2023 Helix Petit Verdot

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from my last wine club shipment from one of my favorite Washington producers, Chuck Reininger.  The 2023 Helix Petit Verdot is a 100% Petit Verdot sourced from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  I've enjoyed Chuck's single blending varietals before, so let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of lemongrass, bing cherry and blackberry amid undertones of cedar and spice.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit, rich and luxurious that easily transitions to some notes of toasted oak and white pepper spice before cascading back to some tart cherry and hints of lilac at the end.  The tannins are well structured to provide the perfect backbone to the velvety smooth dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a really pleasant drinking example of this solitary varietal that is usually relegated to a supporting role.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from pasta primavera to barbecued brisket, burgers and brats.  Tonight, I am taking a decidedly Northwest approach and enjoying this wine with some crispy skin salmon along with linguine tossed with asparagus and garlic scapes sautéed in olive oil.  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!

2023 Wines of Substance Ro Rosé

Happy Sunday!  Well, even though it seems that summer is oh so quickly easing into fall, there are still a few weeks left in rosé season, and since it's hot and sticky here today I am going full steam ahead with a 2023 Wines of Substance Ro Rosé that I recently picked up at Costco.  This wine is made from Syrah sourced from the Buckshot Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is pale peach color in the glass, ideal for a nice rosé.  The nose presents aromas of tart apple, grapefruit and a bit of honeysuckle, that has summer written all over it.  Take a sip and you have an interesting complex of smooth summer fruit flavor, melon, peach, strawberry and a hint of citrus that isn't nearly as pronounced as the nose would suggest.  The tannins are well hidden, providing for a smooth dry finish that is very different than you standard crisp finish of a rosé.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely sipping wine that was also a terrific value at just $10.  This wine would pair well with summer evenings on the patio, caprese salad or lighter seafood dishes.  Tonight, I am making this a pure Pacific Northwest experience and enjoying this wine with a miso and sesame glazed wild Alaskan sockeye served with steamed rice and Italian pole beans I bought at the farmer's market.  Cheers!

2019 Helix Cabernet Franc

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a busy few weeks with rehearsals for the play that I'm in, along with work and everything else, it seems I haven't had much time to blog.  But at least tonight I have some time to review a nice bottle of wine that was a recent wine club shipment from Reininger Winery.  The 2019 Helix Cabernet Franc is one of those special wines made from what is normally a Bordeaux blending varietal, but the fine folks in Walla Walla have been lifting those varietals to new heights.  This vintage is a 100% Cabernet Franc from the Weinbau Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA in the Columbia Valley of Washington, so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a lovely ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from this varietal.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, raspberry, hints of lavender and a white pepper spice.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of ripe red fruit, raspberry, cherry and strawberry that transition easily to some earthy notes of tar, leather and basalt midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing a seamless smooth dry finish, with a reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a wonderful example of the heights these former blending grapes can reach when properly tended.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from steaks and lamb chops, to ristotto or chili.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Pacific Northwest sort of dinner, with a crispy skin Scottish pearl salmon filet on a bed of farro along with some steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2019 Forgeron Columbia Valley Chardonnay

As most of you are no doubt aware, I am not much of a white wine consumer.  That said, I also can't resist a mystery box, so when Forgeron recently offered a mystery case of wine for just $150, I couldn't pass it up!  And one bottle in the mystery case was a 2019 Forgeron Chardonnay, a 100% Chardonnay sourced entirely from the Weinbau Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bright golden color on the glass, more akin to lemon as opposed to a golden olive oil color.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of lemongrass, pear and hints of tropical fruit amid undertones of oak.  Take a sip and you are treated to a rush of lemon, pear and pineapple notes that envelope your palate before transitioning to some mineral notes and hints of oak midpalate.  The finish is crisp and dry with just a faint impression of the classic Chardonnay "buttery sweetness" at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely Chardonnay that would be ideal for the upcoming holidays.  This wine would pair well with a variety of seafood, Thanksgiving turkey or pork.  Tonight, I am exploring the latter and enjoying this wine with an Asian zing grilled pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes with chives and some maple bacon shaved Brussels sprouts.  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!

2018 Helix Petit Verdot

Happy Sunday!  That weekend really went fast, but at least the weather turned somewhat spring like today so I could enjoy a bike ride.  And now I'm ready for a nice bottle of wine and Sunday dinner, which made for an interesting pairing challenge.  Undeterred, I have opened a bottle of 2018 Helix Petit Verdot, a 100% Petit Verdot from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is an inky indigo at the center, with bright ruby along the edges as might be expected from the smaller berries of this varietal.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, dusty loam and a hint of lilac with some undertones of dark chocolate and caramel.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of tart cherry, black currant and raspberry that transitions easily to some earthy notes of dusty loam and green grass midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured to provide a bit of backbone for the long dry finish that lingers to a reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's an interesting single-varietal wine for what has long been a simple blending grape.  This wine is a classis for some of those harder to pair dishes, like duck or pork tenderloin, or even smoked brisket.  Tonight I am taking a pairing challenge and enjoying this wine with some chicken and vegetables simmered in some Trader Joe's Thai green curry simmer sauce over some steamed jasmine rice.  The fruit and earthy character of this wine is ideal to counter the richness of this dish.  Cheers!

2018 Forgeron Malbec

Happy Friday!  I've been waiting for the weekend, though not to relax as I have a lot of leaf gathering yard work to accomplish over the next two days.  So, since it's dark by the time I'm done with work, I can't start early, so I may as well enjoy a bottle of wine before the hard work begins.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from a wine club shipment I received today, the 2018 Forgeron Malbec, a 100% Malbec from the StoneTree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Malbec.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of smoke, ripe blueberry and currant, with undertones of leather and earthy limestone.  Take a sip and a wash of ripe fruit overruns your senses, blueberry, blackberry and currant that transition easily to some earthy mineral notes intermingled with espresso and white pepper, for an intriguing combination midpalate.  The tannins are supple and fully comfortable in a supporting role for the long, smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a Malbec that tastes and feels like something more than a Malbec.  This wine would pair well with a variety of rich and hearty fall dishes, from braised short ribs to linguine carbonara, as well as midweek easy dinners like pizza or burgers.  Tonight I am going with the latter and enjoying this wine with some chorizo and black bean tacos on corn tortillas and topped with lettuce, cheese, sour cream, avocado and fresh sliced jalapenos.  Cheers!

2018 Helix Cabernet Franc

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a while since I've posted and it's because last weekend was just crazy busy for me, but I'm back not and able to open up a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight's selection is a recent wine club shipment from Reininger, the 2018 Helix Cabernet Franc.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Franc from the Weinbau vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this underappreciated varietal is tasting!

The wine is a bright garnet color in the glass, with great clarity.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of pomegranate, violets and raspberry with subtle undertones of dusty limestone.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe red fruit, raspberry, mulberry and cherry, that transition easily to some earthy notes of tar and tobacco, before easing back into notes of pomegranate.  The tannins are expertly structured providing for a wonderfully long, velvety dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a perennial favorite for this varietal, and this vintage is a real treat to drink.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from grilled lamb chops, to venison, pork tenderloin to veal chops.  Tonight however, I am going a different route and enjoying this wine with some Thai red curry chicken and vegetables atop a bed of jasmine rice an a sprig of fresh Thai basil.  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!

2017 Helix Petit Verdot

What a day it's been, working around the yard, raking the leftover leaves from fall and picking up all manner of sticks, and now I'm quite ready for a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've decided to open a bottle of the recent wine club shipment from Reininger Winery, the 2017 Helix Petit Verdot.  Chuck Reininger saw a lot of potential in this varietal, and the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington produces some Petit Verdot that rarely disappoints.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

This vintage featured a warm to hot summer, which resulted in smaller berries and clusters, creating a deep purple color to this wine, very reminiscent of a big bold Cabernet.  But a quick whiff in the glass reveals that this wine is not a Cabernet, with floral notes of lilac intertwined with toasted oak and hints of earthy graphite.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of vibrant, ripe blackberry, cherry and currant that dance around your tongue before opening up to some notes of tobacco and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are bold but well structured, creating the perfect foundation for the long, dry finish, with subtle reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a wonderfully interesting wine to enjoy with dinner, or to just sip on a quiet evening.  This wine would pair with a broad range of dished, from braised short ribs to lamb chops, mushroom risotto to a prime filet.  But of course, I am taking the road less traveled tonight and am enjoying this wine with some oven roasted salmon, with some lemon dill cream sauce, cilantro lime rice and asparagus with hollandaise.  Clearly I couldn't decide on a single bold flavor, and decided to go with bold flavors in every area of my dinner, cheers!

2017 Forgeron Malbec

Happy Saturday!  It was a busy week back at work, so I'm afraid I might have been a bit lax on my blog posting.  But fear not!  Tonight I've opened a bottle from a wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars that I've been looking forward to for some time.  The 2017 Forgeron Malbec is a 100% Malbec from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with a bright fuchsia along the edges.  The nose is an expressive combination of dark red fruit intermingled with a variety of spice notes, pepper, smoke and leather, that almost has you picturing a gaucho as you prepare to take a sip of this wine.  The taste is an interesting rush of smoky blackberry and plum, juxtaposed with tart cherry and hints of lavender before easing into some notes of dark chocolate and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are well structured and integrated, providing for a delightfully smooth and very dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's about as solid of a domestic Malbec as you're likely to find.  This wine is very consistent with the styling seen in some of the great southern hemisphere Malbecs.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from classic steaks and chops to beef Bolognese.  Tonight I am pairing this with a rare grilled big honkin' porterhouse I picked up at the market today, along with a baked potato and some asparagus with Hollandaise.  Cheers!

2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Grenache

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a rather odd weather day here, with sun and calm, gusty wind and pouring rain, all this afternoon!  So after enduring all that, I thought it might be nice to open a bottle of wine and relax this evening.  After digging a bit in the cellar, I found a bottle of 2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Grenache, from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  Over the years I've become familiar with this vineyard and it produces some wonderful Grenache and Syrah, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with a lighter weight and great clarity.  The nose a warm rush of red fruit and floral notes, with aromas of strawberry, tart cherry and kirsch, intermingled with violet and undertones of tar.  The taste is just beautifully fruit forward, with a rush of cherry, raspberry and strawberry that illuminate your tastebuds, before transitioning to some some earthy notes of tar and dusty limestone midpalate.  The earthy minerality of this wine shines through a wave of peppery spice notes at the finish.  The tannins are smooth and well integrated, providing for a pleasant, long dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a beautiful example of the varietal and a pleasant, food friendly wine.  This wine would be ideal for summer (as fall chill is in full swing!) and would pair well with burgers and brats, barbecue, or summer roasted beet and feta salad.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some spicy chicken fajita tacos, along with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2017 Helix SoRho

Happy Sunday!  I confess I've spend much of the day relaxing which is a switch from yesterday when it seemed like I was going non-stop all day.  But at least I got the flowers planted and the yard work done before the thunderstorms came.  So tonight I've set my mind to food and wine, and I've opened a bottle of the 2017 Helix SoRho, a southern Rhone style blend of Mourvedre (49%), Grenache (28%) and Cinsault (23%) from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a lighter color in the glass, with great ruby clarity.  The nose is classic Rhone, with fresh herbal notes of green grass, earthy peat and dusty limestone underlying hints of rhubarb and strawberries.  The taste is a surprising rush of sweet berry fruit, boysenberry, raspberry and currant that transitions easily to notes of black tea and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing the backbone for the long, smooth and very dry finish, with just a hint of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking very well and would be an ideal summer red wine.  This wine would pair well with a variety of rustic dished, from mushroom risotto, to ratatouille, lamb to port tenderloin.  Tonight I am using this meal to try new things, as I bought a stainless steel smoking tray to use in my gas grill.  Tonight I've taken some Jack Daniels barrel chips to smoke some lamb loin chops along with some oven roasted root vegetables and grilled romanesco.  Cheers!

2016 Helix Petit Verdot

Happy Saturday!  Certainly for many folks it's been a stressful week, with so much bad new floating around, so I'm making time for a nice dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle from the most recent wine club shipment from Reininger Winery, the 2016 Helix Petit Verdot.  This wine is an extremely limited production of just 70 cases, made from 100% Petit Verdot from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect for the varietal.  The nose presents aromas of leather, oak and pipe tobacco intermingled with blackberries and cassis, leaving you with the impression of being in classic old library.  The taste is a rush of cherry, raspberry and pomegranate, with a good bit of acidity, but not overpowering.  The tannins are chewy providing a great base for the long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a lovely example of a pure, but underappreciated varietal.  This wine will likely improve with some time in the cellar, but if you can't wait, it would be ideal with a broad variety of grilled meats, from steak and lamb to pork tenderloin.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with an Indian spiced veal loin chop grilled mid-rare, with some grilled asparagus and a loaded baked potato.  Cheers!

2016 Helix Cabernet Franc

Happy Taco Tuesday!  Guess what's on the menu for dinner tonight.  Okay, surprise, it's tacos, but what to pair with them?  Well tonight I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Reininger and Helix, the 2016 Helix Cabernet Franc.  First I have to say that I love the new Helix label, if you haven't seen it before it's quite impressive!  As for the wine, this is a 100% Cabernet Franc from the Weinbau and XL Vineyards in the Wahluke Slope AVA of the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose is a warm breath of mountain air from south central Washington, with aromas of leather, ripe blackberry and a hint of cedar over the top.  The taste is subdued layering of black fruit, blackberry, cherry, currant and plum, overlaid with some notes of smoke and white pepper spice.  The tannins are rounded but gripping, providing for a wonderfully voluptuous, long dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I fell in love with Chuck's Cabernet Franc from the XL Vineyard at the Reveal Walla Walla auction two years ago, and the addition of some of that wine to this blend really makes this a favorite.  This wine would pair well with a variety of casual dinners, from pizza and barbecue to mac & cheese or tacos!  Tonight, being Taco Tuesday, I'm enjoying this wine with some classic beef tacos, as the fruit and richness of this wine really pair well with the spice and smokiness of the beef.  Cheers!

2016 Forgeron Malbec

Happy Sunday!  I am happy to report that I got a lot accomplished today, including my laundry and going to see the new Star Wars movie, it was not that great, but I suppose given what they had to work with it was as good as could be expected.  In any case, tonight I've decided to open a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars, the 2016 Malbec.  This wine is a 100% Malbec from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this one is shaping up!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a Malbec.  The nose exudes aromas of leather, graphite, anise and smoke, that is often present from wines produced in the Wahluke Slope.  The taste is a rush of ripe berries and plum that transitions easily to some earthy notes of sage and dried herbs before some white pepper spices comes out at the finish.  The tannins are dusty but well integrated, creating the foundation for the wonderfully velvety smooth, dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's right up there with the 2014 Vintage as a favorite Malbec.  This wine sould paird well with a variety of dishes, from classic steaks to barbecue to pizza, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple bucatini Bolognese for a nice, hearty Sunday dinner that pairs so well with this wine.  Cheers!

2016 Helix Cabernet Franc

It seems as I get older, time passes by more quickly, particularly weekends as it seemed it was just Friday and suddenly Monday is at my doorstep.  Well to help soothe the apprehension of a new work week, I've decided to open a bottle of a wine club shipment from Reininger Winery that arrived last week, the 2016 Helix Cabernet Franc.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Franc sourced from the Weinbau and XL Vineyards in the Wahluke Slope of the Columbia Valley of Washington.  I'm looking forward to tasting this wine, as I have experienced some of the fantastic Cabernet Franc that Chuck and his team have created from the XL Vineyard, so let's see how this vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a warm garnet color in the glass, quite characteristic of the varietal.  The nose presents rich aromas of leather and sandalwood intermingled with ripe red berry fruit.  The taste is a rush of cherry, raspberry and currant up front, with a hint of vanilla bean and caramel midpalate.  The tannins are nicely rounded, providing for a long, velvety and very dry finish, with a bit of acidity at the end.  This wine just reminds me of having a nice evening of dessert and coffee with friends, very pleasant to be around and it leaves you satisfied at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I think this is just a fabulous example of a pure secondary varietal that is so often overlooked outside of a Bordeaux style blend.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from hearty roasts and stews, to glazed pork tenderloin to cedar planked salmon.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a more simplified dinner of beef tacos with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2016 Forgeron Primitivo

Happy Friday!  It's been a busy week and I finished work a bit early today, only to do more work in the yard to prepare for a cookout I'm hosting tomorrow.  It seems my labor never ends!  At least tonight as I am cooking some food ahead for tomorrow, I can enjoy a nice glass of wine and a decent dinner.  Tonight I've opened a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars, the 2016 Primitivo, from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a wonderful bright ruby color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose is a cascade of black tea, dried herbs and notes of red berries overlaid with some earthy notes of leather and graphite.  The taste is a rush of ripe red berries, strawberry, raspberry, currant and cherry that subside to usher in some notes of cherry cola and dark chocolate midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with well structured tannins supporting a long, smooth and dry finish, that still features a mild reprise of red berry jam.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a very pleasant, easy drinking wine that I could easily sip on a summer evening like tonight!  This wine would pair very well with Italian pasta dishes, particularly with an spicy red sauce, but tonight I've taken a different route.  I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared halibut filet that I picked up yesterday at Costco, along with some farro with porcini mushrooms and oven roasted root vegetables.  Cheers!

2016 Helix SoRho

Happy Friday!  I admit, I'm glad the week is over, but it seems lately my Friday afternoons have been chock full of physical activity.  Today, for example, I finished work just before 2:00 pm, then went to the gym, then came back and pulled weeds, then mowed the grass and by the time I was done it was nearly 7:00!  So given all that rush of activity, I need a nice glass of wine and tonight I've opened a bottle of 2016 Helix SoRho, a southern Rhone style blend from Chuck Reininger.  This wine is a blend of Mourvedre (43%), Grenache (34%) and Cinsault (23%) from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass with nice clarity, as you'd expect from a southern Rhone style blend.  The nose is a wonderful combination of fresh summer fruit, strawberry, black currant and raspberry, intermingled with some earthy notes of tar and gravel.  The taste is remarkable, with a rush of sweet berry fruit enveloping your palate, before shifting to some warm spice notes midpalate.  The finish is exceptionally smooth and dry, with a bit of reprise of the lovely earthy notes from the start.

I have to admit, there have been some vintages of this wine (mainly the early ones) that have definitely not been my favorite, but the last few vintages have stepped up, with this one, I think that Chuck and his team are finally hitting their stride, as this seems more like a classic Rhone than ever.  Given that preface, I'd rate this wine a solid 9, my highest rating of any vintage yet.  This wine would pair well with a lot of more game type meats that can be a challenge to pair with wine, dishes like duck, or pork tenderloin, but tonight since I'm tired, I paired this with a simple dinner of broccoli rabe and garlic scapes sauteed in olive oil and tossed with a bit of penne.  Cheers!