2023 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Franc

Happy Sunday!  It was another hot one here today, with temperatures in the 90s and high humidity, so I did just a little bit of yard work, then mowed, and then went for a bike ride, so now I need some air conditioning and a nice glass of wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from Seven Hills Winery, the 2023 Walla Walla Cabernet Franc is a 100% Cabernet Franc sourced from the McClellan Estate and Summit View Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, here goes nothing!

The wine is a little lighter in body, with great clarity and a lovely ruby color in the glass.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of black currant, raspberry and tart cherry with hints of prune and white floral notes.  The first sip is fruity adventure, with a rush of ripe, jammy berry fruit that completely covers your palate with a rich velvety mouthfeel, and before you realize what's happening, you are introduced to some earthy tar and tobacco, before being slapped back with a spicy dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the most fun and inviting examples of this often overlooked varietal.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of dished, from broiled trout to steak au poivre, barbecued ribs to street tacos.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a grilled porterhouse topped with garlic scapes, with roasted baby beets and steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers! 

2019 Forgeron Anvil "The Minnick" Proprietary Blend

Sunday has been a rather relaxing day, I did a couple loads of laundry and now I am having an early dinner before heading out to an audition at my local community theatre.  For no reason other than it's been sitting on my counter for months or maybe years, tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2019 Forgeron Anvil "The Minnick" Proprietary Blend.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot, meant to pay homage to the classic Bordeaux-style blends, so prevalent in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this one is tasting.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a testament to the influence of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the blend.  The nose presents aromas of black raspberry, currant and cherry with undertones of eucalyptus and hints of floral.  The first sip is a surprising rush of tawny black fruit, intermingled with hints of forest floor and white pepper spice, before easing into some hints of vanilla bean midpalate.  The fine grain tannins present the ideal structure for the velvety smooth dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, having enjoyed the vintages going back to 2017, this is a perennial favorite for Walla Walla blends.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from hearty pasta to lamb, steaks to barbecue.  Tonight, I am going a bit off the beaten path and enjoying this wine with some herb crusted cod and bucatini tossed with asparagus and broccoli rabe sautéed in garlic and olive oil.  Cheers!

2020 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It was a rather relaxing but productive day for me, doing some work, chores and getting to the gym, so I figure I deserve to open a really good bottle of wine, so tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon!  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (89%), Merlot (6%), Malbec (3%) and Petit Verdot (2%) sourced from the McQueen, LeFore, Bob Healy, Figgins, Flying B, Loess Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  I've reviewed this wine since the 2011 Vintage (you can see the posts here), so let's see how this vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, just what you'd like to see in a high-end Cabernet.  The nose exudes notes of leather, subtle floral notes under black fruit that hearken back to an eighteenth century library.  The first sip is a subdued combination of black raspberry, cherry and plum amid toasted oak, that transitions to notes of vanilla and baking spice.  This wine has such a velvety mouthfeel it's ridiculous, as the rich tannins provide for a voluptuous dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's just a spectacular Cabernet from a somewhat challenging vintage.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from rack of lamb to braised short ribs, wild mushroom risotto to thick steaks.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with my Sunday dinner of pan seared New York strip, steamed asparagus with hollandaise and a baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheers!

2019 "The Pledge" Malbec

Happy Sunday!  It's the last Sunday of the month, which means it's "Dinner in the Diner" day, when I make a recipe from the golden age of passenger rail travel in the United States.  We'll get to that later, but first there is wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I purchased recently from Costco, the 2019 "The Pledge" Malbec is an interesting wine made from fruit harvested from vineyards with vines that are more than a century old all throughout Mendoza, Argentina.  This seems to be an interesting concept, so I can't wait to try it!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Malbec.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, black cherry, anise and hints of oak.  The first sip is a rush of ripe berries, black raspberry, blueberry and currant that dance around your palate before inviting some mineral notes of dusty limestone and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and understated, but they work the background to support the long, smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a very pleasant drinking Malbec, that like so many wines from Mendoza is also a terrific value at just $15 at Costco!  This wine would pair well with many classic gaucho meals, from grilled steaks and chops to classic Yankee pot roast.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some home style beef stew based on the recipe from the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad.  The C&O wasn't as well known for famous named passenger trains, but their dining cars featured many recipes from the old south, including Maryland and Virginia.  And please don't worry, I cut down this recipe from the quantities listed to something more manageable, as I didn't have a full dining car to serve tonight!  Cheers!

2021 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Well hello there!  It's been almost a week since we've talked, and now that work is getting back to a more normal pace, I am hopeful that I can enjoy some of the wines that have been stacking up around my house.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a wine club shipment from one of my favorite Walla Walla wine makers, the 2021 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (79%), Petit Verdot (7%), Malbec (7%), Syrah (5%), Carménère (1%) and Petite Syrah (1%) from the Walla Walla 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 nice Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of black cherry, black raspberry and currant, with undertones of spice box and vanilla bean.  The first sip and you're awash with wonderful black fruit that coats your palate before easing into some notes of dark chocolate, black tea and some dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are well structured to provide the foundation for a very Bordeaux-esque style dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a very respectable Walla Walla Cabernet that's also a terrific value at just $35, before any wine club discounts.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty and rustic dishes, from braised short ribs to grilled lamb, but more than anything, this wine would cry out for a big, juicy steak.  Well, wouldn't you know it, my local market had ribeyes on sale, so tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye with sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms, corn on the cob and steamed brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2019 DaMa Walla Walla Cabernet Franc

Happy Sunday!  I was in full holiday mode today, watching Christmas movies while writing out cards and wrapping presents, and now it's time to wind down with a little dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of  2019 DaMa Wines Walla Walla Cabernet Franc.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Franc from the XL Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  I know some of the best Syrah I've tasted came from XL, so hopefully it does as well with Cabernet Franc!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, dark at the center, just as you'd expect. A gentle swirl reveals aromas of Italian herbs, with some spicy pepper and a hint of oregano amid rich notes of ripe black plum.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of black fruit, plum, raspberry and cherry, with an undertone of tawny port, that easily transition to some mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a velvety mouthfeel as you ease into the long, smooth dry finish with a bit of mocha at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the better examples of a pure Cabernet Franc that I've tastes.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from steak to lamb, hearty pasta to shepherds pie.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a taste of the Pacific Northwest, as my local market had fresh sockeye salmon on sale, so I've enjoying this wine with a pan seared sockeye filet along with some linguine sautéed in garlic and olive oil and tossed with asparagus and broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2021 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Franc

Happy Saturday!  I have been trying to relax today after two busy days of volunteer work as well as some near disasters with my plumbing and A/C on Wednesday, it's been a challenging week to say the least.  And that my friends is why the Lord gave us wine to cheer our hearts.  Tonight I've opened up a wine club exclusive bottle from Seven Hills, one of my all time favorite wineries in the Walla Walla Valley.  The 2021 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Franc is a 100% Cabernet Franc sourced entirely from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass with excellent clarity.  A gentle swirl of the glass releases aromas of black cherry, vanilla bean and toffee with undertones of peppercorn and a hint of sage.  As the first sip washes over your palate, a rush of ripe cherry, black raspberry and plum tickle your senses, before evolving into some earthy notes of graphite and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are soft but well integrated, providing for a luxurious, smooth dry finish that seems to linger until you next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's an excellent example of pure bottling of what is historically a blending varietal, providing room for the grape to shine and highlight some of the wonderful characteristics of Walla Walla fruit.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from steaks and chops to pasta Bolognese, barbecued ribs to spicy chicken fajitas.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye, with grilled hatch chiles and poblano peppers, and oven roasted rainbow carrots.  Cheers!

2020 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Syrah

Well, after a long holiday weekend of planting flowers, cleaning off the patio furniture and grilling hamburgers and hot dogs for a dozen guests, it's nice to be back to normal.  It's funny how holidays tend to be so much more work than actual working!  So, tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from one of my long-time favorite Walla Walla producers.  The 2020 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Syrah is a 100% Syrah sourced from the Pepper Bridge (69%) and Seven Hills (31%) vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, reddish purple in the glass, with bright ruby at the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Syrah.  After some time to breathe, the nose presents a lovely cascade of aromas ranging from ripe blackberry, plum and kirsch, intermingled with leather and lilac amid undertones of earthy loam and meat.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in fruit, boysenberry, black raspberry and lingonberry that transition easily to some earthy mineral notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  The fine grain tannins are expertly integrated to support the velvety smooth, dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a fabulous example of the lovely Syrah being produced in the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with a variety of summer dishes, from grilled pork tenderloin to barbecued ribs, steaks to caprese salad.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a grilled veal loin chop with herbs de Provence along with Portobello mushroom farro and grilled asparagus.  Cheers!

2011 Jericho Canyon Vineyard Napa Valley Block 16 Restoration Merlot

Happy Saturday!  I've been running errands today as well as completing some repair projects around the house before heading off to some dinner with friends.  But before I go, I must review a wine sine this is Cellar Saturday, that magical first Saturday of a new month where I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that hasn't been in the cellar long, but still qualifies.  The 2011 Jericho Canyon Vineyard Napa Valley Block 16 Restoration Merlot is a wine I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out, and is an interesting wine, partly because a portion of the proceeds from the wine were donated to help restore wetlands in the Sacramento Valley.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting after more than a decade!

The wine is a lovely, warm ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of black cherry, toasted oak, black raspberry and baking spice.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit that encases your palate with velvety sweetness before transitioning to some earthy peat and vanilla bean midpalate.  The tannins are nicely integrated and still vibrant, providing a solid platform for the long, smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classically built Merlot with many of the age worthy characteristics you might find in Bordeaux.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from hearty pasta to big grilled steaks, barbecue to crispy skin salmon, but tonight I am just sipping this one until we head to the Mexican restaurant for a new food adventure.  Cheers!

2019 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  I spend the day running errands and it seems like I've been busy all day but haven't really accomplished much, though at least I got some groceries and found a nice photo of Yosemite at the local thrift store for only $1, so, I guess that's something.  I am also heading to a stand-up comedy show tonight featuring some friend that took a stand-up class and will hopefully be entertaining us tonight.  In any case, it's nice that Seven Hills Winery is once again able to ship directly to my house, so tonight I am enjoying a recent wine club feature from them, the 2019 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. 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.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of leather, black raspberry, cherry and a hint of violet, beckoning you to take a sip.  That sip reveals a rush of ripe black fruit intermingled with some tart cherry before transitioning to some earthy notes of dusty limestone and cocoa powder midpalate.  The tannins are silky smooth and well integrated, making for a luscious and very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic example of what a Walla Walla Cabernet should be.  This wine would pair well with a big steak, venison or lamb, but would also pair well with some hearty black bean chili or wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight I am taking the road most traveled and enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye along with some grilled leeks and asparagus and oven-roasted fingerling potatoes I picked up at the farmer's market this morning.  Cheers!

2016 Bergevin Lane Vineyards Moonspell Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy day of cooking and work, but at least this evening I have the opportunity to relax a bit with a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened up a bottle that I brought back from my road trip to Walla Walla last summer, the 2016 Bergevin Lane Moonspell Cabernet Sauvignon.  I had the chance to buy some of their 2009 vintage from a local restaurant when I first moved back to Elkhart (you can see my review of that wine here) so I was thrilled when I happened upon their tasting room on my last trip, bringing back a few bottles.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is an inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you would expect from a nice Cabernet.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of green grass, earthy limestone and hints of green herb, a breath of the Walla Walla Valley, as I took a whiff and was immediately taken back to my visit last summer.  Take a sip and you're treated with a rush of fruit, tart cherry, black raspberry and currant, that transitions effortlessly to some warm spice notes, along with some earthy minerals midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured providing a great base for the long, smooth dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a classic rendition of a Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  I really enjoyed the 2009 vintage when I tried it, and this one is no different, a refreshing taste that brings me right back to the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with big hearty meals, from steaks and chops, to Yankee pot roast, venison loin to rack of lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a bone-in bison ribeye along with some roasted golden beets and potatoes, along with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2016 Maison Bleue Voyageur Syrah

Happy Saturday!  It's been a day of intense yard work, as today was hedge trimming day!  I managed to trim all the bushes and hedges in the front yard, and my arms and back will be paying the price tomorrow, and I still need to do the back yard and rake up all the branches!  In any case, I have to clean up for the theater tonight, so I've opened a bottle of 2016 Maison Bleue Voyageur Syrah.  It's been a while since I've had any wines from Maison Bleue, despite the fact that I am a shareholder in the vineyard as they don't ship to Indiana!  But having recently visited Walla Walla, I brought back a case of Maison Bleue and Pambrun wine, so I'm set for a while!  This particular vintage is a 100% Syrah sourced from the Les Collines, Stone Valley and Yellow Jacket Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  A gentle swirl releases aromas of black raspberry, currant and ample mineral notes of graphite and dusty loam.  A sip reveals an unexpected rush of vibrant, sweet fruit, blackberry, currant and plum that dance around your palate before easing into notes of floral notes of violets intermingles with some tobacco and herb notes.  The tannins are supple bringing the finish to a climactic moment that brings you a sigh of easy satisfaction as you reach of another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant drinking classic Syrah from the Walla Walla Valley, unpretentious and approachable.  This wine would pair well with a variety of challenging dishes, from spiced Moroccan chicken, to green curry to a classic lamb.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a summery dinner of maple sesame wild sockeye along with some chilled pasta salad and sriracha slaw.  Cheers!

2018 Helix So Rhô

Happy Memorial Day!  This is a day that we honor those who gave their lives in service to our country.  It's a day that I spend each year heading to the cemetery to plant flowers on the graves of my family members.  But in addition to the more somber aspects of this holiday, it's also a time for parades and spending time with family and friends enjoying the first cookouts of the summer.  Today I am definitely participating in the food aspects, and to set the mood I've opened a bottle of 2018 Helix So Rhô, a southern Rhône style blend of Mourvèdre (42%), Cinsault (30%) and Grenache (28%) from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this one is tasting.

The wine is a beautiful garnet color in the glass, with nice clarity.  Raise the glass and you're greeted by aromas of black raspberry, currant and strawberry intermingled with an intriguing blend of dried herbs that hint at the adventure that awaits.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in ripe red fruit flavors, cherry, strawberry, plum and currant that take a easy detour to some notes of dark chocolate and black pepper spice midpalate.  The fine grain tannins make an ideal base for the long, smooth dry finish with just a slight kick of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's just another stellar vintage in a long line of successful Rhône style blends the Chuck and his team have produced.  This wine would pair well with some hard to pair dishes, like Indian curry, Moroccan dishes or even barbecue.  Which is fortunate as tonight I've made some South Carolina style barbecued chicken breasts, with a tangy mustard barbecue sauce, along with corn on the cob, pasta salad and Sriracha cole slaw.  Cheers!

2018 Reininger Carmenère

Happy Vernal Equinox!  It's been a modestly relaxing day, I spent some time with friends this morning and then went grocery shopping and stopped at the local Ace Hardware for some essentials.  The weather was nice, so I went for a bike ride and just got back in time to open a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2018 Reininger Carmenère which is a 100% Carmenère from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a nice deep, inky purple with bright ruby along the edges.  A nice whiff and aromas of black raspberry, cherry and plum intermingled with a bit of oak and olive tapenade.  Take a sip and there is a brief rush of ripe black fruit, black raspberry, cherry and currant that transitions to some notes of pomegranate and hints of white pepper midpalate.  The tannins are supple, yet well structured, providing a perfect base for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's definitely one of the better examples of the varietal I've had in a while.  This wine would stand up to a rare grilled steak as well as any Cabernet, but would also pair well with lamb, or even a spice curry.  Tonight, being it's the first official day of spring, I am yearning for summer, so I'm enjoying this wine with some barbecued pork spare ribs, along with sriracha slaw and Dr. Pepper baked beans.  Cheers!

2016 Anvil Dionysus Cabernet Sauvignon

 Happy Friday!  It's been an inordinately long week, and although I haven't posted, you can rest assured that I still consumed a lot of wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars, the 2016 Anvil Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (89%) and Petit Verdot (11%), from blocks 11 and 13 of the Dionysus Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  Since I've been ready for a glass of wine since noon, let's see what this baby has to offer!

The wine is a deep indigo at the center, with bright garnet around the edges, just as you might expect from an expansive Cabernet.  The nose is chock full of fruit, black raspberry, cherry and currant intermingled with fresh herb notes lingering over the top.  The taste is a rush of rich black cherry that dances around your tongue, beckoning the flavors of green grass, cocoa and fig to join the dance.  The tannins are nicely rounded, providing for a generous mouthfeel and a solid base for the lingering dry finish that leaves you asking for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classically formed Washington tribute to the Bordeaux of the left bank.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty fall dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty pasta with Bolognese sauce, lamb chops to hearty chili.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a big honkin' Angus T-bone steak grilled Pittsburgh rare with some grilled leeks and Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2012 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Tonight I just felt like opening a big Napa Valley Cabernet, and I remembered that I had a couple bottles in the cellar from the very strong 2012 vintage, so why not have a go?  On this fine Monday evening, after all the rain has finally paused, I've opened a bottle of 2012 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend from their estate vineyard along with a number of other quality vineyards in the valley.  So, let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, as you might expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose is a lovely combination of black raspberry, marionberry and plum with undertones of leather and kirsch.  The taste is classic Napa Cabernet, with a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, plum and cherry that transition nicely to some notes of white peppercorn, dark chocolate and dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are sturdy and nicely structured to carry the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a great effort from a strong vintage, but didn't quite have the wow factor of some other Cabernets.  This wine practically begs to be paired with a big ol' steak, so I'll oblige and enjoy this one with a rare grilled ribeye with some grilled asparagus and a big baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheers!

2017 Lu & Oly Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Monday!  It was a busy day today and it seemed like I didn't get nearly as much accomplished as I had hoped, but at least there is wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of a recent purchase from Mark Ryan Winery, the 2017 Lu & Oly Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is named after Mark's daughters and is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (25%) and Malbec (15%) all from the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, though just a touch lighter than your typical big bold Cabernet.  The nose is a tempting combination of candied cherry, raspberry and a hint of cedar that beckon you to take a sip.  The taste is a surprising rush of rich black cherry, black raspberry and blueberry that transitions to notes of cocoa powder and a bit of spice midpalate.  The fine tannins and somewhat subdued acidity provide a nice base for the lingering dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a terrific everyday drinking Cabernet, particularly at a full retail price point of just $30!  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dished, but who are we kidding, a great Cabernet just demands to be paired with a nice steak and tonight I'm enjoying it with a thick cut New York strip grilled rare along with some grilled leeks and broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2016 Forgeron Cellars Merlot

Well, Sean Sullivan launched the Washington Merlot Challenge last month, which I accepted.  This means I'm committed to enjoying at least one Washington Merlot each month throughout 2020, so tonight is the second installment with the 2016 Forgeron Cellars Merlot, a 100% Merlot from the Minnick Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  This wine was a very limited production of just 181 cases, so let's see how this special wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, more reminiscent of a Cabernet as is somewhat more common for Washington Merlot.  The nose presents earthy aromas of dusty limestone amid luxurious aromas of leather, black raspberry and violets.  The taste is a complex layering of black fruit that builds to a crescendo of black raspberry, cherry and plum before transitioning effortlessly to notes of vanilla bean and a hint of spice midpalate.  The tannins are expertly structured and provide and ideal foundation for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just an extremely pleasant drinking example of a varietal that's out of favor but still abundantly pleasurable.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from classic steaks and roasts to hearty pastas.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled veal loin chop along with oven roasted fingerling potatoes and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

Reininger CPR Third Edition

Happy Boxing Day!  Well as with all the holiday rush, I confess I've been sorely neglecting the wine blog, and for that, I apologize.  Now that the rush is over, I have time to do more, though don't get too excited as it seems I'm also battling a cold which could hamper my wine blogging efforts.  To make up for that, I've opened up a bottle of very unique wine to share with you tonight, the Reininger CPR Third Edition.  Of course, the CPR represents Chuck Reininger's initials, and this wine comes in editions rather than vintages, as you see, this wine was inspired by the Solera blending tradition, where each year they bottle 20% of the wine and replace it with wine from the new vintage.  As a result you have a wine consisting of eight varietals from nine different vintages!  I reviewed the inagural edition here: CPR First Edition and had a chance to barrel taste the third and fourth editions on a visit to Walla Walla in 2017 (see: here), and since I was in an odd mood, I decided to skip the second edition and go right to the third tonight.  This edition is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (26%), Syrah (19%), Cabernet Franc (16%), Petit Verdot (10%), Merlot (9%), Malbec (7%), Sangiovese (7%) and Carmenere (6%) from the Ash Hollow, Pepper Bridge, Phinny Hill, Seven Hills, Stone Tree and XL Vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA from vintages spanning 2005-13.  So let's see how this intriguing blend is tasting!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose exudes a cascade of wild berries, amid earthy aromas of leather, cardamom and some delicate floral notes.  The taste is a rush of cool black fruit, black raspberry, cherry and plum that excites the senses before transitioning to some wonderful notes of vanilla bean, a hint of cedar accentuated by some white pepper spice.  The flavors just dance around the palate until the fine grain tannins and delightful acidity cut in to establish a dramatic finish that lingers for what seems like hours.  This is certainly a wine that could pair exceedingly well with a variety of food, but it's also the kind of wine that will continue to develop nuances of flavor as you sip it throughout an evening.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a delight to drink and experience the evolution of flavor over an evening.  It's also a very food friendly wine as I could see myself enjoying this wine with everything from steak to barbecue, tacos to oven roasted salmon, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled petit prime New York strip, with some grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes with a merlot reduction.  Cheers!

2015 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Carmenere

Happy Saturday!  I've been rushing around the house trying to get caught up on laundry and picking up branches knocked down in the recent storms that rolled through, and now I'm ready for dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened up a bottle from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, Chuck Reininger, a man that I really identify with in terms of winemaking style.  The 2015 Reininger Carmenere is a 100% Carmenere from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, ideal for the varietal.  The nose is chock full of juicy ripe fruit, black raspberry, cherry and blackberry over hints of earthy leather and oak.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward, but not an in-your-face fruit bomb, with rather delicate flavors of black cherry, raspberry and plum intermingled with a hint of vanilla that transitions nicely to some notes of dried herbs and white pepper midpalate.  The tannins are remarkably well structured for such a young wine, providing the ideal foundation for the long, velvety dry finish that practically compels you to take your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's consistently one of my favorite examples of the varietal.  This wine would pair very well with hearty meat dishes, from steak to smoked brisket to traditional barbecue, but tonight I'm enjoying this wine with some chorizo tacos.  The smokiness of the chorizo really pairs well with the dark fruit and earthy character of this wine.  Cheers!