2018 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  Last week was spring break and though it started out promising, we are ending the week with a clear reminder that mother nature rules the calendar!  In any event, tonight I have opened a bottle that has regretfully been in my cellar too long so it's well past time to open this one.  The 2018 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (91%), Merlot (6%) and Petit Verdot (3%) from the XL, Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge 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 an inky black center, just as you'd expect from a high-quality Cabernet.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of ripe black fruit, lavender, smoke and candied plum that will have you hankering for a sip.  Oh, that first sip is worth the wait, with a rush of ripe blueberry, blackberry and currant that wash over your palate before transitioning to some earthy mineral notes of dusty limestone and graphite midpalate.  The tannins are expertly integrated and well structured to provide the perfect base for a lingering dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a perfect representation of the earthy pinnacle of a great Walla Walla Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from roasted lamb to hearty beef stew, braised short ribs to mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of a grilled bone-in ribeye, blistered cocktail tomatoes and a big baked potato with butter, sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2024 Browne Family Vineyards Gigi's Garden Red Wine

Happy Saturday!  I spent the day running errands and now I am getting ready to head over to Notre Dame to do some volunteer work, rescuing food from the stadium.  But before I go, why not have a taste of the wine that I'll be enjoying by a fire when I get back?  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I bought on Thursday when I stopped at Costco, the 2024 Browne Family Vineyards Gigi's Garden Red Wine, which seemed a little premature, but I was intrigued by the painted label and the fact that this was a liter of wine rather than the standard 750 ml.  So, let's see how this new wine is tasting!

'The wine is a lighter body, with a clear ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of strawberry, candied plum, and hints of violet, perhaps indicating this might be a bit more sweet and fruit forward.  The taste is nothing that my nose expected, with a rush of tart cherry, plum and boysenberry that transition to some notes of earthy tar and some tobacco notes midpalate.  The finish is quite dry, with well integrated tannins providing for a pleasant dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it was not impressive, but it was a pleasant drinking wine for $15 per liter.  This wine would pair well with a range of cheeses and charcuterie, burgers and brats, or just sipping around a fire with friends.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared New York strip over sautéed onions and mushrooms, with steamed Italian pole beans.  Cheers!

2020 Browne Family Vineyards Bitner Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been another inordinately hot weekend, with highs in the mid- to upper-80s with high humidity, so working out in the yard today was just exhausting as I think I must have sweat through a gallon of water.  Now, I am tired and sore and ready for dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I picked up at Costco a few months back, the 2020 Browne Family Vineyards Bitner Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a classic Columbia Valley Cabernet with fruit sourced from the Browne Estate Vineyard (30%), Shaw (25%), Quintessence (17%), Red Mountain Vineyard (9%),  Blackwood Canyon (9%), Pepper Bridge (5%), and Aqualini (5%).  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a classic look for a Columbia Valley Cabernet.  The nose is a rush of leather and oak, with support from ripe blackberry, candied plum and hints of violet.  The first sip is a surprisingly fruit forward affaire, with blackberry, blueberry and plum that give way to a bit of tart cherry before heading to some toasted oak and earthy minerality midpalate.  The tannins are graceful yet firm, providing just the right foundation for the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it punches way above it's weight class (I think I bought this at Costco for around $20, but even the full retail price online is only $35).  This wine would pair well with grilled steaks and chops, roasted vegetables, cedar planked salmon or barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared New York strip with butter and rosemary, mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2022 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

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

2021 Seven Hills SHW Founding Vineyard Merlot

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

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

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

2018 Titan Octave Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I finished work early today and had a chance to play with a couple of new toys, my new Stihl backpack leaf blower and a set of radio equipped hearing protection, so I could clear leave while listening to Christmas music on the radio.  Two hours later and I can see the end of the 2021 leaf harvest in sight!  Now, ahead of the overeating that will occur tomorrow, I've decided to make a modest dinner and enjoy a bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2018 Titan Octave Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a single-vineyard Cabernet from Rutherford area of the Napa Valley AVA.  This is a limited production wine (144 cases) that I found for a terrific price at Wines Till Sold Out, so let's see how this practically newborn wine is shaping up!

The wine is an inky indigo at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Rutherford Cabernet.  A swirl of the glass releases aromas of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant with some subtle floral undertones that transition easily to aromas of fig and candied plum.  A sip reveals flavors of leather, cedar and rich black currant and raspberry intermingled with Rutherford dust that presents as a combination of spice box, cinnamon and cedar.  The tannins are vibrant and well structured, providing for a lingering dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking Napa Cabernet that presents an interesting pairing conundrum given it's evolving flavor profile.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty fall dishes, from grilled steaks and chops, to meaty lasagna or osso buco.  Speaking of veal, tonight I've taken a different route and am enjoying this wine with some Madras curry spiced veal chops along with some oven roasted baby carrots, beets and Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2018 Forgeron Zinfandel

Happy Saturday!  I apologize for the lack of posting last week as I had to be in Charlotte for work, so I     had no time for blogging (though I did have time for a few instagram posts).  So I'm back at it today, and just in time for summer to arrive.  After the arctic blast that had our lows at freezing or below over the past few weeks, this week we reached the upper 80s and I have been sweating nonstop for the past two days!  But at least with the heat it seems that it's finally time to barbecue, and what's better with barbecue than Zinfandel?  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars, the 2018 Forgeron Zinfandel, which is a pure varietal from the Alter Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA of Washington.  Let's see if this one is rib ready!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from a nice Zinfandel.  A swirl of the glass and you slowly inhale to reveal aromas of boysenberry, raspberry and leather with undertones of dark chocolate.  Raise the glass and take a sip to have a rush of candied plum and cherries wash over your palate before easing into some earthy mineral notes and a touch of graphite at the finish.  The tannins are well structured providing for an added textural component to the long, smooth dry finish that will have you quickly reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the nicest Zinfandels I've had in quite some time.  This wine would pair exceptionally well with barbecue, from ribs and chicken to pulled pork and brisket, this one would do well.  Tonight I am taking a bit of a detour from our traditional rich midwest barbecue and enjoying this wine with some smoked baby back ribs finished with some South Carolina mustard barbecue sauce, along with some coleslaw and baked beans.  Memorial Day is next weekend, but I couldn't resist starting a week early!

2006 Helix Columbia Valley Merlot

I had such high aspirations for how this day would progress, the yard work and errands that I would accomplish, and I pretty much got nothing done except spreading some GrubX on the lawn and going for a bike ride.  At least it's the first Saturday of the month, which means it's Cellar Saturday, that magical time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2006 Helix Columbia Valley Merlot, from Chuck Reininger's second label, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, classic for a nice Merlot.  A quick swirl in the glass and you can drink in aromas of candied plum, black currant, toasted oak and an array of spice notes reminiscent of an old Italian grocery.  A long sip reveals a rush of blackberry, cherry and currant that washes over you before transitioning to some wonderful earthy notes, smoke and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are well behaved, providing for a wonderfully smooth, dry finish with a kick of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a beautifully old-world style Merlot that is meant for sipping with friends.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from steaks and lamb to risotto or seared tuna steak.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a big honkin' Angus ribeye that was grilled rare, along with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and horseradish to round it out.  Cheers!

2013 Raymond Reserve Napa Valley Merlot

Happy Sunday!  I spent the afternoon catching up on a few projects, then I went for another bike ride since it was once again sunny and in the 60s.  So, now it's time for Sunday dinner, and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2013 Raymond Reserve Selection Napa Valley Merlot.  I've been on a Raymond kick for a while, but this wine I just happened to find at my local wine store, which seemed like it might have been there collecting dust for a while.  At any rate, let's see what this wine has to offer.

The wine is a wonderfully deep ruby color in the glass, a bit lighter in composure than you might expect for a Napa Merlot.  A quick swirl and a whiff reveals some rather old world style aromas of candied plum, vanilla bean and cassis, with undertones of green grass.  A sip provides a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that linger for a bit before transitioning to notes of tobacco and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are a bit sharp for their age, but wonderfully integrated for a long, very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a really pleasant drinking Merlot, that at $32 was not unreasonably priced.  This wine would pair well with a variety of meats, from steaks to lamb chops to veal, but would also be at home with barbecue or pasta.  Tonight, I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus porterhouse over some grilled leeks, with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and some mashed potatoes and gravy.  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!

2007 Liberte Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Cellar Saturday!  I don't think I can recall the last time the first of the month fell on a Saturday, so this is a bit of a bonus Cellar Saturday, that magical first Saturday of the month when I raid the cellar looking for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight I've opened a bottle I likely bought nearly a decade ago, and honestly I bought it because I loved the label, the 2007 Liberte Cabernet Sauvignon, a whimsical Cabernet from Paso Robles.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine has the classic color of a Cabernet, inky black at the center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is chock full of rich, jammy fruit that's quite reminiscent of a Zinfandel, blackberry, candied plum and black cherry intermingled with sandalwood and a bit of spice box.  The taste is remarkably vibrant despite it's maturity, with a rush of ripe fruit, black cherry, blueberry and boysenberry that transitions nicely to some earthy leather and peat, with a nice touch of peppery spice toward the finish.  The tannins are very well structured, providing a lovely foundation for the long, smooth and very dry finish, that is remarkably Bordeaux-esque.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I think this would stack up well some some prime Napa Cabernets, but as I recall, this wine was a bargain well under $20!  It would pair well with a big steak, casual summer meals such as barbecued ribs, burgers or even grilled trout.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a prime Filet Mignon grilled rare with a big baked potato, and grilled leeks and fresh asparagus (the new crop from Michigan finally came in!).  Cheers!

2016 Pepper Bridge Vineyard

Happy Sunday and Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!  I spent the weekend up in Traverse City Michigan and we did a little wine tasting yesterday, and although they make some nice wines, it's good to get back to my normal selections of big red wines, and tonight is no exception.  I have opened a bottle of the most recent Pepper Bridge wine club shipment which arrived last week, the 2016 Pepper Bridge Vineyard red wine.  This wine is made up of Merlot (48%), Malbec (26%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (26%) all from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA. So let's have a taste!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, just as you'd expect from these prime varietals.  The nose is chock full of candied plum, blackberry and cherry with solid notes of oak, graphite and a bit of black pepper.  The taste is very fruit forward with a rush of plum, black cherry and blackberry that transitions nicely to some notes of dark chocolate and black pepper spice midpalate.  There is a good bit of oak on the back end as the voluptuous tannin structure meets up with a nice bit of acidity that brings you to a surprisingly bright and very dry finish that seems to linger.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a wonderfully big, bold red wine with enough structure and sophistication to stand up to a big steak or to simply sip on the patio on a cool summer evening.  This wine practically begs to be paired with meat, from steaks to roast beef to lamb or pork tenderloin.  Of course tonight I am enjoying this wine with a prime New York strip grilled rare with some grilled leeks and oven roasted beets with applewood bacon.  Cheers!

2012 Helix Stillwater Creek Merlot

What a busy day I had today, this is the sort of day where I really need to relax with a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle from one of my favorite Washington wineries, Reininger, in this case from their second label, Helix.  I am a big fan of Merlot, and the 2012 Helix Stillwater Creek Merlot is a 100% Merlot from the Stillwater Creek and Bacchus Vineyards in the Columbia Valley.  So let's see if this wine can relieve the stress of my day!

The wine is a beautiful deep purple color at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  The nose is a cascade of earthy aromas, leather, peat and oak intermingling with ripe black fruit notes of cherry, currant and blackberry.  The taste is just lovely, with a rush of black cherry and currant that envelop the palate, only to shift to some notes of dark chocolate and candied plum, before finishing with some lovely black pepper spice.  The round tannins are ideal for the base of the long, smooth dry finish.

In his description, Chuck Reininger described this wine as a "sturdy Merlot" and I certainly agree.  I would call it stout and rotund and overall I'd rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderful Merlot and a terrific bargain at just $22!  This wine would pair exceptionally well with a nice steak, roast beef, London broil, any hearty meat dish, but tonight I'm enjoying this wine with some classic Midwest comfort food of a stuffed green pepper!  Cheers!

2014 Helix Cabernet Franc

Happy Sunday!  I've spent the afternoon raking and blowing leaves and trying to get my leaf vac to run, but without luck today (more on that in another installment of "I'm not a mechanic, nor do I play one on TV").  At least the day is done and it's time for some dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open another bottle of the recent wine club shipment from Reininger, the 2014 Helix Cabernet Franc from the Weinbau Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  Unfortunately I lost my tech sheet on this wine, but I'm confident that it's mainly Cabernet Franc, with a bit of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to bring some added complexity, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, somewhat lighter in color than a Merlot.  The nose a fabulous array of aromas, from candied plums to fresh herbs to hints of violet.  The taste is a rush of black cherry, raspberry and plum that transitions nicely to some notes of cocoa and green herbs midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tightly wound, providing a bit of a snap on the finish, which is long and extraordinarily dry, with just a hint of funk at the very end.  This is a wine that reminds me of some of the best right bank Bordeaux, with lovely fruit, earthy undertones and a great finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's only the third vintage since 1997 and this one has the potential to develop nicely over time.  This wine would pair well with a wide array of dishes, from lamb to grilled pork tenderloin, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a alder planked wild Alaskan salmon filet over a bed of baby arugula and topped with fresh pineapple jalapeno salsa with some steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2012 Dixie Flyer Vineyards "The Brakeman" Cabernet Sauvignon

Could you imagine my astonishment when I was walking through the Costco wine department and saw this label, the 2012 Dixie Flyer Vineyards "The Brakeman" Cabernet Sauvignon, combining two of my favorite things, wine and trains!  It's a rare occurrence, and this one was even more special as the Dixie Flyer was one of the named passenger trains operated by the Chicago & Eastern Illinois railroad which ran behind my house when I was growing up!  The train and railroad are long gone, but the wine is still here, so let's taste!

The Cabernet is from Paso Robles, which in my experience usually has somewhat lighter color and body, with a somewhat more approachable fruit forward taste than your typical big, bold Cabernets.  This characteristic is certainly true of this wine, with a lighter, garnet color with great clarity.  The nose is a playful combination of green grass, blackberry and cotton candy.  The taste is quite nice, some black fruit up front, blackberry and candied plum, that transitions nicely to some mocha and dark chocolate notes midpalate.  The finish is brief, with some very mellow tannins supporting a last bit of fruit that rounds out to be quite dry in the end.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's a pleasant, easy drinking everyday wine at a value price (I think I paid around $12 for this at Costco).  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a very un-Cabernet sort of pairing, some baked cod with garlic mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus!  With all the fish on sale for lent, I've suddenly found the urge to eat more fish, at least the fruit in this wine really doesn't overpower the more subtle flavors of white fish.  Cheers!

2010 Ryan Patrick Vineyards Rock Island Red

So I happened to stop by my local wine store today, just to see if they had anything interesting to buy, and surprise, I found something!  Well, first I found a bottle of 2009 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon for only $39, so I picked that up.  Then I happened upon two other Washington wines from Ryan Patrick vineyards, which is based in Mattawa, Washington, to the northwest of Walla Walla and right in the heart of the Columbia Valley neat the Wahluke Slope.  So I picked up a couple bottles and tonight I've opened the 2010 Ryan Patrick Rock Island Red, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (58%), Malbec (34%) and Syrah (8%).

The color is a nice deep garnet in the glass.  The nose is quite pleasant with notes of ripe, candied fruit, plums and cherries and marionberries, with a hint of cocoa powder and some faint floral notes. The taste is not at all what I expected, rather than a rush of jammy fruit I was hit with some smooth cherry cola and vanilla notes overlaid with just the slighted spice midpalate.  The tannins are round and supple, making for a velvety, smooth dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a solid red blend at a very good price of just $20.  Tonight I am pairing this wine with a lovely prime top sirlion, grilled rare and served with some grilled leeks, Brussels sprouts and baby golden beets atop a bed of baby kale.  The mellow fruit and big flavors of this wine make it a perfect wine for a big grilled steak, but it would be great with a variety of more rustic dishes, or just by itself, which is how I'll enjoy it after dinner!  Cheers!

2005 Massimo Rivetti Barbaresco Riserva "Serraboella"

Happy Wine Wednesday!  To help celebrate this fine mid-week wine day, I've decided to open a bottle of 2005 Massimo Rivetti Barbaresco Riserva "Serraboella" a nice red wine from the Piedmont region of Italy, which you guessed right, is made from 100% Nebbiolo!  I just received this wine today at the office, having ordered a couple bottle last week from Wines Till Sold Out.  Now I'll be the first to admit, I'm somewhat hit or miss on Nebbiolo-based wines, as there are some Barolos that I find amazing and others that I can't stand, though the odds of me liking them definitely increases with age, particularly once a wine reaches the 10-year mark.

This wine is a deep ruby in the glass with great clarity.  The nose is very inviting, with aromas of tart cherry over some nice earthy notes of smoke, tar and cedar.  The taste takes be back to Italy, with some wonderful flavors of anise intermingled with cherry and candied plum at the outset, which quickly transitions to some earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The bright tannins support a velvety mouthfeel and an exceptionally long, dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a fine example of the wine that was a descent value at $26.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some classic northern Italian wild mushroom risotto with some lovely shaved asiago on top.  The lovely fruit notes perfectly complement the earthiness of the risotto, but it would also pair well with classic pasta dishes with a variety of sauces or a lovely grilled steak.  Cin cin!

2010 L'Ecole No. 41 Seven Hills Estate Merlot

Have you ever made it to the end of the day and felt like you've just been beaten up?  That's how I feel today, after trying to get my house decorated for my upcoming Christmas party next weekend not to mention that I still have a lot of cleaning to do, particularly vacuuming spruce needles!  Oh well, I'll get it done soon enough, but until then it seems only appropriate to open a nice bottle of wine at the end of the day, and tonight it's one of my favorite varietals from one of my favorite wineries, the 2010 L'Ecole No. 41 Seven Hills Estate Merlot, which is actually a blend of Merlot (78%), Cabernet Sauvignon (13%) and Cabernet Franc (9%).

The wine is a beautiful rich ruby color in the glass, with a nice dark indigo at the center.  The nose is quite inviting, with aromas of black cherry, green cedar, and a hint of fresh herbs.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry and a hint of candied plum, which transition smoothly to some earthy elements of tar, toasted oak and pepper midpalate.  The finish is remarkably earthy, with integrated tannins supporting the long, smooth dry finish that leaves you wanting another sip.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's drinking very well now, but given it's from a strong vintage it will no doubt improve with some time in the cellar.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a nice petite sirloin, grilled rare, along with a big baked potato and some grilled Brussels sprouts.  A Merlot like this one is a sure bet to pair well with a nice steak house sort of dinner.  Cheers!