2022 DaMa GSM

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

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

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

2022 DaMa Wines GSM

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

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

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

2020 Anvil Syrah

Happy Sunday!  And since it's the last Sunday of the month, it's time for Dinner in the Diner, where I explore a recipe from the dining cars of some of the most famous passenger trains of the 20th Century.  So, what to pair with my dinner?  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Anvil Syrah, the premium label from Forgeron Cellars.  The 2020 vintage is a 100% Syrah from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see what this wine has going on!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, with moderate body and clarity, just what you'd expect from a nice Syrah.  The nose reveals aromas of blackberry, blueberry and eucalyptus with undertones of basalt minerality.  The first sip is a rush of sweet black fruit, blackberry, blueberry and currant that dance around a bit of cocoa powder and toasted oak midpalate, with a trail of black peppery spice.  The tannins are still a bit sharp, but still provide 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 wonderful example of a single-vineyard Syrah from one of the premier areas of Washington for production of this varietal.  This wine would pair well with a variety of fall dishes, from braised short ribs, to rack of lamb, earthy wild mushroom risotto to Beef Wellington.  Tonight, I am taking a road less traveled and enjoying this wine with a recipe from the diner on the New York Central, the individual deep dish chicken pie from the 20th Century Limited.  The recipes for the filling, crust and rich sauce (this is superb) are presented below (though to be fair, I substituted boneless chicken breast for the white/dark meat combination suggested).  Cheers!

2020 Forgeron Cellars Boushey Vineyards Syrah

Happy Sunday!  It cooled down a lot here overnight, so I'm ready to enjoy a nice red wine with my dinner (but don't worry, the summer of rose will continue!). Given my meal choice, I've opened a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars, the 2020 Forgeron Cellars Boushey Vineyards Syrah from the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting and whether I made the right choice for tonight's dinner pairing!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity, just as you'd expect from this varietal  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, tart cherry, green grass and dried herbs, beckoning you to take a sip.  That first sip is a complex rush of fruit and mineral flavors, fresh strawberry and blackberry intermingle with tart cherry before transitioning to some tar and earthy peat notes midpalate.  The tannins are subdued, perhaps unnoticeable, as they provide the foundation for the long, smooth dry finish with a reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's just a classic expression of Grenache that would pair well with a variety of dished from the Mediterranean or any coastal clime.  This wine would be ideal with grilled white fish, shellfish salad or a light seafood pasta, but tonight I am taking a classic Pacific Northwest approach.  I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared salmon filed with some risotto and steamed asparagus, along with some Asian barbecue demi and edible flowers.  Cheers!

2021 Forgeron Cellars Grenache

Happy Sunday!  I had a chance to do a little relaxing today, went out to see a movie in addition to doing laundry and a little office work, so now it's time for a nice Sunday dinner and glass of wine.  For dinner, it's the last Sunday of the month, which means it's time for "Dinner in the Diner" when I try a recipe that was once features on one of the classic passenger trains of the 20th Century.  But first, the wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2021 Forgeron Cellars Grenache, which is a 100% Grenache from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an easy garnet color in the glass, just as you might expect from this varietal.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, currant and a hint of mint over the top.  Take a sip and you're in for a rush of ripe fruit, cherry, currant and plum, that transitions to some notes of cinnamon and spice midpalate. The tannins are well integrated, providing for a lovely dry finish with some lingering earthy notes at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking, food friendly, lighter red wine ideal for the summer months (did I mention it was 82 degrees here today?).  Tonight, I am pairing this wine with a classic recipe from the dining cars on the Pennsylvania Railroad, Seafood Newburg!  It doesn't get much more classically 20th century than seafood in a sherry cream sauce!  I admit I took a few liberties with this recipe and added just scallops and shrimp, as that's what I had on hand, but I also added some peas to give it a little color as well.  The spice and tart fruit of this wine are a perfect foil to the richness of this dish.  Cheers!

2020 Forgeron Cellars Syrah

Happy Saturday!  It's been a half relaxing, but busy day, with shopping, errands and then a trip to the gym, and now I am making dinner before heading out to a new event in town that a friend of mine is putting on.  At least there is wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2020 Forgeron Cellars Syrah.  This wine is composed of Syrah (94%) co-fermented with Viognier (6%) from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, perhaps somewhat heavier than you might expect from a Syrah.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of plum, blackberry, black cherry and peppery spice with floral undertones of violet.  The first sip is a rush of wild flavors, black cherry and plum up front, intermingled with toffee, cocoa powder and oak, before heading back to some black pepper spice at the finish.  The tannins are velvety smooth, making a fine foundation for the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a very pleasant drinking Syrah and certainly not priced out of the range of most consumers.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from braised short ribs to rack of lamb, pork tenderloin to mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some crispy skin salmon, mushroom pasta and asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2020 Mark Ryan Manu Propria Ex Animo

Happy Saturday!  Today was relatively relaxing, as I went to the annual train show in Middlebury today, to see a bunch of trains (I bought a couple books and some ephemera), then went to Costco and the supermarket and now I'm ready for dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2020 Mark Ryan Manu Propria Ex Animo, which is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (clone 191 and 337) sourced from a one-acre block of the Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley 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 solid Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, raspberry, black cherry with undertones of green cedar and earthy peat.  The first sip is a rush of ripe cherry, plum and currant that transition easily to some notes of baking spice and vanilla bean midpalate.  The tannins are well structured but definitely take the supporting role for the lingering dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a solid example of the high quality of Cabernet that coming from Washington state today.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of hearty dishes, from pasta, beef stew or prime rib, to steaks, lamb or braised short ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, with oven roasted white asparagus and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2019 Forgeron Boushey Vineyard Grenache

Happy Sunday!  Today has been an adventure as I completed the sauce making endeavor by canning 13 quarts of fresh pasta sauce with roasted garlic and peppers, in addition to doing laundry and other sundry chores around the house.  So, I figure I've earned a nice glass of wine, and tonight that wine is the 2019 Forgeron Grenache, a 100% Grenache from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  This is Forgeron's second vintage of a pure Grenache (you can see my review of the first vintage here), so let's see how this second effort is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with a lighter body, somewhat reminiscent of a Pinot Noir.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of cherry, plum and currant amid floral notes of lavender and a hint of minerality.  The first sip is a rush of ripe berry, that quickly evolves into sweetness and acidity coming to fisticuffs!  As these two settle down, the wine gracefully transitions to some mineral notes midpalate before easing into sweet cherry and white pepper notes on the finish, which is wonderfully smooth and dry.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I wasn't quite as impressed with this vintage as I was with the inaugural, but it's still a wonderful representation of the varietal.  This wine would pair well with lamb, Yankee pot roast or summer barbecue, which is a good thing given my dinner selection.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some slow cooked barbecued baby back ribs, corn on the cob and green beans, a perfect end of summer dinner!  Cheers!

2021 Anvil Chardonnay

I am very happy to have a long holiday weekend as I feel like I've been working too much and haven't had a vacation yet this year!  So at least I can enjoy some nice wine and food this weekend, and tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars.  The 2021 Anvil Chardonnay is an old-vine Chardonnay sourced from the French Creek Vineyard's "Old Wente Block" which was originally planted in 1981 in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a very pale golden color in the glass, a bit lighter than I would have expected.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of pear, green apple, lemongrass and hints of white floral.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of persimmon, pineapple and citrus, with buttery undertones, that ease into notes of pear and gradient minerals midpalate.  The finish is crisp and inviting, providing for a subtle dryness that will leave you reaching for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very different sort of Chardonnay, that portrays the crispness of a lighter white varietal, with the depth of flavor that can only come from old vine Chardonnay.  This wine would pair exceptionally well with summer seafood dishes, from light white fish, to shrimp, to chilled oysters.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some seared sea scallops along with linguine tossed with garlic scapes and broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2021 DaMa GSM

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

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

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

2019 Manu Propria Ex Animo

Happy Saturday!  It's been a day or errands, memorial services and volunteer work today, so now I'm ready for a bit of relaxation and a nice dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine that just came out and I was fortunate to secure a few bottles given the limited production.  The 2019 Manu Propria Ex Animo is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington. This is the first time I've been able to secure some of this wine since the 2015 Vintage and I'm looking forward to this wine as it is made with some Clone 191, which is the same Cabernet clone used in the Seven Hills Summit View Cabernet, which is a long-time personal favorite.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, a testament to the varietal.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of leather, ripe cherry and plum with just a hint of floral notes.  The first sip is a rush of cherry that's at first tart, and then evolves into a ripe sweetness, along with some ripe red plum that linger into some mild earthiness of oak and a hint of mint midpalate.  The tannins are silky smooth, providing for a delightfully smooth dry finish that lingers into a reprise of tart acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it is a wonderfully classic Cabernet that shines through the classic Bordeaux-esque characteristics that make me love Washington wine.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty winter dishes, from beef stew and chili, to prime rib or hearty pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a big honkin' porterhouse grilled rare, with some blistered cherry tomatoes, grilled leeks and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2019 Anvil Boushey Vineyard Syrah

Happy Easter!  I started early this morning at church preparing breakfast for the 85 people in the choir and worship team, so needless to say I've tried to relax a bit this afternoon and that means making a non-traditional Easter "ham" and enjoying a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of the most recent Forgeron wine club shipment which arrived yesterday, the 2019 Anvil Boushey Vineyard Syrah.  This wine is a 100% Syrah from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington, so let's see how this is tasting!

The wine is a deep inky purple color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Syrah.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals complex, earthy aromas of leather, graphite and some floral notes intermingled with a hint of cassis.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of ripe blueberry, blackberry and currant that dance on your palate before transitioning to some dark chocolate notes midpalate.  The tannins are nicely integrated for the midrange, dry finish with a bit of tart cherry on the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a nice example of a solid Syrah, but the past two vintages have not been as solid as the 2016 or 2017.  This wine would pair well with a traditional Easter ham, lamb, or even a nice cedar planked salmon filet.  As I mentioned, I am enjoying this wine tonight with a non-traditional Easter ham, being some hickory smoked barbecued pork spareribs, along with some baked beans and sriracha slaw.  Cheers!

2018 Anvil Boushey Vineyard Syrah

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's finally beginning to feel like spring as it hit 84 yesterday and today we were in the upper 70s.  So it's definitely grilling and sipping wine on the patio weather finally!  Tonight I've decided to settle my Washington Syrah challenge obligation by opening a bottle of a recent wine club shipment, the 2018 Anvil Boushey Vineyard Syrah from the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  This particular vintage came from the Birdhouse block of the vineyard during a record hot vintage, so let's see how it's tasting. 

The wine is a wonderfully rich garnet color in the glass as you might expect from a nice Syrah.  A quick whiff and you're greeted by aromas of blackberry and currant, with undertones of beef and earthy mineral notes.  Take a sip and a rush of ripe black fruit washes over your palate, with blackberry, currant and cherry that ease into notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, with a balanced acidity that ushers you into a smooth dry finish with hints of cocoa at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a beautiful example of a solid Washington Syrah with great curb appeal for a variety of dishes.  This wine would pair well with grilled lamb chops, venison or even a hearty pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a nice rare grilled porterhouse along with some grilled broccoli rabe and a baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2018 DaMa "Venus" Syrah

Happy Taco Tuesday!  I bet you'll never guess what I'm having for dinner tonight but the wine is a different story.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, which has been a personal favorite from Walla Walla for quite some time now.  Tonight's wine is one of a pair of intriguing wines, this one the feminine one, the 2018 DaMa "Venus" Syrah from the Lonesome Springs Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, quite classic for a nice Syrah.  The nose is an inviting combination of floral notes, violet and rose petals with a hint of green grass with some undertones of sea spray and a hint of ripe fruit.  The taste is a rapid departure from the nose with a rush of fruit, blackberry, tart cherry and marionberry that wash over your palate before transitioning to notes of vanilla bean, toasted oak and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are superbly structured, offering a voluptuous balance between the acidity and long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as this is just a wonderful example of what a nice Washington Syrah can be.  The fruit, acidity and spice notes make this an ideal wine to pair with bold flavors, from mussels fra diavalo to a Cajun crawfish boil, and of course tacos!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some classic chorizo and bean tacos topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato and sour cream a perfect balance of heat and cool.  Cheers!

2017 Forgeron Anvil Boushey Vineyard Syrah

Happy Saturday!  It's been a long week and I'm happy to have a day to catch up around the house.  It was sunny and 55 degrees here today, ideal for the first lawn mowing of the year, but unfortunately the snow (!) didn't fully melt until this afternoon.  So instead I cleaned the gutters, another day in the life!  So tonight I'm planning a casual dinner with a nice bottle of wine, a recent wine club selection from Forgeron Cellars.  The 2017 Anvil Boushey Vineyard Syrah is a 100% Syrah from the Birdhouse Block of the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley of Washington.  This particular block has a thin layer of topsoil resulting in the vine roots reaching directly into a layer of basalt which provides some interesting character to the fruit.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, with bright ruby along the edges, a bit darker than some examples of the varietal.  The nose is a rich combination of leather, intertwined with green grass and tart cherry.  The taste is just a classic syrah, with a rush of ripe black fruit up front, cherry, blackberry and currant that transitions to some interesting warm spice notes midpalate, white pepper, oak and some stark minerality on the finish.  The tannins are well structured, and fully supportive of the lingering and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's near the top, if not at the top of the 2017 Syrahs I've had the pleasure to taste.  This wine would be fairly food friendly, pairing well with anything from barbecue and steaks, to salmon, pasta or tacos.  Tonight I am hankering for summer, so I'm enjoying this wine with a classic cheeseburger with some sweet potato fries.  Cheers!

2018 Anvil French Creek Vineyard Chardonnay

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!  I'll admit this has historically been more of a beer holiday than a wine holiday, but Let's go with it!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club selection from Forgeron's Anvil label, the 2018 Anvil French Creek Vineyard Chardonnay!  Marie Eve made her name in Chardonnay, and this wine is a 100% Chardonnay from the French Creek Vineyard, Old Wente Clone in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So on this rare occasion of reviewing a white wine, let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a pale golden color in the glass while the nose presents aromas of pineapple, citrus and a hint of stony mineral.  The taste is crisp and refreshing, with an interesting combination of apple, citrus and dusted limestone up front that transitions to a hint of white floral and candied pineapple toward the crisp dry finish that leaves you refreshed.

This wine is an ideal summer sipper that would pair well with a range of dishes, from lighter salads, to sushi or as an aperitif with some fresh fruit.  Tonight of course, I am enjoying this wine with a classic St. Patty's day dinner of corned beef and cabbage that has been simmering all afternoon, along with carrots and red potatoes served with a slice of buttered soda bread.  Cheers!

2014 Mark Ryan Lost Soul Syrah

Happy New Year!  Okay, maybe I jumped the gun by a few hours, but given my track record over the past few New Year's Eves, I will be lucky if I'm not asleep by 10 pm tonight, so enjoy my well wishes a bit early.  Tonight I've decided to make a special dinner since I was lucky enough to go to Chicago and bring back some wonderful meat and fish from Eataly, and given my dinner tonight is fish, I decided to go with a nice Syrah, the 2014 Mark Ryan Lost Soul Syrah, a 100% Syrah from the Red Willow Vineyard in the Yakima Valley of Washington.  So let's see how the last wine of the decade is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose is a veritable party of ripe black fruit aromas dancing with violets, smoke, with an occasional romp of black pepper spice.  The taste is classic Syrah, with a rush of lush black fruit, blackberry, currant and cassis, that bows to some earthy flavors of tar, and pipe tobacco before a wave of peppery spice comes at you toward the finish.  The tannins are polished and well structured, providing for an elegant and very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classic representation of the varietal, and perhaps the nicest Syrah I've tasted this year.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from steaks and chops, to venison and short ribs or earthy mushroom dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with an oven roasted filet of red snapper with a Meyer lemon sauce I read about on epicurious.com (get the simple recipe here), along with some oven roasted purple carrots and some mushroom risotto.  Cheers!

2016 Anvil Boushey Vineyard Syrah

Well, the week is finally starting to wind down, so I've decided to open a nice bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner tonight.  I've decided on a Yakima Valley wine since I recently saw an article about halibut season in the northwest and I wanted to at least enjoy it vicariously!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of Forgeron's 2016 Anvil Boushey Vineyard Syrah, This limited production (210 cases) wine is 100% Syrah from the Boushey Vineyard, which sits upon basalt and silt deposits from the Missoula floods at an elevation of about 1,400 feet.  This wine was carefully crafted and then barrel aged for an extended period of nearly two years before it's release this spring.  So let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky indigo at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The wine casts aromas of blackberry, leather and mint in a striking layered approach.  The taste is a wonderfully complex combination of blackberry and cherry fruit up front that cascades into notes of violets, oak and a bit of earthy mushroom midpalate.  The tannins are precisely structured to provide a long, smooth and very dry finish that dances on your palate enticing you to another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's clearly one of my favorite syrahs of the 2016 vintage.  The great fruit and layered complexity of this wine are sure to make this one a crowd favorite for years to come.  I also consider this wine extraordinarily food friendly, and although it makes an easy pairing with lamb or other game, it would also be a great wine to accompany robust fish or even vegetarian dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with the steak of the ocean, a wonderful fresh halibut filet pan seared in rendered Berkshire bacon fat along with some gemelli tossed with broccoli rabe sauteed in olive oil and garlic.  What a remarkable meal!

2017 Forgeron Anvil Chardonnay

Happy Wine Wednesday!  This time we have a special treat, one of those rare events when I taste a white wine (dun dun dun!).  Yes, I am really just a red wine drinker, but my friends at Forgeron keep trying to convert me with the annual Anvil Chardonnay shipment.  So tonight I've opened a bottle of 2017 Anvil Chardonnay, a 100% Chardonnay from the old Wente Block in the Yakima Valley of Washington.  As our friends at Forgeron have told me, this block "was planted in 1981 on a south facing plateau just above the Yakima River. The chalky, stony soil, drains well and warms easily, producing a full-bodied, layered wine, of great balance and complexity."  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a pale golden color in the glass and the nose is a cascade of bright fruit, pineapple, pear and citrus with a hint of white floral aromatics at the back end.  The taste is mildly fruit forward with some notes of citrus and apple that transitions effortlessly to some faint mineral notes before the wonderfully rich and classic buttery finish of a finely structured Chardonnay.  Admitting I am not a white wine drinker, I can say that when I opened a bottle for some guests the other night, it was a big hit!

I am not going to rate this wine, since I really don't consider myself qualified, but I think I can safely say this wine would be a solid choice to please a diverse crowd of wine drinkers.  As for pairings, I think this wine would be ideal with the classic white wine dishes like chicken, fish and seafood.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some seared sea scallops along with some four cheese risotto and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2015 Manu Propria Ex Animo

First let me say it’s been a couple weeks since I last posted and that’s because I had eye surgery to address a vitreous hemorrhage.  Now this eye surgery prevented me from looking at screens, or reading or watching television, or doing a lot of the normal everyday things that we're used to, including publishing blog posts. So with that out of the way, I am back officially or at least partially since I’m limited to about two hours a day of screen time in total, in 30-minute increments. So tonight I’ve decided to open a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from a new producer that came to me from Mark Ryan Winery. the 2015 Manu Propria Ex Animo Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (89%), Merlot (7%) and Cabernet Franc (4%) from the Red Willow vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington. So let’s see how this wine tastes.

The wine has a deep inky purple color in the glass, classic for Cabernet. The wine has wonderful earthy aromas of smoke, leather and peat that beckon you to take a sip. The taste is a rush of warm ripe fruit blackberries, blueberries and cherries at the outset that gives way to some mellow earthy notes midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully structured and well integrated providing nice foundation for a smooth, warm and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall I would wake this wine a solid 9 as it seems to be a really great example of the quality Cabernet that’s coming from Yakima valley AVA.  This wine would pair exceptionally well with a variety of big beefy dinners like a nice big steak or roast lamb chops or even some wonderful Italian dishes. Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a big thick prime sirloin steak grilled rare, along with some bacon roasted asparagus and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!