuous and very dry finish that seems to last until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as Walla Walla Bordeaux Style blends don't often come better than this one.  This wine would pair beautifully with hard aged cheeses, braised short ribs, or my choice tonight, a rare grilled USDA Prime tomahawk ribeye, with grilled asparagus and steamed red potatoes with butter and parsley.  The wonderful fruit and dry finish of this wine is perfect to accent a rich, prime ribeye, cheers!

2014 Seven Hills Pepper Bridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Friday!  It's been a busy week of travel, but at least the highlight of the week was that I received three cases of wine from one of my favorite Walla Walla wineries, Seven Hills!  And although there were a number of different wines in those cases that we'll explore over the coming months, tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2014 Seven Hills Pepper Bridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.  This one is special to me as I recall first trying a Cabernet from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard back in 2003 when I was living in Seattle, so let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine 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.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, with some modest room for improvement with time in the cellar - it's drinking very nicely now, I can only imagine what it will be like in the early 2020s.  This is a classic big steak sort of wine, which is a good thing since tonight it's 74 degrees and time to grill a nice big Angus New York Strip, along with some grilled asparagus and a baked potato.  It's springtime and this is a perfect way to welcome the warm weather!  Cheers!