2006 Saviez Napa Valley Zinfandel

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of the month, so it's time to raid the cellar for a bottle at least a decade in the making.  Today, I found a bottle that's two decades old, the 2006 Saviez Napa Valley Zinfandel.  This wine may have moved well past its prime, as the varietal is not one known for aging, but at least we can taste it and scientifically evaluate whether my instinct on aged Zins is true!

The wine is adeep ruby in the glass with just a hint of amber along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather and prune, with some undertones of floral notes, violet and lilac.  The first sip is a rush of black fruit that is surprisingly fresh before transitioning to some earty peat and mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat tired, but there was a bit of acidity on the rather smooth and dey finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, as it's just well past its prime and was a rather lackluster wine to sip on a rainy Saturday.  I won't bother with pairing suggestions, but would note that I am enjoying this wine with some pappardelle with braised oxtail ragu, which is a classic pairing for a more typically fruit-forward Zindandel.  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!

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 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!

2020 Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a weekend of yard work as I am nearing the end of leaf harvest, and soon all the trees will be bare and several metric tons of leaves will be hauled to the front of my house.  And now that it gets dark before suppertime, I suppose it's appropriate to open a nice bottle of wine in anticipation of dinner.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a perennial favorite, the 2020 Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon (you can see the many other vintages I've reviewed here).  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (76%), Petit Verdot (12%), Cabernet Franc (5%), Merlot (4%), and 1% each of Syrah, Barbera and Dolcetto.  So, let's see what this vintage has to offer!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you would expect from a nice Cabernet.  Take a whiff and you're greeted by aromas of black cherry, leather, anise and a hint of mint.  The first sip is rush of ripe black fruit that transitions to some notes of dried spice and earthy notes of tar and basalt.  The velvety mouthfeel and well integrated tannins offer and appropriate yin and yang to a Cabernet that really shines through the Bordeaux aspects of Washington state.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, and since it's still relatively young, there is plenty of opportunity to mature with some time in the cellar.  This wine would pair exceptionally well with hearty steaks, braised short ribs or hearty fall stews.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare American Wagyu strip from Snake River Farms, along with some oven roasted sweet potatoes, leeks and maple bacon Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2016 L'Esprit De Chevalier Pessac-Léognan

Happy Sunday!  It's been a rainy afternoon, so I decided to dispense with the yard work and focus on some indoor projects, like replacing the backing on a new painting I bought at the thrift store, fixing my live trap to catch the second groundhog that roamed into my yard on Friday and other assorted household chores.  So, now I'm ready for a nice dinner and a glass or few of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a magnum of 2016 L'Esprit De Chevalier Pessac-Léognan that I bought a month or two ago during the Wines Till Sold Out magnum event.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Merlot (45%) and Petit Verdot (10%), making this a classic Bordeaux blend.  I'm going to need some of this wine for the red wine demi that I'm making for my main course, so if there's enough extra for another glass or two that seems fine to me!  So, let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is an inky black at the center with just a touch of ruby along the edges.  The nose is a lovely presentation of leather, ripe black fruit and hints of anise and pepper.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of cool black fruit that's a bit tart at first, before transitioning into some blackberry and cherry sweetness.  The tannins are refined and well structured, which works well with the spicy dry finish with just a hint of acidity at the end. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a great example of the old world styling and craft of Bordeaux.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from grilled steaks to braised short ribs, hearty beef stew to wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a Sunday dinner of herb crusted rack of lamb with red wine demi, potato puree and some grilled asparagus.  Cheers!

2017 Cave Dog Napa Valley Red Wine

Happy Saturday!  It's been a busy day of cooking for a range of folks, but now it's time to relax a bit with a nice glass of wine and some hearty dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2017 Cave Dog Napa Valley Red Wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%) and Merlot (50%) from a stellar vintage in the Napa Valley, so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby red color in the glass, a testament to the blend.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, earthy cedar, cardamom and peat that has a definite old world sort of vibe.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of cool black fruit that washes over your palate, transitioning easy to some earthy notes and spicy pepper midpalate.  The tannins are robust, creating a wonderfully vibrant dry finish that lingers as you reach for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking, quality wine at a value price of just $20.  This wine would pair well with steak, slow roasted pot roast, or vibrant Italian dishes.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a thick Angus, bone-in ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare along with some bacon maple Brussels sprouts and oven roasted baby carrots.  Of course, I'll likely be finishing this bottle on the patio with a wonderful fall fire.  Cheers!

2018 Chateau Beaumont Haut-Medoc

Happy Sunday!  I've been working in the yard all afternoon, so I am not pretty tired and ready for a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2018 Chateau Beaumont Haut-Medoc that I recently picked up at Costco, which was also a pleasant choice since one of my personal favorite Bordeaux from my first visit to Paris in 1995 was the Haut-Medoc.  This wonderful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot is an ideal way to end my weekend, so let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, as you might expect from this Cabernet heavy blend.  A swirl of the glass reveals classic Bordeaux aromas of leather, black cherry and cassis that beckon you to take a sip.  After imbibing you are confronted with a rush of ripe black fruit intermingled with hints of mint that eases into some black pepper notes midpalate.  The tannins are supple but well integrated, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that is classic Bordeaux. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a great example of the Haut-Medoc I grew up on in the mid-1990s, and it was a terrific value at just $18!  This wine would play well with pasta, seafood and steaks, as well as a great charcuterie wine.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap (also from Costco) on a bed of grilled leeks and topped with horseradish and fresh rosemary, some tomato basil farfalle with some fresh pesto and shredded parmesan, and some bacon maple roasted brussels sprouts!  Cheers!

2017 Seven Hills Summit View Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy weekend and I had the opportunity to go to our County Fair for the first time since the pandemic, which was so nice.  Today was a rainy Sunday, so what else could I do but laundry and opening a bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of one of my perennial favorite Cabernets from Seven Hills, the 2017 Seven Hills Summit View Cabernet Sauvignon.  The Summit View Vineyard was planted with Clone 191 Cabernet, and the terroir is ideal for this grape, creating a truly special wine year after year.  So, let's see what this vintage has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  Give it a swirl and take a deep breath and you're transported to the tobacco smoke infused leather furniture of an Ivy League club as resist the urge to take a healthy sip.  Once you do, your mouth is coated with a velvety rich wine, that has a wide array of black fruit and a healthy zing of acidity at the back end.  Earthy, rich, velvety smooth, this is the kind wine you can sip over conversations with old friends for hours.

Overall, I'd rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasure to drink and a wine that has yet to disappoint.  This wine would be great with hearty steaks, lamb, or even summer fare like barbecued ribs or hearty brats.  Tonight, I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus porterhouse along with grilled garlic scapes and asparagus, and some oven roasted fingerling sweet potatoes.  Cheers!

2018 Raymond Reserve Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

 Happy Saturday!  I know I've been completely slacking on my blog posts, but this has been a busy week for me, so I hope you can forgive my lack of wine sharing.  In any case, today was a day filled with errands, which of course meant a trip to Costco where I found tonight's wine, the 2018 Raymond Reserve Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  Having visited Raymond in Napa Valley and seeing the somewhat eclectic decor, it wasn't a surprise when they somehow came up with a way to do a label on this reserve wine that feels like red velvet!  In any case, let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with an inky center, just as you might expect from a hearty cabernet.  The nose is a trip down the yellow brick road, with aromas of black fruit then some leather, then some violets and lavender, that somehow all work together.  The taste is classic big Napa Cabernet, with a rush of ripe blackberry, cherry and currant that washes over your palate, before careening toward some notes of mocha and the faintest hint of black pepper midpalate.  The tannins are supple and smooth, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish without the sharpness that you can often find in a big Cabernet.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasure to sip, and at $28, it's one that you can sip regularly without breaking the bank.  This wine would of course pair well with a nice steak, but this would also do well with some lamb chops, braised short ribs or classic pasta, all good options now that the fall weather is in full effect.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap, big baked potato with sour cream and chives, and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2018 Pine & Brown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, I just returned from my evening bike ride, so now that I've done my exercise for the day, I can make up for it with a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that just arrived yesterday from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2018 Pine & Brown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (95%) and Petit Verdot (5%) from the Oakville District of Napa Valley.  So, let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose is a classic blend of leather, black fruit and a hint of lavender over the top. The taste is classic big Napa Cabernet with a rush of black currant, cherry and blackberry, that transitions easily to some notes of cedar, and mocha midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing a nice backbone for the long, smooth dry finish with a nice accent of black pepper spice.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking Cabernet from a solid Napa Valley vintage.  This wine obviously craves a steak, but would also pair well with easy weeknight dishes ranging from pasta to pizza or burgers.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some steak fajita tacos (it is Taco Tuesday after all!) with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2012 Forgeron Columbia Valley Merlot

Today was a bit of a lazy day, running a few errands, going to the farmer's market (I bought way too many tomatoes!), hanging out with some friends and going for a bike ride before settling in for the evening.  There were some thunderstorms that came through last night, so it cooled off quite a bit today and I'm hoping to have a fire on the patio later on.  But for now it's time to enjoy a glass of wine, and in my last-minute effort to live up to Sean Sullivan's Washington Merlot Challenge, I've opened a bottle of 2012 Forgeron Cellars Columbia Valley Merlot, so let's see how this one has matured!

The wine exudes aromas that brings me back to the barrel room, cool air and musty aromas of French and American oak intermingled with jammy fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum.  The taste is complex continuum of smoke, black fruit and dusty minerality that circle your palate.  The tannins are exceptionally smooth and well integrated to bring forth a delightfully dry finish that practically begs to be paired with food.  I think I can accommodate, but first I am going to enjoy the remaining sips in this glass as I cook.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a wonderful Merlot that has matured to the point where it would be hard for it not to be a great drinking wine.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from steaks and chops to pasta and risotto, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with some steak tacos topped with some of the aforementioned tomatoes, fire roasted peppers, baby lettuce and avocado.  Cheers!

Reininger CPR Fifth Edition

Happy Sunday!  Ok, I have to admit after looking at my blog to see which of the past editions of CPR I've reviewed, it seems I've only done the odd ones, with the first edition here and the third edition here it seems like I've completely ignored the second and fourth, even though I know I have bottles of them around here somewhere!  In any case, I recently received an e-mail about the sixth edition, so I thought it might be good to open a bottle of the fifth!  For those unfamiliar, the CPR wines are the chance for Chuck Reininger to explore and create wines with multiple varietals across multiple vintages to create a truly interesting blend.  The fifth edition is composed of Syrah (25%), Carmenère (13%), Malbec (13%), Cabernet Sauvignon (12%), Merlot (12%), Sanvgiovese (11%), Cabernet Franc (7%) and Petit Verdot (7%)  sourced from six different vineyards across vintages from 2005-17.  So let's see what the fifth edition has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass while the nose presents aromas of black cherry, blueberry and blackberry, amid undertones of dried spices, anise and meat.  The taste is a rush of blackberry, cherry and currant that dance on your palate before transitioning to some notes of black pepper spice and caramel midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully structured and expertly integrated into the wonderfully smooth and dry finish that surprises your with just a hint of Bordeaux-esque at the very end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's just a delightfully interesting and complex wine that shows you new sides to itself with every sip.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, but you likely won't notice as this wine will likely steal top billing from whatever dinner you're serving.  Even so, tonight I am pairing this wine with something special, a grilled Picanha steak that I recently bought from the Kansas City Steak Company, along with some grilled chili peppers, leeks, oven roasted baby potatoes and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  For those unfamiliar with Picanha, it's a sirloin cap with a big cap of fat that is served in Brazilian steakhouses on a large skewer, with the tenderness of a filet and the flavor profile of a ribeye (you can learn more by watching this video.  Cheers!

2013 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Petit Verdot

Happy Taco Tuesday, guess what I'm having for dinner?  Well, it's been a busy day and I'm happy to have a chance to relax and enjoy some dinner and a nice glass of wine tonight.  And for this momentous mid-week excursion, I've opened a bottle that I stumbled upon in the cellar over the weekend, the 2013 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Petit Verdot.  Last week, Seven Hills founder and wine maker Casey McClellan did a virtual tasting of some of these less popular varietals, so I suppose I was inspired.  Let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center, with some bright garnet hues along the edges.  The nose is an intriguing combination of black fruit, sweet cherry, lavender and mineral notes that just make me feel like I'm enjoying a glass of wine in an old college library.  The taste is a rush of cherry cola and blackberry that transitions to notes of sweet-tarts (yes the candy!) and dusty mineral essence midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated and supportive of the wonderfully smooth, dry finish with a bit of bright acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a really pleasant drinking wine that is representative of a fabulous varietal that you don't often get to enjoy.  This wine would pair well with steaks and chops, pizza and pasta, but since it's taco Tuesday, tonight I'm enjoying this wine with steak tacos!  I had some trimmings from a whole tenderloin I bought last weekend after slicing some nice filets, so I seared those with some spices and sauteed them them with onions and peppers and created some fajita tacos.  Cheers!

2016 Mount Veeder Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

It's Thursday and the week is starting to feel like it's winding down!  Tonight, I've decided to open a bottle of wine I received as a gift from a fellow cast member in the Elkhart Civic Theatre production of the Music Man last month, the 2016 Mount Veeder Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  My friend did a wonderful job selecting this wine as I've been a fan of Mount Veeder Cabernet since the 2008 Vintage (you can see that review here).  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Napa Cabernet.  The nose is a luxurious basket of leather, blackberry and plum with just a hint of smoke.  The taste is classic big Napa Cabernet, with a rush of black fruit and cherry cola that transitions nicely to some notes of white pepper spice and anise midpalate.  The tannins are robust in their youth, providing for an exceptionally smooth and dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderfully fresh example of the varietal, but would likely benefit from a few years in the cellar.  This wine is screaming to be paired with a big juicy steak, and thankfully I can oblige.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime New York Strip, grilled asparagus and some smashed purple potatoes with parsley and white truffle butter.  Cheers!

2016 Michel-Schlumberger Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I've just come home from an eye appointment with good news on my recovery from eye surgery as the doctor said everything looks great, so why not celebrate?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out, but is one I've enjoyed for at least a few vintages, the 2016 Michel-Schlumberger Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon from the Oakville District in Napa Valley.  This wine sourced from Sophia's Vineyard consists of Cabernet Sauvignon (97%) and a touch of Cabernet Franc (3%).  So let's get to it!

The wine is a typical deep garnet color in the glass which is typical of a nice Napa Cabernet.  The nose expresses abundant anise, leather, violets and ripe black fruit.  The taste is a rush of ripe blackberry and cherry that transition easily to notes of tar, graphite and a bit of white pepper spice midpalate.  This wine is very much crafted like a fine Bordeaux with a good bit of funk throughout.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing for a long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers just a bit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking and surprisingly old world style of Cabernet, and it was a good value at just $30.  This wine would pair well with steak, hearty pasta dishes, or Sunday pot roast without much effort, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled, prime 28-day dry aged sirloin I picked up from Eataly in Chicago on Monday, grilled rare and topped with a bit if white truffle butter, along with a honkin' baked potato and some grilled cauliflower.  Cheers!

2013 D'Angelo Sacravite Rosso Basilicata

Happy Friday!  It's been a bitterly cold week and I am ready for the springlike temperatures in the 30s projected for this weekend!  We were smack in the middle of the Polar Vortex this week, with highs below zero for much of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, reaching a new record low of -22, so today it seemed almost balmy getting up near 20 degrees!  And with such a heat wave, it's time to open a nice bottle of wine, and tonight it's the wine for the February wine club selection, the 2013 D'Angelo Sacravite Rosso Basilicata, a 100% Aglianico from the Basilicata region of Southern Italy.  I've had a variety of experiences with Aglianico, from lighter floral wines to heartier, earthier wines, so let's see where this one lies.

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose presents aromas of ripe black fruit, plum, cherry and boysenberry with undertones of lavender and rose.  The taste is wonderfully approachable, with a rush of ripe berry that just screams Italian, before settling into some notes of dark chocolate and mocha midpalate.  The tannins are robust but well integrated, giving wonderful structure to the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very easy going and food friendly red wine and a terrific value at just $10.  This wine would pair well with a broad array of dishes, from steaks and barbecued ribs, to pasta and pizza.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Friday night dinner of steak and tots, with a rare grilled prime New York strip over a bed of grilled leeks and some classic tater tots.  Cheers!

2015 Sleight of Hands "The Psychedelic Syrah"

Happy Friday!  Hopefully you got all your black Friday mojo out of your system, I know I did and now it's time for a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I bought when I was visiting Walla Walla last Spring and had a chance to meet Trey Busch and the team at Sleight of Hands Cellars, the 2015 Psychedelic Syrah, from the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, Oregon.  This wine is a 100% Syrah, from the Stoney Vine Vineyard, which is an ancient riverbed characterized by softball size rocks (which Trey is so proud to show off!).  This vintage follows the 2014 which was my 2017 wine of the year (see here), so it has some big shoes to fill, let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a wonderful garnet color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose is a wonderfully earthy cascade of olive tapenade, smoke, leather, earthy mineral notes overlaid with ripe black fruit, blackberry and currant with an undertone of mint.  The taste is a psychedelic combination of ripe black fruit, heavy earth tones, a hint of lavender and some green olive that just swirl in your mouth and in your mind.  The tannins are thick and chewy, enveloping your palate and setting the perfect stage for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's likely one of the best examples of Syrah I've enjoyed this year, and I think it's grown on me since i tasted it back in April, but I still prefer the 2014 vintage.  This wine would be ideal with a lot of hearty fall dishes from lamb chops and shepherds pie to mushroom risotto or prime rib, (even Turkey, though we're a day late and a buck short for that).  Tonight I am going a little off the beaten track, as I bought a nice piece or prime brisket at Costco and decided to slow roast it today and make brisket tacos for dinner.  The earthiness of the wine is a perfect accompaniment to the richness of the brisket.  Cheers!

2014 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Merlot

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I've decided to open a nice bottle of Merlot, and a bottle that will likely be a wine club selection soon, the 2014 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Merlot.  This wine is a Merlot blended with a bit of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon that likely provides a bit of added heft and complexity.  I also selected this wine based on what I'm having for dinner, which I began cooking at lunchtime if that provides you any hints.  So let's see how this wine tastes. 

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with deep, inky purple at the center.  The nose is a pleasant combination of ripe black fruit, green cedar and some wonderfully subtle floral undertones that exemplify the level of complexity in the wine.  The taste is classic Merlot, with a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and cassis that envelop the palate.  Midpalate, you're treated to some notes of dark chocolate and espresso with a reprise of black cherry before the wonderfully structured tannins provide for the smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderful Merlot that's boosted by the added Bordeaux varietals.  This wine would pair well with a variety of steaks and chops, fresh pasta dishes, or since we are entering the fall months, hearty stews and roasts.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic braised short ribs over mashed potatoes with chives along with some steamed broccoli.  The freshness of the wine and wonderful fruit really brings up the richness of the short ribs.  Cheers!

2015 Forgeron Barbera

Happy Tuesday!  It's been a busy week so far and it doesn't look like it will let up any before the holiday weekend, so I may as well enjoy a bottle of good wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of the recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars, the 2015 Forgeron Barbera, a 100% Barbera from the Sagemoor Vineyard in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  I picked this wine for an easy pairing with dinner, so let's see how I did!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, with bright ruby along the edges, somewhat more reminiscent of a Cabernet than a Barbera.  The nose exudes quality, with rich leather, clove and ripe black fruit, with just a bit of floral undertones.  The taste is a rush of cool, ripe blackberry and cherry up front that transitions nicely to some subtle white pepper spice notes midpalate.  The tannins on this wine are almost not to be found, leading to a lush finish that's dry, yet not as abrupt as you might find in a Cabernet.

I decided to take a photo as I was cooking tonight, just to show that I do actually cook!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a pleasant, easy drinking and food friendly wine.  This wine would pair well with a broad array of dishes, as it's just easy to please.  I would enjoy this wine with anything from steak to pizza to barbecue, but tonight I've decided to go Italian, with some chicken Italian sausage with onions and peppers and some pasta tossed with garlic and olive oil.  The fruit and low acidity in this wine are perfect with some spicy sausage.  Cheers!