2019 Stags Leap Rancho Chimiles Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  I had planned to get a lot more done than I accomplished today, but I guess I'll get over it.  At least I managed to get groceries and go to the farmers market, so I'll take the little wins.  To celebrate, tonight I am opening a bottle from a recent mystery selection from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2019 Stags Leap Wine Cellars Rancho Chimiles Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from this esteemed vineyard in Napa Valley.  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep indigo at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose presents subdued aromas of black currant, lavender and blueberries, intermingled with some hints of cedar and earthy graphite.  The first sip a rush of ripe fruit, black currant, blueberries and blackberries, that ease into some notes of dark chocolate intermingled with earthy minerality midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, adding just the right support for the voluptuous dry finish that seems to linger just the right amount.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic big, muscular Napa Valley Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from steaks to barbecue, grilled octopus to wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a very well marbled bone-in ribeye along with an assortment of grilled vegetables - leeks, asparagus, garlic scapes and peppers.  Cheers!

2006 Raymond Merlo Estate Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well it's the first Saturday of November, which means it's Cellar Saturday!  That magical time when I dig into the cellar for a wine that's been waiting to be tasted for a decade or more.  Tonight, after spending nearly seven hours working in the yard blowing and raking leaves, I could use a nice dinner and glass of wine to relax, maybe I'll even have a fire tonight!  Tonight's Cellar Saturday wine is the 2006 Raymond Merlo Estate Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, from the Oak Knoll district of Napa Valley.  So let's see what we've been waiting for!

The wine is a deep, inky color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is an interesting combination of smoke, candied plum and a hint of lavender over the top.  The taste is quite interesting, with a rush of blueberry and currant, that transitions nicely to some notes of vanilla bean midpalate.  The tannins are silky smooth, providing for a soft, voluptuous and very dry finish.  With the sweet fruit notes and vanilla, this wine is just perfect for fall, ass at least it will help balance out all the pumpkin spice!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderfully structured wine that's so very different from the typical, big and bold Cabernets from Napa Valley.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty fall dishes, from mushroom risotto to chili and stew.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip with some Bearnaise sauce, grilled leeks, steamed Brussels sprouts and a baked potato.  Cheers!

2017 Stolen Horse Syrah

Happy Wine Wednesday!  This week has gone by fast, but at least there are often new wine club shipments to enjoy mid-week, as I am doing tonight.  I received two wines in my fall shipment from the Bledsoe Family Winery, the 2017 Flying B Cabernet Sauvignon and tonight's wine, the 2017 Stolen Horse Syrah.  This wine is made from Syrah (96%) co-fermented with Viognier (4%) from the Lefore and Kenny Hill Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is shaping up.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a bit darker than you might expect from a Syrah.  The nose is chock full of sweet berry fruit, cherry, raspberry and marionberry with floral notes lingering over the top.  The taste is at first cool, with blueberry and cherry up front that gives way to some warm spice notes and earthy minerality that is characteristic of the Rocks District.  The tannins are chewy, creating some nice textural balance to the fruit and sets up perfectly for the long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a bit of a departure from previous vintages, with a more pronounced expression of Rocks fruit.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, which shouldn't be a surprise as I find Syrah to be a very food friendly varietal.  I could easily enjoy this wine with steaks, chops, stews, salmon or pasta among other dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with some barbecued beef ribs along with some oven roasted root vegetables and steamed baby Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2017 Flying B Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  This should be a relaxing day, but alas I have been working on setting up my upcoming half semester class I am teaching and getting ready for an audition at Elkhart Civic Theatre tonight as well.  So, I guess I can fit in a glass of wine amid all that activity and tonight's wine was in a recent wine club shipment from the Bledsoe Family Winery, and one which has some big shoes to fill as the last vintage was just stunning (see here: 2016 Flying B Cabernet).  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) and Syrah (25%) from the Bob Healy, Lefore, Seven Hills and Loess Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this year's vintage is tasting!

The wine is a classic inky black Cabernet with nice garnet at the edges.  The nose is a rich combination of leather, cherry, blueberry and plum with a hint of vanilla.  The taste is remarkably smooth, with ripe black fruit that sort of eases up on you, blackberry, currant and plum, that fade as easily as they came, revealing hints of vanilla bean and mocha midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, with a bit of tightness at the end of the long, smooth and wonderfully dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's just a classic Walla Walla Cabernet, but not quite to the level of the 2016 vintage.  I have no doubt this one will remain a classic in my cellar, so I'll have to ration it accordingly!  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty fall dishes, from braised short ribs to ratatouille to hearty pasta or risotto.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare Angus New York Strip along with grilled leeks and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and a baked purple potato, which is a first for me! Cheers!

2016 Giuseppe Campagnola Valpolicella Ripasso

Happy Sunday!  Sometimes on a Sunday, you just need to open a wine from Italy, and after spending the afternoon working around the house on various projects and finishing with yard work, I am in need of a nice Italian Wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2016 Giuseppe Campagnola Valpolicella Ripasso that I bought from Wines Till Sold Out a few months back.  I am a big fan of Amarone, and for a more affordable alternative, I love a good Valpolicella Ripasso, or the second pressing of the dried grapes used for Amarone.  This wine is a classic blend of Corvina (60%), Rondinella (35%) and Molinara (5%).  So let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is a wonderful deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of blueberry, currant, and cherry with hints of rosehip and graphite.  The taste is very fruit forward with a rush of cherry, blueberry and currant that transitions nicely to notes of tar and pomegranate midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, with balanced acidity to drive the long, lush and wonderfully dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a pleasant drinking and food friendly wine that's also q solid value at just $15!  This wine would be wonderful with a creamy risotto, or pasta with cream sauce as the acidity of this wine would be an ideal balance.  It would also pair well with lamb, wild game or a classic well-marbled steak as the fruit and acidity would be great to cut through the fattiness of a prime steak, which is great since tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a grilled prime ribcap along with grilled romanesco and a big baked potato with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2014 Anvil Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  The weekend is almost over, so I have one last evening to open a nice bottle of wine and spend some time making a nice dinner - after all, Sunday dinners should be something special!  Tonight I was wandering around my cellar looking for a nice bottle of wine to open, and I happened upon a bottle of 2014 Anvil Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and that was the one!  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (92%) and Petit Verdot (8%) from the Dionysus Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  Dionysus was planted back in 1988, so the older vines really tend to shape the character of the wine.  I reviewed the 2013 vintage of this wine here back in 2017, so let's see how this vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a deep, inky color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a complex tangle of earthy notes and rich fruit, leather and peat with notes of black cherry and blueberry with hints of black pepper.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, blueberry and boysenberry that transitions to some notes of pipe tobacco and a hint of mocha with some wonderful peppery spice on the finish.  The tannins are well structured and integrated, providing a nice base for the elegant and smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9 as it's got the character and presence of a wonderful old vine Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with lamb, steak, wild mushroom risotto or some hearty pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime petite filet mignon with some mashed potatoes with chives, garnished with a Merlot reduction and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts. 

If you'd like to try this wine, it's still available from Forgeron cellars at the following link.  Cheers!

2017 Mark Ryan Monkey Wrench

Well, I am continuing my celebration of Washington Wine Month (though to be honest, I thought it was in March, but to a guy like me, every month is Washington Wine Month!) and tonight I've opened a relatively recent Washington red wine, the 2017 Mark Ryan Red Wine.  This wine is about as Right-Bank Bordeaux-y a blend as you can get, with Merlot (47%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Cabernet Franc (14%) and Petit Verdot (9%) from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  I bought a bunch of this wine so I hope it's worth it, let''s see how it tastes!

The wine is a lovely inky indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon heavy blend.  The nose is fresh and young, with aromas of leather, ripe blackberry, blueberry and a hint of spice.  The taste is such the opposite of a staid Bordeaux, with a rush of jammy fruit, blackberry, plum and cassis that transitions to some notes of herb de Provence midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, providing a nice base for the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's drinking wonderfully now, but I can see the potential for this gaining in sophistication with a half decade or so in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of Preovencal dishes, fresh spiced fish, Tuna salad Nicoise, Mussels steamed in tomato broth, but it would also pair well with many summer favorites, from barbecue to grilles steaks.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip with middle eastern spices, served on a bed of arugula, with some fresh roasted root vegetables,  Cheers!

2016 Forgeron Facon Rouge Syrah

Ahhh...Sunday, a chance to catch up on my relaxation!  Today I relaxed by mowing the grass after church, and now I am ready to do a little cooking for Sunday dinner.  Of course cooking goes better with wine and tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars, the 2016 Facon Rouge Syrah, a 100% Syrah from the Blue Mountain Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA.  Now I was a bit surprised by this wine as the past few vintages of Facon Rouge have been GSM blends, but this one leaves out the G & M, so let's see what it has to offer.

The wine is a wonderful deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a Syrah.  The nose is a breath of fresh air from the French countryside, with aromas of lavender, blueberry and a hint of spice.  The taste is rush of ripe fruit, blackberry, blueberry and plum that transition to some wonderful warm spice notes midpalate.  This wine has a lot going for it, as at first it seems quite powerful in its fruit expression, but then it mellows to some soft tannins and a smooth, dry finish that completes the journey.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's just a wonderfully balanced Syrah.  You might expect this to pair well with strong dishes like roast lamb or pasta with spicy sauce, but tonight I'm taking a different approach, as I think the lovely fruit and spice notes of this wine need something more subdued to pair it with.  So tonight I'm enjoying this wine with an olive oil poached trout (my first ever attempt!) served with lemon along with wild mushroom risotto and steamed sugar snaps.  Cheers!

2005 Eeden Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Cellar Saturday!  That wonderful first Saturday of the month where I dig deep into the cellar for something at least a decade in the making to enjoy.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I picked up a couple of months ago from Wines Till Sold Out, that intrigued me, the 2005 Eeden Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  Eeden was founded in 2002 in St. Helena, in the Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley, on property that was originally owned by Berenger Family as far back as the 1930s.  The family has since replanted the vineyard with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah, for their limited production wines.  So let's see how this one tastes!

I'll preface this by noting that I have decanted the wine for a couple hours before tasting.  The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a Napa Cabernet.  The wine is exuding some wonderful Bordeaux-esque aromas, leather, blackberry, olive and a good bit of funk making this one exciting to try.  The taste is remarkably fruit forward, with a rush of cherry and blueberry at the front which gradually gives way to some wonderful mineral notes of dusty limestone and peat midpalate, before a reprise of cherry and white pepper spice at the finish.  The tannins are at once supple and structured, providing for a wonderfully velvety smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a very old-world style Cabernet, which is very unusual for Napa Valley.  This wine would pair with a variety of dishes, similar to a nice St. Emilion, it would pair well with lamb, steaks and chops, pasta or even summer barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap with grilled garlic scapes, some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2016 Seven Hills Summit View Vineyard Clone 191 Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Friday!  It's been a long week and I am definitely ready for a nice glass of wine or two this evening.  Tonight I've decided to open one of my favorite Cabernets that I just got in a shipment from Seven Hills Winery, the 2016 Seven Hills Summit View Vineyard, Clone 191 Cabernet Sauvignon!  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington, and quickly becoming a perennial favorite of mine, is it just highlights the fantastic potential of Washington Cabernet.  So let's see how this third vintage tastes!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a perfect example of the Walla Walla nose of dusty limestone intermingled with tart cherry and blueberry aromas with just a hint of spice.  The taste is just fantastic, with a rush of cherry cola, blackberry and blueberry that transitions easily to some notes of mineral, anise and warm spice notes of white pepper midpalate.  The finish is a lingering reprise of spice, with firm tannins and delightful dryness.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a fantastic example of a great Cabernet with the earthy approach-ability of Walla Walla.  This wine practically begs to be paired with a big steak, but I think it would also fare well with lamb, hearty pasta or even summer barbecue.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime New York strip, with some mashed potatoes with chives and grilled leeks and asparagus.  Cheers!

2013 Casa Natal Malbec Reserva

Good evening!  It's been a remarkably rainy week so far, and I just got back from the gym so I'm ready for a nice glass of wine with dinner.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle that I bought from Wines Till Sold Out last fall, the 2013 Casa Natal Malbec Reserva from Mendoza Argentina, a blend of Malbec (90%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%).  We know many of the best Malbecs come from so let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a deep, inky indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from the varietal.  The nose is a luxurious combination of leather, blueberry, violet and graphite that just makes you sit up and take notice.  The taste is a rush of blueberry, blackberry and plum, that transition to some notes of cocoa powder, oak and a reprise of candied plum on the finish.  The tannins are voluminous but well structured, providing for a pleasant, velvety dry finish that doesn't share the sharpness that can be found in Malbec.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very pleasant drinking wine and a terrific value for only $15.  This wine practically stands like a gaucho ready to carve up a steak, so it would be perfect with almost any cut of steak, from filet to porterhouse, but tonight I'm taking a slightly different and decidedly old school approach and enjoying this wine with a pan seared veal loin chop along with parsley buttered red potatoes and some steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2015 Charles Krug Napa Valley Merlot

I have been a fan of Charles Krug since my first visit to Napa Valley on the wine train a few years ago.  They were one of the wineries we visited and I was impressed with their facility, tasting room and history, but was most impressed by the quality and value represented by their wines. You can routinely find their Napa Valley Merlot for less than $20, I bought this bottle at Costco for $17 and thought it was a no brainer for a fan of the winery and varietal like me.  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a classic inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents earthy aromas of leather, smoke and a hint of mint that suggest subdued elegance.  The taste is a rush of cherry cola, blackberry and blueberry that transitions to some notes of pipe tobacco and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are well structured and integrated, creating a wonderful backdrop for the long, voluptuous finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a solid, food friendly Merlot at a terrific price that will have you choosing this as an everyday wine.  This wine would pair well with a variety of casual dinners, from burgers and steaks to pizza and barbecue, but tonight I've gone a bit high end.  I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime filet mignon, grilled asparagus and a big old baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2016 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's the last day of Washington Wine Month, so let's go out with a bang!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of my recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (come to think of it, I'm not sure I've even opened the 2015 vintage yet!).  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), Merlot (9%), Malbec (6%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (3%) all sourced from the Seven Hills, Octave, Pepper Bridge and Yellow Jacket Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  The 2016 Vintage was interesting in that it started out very warm, with early bud break, but then shifted to cooler weather in the second half of summer, making for some classic Walla Walla wines.  So let's see how this one fares!

The wine is dark and brooding at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is somewhat cool, with faint aromas of blackberry and blueberry intermingled with subtle notes of leather.  The taste is a rush of cherry, blackberry and cola that eases into some white pepper spice notes midpalate.  The velvety mouthfeel creates a full and lingering finish, with fine tannins providing a lingering, and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a classic Walla Walla Cabernet from a somewhat cooler vintage.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from steaks and chops, to pasta and barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime petite filet mignon, with a baked potato and some bacon roasted asparagus.  The wine is such a good friend of a delicious steak, cheers!

2015 Manu Propria Ex Animo

First let me say it’s been a couple weeks since I last posted and that’s because I had eye surgery to address a vitreous hemorrhage.  Now this eye surgery prevented me from looking at screens, or reading or watching television, or doing a lot of the normal everyday things that we're used to, including publishing blog posts. So with that out of the way, I am back officially or at least partially since I’m limited to about two hours a day of screen time in total, in 30-minute increments. So tonight I’ve decided to open a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from a new producer that came to me from Mark Ryan Winery. the 2015 Manu Propria Ex Animo Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (89%), Merlot (7%) and Cabernet Franc (4%) from the Red Willow vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington. So let’s see how this wine tastes.

The wine has a deep inky purple color in the glass, classic for Cabernet. The wine has wonderful earthy aromas of smoke, leather and peat that beckon you to take a sip. The taste is a rush of warm ripe fruit blackberries, blueberries and cherries at the outset that gives way to some mellow earthy notes midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully structured and well integrated providing nice foundation for a smooth, warm and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall I would wake this wine a solid 9 as it seems to be a really great example of the quality Cabernet that’s coming from Yakima valley AVA.  This wine would pair exceptionally well with a variety of big beefy dinners like a nice big steak or roast lamb chops or even some wonderful Italian dishes. Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a big thick prime sirloin steak grilled rare, along with some bacon roasted asparagus and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2014 Helix Syrah

Happy Sunday!  I've heard there's some sort of awards program on television tonight, but I can't be bothered with that when there is wonderful Washington wine to drink!  All day we've had these tremendous winds, so even though it's not nearly as cold as it was at the end of January, you just feel colder hearing the wind howling outside your windows.  So when it's cold, what could be better than a nice Syrah?  Tonight I've opened a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from Reininger, the 2014 Helix Syrah, a 100% Syrah from the Phinney Hill Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. So let's see if this wine can warm me up this evening!

The wine is a beautiful deep inky color, with a garnet hue along the edges.  The nose is a lovely combination of earthy peat, smoke and a bit of mushroom over some ripe black fruit and a touch of lilac.  The taste is just divine, with a rush of ripe blackberry and blueberry that rushes over your palate as the thick, chewy mouthfeel just washes over you.  This is the type of wine you just want to ruminate over for a while, as the ripe black fruit flavors subside, giving rise to some white pepper spice and a reprice of blueberry and cassis.  The tannins are expertly crafted to provide a thick and hearty feel of the wine as you enjoy the long, smooth finish that just lingers on your palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it has to be one of my favorite examples of the varietal, and in fact, might by my favorite Helix wine ever!  This wine is perfect for a wintry evening and would be ideal with a broad range of dishes, from pizza to barbecue to steaks, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic winter comfort dinner of tuna noodle casserole, just like my mom used to make.  Cheers!

2008 Fort Walla Walla Cellars Reserve Red Wine

Well, it's the first Saturday of the year and the first Saturday of the month, which means it's Cellar Saturday!  That magical time when I raid the cellar and open a bottle of something that's been around a decade or more, and since it's a new year, that means we can go back to any vintage 2009 or earlier.  Tonight I've opened a wine that I purchased on a trip to Walla Walla back in 2013 (see that post here), the 2008 Fort Walla Walla Cellars Reserve Red Wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (66%), Merlot (14%), Cabernet Franc (9%), Malbec (6%) and Petit Verdot (5%), highlighting the classic Bordeaux style blend which Walla Walla does so well.  Sadly, Fort Walla Walla Cellars didn't survive as long as this bottle of wine, as the two owners went on permanent vacation in September of 2017.  So let's see if this wine is as good as I remember it!

The wine is a deep inky purple at the center, with brighter garnet tones along the edges.  The nose presents wonderful aromas of leather, blueberry, plum and kirsch with undertones of dried herbs.  The taste is as good as I remember, a rush of lush, ripe fruit envelops the palate, blackberry, blueberry and raspberry that transitions to some wonderful notes of anise and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are supple and well integrated, providing great structure for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, and it was certainly worth bringing back a bottle in my case of checked wine on Alaska Airlines back in 2013.  This wine would pair well with many French or Mediterranean dishes, as well as steaks, chops or even barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some smoked ham, Amish butter noodles and steamed asparagus, a perfectly Midwestern weekend after the holidays meal!  Cheers!

2014 Seven Hills Walla Walla Valley Red Wine

Merry Christmas!  Yes, I know it's only Christmas Eve, but I am fairly certain I won't have any time for wine blogging tomorrow, so you take Christmas wishes when you can get them!  Tonight I am getting ready for a nice quiet dinner and to listen to our community theater radio production of "It's a Wonderful Life" which was recorded at an encore performance we did last Friday evening.  In the interim, I've decided to open a bottle I wine I recently bought from my favorite Walla Walla Winery, Seven Hills, their 2014 Walla Walla Valley red wine.  This inaugural vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Malbec (10%) and Petit Verdot (5%) from the Summit View, Pepper Bridge, Cockburn, McClellan Estate, Stone Valley, Seven Hills Vineyard, Waliser Rocks and Fire Ridge vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine is meant to highlight the terroir of the Walla Walla Valley AVA, so let's see how Casey did!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, classic for the concentrations of Cabernet and Malbec.  The nose presents earthy aromas of dusty limestone and leather, intermingled with some ripe black fruit, black pepper spice and a hint of violet.  The taste is a rush of ripe black cherry, blueberry and black currant up front that transitions nicely to some notes of caramel and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are fine and provide an inviting structure to the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I think it's a new favorite for an everyday drinking wine.  This wine would pair very well with a variety of dishes, from braised short ribs, to prime rip or ham for Christmas dinner.  But tonight I am enjoying this wine with a prime New York Strip steak grilled Pittsburgh rare, grilled leeks and asparagus and a bit baked potato with butter, sour cream and scallions.  The velvety structure of this wine is a perfect foil to a hearty grilled steak.  Cheers!

2016 Pepper Bridge Winery Walla Walla Merlot

Happy Saturday!  It's been a crazy busy month for me, and I've barely had time to enjoy a glass of wine much less blog about it!  But hopefully I will have a little breathing room before the year is over, I just got back from New York and got my Christmas trees today, so it seems like there are some things coming together for the holidays.  One side effect of being so busy is that I haven't had much time to drink all the wine that's been arriving almost daily it seems from all the wine clubs I belong to, and such is the case for tonight's wine, the 2016 Pepper Bridge Winery Walla Walla Merlot.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (78%), Cabernet Franc (14%) and Malbec (8%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Octave Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a beautiful, deep garnet color in the glass.  The nose presents inviting aromas of cherry, raspberry and leather with subtle mineral undertones of graphite and smoke.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward, with a rush of blueberry, cherry and currant - all somewhat candied fruit - that transitions smoothly to some notes of mocha and tea leaves midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured providing a great foundation for the velvety smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, though I am convinced this one is ideal for aging and I'd be happy to revisit this wine after a half decade or so in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with lamb, steak, or a variety of hearty, earthy dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip, grilled asparagus and a big old baked potato with butter, sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2016 DaMaNation

Happy Saturday!  Have you ever had one of those projects around the house that should have been quite simple but suddenly it completely spun out of control?  That happens to me a lot, which probably says a lot about my home improvement skills.  Today it was a fence post that rotted and needed to be replaced, but it was more complicated since it was also the post where the gate was attached.  No problem I thought, I got a post, bought some new screws for the hinge, this should be easy.  Then I found the concrete that the old post was mounted in, and I proceeded to break it up with a sledge hammer and a wedge.  I made it down about two feed and couldn't swing anymore, so I borrowed a 30-pound hexagonal bar that my friend had, apparently it was once used on the railroad for laying track.  So another quick job that will last until tomorrow, but tonight I really could use a glass of wine.  I've decided to open a bottle of 2016 DaMaNation, a wonderful blend of Grenache (48%), Syrah (36%) and Mourvedre (16%) from the Lonesome Spring Vineyard in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So let's see if this one will provide some relaxation after a frustrating day in the yard!

The wine is a lighter ruby color in the glass with nice clarity, classic for a quality GSM blend.  The nose presents inviting floral aromas of rose petals and lavender with undertones of ripe black fruit and basalt.  The taste is a rush of cool fruit, black plum and blueberry with a bit of tart cherry that transitions almost unnoticed to earthy flavors of olive, white pepper spice and a hint of rosemary.  The tannins are quite smooth, providing a great start to the velvety smooth and very dry finish that seems to linger.  This wine is to my mind very comparable in old world style to the many high quality GSM blends from the Southern Rhone Valley of France.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's an approachable and easy drinking wine that's quite versatile from a food pairing perspective.  I actually brought a bottle of this to Thanksgiving dinner and we enjoyed it with classic turkey dinner (something that's a challenge to pair with a red wine), but it would also pair well with hearty stews, lamb or risotto.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some panko crusted center cut pork chops, cheese risotto and steamed broccoli and red peppers.  Cheers!

2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a somewhat busy weekend that's too rapidly coming to a close, on Friday evening I had some folks over for a pre-holiday get together and then had lots of activities and work after that.  So before the official end of the weekend, I thought it appropriate to open a nice bottle of wine with dinner.  Tonight it's a recent wine club selection from L'Ecole No. 41, the 2015 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon (coincidentally, I opened a double magnum of the '09 vintage for my get together on Friday).  This wine is sourced from some of the best vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley, including Ferguson, Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Loess and Summit View, providing a broad spectrum of the Walla Walla AVA terroir.  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep inky purple in the glass, with a bit of garnet at the edges. The nose is a lovely combination of blackberry, blueberry, smoke and rose petals, suggesting a style more old world than new.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, black cherry, blueberry, currant and blackberry that envelop the palate before transitioning seamlessly to some savory herbs and wonderfully earthy notes of basalt and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are youthful, but very well structured to provide a perfect backbone to the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely example of the fine Cabernet coming from the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with a broad array of hearty dishes, from braised short ribs to lamb chops to hearty pasta, but for Sunday dinner, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye, grilled Brussels sprouts and a big, loaded baked potato.  Cheers!