2023 Pope Valley Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  I've been traveling, so it's been a bit since my last post, but I'm back!  Tonight, I am ready for a nice dinner and a bottle of wine.  After doing a bunch of leaf blowing today, I am ready to relax and given my dinner choice, I think I've opened the right bottle.  The 2023 Pope Valley Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (82%), Petit Verdot (11%) and Petit Syrah (7%) from the Napa Valley AVA of California.  I recently bought this wine from Wines Till Sold Out, so let's see how it's tasting! 

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Napa Cabernet.  The note presents aromas of leather, blackberry and currant amid undertones of basalt and dusty limestone.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, currant and plum that is at once sweet but also savory.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lasts until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as this is a great example of a classic Napa Valley Cabermet at a great value as I bought this one for just $25.  This wine would pair well with a range of hard cheeses and charcuterie, but it practically begs for a nice steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare pan seared New York Strip with a mushroom pan sauce, along with wild mushroom farro and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2023 Browne Family Vineyards Forest Project Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  I had a rather relaxing day, did some chores, a little grading and now I'm ready for dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I recently bought at Costco. The 2023 Browne Forest Project Red Wine is an undisclosed blend of red varietals from the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington, and what makes this wine interesting is the commitment to reducing resource use while engaging in reforestation projects around the country.  The bottle is lighter weight and the lack of paper labels further reduce demand for trees.  It's a very interesting project and laudable goal, but let's taste the wine!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, typical of a Washington Bordeaux-style blend.  The nose presents aromas of green grass, leather, black cherry and plum.  The first sip is a rush of cherry cola and baking spice that eases into some earthy notes of basalt.  The tannins are well structured providing a solid base for the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate the wine a solid 8, but the project a 10.  The wine is just a pleasant drinking everyday wine that would pair well with a wide range of dishes, from burgers and brats to barbecue and steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with our last gasp of summer, spicy barbecued ribs along with a chile relleno casserole with roasted chipotle salsa.  Cheers!

2022 Forgeron Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It’s been a busy day full of training an errands and now I am ready for dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I am opening a bottle from a long-time favorite Walla Walla producer, Forgeron Cellars!  The 2022 Forgeron Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is a Cabernet sourced from the Minnick Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine if tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, an ideal Cabernet representation.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, basalt and dusty limestone, a wonderful representation of the terroir of Walla Walla.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that washes over your palate in expectation of what’s to come.  The tannins are subtle, yet well structured and perfectly suited to support the long ,smooth dry finish with a reprise of the earthy leather and minerals that started your journey.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it’s a classic example of what a solid Walla Walla Cabernet is capable of achieving,   This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from hearty fall stews to pasta or wild mushroom risotto. Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared prime rib cap, garnished with fresh rosemary and horseradish, bacon roasted brussels sprouts and a big baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheer!

     

2019 Château de Camparian Pessac-Léognan

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I teach late on Wednesdays, so I just got home a little while ago, so while I'm waiting for my dinner to cook, I thought I'd open a bottle of mystery wine, mystery in the sense that I have no idea where I bought this wine, how long I've had it or what sort of blend it is.  That said, the 2019 Château  de Camparian Pessac-Léognan is from the norther part of the Graves region of Bordeaux, with similar character to a Médoc, with a heavy hand of Cabenet in the blend.  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, more akin to a Merlot that Cabernet, but with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry jam, dusty limestone and leather, with subtle floral undertones.  The first sip is a rush of ripe berry fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that is more reminsicent of a Zinfandel than a typical Bordeaux.  The fruit eases into some notes of charred oak and basalt midpalate, before easing into the dry finish that lingers modestly on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, as it's a pleasant wine, but nothing to write home about.  This wine would pair well with a range of soft cheeses, grilled lamb or a classic choucroute garnie.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with an Asian marinade pork tenderloin, mushroom farro and bacon roasted brussels sprouts, as I attemt to mimic the classic pork and fermented cabbage dish. Cheers!

2023 Woodward Canyon Estate Reserve

Happy Easter!  I hope you are enjoying this sacred day with you families and enjoying a nice ham or lamb or whatever you choose on this special holiday.  As for me, I am opening up a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Woodward Canyon to enjoy with my rather subdued holiday dinner.  The 2023 Woodward Canyon Estate Reserve is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Cabernet Franc (16%), Malbec (11%), Petit Verdot (9%) and Merlot (9%) from the Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this new vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a testament to the heavy hand of the varietals in the blend.  The nose reveals aromas of lavender, black cherry, earthy basalt and hints of vanilla bean that will have you hankering for a sip. That first sip is a refreshing cascade of ripe fruit, cherry, blackberry and raspberry that transition easily to some notes of dusty limestone, tawny vanilla bean and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are integrated but subdued, providing for a velvety smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just an ideal Bordeaux style blend that the Walla Walla Valley is renowned for.  This wine would pair well with a range of Easter dishes, from braised leg of lamb to an herb crusted rack of lamb, classic ham to a prime rib roast.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with an easy dinner of a grilled ribeye steak with cowboy crust, steamed asparagus and oven roasted Yukon gold potatoes.  Cheers!

2020 Forgeron Cellars Walla Walla Merlot

Happy Sunday!  I did a lot of chores today and now I'm ready for Sunday dinner and a nice glass of wine.  On that count, I've decided to open a bottle that I've had in the cellar for a while now, the 2020 Forgeron Cellars Walla Walla Merlot.  This wine was sourced from the Minnick Hills Vineyard, a favorite source for this wine maker, located in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is drinking!

A deep ruby look in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  The nose presents aromas of oak, cherry, limestone and graphite, a classic look for a Walla Walla red.  The first sip belies the nose as you're treated to s rush of ripe cherry, blackberry and currant that easily transition to some earthy mineral notes of basalt, oak and tar midpalate, with a bit of tawny notes at the finish.  The tannins are well structured, so a long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's certainly a pleasant, easy drinking wine, with a good bit of Walla Walla character built in.  This wine would pair well with a range of winter dishes, from hearty stews and chili to braised short ribs and hearty pasta.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a bit of surf and turf for my Sunday dinner, a grilled porterhouse along with some pan seared sea scallops, and some sugar snaps for good measure.  Cheers!

2019 Forgeron Cellars Zinfandel

Let me be the first to wish you a Happy New Year, as this will likely be my last blog post of 2025!  Tonight, as I prepare for a relaxing New Year's Eve, I've decided to open a bottle of 2019 Forgeron Cellars Zinfandel to enjoy with my Taco Tuesday dinner!  This wine was sourced from the Alder Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA of Washington.  Let's see if I picked a winner for my dinner!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Zinfandel.  The nose presents aromas of toasted oak, ripe cherry and currant intertwined with hints of earthy basalt, suggesting a more subdued affair than the typical jammy Zinfandel that is so common.  The first sip is an complex and layered journey that starts with a rush of tart cherry amid a flood of oak that transitions into some earthy mineral notes and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, for the long, smooth dry finish with a bit of acidity at the end.

If you are a fan of jammy Zins, this wine is not for you, which is why I rate this one a solid 9, as it's a pleasing and complex wine that offers many avenues to explore.  This wine would pair well with a range of everyday dishes, from tacos on Tuesday to pizza or alder planked salmon.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some steak fajita tacos with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2021 Reininger Malbec

Merry Christmas!  It's been a rather subdued day, but now it's time for a beefy dinner, and what better wine to go with beef than a nice Malbec.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2021 Reininger Malbec, which contains mainly Malbec (98%) with a touch of Petit Verdot (2%) harvested from Pepper Bridge (82%), Stone Valley (16%) and Seven Hills (2%) Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

This wine has the classic look of Malbec, inky black with bright ruby along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass and you're treated to aromas of green grass, olive tapenade and dusty limestone, with undertones of ripe blackberry and plum.  The first sip is a rush of earthy minerality, graphite, basalt and limestone that open up into some lovely floral notes dancing between hints of ripe black fruit and peppery spice.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing a long, smooth dry finish with a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I don't think it quite measures up to the 2019 vintage, but there is still time for this one to develop.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from burgers to barbecue, braised short ribs to chorizo tacos, but more than anything, this wine demands a big steak.  And we're in luck, since tonight my Christmas dinner is a extra thick grilled ribeye along with wild mushroom farro and steamed asparagus with hollandaise.  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!

2015 Seven Hills Klipsun Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of a new month, which means it's time for me to raid the cellar and open a bottle at least a decade in the making!  Tonight it's a special selection from one of my favorite Walla Walla wine makers, the 2015 Seven Hills Klipsun Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a perennial favorite harvested from some of the oldest vines in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine has matured!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of prune, leather and earthy basalt as it opens up.  The first sip is a blast of black fruit, ripe plum, cherry and currant, intermingled with earthy minerality and peppery spice that sings with mature notes.  The tannins are still vibrant with a strong backbone for the lingering dry finish that will have you pleasantly surprised at this mature wine.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it seems to be just hitting its stride.  This wine would pair perfectly with fall, as the hearty structure of this wine is ideal for chilly temperatures and hearty meals, like beef stew, braised short ribs or big steaks.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a big porterhouse grilled rare, with some steamed asparagus and a baked potato.  Cheers!

2022 Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  For most, you are enjoying a long holiday weekend, but now that I am teaching, I don't get many of the traditional holidays, so for me, this is just a routine Sunday dinner.  But at least there is wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a perennial favorite, the 2022 Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon!  I have reviewed many vintages (not always in the correct time sequence), going all the way back to the 2010 Vintage.  The current vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (98%) and 1% each of Petit Verdot and Malbec.  Let's see how this vintage is shaping up!

The wine has a classic Cabernet look, inky black at the center and bright ruby along the edges. The nose presents aromas of green grass, black currant and blackberry, with hints of floral undertones.  The first sip is classic Washington Cabernet, with a rush of black fruit, overtaken by earthy basalt and oak, that eases into some dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a very smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's drinking very nicely now, but is sure to evolve meaningfully over the coming decade.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, as well as hard cheeses, but it seems like this would feel most at home with a big honkin' steak.  Well, as luck would have it, tonight I am enjoying this wine with perhaps the biggest tomahawk steak I've ever grilled (and don't worry, this will likely be my dinner for the entire week!), with the last of the hatch chilies I just roasted.  Cheers!

2020 Doubleback Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  Tonight, It's been exceptionally hot and humid here lately, but despite the heat, I am enjoying a special dinner, so I've decided to open a special bottle of wine to match.  The 2020 Doubleback Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a very special wine, one that I think arrived at my door a couple years ago and I'm just now opening a bottle!  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (87%), Petit Verdor (10%) and Merlot (3%), from the McQueen and LeFore Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  The wine has been patient, aging 22 months in barrel, and now I'm finally getting around to opening a bottle, so here goes nothing!

The wine is an inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, and it seems like a monster of a wine.  A brief swirl of the glass releases a banquet of aromas, from ripe blueberry to green pepper, basalt to mocha.  The first sip is like a warm hug from your mom, blue fruit up front along with some earthy mineral notes that transition easily to some warm white pepper spice, vanilla bean and red currant midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and supple, providing the ideal backbone for the long, smooth dry finish that provides a reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, it's s pricy bottle, but worth every penny, as this is perennially one of the nicest Cabernets to come out of the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with hard cheeses and charcuterie as an appetizer, braised short ribs or hearty salmon, or as it practically begs, a wonderful steak!  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared filet mignon from Snake River Farms (my local market just started carrying their steaks) along with some oven roasted beets and leeks and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2018 Château Fonréaud Listrac-Medoc

Well, it was a busy Saturday, working, then working in the yard, then running errands and now I am more than ready for dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I bought a month or so ago from Costco, the 2018 Château Fonréaud Listrac-Medoc.  I am a big fan of the Medoc in France, as this was one of the first wines I fell in love with on my first trip to France in 1995.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, so what could go wrong?

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a classic Bordeaux look.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of ripe black fruit, leather, basalt and a classic Bordeaux funk.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit at first, which instantly transitions to some notes of earthy peat and ripe plum, before transitioning to notes of black pepper spice, leather and dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are supple yet firm, providing an ideal foundation for the long, smooth dry finish that is classically Bordeaux.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderfully drinking classic red wine, that was a terrific value at under $20 (I don't recall exactly what I paid, but I think it was around $18).  This wine would pair well with classic steaks and chops, hearty pasta dishes, or braised short ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a seared prime New York strip over a bed of sautéed peppers, onions and mushrooms with some oven roasted potatoes.  Cheers!

2022 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  After doing laundry and a bit of work, I had the chance to go out on my first bike ride of the summer, which was very nice.  And now that I've stopped sweating, I thought I'd open a nice bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner.  Tonight, I've opened a recent wine club selection from Seven Hills Winery, the 2022 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine comes from the original vineyard planted in the 1980s by Seven Hills Founder Casey McClellan and his father, making this a very special wine.  Let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, classic for a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of candied plum, blackberries and vanilla bean intermingled with toasted oak and earthy basalt.  The first sip is a rush of warm black fruit that easily transitions to notes of vanilla caramel and hints of earthy minerals and oak midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a long, smooth dry finish with a bit of acidity at the end. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a perennial favorite, but I just don't think the 2022 vintage has quite reached its prime yet.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to barbecue, fajitas to earthy mushroom risotto, or simply enjoying with friends on the patio.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus ribeye, grilled asparagus and broccoli rabe and some creamy orzo.  Cheers!

2021 Seven Hills SHW Founding Vineyard Merlot

Happy Sunday!  It was a rather melancholy weekend, as I spent a good portion of it taking down all the Christmas decorations and putting them away.  Even though the house is festive for a full month out of the year, it just seems to short when it all comes to an end.  In any event, after that I did some chores and clean up around the house and now it's time for a nice dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2021 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Merlot, a 100% Merlot from the original vines planted by Seven Hills founder Casey McClellan and his father in the early 1980s.  I previously reviewed the 2017 vintage and the 2020 Vintage, so let's see how this one is shaping up!

The wine is deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from this classic varietal.  A gentle swirl of the glass presents aromas of candied plum, blackberry and undertones of vanilla bean and violet that will have you on the edge of your seat.  Take a sip and your taste buds are unexpectedly elevated as the ripe fruit your nose expected is overwhelmed by earthy notes of basalt and cedar intertwined with toasted oak and caramel before that long-expected fruit makes an appearance with lovely blackberry, ripe plum and cherry.  The tannins are balanced with a bit of acidity that provides for a wonderfully smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as this Merlot is proving itself to be a consistent performer over the past five years.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of dishes, from steaks and lamb, to hard cheeses and pasta.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic Pacific Northwest inspired Sunday dinner of pan seared salmon along with creamy butternut squash pasta and oven roasted broccoli rabe and red peppers.  Cheers!

2021 Woodward Canyon Estate Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I finally had a day to relax on my vacation, so I did some laundry and went out for a movie, and now it's time for Sunday dinner and a nice bottle of wine. Tonight I've opened a bottle from a recent shipment from Woodward Canyon Winery, the 2021 Woodward Canyon Estate Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the oldest vines in the Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  Let's see how this latest vintage is faring!

The wine has a classic Cabernet look in the glass, inky at the center and bright ruby along the edges. The nose is a more subtle affair, with aromas of leather, blackberry, toasted oak and basalt with undertones of lavender.  The first sip is a dynamic combination of black cherry, caramel and vanilla bean up front, that transition easily to some earthy notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are surprisingly mellow for such a young wine, providing just the right foundation for the long, smooth dry finish with just a faint bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's drinking well right now, but will likely gain a good bit of traction with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty meat dishes, from braised bison short ribs to rack of lamb to a big steak.  Tonight I have opted for the latter and am enjoying this wine with a Bisteca Fiorentina, grilled broccoli rabe and sweet potato puree.  Cheers!

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!

2016 Torrevento 'Vigna Pedale' Castel del Monte Riserva

Happy Sunday!  It's been rainy all day, but I still feel like I've been going non-stop all day (have I mentioned that I need a vacation?) but now it's time for Sunday dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2016 Torrevento 'Vigna Pedale' Castel del Monte Riserva is made from Nero di Troia, a varietal from Puglia that I haven't tried before, so this evening is getting more exciting by the minute!  

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with a sturdier body than your typical Sangiovese.  A little swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, earthy mineral notes of basalt amid undertones of plum and red currant.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry that quickly subsides into pleasant flavors of raspberry, toasted oak and a bit of spice box reminiscent of an old Italian market.  A thread of acidity seems to permeate the taste throughout, making this a little more lively than a typical red wine.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing for a smooth dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a food friendly and pleasant drinking wine that was a terrific value (I bought this one on sale for $13, but even at the regular price of $17 this is a winner).  This wine would pair well with hearty steaks and chops, grilled lamb or any number of hearty, classic Italian dishes.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some stuffed shells I made for Sunday dinner, using some of my homemade sauce from a few weeks ago.  Cheers!

2010 Tiedmann Signature Series Napa Valley Red Wine

Well happy Saturday, and since this is the first Saturday of the month it's also Cellar Saturday, that magical day when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that although it was harvested 14 years ago, has been in my cellar for less than two weeks!  The 2010 Tiedmann Signature Series Napa Valley Red Wine is a new one for me, as after doing some sleuthing on the web, I learned that this wine was made by or for a local resident who would source wines from Napa and either blend them himself or have them made and bottled.  Unfortunately, I also learned that this person passed away in 2022, but somehow I managed to find a few bottles of the 2010 vintage at my local wine store, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

Although a blend, this wine has the classic look of a Napa Valley Cabernet, inky black at the center and bright garnet along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry and cassis, reminiscent of a university library.  The first sip is a wonderful blend of blueberry, blackberry and currant with undertones of sweetness that transition easily to some earthy notes of basalt and black tea midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, providing for a lengthy and very dry finish that lingers until you take another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking blend from a local guy in Elkhart, Indiana with a passion for making great wine.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from barbecue and fajitas, to roast lamb or grilled steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare, pan seared prime filet topped with béarnaise and served with oven roasted purple potatoes and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2019 B by Fonbadet Bordeaux

Happy Sunday!  Well the long holiday weekend is almost over, but there's still time for Sunday dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a nice bottle of Bordeaux that I think I bought a few months back at Costco, and I have no idea about the wine or it's composition, but being a Bordeaux, I can only imagine it has some Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and any other combination of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, so let's just try it out shall we?

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from a nice Bordeaux.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, toffee, earthy mineral notes and baking spice.  The first sip is a rush of stark minerality, with notes of basalt and tar, that transition nicely to some notes of black cherry and cassis, intermingled with black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are classically structured for a Bordeaux, leaving you with a dry finish that you scarcely notice.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it was a solid example of a daily drinker in the heart of France, and like so many Bordeaux, this wine is very affordable as I think I paid about $15 for this one at Costco.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from pasta and jambalaya to hearty steaks and chops.  Tonight I am opting for the latter and enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Cajun spiced ribeye with sautéed onions, mushrooms and peppers and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!