2023 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a while since I've made a mid-week post, so here we are!  Tonight I was making a red meat dinner, so I thought it appropriate to open up a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery.  The 2023 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (89%), Petit Verdot (4%), Malbec (4%), Merlot (2%) and Cabernet Franc (1%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Octave and Yellow Jacket vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is starting out!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with nice body, just what you'd like to see in a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents a classic Bordeaux-esque combination of black cherry, blackberry and currant amid hints of dark chocolate, graphite and light floral notes that are waving to invite you in for a pleasant evening.  The first sip wraps your palate in ripe black fruit, earthy minerals and hints of anise and dried herbs before transitioning to some vanilla caramel and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing the structural backbone for a long, smooth dry finish that will compel you to take another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a consistent old-world style of Cabernet that is a favorite every year.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to roast lamb, hearty beef stew to pasta.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a bistro classic pan seared hanger steak with a mushroom cream sauce, parsley buttered red potatoes and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2023 Pepper Bridge Seven Hills Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Saturday!  It's been a relaxing day, but a cold day, and a good day for a hearty red wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2023 Pepper Bridge Seven Hills Vineyard Red Wine, which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Cabernet Franc (12%), Petit Verdot (9%) and Malbec (9%) all harvested from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington. So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a very deep ruby color in the glass, with the exact look you'd expect from such a Cabernet dominant wine.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals the classic earthiness of this Walla Walla wine, green grass, mushroom, earthy peat and black pepper spice with hints of umami and floral notes.  The first sip is a rush of earthy elements emblazoned with spice, blackberry, cherry and currant that eases into some notes of baking spice, dusty limestone and tart cherry notes midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing the base for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers until you take your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it represents the quintessential Walla Walla Bordeaux-style red blend that has me coming back year after year. This wine would pair well with winter, whether simply sipping next to the fireplace, or enjoying with a hearty supper of beef stew, braised short ribs or wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye, grilled asparagus and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2023 Pepper Bridge Merlot

It's always a fun time when wine club shipments arrive, particularly those who time it out so you get several smaller shipments throughout the year.  And so it was for me last week, when my shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery arrived with three bottle of the 2023 Pepper Bridge Merlot.  You know I am a bit fan of Merlot, so let's see what this latest vintage is offering!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, with nice clarity, just as you'd like to see from this underappreciated varietal.  The nose presents a variegated blend of aromas, from anise and oak to blackberry and clove, just a nice breath of fall!  The first sip is a rush of ripe fruit, cherry, blackberry and currant, with an good bit of peppery spice throughout, marking a rather rambunctious first impression, before transitioning to some notes of tawny spice and ripe plum midpalate.  The tannins are young but stand at attention for the long, smooth dry finish that will have you rapidly reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's another classic vintage for a prime Walla Walla Merlot producer.  This wine would pair well with aged cheeses, hearty pasta or classic fall dishes like beef stew.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled T-bone with some sautéed onions and mushrooms, blistered cherry tomatoes and steamed asparagus.  Cheers! 

2022 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Palm Sunday!  As we head into Holy Week, I find it's a good time to take stock of the important things in life and let the things of the world fade.  Our faith and our families are among those important things, and one of the best ways to celebrate with family is with a good meal accompanied by a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I'm having both, and the wine I've opened is the 2022 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (86%), Petit Verdot (6%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Merlot (4%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Octave 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 inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose is an elegant affair, with aromas of aged leather, ripe berries and undertones of lavender and vanilla bean.  The first sip is a rush of cool fruit, blueberry and currant with just the faintest hint of sweetness, that easily gives way to some earthy home cooking midpalate, with baking spice and anise with some light hints of pepper.  The tannins are a bit tight, but very well structured, providing a solid foundation to the velvety smooth dry finish.

I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking Cabernet with all of the character and nuance of the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with the heartiest of dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty baked pasta, thick steaks to Texas barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared bison ribeye with sautéed mushrooms, onions and peppers, steamed asparagus with hollandaise and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2021 Pepper Bridge Trine

Happy Thanksgiving!  I'll admit this is one of may favorite holidays as we look back throughout the year and give thanks for the many blessings we have. Sure, the world is not a perfect place, and not everything turned out as we might have imagined, but when you shift your focus from what might have been to what is right there in front of you, a heart of gratitude begins to develop and you can truly appreciate the multitude of blessings the Lord has bestowed.  And of course, one of those blessings is wine, as "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; and wine that maketh glad the heart of man..." Tonight, my heart is gladdened with a bottle of 2021 Pepper Bridge Trine, which is a blend of Cabernet Franc (42%), Cabernet Sauvignon (36%), Merlot (13%), Malbec (6%) and Petit Verdot (3%) from the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a testament to the Bordeaux varietals employed.  The nose emits aromas of violet, black plum and cassis with faint undertones of leather.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in ripe fruit, gushing with plum, cherry and currant, intermingled with earthy notes of cedar and tobacco.  Midpalate, you are treated to a dose of vanilla and white pepper spice interspersed with hints of floral notes.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a long, smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant and easy drinking Bordeaux style blend that is compatible with so many dishes, it's ideal for the holidays.  This wine would pair well with a variety of holiday dishes, from turkey to ham, prime rib to green bean casserole, but since I am cooking today and I'm not a fan of Turkey, I am enjoying this wine with an herb crusted rack of lamb, saffron potatoes and steamed asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2022 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy Saturday!  I am exhausted.  I decided to clear leaves today, which meant getting up on the roof to blow them off and clear the gutters, then blowing the front yard, then blowing from the ground cover in the back yard so I could then get them all up with the leaf vacuum, so now I really need a nice dinner and a glass of wine before I collapse!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a wine club selection that arrived yesterday, the 2022 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Valley Merlot.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!  

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice body and clarity, just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of blackberry, cherry, lavender and kirsch, that beckon you to take a sip.  That first sip is a dynamic layering of flavors from an initial rush of ripe berry, which transitions to some notes of vanilla, caramel and tawny port before leading into some peppery spice notes near the finish.  The tannins are well structured to provide nice body for the long, smooth dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a perennial favorite for this underappreciated varietal.  This wine would pair well with a variety of fall dishes, from Yankee pot roast to braised short ribs, lamb chops to grilled steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare, pan seared grass fed New York strip, bacon maple roasted Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato.  Cheer!

2021 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I must admit it's been a while since I've posted on a Wednesday, but I suppose that's what holiday vacations are for!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of the most recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery, one of my favorite wineries in Walla Walla!  The 2021 Pepper Bridge Merlot is a blend of Merlot (82%), Malbec (9%) and Cabernet Franc (9%) harvested from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Waliser and Octave Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a lovely, deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from this varietal.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of ripe blackberry, cherry and currant amid subtle floral notes of violet and sandalwood.  The first sip is a ripping adventure of tart cherry that eases into some calmer notes of black currant and a bit of mocha, before hitting its earthy stride with flavors of earthy peat and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are ripe and supple, providing for a velvety dry finish with a reprise of tartness at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely example of this underappreciated varietal from the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of more casual dishes, from smoky barbecued ribs to pizza, burgers and brats to tacos, or even the classis steak dinner.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some fajita steak tacos, with all the spice I can muster!  Cheers! 

2021 Pepper Bridge Seven Hills Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Saturday!  It's been a real waste of a day, I had such plans to get a bunch of work done, but by the end of the day I could only accomplish some basic errands and then I just decided to enjoy some cocktails before dinner.  But at least I selected a nice wine to go with my dinner.  The 2021 Pepper Bridge Seven Hills Vineyard Red wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (66%), Merlot (14%), Malbec (10%) and Petit Verdot (10%) all from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass just as you'd expect from this Bordeaux style blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals an interesting combination of aromas with some ripe red fruit, strawberry, cherry and currant intermingled with some dusty mineral notes of limestone and basalt.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe fruit and minerality, cherry, currant and raspberry that give way to some notes of dusty loam, cocoa powder and baking spice midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued but well integrated to provide a wonderfully long, dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just an ideal red blend for a variety of occasions and food pairings.  This wine would pair well with hearty steaks and chops, braised lamb shank, wild mushroom risotto or any number of hearty fall dishes.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a reprise of summer and some bourbon glazed barbecued baby back ribs, mustard baked beans and cole slaw made with pomegranate, honey, olive oil and sage blossom vinegar.  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!

2020 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there!  And to help you celebrate your mom, I've opened the latest vintage of one of my favorite Cabernet Sauvignons that just came in a wine club shipment last week.  The 2020 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (88%), Petit Verdot (6%) and Cabernet Franc (6%) sourced from the Seven Hills, Octave, Tom Waliser and Pepper Bridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a beautiful bright and brooding ruby color in the glass, classic for the varietals.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of black plum, blackberry and cherry intermingled with hints of lavender and sage.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in tart cherry that eases into blackberry and plum, before transitioning to some notes of dark chocolate and some earthy minerality.  The tannins are wonderfully structured yet youthful, providing for an beefy dry finish that lingers for a minute or more. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it lives up to prior vintages which have been a perennial favorite.  This wine would pair well with steaks and chops, wild mushroom risotto or hearty pasta.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic Sunday dinner of rare, pan seared filet mignon topped with Béarnaise and served with oven roasted carrots.  Cheers!

2019 Pepper Bridge Trine

Happy New Year!  Hard to believe we are in 2023 as time seems to be accelerating (or perhaps I'm just getting older).  So to celebrate the first day of the new year with a wonderful dinner, we need a wonderful wine as well.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2019 Pepper Bridge Trine, a classic example of a fine Bordeaux style blend from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Franc (42%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Merlot (16%), Malbec (8%) and Petit Verdot (4%) sourced from the Seven Hills, Waliser, Octave, and Pepper Bridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  Having opened this wine about 90 minutes ago, let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass, and a gentle swirl reveals aromas of ripe red fruit, raspberry, cherry and currant, layers of fresh herbs and some mineral notes.  The first sip is a rush of ripe red fruit interwoven with layers of semi-sweet chocolate, light floral notes and consistent mineral notes that give the wine an interesting complexity.  The tannins are well structured providing for a wonderfully consistent dry finish that seems to linger for minutes. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's usually a house favorite when I have it on hand.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty winter dishes, from prime steaks to braised short ribs, hearty beef stew to classic mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with my new year's feast of a pan seared filet mignon topped with béarnaise along with a butter poached lobster risotto and some oven roasted carrots.  Cheers! 

2020 Pepper Bridge Winery Walla Walla Merlot

Happy Saturday!  This was a busy day for me as I had to find a new Christmas tree farm for my trees this year as my previous farm had run out of any trees over 6'/  So after driving to Fort Wayne, I bagged to wonderful spruce trees for my annual hunting trip for trees.  And now it's time for a little relaxation and dinner before the daylong decorating party tomorrow.  Tonight I've opened a bottle from the Pepper Bridge wine club shipment that literally arrived today, shortly after I got back from the tree farm!  The 2020 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Merlot is a blend of Merlot (92%) and Malbec (8%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Waliser 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, classic for a nice Merlot.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, raspberry and herb notes of thyme and cardamom with just a hint of cinnamon underneath.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of black fruit with prominent flavors of vanilla bean, cherry and a hint of mint that transition to some dark chocolate midpalate.  The soft tannins are a lovely set up for the wonderfully smooth, lingering dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking nicely now, but could benefit from a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with classic steaks, hearty pasta or a wonderful winter venison stew.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap, grilled leeks, bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2020 Pepper Bridge Winery Seven Hills Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Saturday!  It's been a solid day of leaf patrol, and after 8 hours I only finished the roof and front yard!  So more to do tomorrow, but at least for now I can relax with a nice meal and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2020 Seven Hills Vineyard Blend.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (25%) ,  Cabernet Franc (10%), Malbec (10%) and Petit Verdot (5%) all from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wonderful Autumn wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby taste of cooling temperatures, falling leaves and gourds, with aromas of leather, blackberry, cocoa powder and cedar on the nose.  One sip reveals a rush of black raspberry, pomegranate and hints of mulling spice that make this wine ideal for the season,  Midpalate, the character evolves to some basalt and mineral notes so characteristic of the vineyard.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a long, smooth dry finish with a kick of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a perennial favorite from Pepper Bridge.  This wine would pair well with classic steaks, but would also pair well with lamb, game or some hearty fall favorites like a sausage and sweet potato hash.  Tonight I am taking a more traditional route and enjoying this wine with some pan seared lamb loin chops with some herbs de Provence, along with oven roasted beets and asparagus with hollandaise.  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! 

2019 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  Tonight I had some friends over for a wonderful dinner after having spent several hours this afternoon helping with taxes, so it was good to settle down for a nice meal and an equally nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine from a wine club shipment that literally arrived yesterday, so I've opened a bottle of 2019 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon a perennial favorite from the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with the classic look of a high-quality Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, black cherry, with the faintest notes of violet.  Take a sip and your palate is awash with ripe black cherry, blackberry and plum, easily transitioning to some notes of dusty loam and oak midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth and well integrated, providing for a delightful dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just another solid vintage of a great Cabernet from a great producer.  This wine would pair well with the classic steak, but would also do well with some earthy mushroom risotto, or some hearty comfort dishes, like beef stew or even barbecue.  Tonight I've invited some friends over for some grilled prime center cut ribeyes topped with béarnaise sauce and served with cheesy potatoes and some maple bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2019 Pepper Bridge Merlot

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I admit it's been a while since my last post, but I've been so busy between work and the play I was in at our local civic theatre, but the last performance was a Sunday matinee and now I am officially done with work for the year, so expect more than a few postings between now and early January!  Tonight, I've opened a perennial favorite Merlot, the 2019 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Valley Merlot.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (77%), Cabernet Franc (15%) and Malbec (8%) sourced from the Seven Hills, Waliser, Pepper Bridge and Octave Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, somewhat lighter than the more boisterous Cabernets, but just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry with an overlay of baking spice, cocoa powder and just a hint of green cedar.  At your first sip, you're greeted with a rush of ripe black fruit up front, blackberry, cherry and currant that transition easily to some warm spice notes, intermingled with some earthy minerality.  The tannins are supple and velvety, providing for a wonderfully smooth, dry finish that already has me reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's always a wonderfully build Merlot.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty, comfort dishes so prominent in the winter months, from braised short ribs to Yankee pot roast, wild mushroom risotto to truffle mac and cheese.  Tonight though, I am enjoying this wine with a tomahawk ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, along with some oven roasted baby potatoes with rosemary and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

Walla Walla Wine Tasting Vacation - Day 1

Well, I have to admit, vacationing is hard work!  I am enjoying a few days of wining and dining in Walla Walla on my summer vacation national park tour.  I started the day with a drive to the Columbia Gorge to take some photos of the mighty Columbia River and then I drove back into town for stops at Woodward Canyon and L'Ecole No. 41 to taste a bit and buy some wine.  Then it was off to my first official tasting of the day at Reininger Winery, one of my long time favorites.

Reininger has made some changes to their tasting room, though some of the artwork is still the classic, showing Raul (aka Mr. Owl).

Having tasted through some of the classic Helix and Reininger red wines, including the new Helix Crush Crew Red (count me a big fan, but more on that in a future post.  Eventually, we got to tour the barrel room and do a bit of barrel tasting.  The barrel room was such a relief given that the outside temperature over the past few days has been well into the triple digits!

We had a chance to taste some of the 2020 Tempranillo, which is still extremely young and in development, though to be fair I thought it tasted like a glass of beef, so this one could shape up to be a very interesting wine.  Then we tasted a bit of the 2015 Cima, which will be the next vintage releases of this super Tuscan style wine.  It was shaping up very nicely, and I am looking forward to tasting this wine when it's released.

Having enjoyed a wonderful couple hours with the folks at Reininger, it was off to Pepper Bridge for a tasting on the south side of town.  

Pepper Bridge is probably one of my favorite places to taste wine, as it's just a beautiful setting with gorgeous views of the vineyard, and to add to the ambiance, they recently remodeled their tasting room with wonderfully clean decor.

After tasting through a the wine club tasting flight, including the 2018 Trine, 2018 Merlot, 2017 Pepper Bridge Vineyard and 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon.  All of the wines were tasting wonderfully, and some have developed nicely since I reviewed them initially (including the 2017 Pepper Bridge Vineyard).  They also do a nice job customizing the tasting menu for wine club members, making you feel like an honored guest.

Although Jean Francois was not available today, winery founder and "founding father" of the Walla Walla wine industry, Norm McKibben stopped by to say hello to all of us in the tasting room.  He offered some nice perspective on the potential impact of the recent heatwave on the vineyards and the potential for the 2021 vintage.  He is always someone that's a pleasure to speak with, as he provides a great perspective on how nature can be fickle in the vineyard, just like any agricultural venture.  

Overall, it was a wonderful first day of wine tasting, followed by a wonderful dinner of Alder smoked duck with dirty rice, scallion and spring green kimchi and kalbi sauce at Hattaway's, a wonderful southern comfort food restaurant in Walla Walla.  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!

2018 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy day, starting with a little work work, and ending with a lot of yard work.  I dug up about a five-gallon bucked of dandelions from around the yard, moved some logs to the summer fire pit wood pile and fertilized the grass, I have a feeling I might be feeling this one tomorrow!  At least it's time for a nice glass of wine, and tonight I've opened a bottle from the most recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery.  The 2018 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (83%), Cabernet Franc (6%), Malbec (4%), Merlot (4%) and Petit Verdot (3%) from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a finely crafted Cabernet.  A whiff and you're greeted with aromas of vanilla, blackberry and a hint of sage up front, with light floral undertones.  Take a sip and you're enveloped with ripe blackberry and plum that wash over your palate, before transitioning to some notes of vanilla and fresh herbs midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat beefy, providing for a robust and very dry finish that lingers for what seems like a minute or more. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a remarkably pleasant drinking Cabernet, one that you could easily sip for hours on the patio during a cool evening.  This wine would pair well with a big steak or a cedar planked salmon, or hearty stews or mushroom risotto. Tonight I am taking a different path and enjoying this wine with a rack of lamb that I've been smoking all afternoon, finished with a flash grill with some Zahtar seasonings served with some oven roasted root vegetables and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2018 Pepper Bridge Winery Seven Hills Red Wine

Happy Thursday!  It's been a busy week and it seems things are finally getting under control in my life, well at least as good as can be expected.  It was unusually mild here today, so I had the chance to go for a quick bike ride in the 45 minutes between when I finished work just after 5:00 and when it got dark, so at least I feel like I accomplished something healthy today.  And now for the remainder of my healthy efforts, I've decided to open a bottle of 2018 Pepper Bridge Vineyards Seven Hills red wine.  The blend on this wine changes with each vintage, but all the fruit is sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard to highlight what this long-standing Walla Walla Vineyard has to offer.  The 2018 vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Cabernet Franc (17%), Merlot (9%), Malbec (9%) and Petit Verdot (9%).  So let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with deep indigo at the center, a sure indication of the heavy hand of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend.  The nose is a mesmerizing combination of blackberry, cherry and cassis intermingled with hints of cedar and exotic spices and a mild undertone of citrus.  The taste is a cool rush of cherry and blackberry that washes over your palate before easing into some mineral notes of dusty limestone.  The tannins are vibrant and supportive of a velvety mouthfeel amid the long, smooth and exceptionally try finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic, high quality Bordeaux style blend from a premier Walla Walla producer.  This wine is ideal for fall, sipping on the sofa in front of the fire, but it would also pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from pasta to lamb, steaks to roast beef.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse with some grilled leeks and asparagus.  Cheers!