2013 Chateau Buena Vista Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Friday! I've been working in the yard gathering leaves all afternoon, so it's definitely time to have a glass of wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2013 Chateau Buena Vista Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that I got at Costco just a few weeks ago, so let's see how this wine tastes!

The wine is lovely deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a quality Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is a rush of smoke, leather, blackberry and cherry that just exudes ripe Napa Cabernet.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit and warm spice, blackberry, plum and cassis overlaid with white pepper spice and kirsch.  The tannins are beautifully structured providing for the backbone of a long, smooth, voluptuous finish that seems to last more than a minute.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just what you'd expect from a Napa  Cabernet.  This wine practically screams to be paired with a big honkin' steak, and it just so happens I have a thick, Angus porterhouse to enjoy with this wine tonight, grilled rare with some grilled leeks, Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato with some sour cream and  chives. A perfect finish to a long week, cheers!

2011 Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon

So here I am at PDX, waiting to fly back to Chicago and of course seeing the "Shop/Dine/Fly" banner I decided to do them in that order! First stop the Made in Oregon wine shop and they were doing a tasting of some southern Oregon red wines, so I bought three bottles of Merlot and a bottle of Syrah!  Shopping done!  Now to dine...of course with a half bottle of 2011 Woodward Canyon Artist series Cabernet Sauvignon, I chose a nice mixed green salad with grilled chicken. 

Oh yes, the wine!  One of my faves (didn't I just review the '10?). It's a deep purple in the glass, this 20th annual edition of the wine had great aromas of blackberries, cassis and leather giving it a rich profile before you even begin!  The taste is wonderful, with a rich, velvety mouthfeel and great fruit up front that transitions to some great spice and minerality mid palate. The nicely structured and fully integrated tannins provide for a long, lush finish that had me wanting more!

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, a classic of the best of what a Cabernet can be from the Walla Walla valley. And it was the perfect accompaniment to the lovely Italian dressing and fresh greens of my salad!  Here's to flight delays!