2018 Banknote Wine Company "Revenue" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, I freely admit when I saw a note about this wine on Wines Till Sold Out, I immediately knew this wine was money!  Ok, enough of the cheesy puns today, but since the FedEx guy was kind enough to deliver this wine this afternoon, I felt a near obligation to open a bottle with dinner.  The 2018 Banknote Wine Company 'Revenue' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the a Atlas Peak AVA in Napa.  With a great label and wine from a great region, let's have a taste!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  Raise the glass and your are greeted with aromas of blackberry, currant and cassis with savory undertones of balsamic and white pepper.  At your first sip, you immediately recognize the quality that went into the bottle, with a rush of black fruit washing over your palate, blackberry, currant and cherry, that eases into some mineral notes along with some cedar and hint of anise midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, providing for a great backbone on the long, dry finish that lingers as you contemplate another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a great example of a big, bold Napa Cabernet at an incredible bargain of just $30.  This wine naturally begs to be paired with a big steak dinner, though it would also find a nice home among rack of lamb, braised short ribs or even a hearty pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bit of surf and turf, with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye, topped with a skewer of Cajun spiced grilled shrimp, mashed potatoes and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2012 Pulchrum Crespiello

Happy Friday!  I am ready for the weekend, though my tree guy came by today to review the branches that will need to be cut back this fall and he was nice enough to point out some patches of poison ivy that I'll now need to address this weekend...ugh.  But before that fiasco commences, I figure I have time for a nice bottle of wine with dinner, and tonight it's a new wine and a new varietal.  I got an e-mail from Wines Till Sold Out a month or so ago highlighting a wine made from a a nearly extinct varietal and they had me!  The 2012 Pulchrum Crespiello (aka Vidadillo) is a wine from Carinena in northwest Spain grown on vines planted in 1900 (so this is old vine for sure!).  This varietal was well known in the 12th century, but not always known for quality (comparisons to vinegar are common) thought winemaking techniques have advanced in the past 900 years.  Vidadillo is somewhat similar to Garnacha, but with larger darker berries with thicker skins, the wines from this varietal are often darker and more tannic than a typical Garnacha.  So let's see how this wine tastes!

The wine is certainly darker than a Garnacha, appearing more like a Cabernet or Merlot in the glass.  The nose is a pleasant combination of black currant, floral notes and a hint of balsamic (hello vinegar!) that doesn't give you brain much to go on for taste expectations.  The taste thought is quite an experience, with a brief rush of ripe blackberry and currant that transitions nicely to some wonderful caramel and spice notes midpalate before an edge of balsamic just before the finish.  The tannins are robust but well structured, providing for a long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a really interesting wine from a varietal I've not tried before.  This is the sort of wine that would pair well with a variety of hard to pair dishes, like Indian or Moroccan food, but it would also pair well with pasta, roasts or game and of course, steak.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled chuckeye steak along with some glazed baby carrots and potato puree.  Cheers!

2010 Aegerter Pommard Premier Cru

So today I've been cleaning and then I went to the local community theater for a play, so now I'm ready to relax!  And what better way to relax than with a glass of wine?  Tonight I've decided to open another bottle of wine that my Aunt and Uncle brought back for me from their trip to France last year, the 2010 Jean-Luc et Paul Aegerter Pommard Premier Cru.  Now for those unfamiliar, Pommard is somewhat similar to Nuits Saint-Georges in that it's a Burgundy wine that is primarily based on Pinot Noir, but in many cases it can be somewhat more tannic.  The result is a lighter pinot based wine that has a nice backbone.

The color on this wine is a bright ruby with great opacity as you might expect from a pinot noir.  The nose has some great fruit, strawberry, plum and cassis overlaying some lovely green grass and cedar notes.  The taste is quite nice, with a burst of fruit that quickly subsides as we transition to some lovely flavors of fresh herbs, balsamic and forest floor.  The tannins are tightly wound, creating a sharp but pleasing finish that makes this wine perfect for sipping on the patio.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's the type of Pinot Noir based wine that has a bit more structure than many of the lighter style pinots you see in the market today.  Tonight I am pairing this wine with some pan seared sashimi tuna garnished with some fried leeks along with some mushroom risotto and steamed cauliflower.  The lighter style of this wine would be just perfect with seafood of almost any sort!  Bon Appetit!

2009 Peique Ramon Valle Bierzo

Yes I know, it's been a while since my last post and since I've been so busy with work lately that shouldn't be surprising.  So I'll make up for it this afternoon, after completing all my yard work I finally have time to open a new bottle and enjoy a glass of wine, and today it's the 2009 Peique Ramon Valle Bierzo, a wine that is made from the mencia grape of Spain, and one that I've not had the opportunity to try before.  Mencia has developed somewhat of a negative reputation, since some newer vines were planted and many producers focused on mass market wines meant to be consumed soon after bottling.  Fortunately this wine is from 55-60 year old vines, so it might be more of an age worthy sort of wine. So here's to trying new wines!

The color on this wine is a deep ruby, somewhat darker than I expected.  At first blush, the wine had a distinct nose of "Frankenberry" but as I let it open up a bit, the fruit subsided and a lovely combination of leather, spice, tobacco and espresso made themselves known.  The taste was rather surprising, as I was expecting a rush of fruit at the outset that never really appeared.  There were some hints of berries with a good bit of spice at the outset, black pepper and anise that quickly transitioned to some lovely mineral notes midpalate.  The finish was quite striking, with some balsamic over the stark minerality of dusted limestone and granite that made for a long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it was very interesting as a new varietal that I've note tried before, and it was a nice value, as I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for about $11!  Although this wine hails from the northeastern part of Spain, tonight I'm pairing it with a starkly Mediterranean sort of dish, of fresh mussels sauteed in garlic and olive oil and then simmered in some San Marzano tomatoes and spicy red peppers and tossed with linguine with a touch of fresh basil and shaved parmesan to finish it off, my classic version of mussels fra diavalo!  The fruit and minerality of this wine are an ideal compliment to the hearty spice of the sauce and mussels.  Andiamo a mangiare!

2010 Seven Hills Ciel du Cheval

Happy Boxing Day!  What fun there is to be had around the holidays, and for the day after Christmas, traditionally known as Boxing Day in the British Commonwealth I've decided to open a bottle of 2010 Seven Hills Ciel du Cheval!  The wine is one of my favorite blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from one of my favorite producers, Seven Hills out of Walla Walla. 

The wine is a lovely deep purple color in the glass with limited opacity. The nose is a lovely blend of green grass, balsamic, cedar and cocoa powder. The taste is quite lovely, with some subtle fruit up front that's enveloped with some complex flavors of anise, lavender and minerality. The finish is long, smooth and with a velvety mouthfeel that just lasts for a minute or more. 

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a great example of a classic Walla Walla Bordeaux style blend but at a terrific value, as I found three bottles of this at my local wine merchant for only $28 after my 15% case discount!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a lovely dinner of baked Christmas ham, baked potato, grilled Brussels sprouts and a Mediterranean salad. The wine is the perfect balance to the sweet smoky flavor of the ham and the richness of the grilled Brussels sprouts. Cheers!