2011 Mastrojanni Brunello di Montelcino

Well this is truly an occasion as Cellar Saturday, that first Saturday of the month also happens to be Independence Day and more significantly, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  With this in mind, I have gone back to my roots on my mother's father's side and have gone totally Italian.  With the melting pot, we will celebrate with a 2011 Mastrojanni Brunello di Montelcino, a wine that should be hitting its stride and one that's been in my cellar for at least a decade (more likely since at least 2012!).  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

A gentle swirl reveals aromas that will have you reminiscing of an old Italian grocery, with notes of mint, charred oak, dried spices and hints of anise.  The first sip is the heart of Tuscany, with a rush of strawberry, cherry and blackberry that smack you in the face as it to wake you from a nap before easing into some earthy tar and charred oak.  The tannins are well structured and perfectly integrated to lead you into a smooth, dry finish with a hint of tart cherry and oak at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderful Brunello that is just hitting its stride.  This wine would pair well with a range of Italian dishes from the Tuscan classics of toast with fava beans to Bisteca Fiorentina!  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a more subdued Italian American classic of hot Italian sausage (after all, you can't spell sausage without USA!) sautéed with onions and peppers along with linguine tossed with garlic scapes, asparagus and broccoli rabe sautéed in garlic and olive oil and topped with shaved parmesan.  Cheers! 

2023 Reininger Syrah

Happy Sunday!  It was a bit cloudy today, so I didn't get much done in the yard, but at least I finished the laundry, so it wasn't a complete waste.  And now I am ready for a nice Sunday dinner, which of course means that I need to pick an appropriate wine.  Tonight, I've settled on a perennial favorite, but a new vintage with the 2023 Reininger Syrah.  This wine is a 100% Syrah harvested from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's have a taste, shall we?

The nose is a rush of roasted game and fruit, with aromas of cherry, blackberry and currant intermingled with dried herbs, leather and beefy notes, amid charred oak.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry, boysenberry and currant amid dried herbs, earthy peat and dusty limestone that transition easily to some notes of tawny port bank black olive notes midpalate.  The tannins are well structured providing an ideal base for the long, smooth dry finish with a reprise of spice. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a consistent high-quality Syrah that pairs well with food.  This wine would pair well with a range of summer dishes, from summer salads to alder planked salmon, barbecued ribs to grilled brats.  Tonight, I am taking a classic approach and am enjoying this wine with a herb crusted rack of lamb over potato puree and steamed snow peas.  Cheers!

2019 Reininger Cima

Happy Sunday!  I did a lot of chores today, from laundry to mowing to transplanting some flowers and now I am ready for a nice Sunday dinner.  It's been a little chilly here lately, so I decided to opt for some warm, hearty Italian food for dinner tonight, which calls for a nice Tuscan style wine, and thus we have the 2019 Reininger Cima.  This wine is a blend of Sangiovese (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%) and Merlot (25%) sourced from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and XL Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this pairs with dinner!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with great clarity, a testament to the balance between the Sangiovese and the Bordeaux varietals.  The nose presents aromas of strawberry, red currant with undertones of leather and charred oak.  The first sip is an intriguing rush of tart cherry and raspberry that ease into some earthy notes of minerals, oak and black tea midpalate.  The tannins are firm and well integrated, providing for a classic Super-Tuscan style long dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, and although the quality is comparable to the many vintages I've tried (see my posts on the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 vintages) I find this vintage to be a bit more interesting and complex than past vintages.  This wine would pair well with friends on the patio, hearty Italian dishes, or hard cheeses and charcuterie.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a hearty bucatini with some hot Italian sausage and spicy arrabbiata sauce, a perfect Tuscan dinner on a chilly evening.  Cheers!

2021 Helix Cabernet Franc

Happy Saturday!  It's been a hectic week, but now it's time to relax with a nice dinner and glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from one of my favorite Washington producers that has been in the cellar for more than a year.  The 2021 Helix Cabernet Francis a 100% Cabernet Franc from the Weinbau Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up a half decade into its life!

The wine is a deep ruby color, with an inky black at the center, just as you might expect from this traditional blending varietal.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of leather, baking spice, blackberry and currant, a wonderfully earthy identity that will have you thinking of Bordeaux.  The first sip is a rush of warm ripe fruit, blackberry, currant and plum intermingled with earthy spice notes and smoky charred oak that will have you waiting for another sip.  The tannins are subdued, creating a nice base for a long dry finish, with a reprise of dark spice and smoke.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking wine that would be welcome at a range of occasions.  This wine would pair well with a variety of roast meats, stews and hearty pasta dishes as you transition from winter to spring.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with an ideal dinner transition between the seasons, a grilled bone-in ribeye with some oven roasted sweet potatoes with julienne green peppers and steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers! 

2015 Château Faugères St.-Émilion Grand Cru Classé

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of a new month, so it's time to raid the cellar and find a bottle that's at least a decade in the making!  Tonight, I've gone back to the genesis of my love of red wine, a classic Bordeaux, in this case, the 2015 Château Faugères St.-Émilion Grand Cru Classé that I purchased a few years ago from Wines Till Sold Out.  This particular vintage is a blend of Merlot (80%), Cabernet Franc (15%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%), so let's see how this wine has matured!

The wine seems to be as fresh as the day it was bottled, with deep ruby color throughout.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, charred oak and tawny herbaceousness that will leave you with a firm impression of classic Bordeaux funk.  The first sip is a surprising rush of ripe fruit, tart cherry, raspberry and currant that wash over your palate before easing into some notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but still an ideal foundation for the long, smooth dry finish that reminds me of springtime in Paris.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classically formed St.-Émilion with plenty of fruit, structure and funk to have Bordeaux fans standing at attention.  This wine would pair well with a range of classic French dishes, from Coq au Vin to braised lamb shank.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rather unconventional dinner of an oven roasted stuffed pork chop, steamed sugar snap peas and mashed potatoes and gravy.  Cheers!

2020 Le Piazze Rosso Toscana

Happy Saturday!  It's been a busy week, but I survived and now I am ready to do some cooking this weekend and enjoy some wine!  Before heading out to the theatre tonight, I am opening up a bottle that I bought from Wines Till Sold Out last year, the 2020 Le Piazze Rosso Toscana.  This wine is a classic super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese (70%), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%) and Petit Verdot (5%), so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with a seemingly heavier body given the impact of the Cabernet in the blend.  The nose presents aromas of leather, strawberry, ripe plum and a hint of dried herbs, classic for a Sangiovese heavy blend.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe red fruit, strawberry, cherry and plum that east into some earthy notes of dusty limestone and charred oak midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing a base for a smooth dry finish with a hint of acidity and peppery spice at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, as it's a pleasant wine at a value price, but it was not anything to knock your socks off.  This wine would pair with a range of classic Italian dishes, from risotto and pasta, to Tuscan toast.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with something completely different, a rotisserie chicken with mashed potatoes and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2022 Mount Veeder Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, after a break of spring-like weather, we were back to shoveling snow today!  That's all right, at least now we get to enjoy some wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine from Mount Veeder Winery that I recently picked up at my local market on clearance sale for only $30!  I have enjoyed wines from this producer for a while (see my reviews of the 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2016 vintages), so I've been looking forward to this one.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (82%) and Merlot (18%) from a number of Vineyards in Napa Valley.  Let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of ripe plum, cedar and baking spice with just a hint of floral undertones.  The first sip bursts forth with ample red fruit, cherry, currant and plum that ease into some smoky notes of charred oak and hints of dark chocolate midpalate. The tannins are rather supple, making for a delightfully 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 pleasant drinking wine that at the price is an ideal everyday sipper.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from lasagna to mushroom risotto, braised short ribs to classic steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with my Sunday dinner of a tomahawk ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, oven roasted purple potatoes and steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2022 Mark Ryan Winery Lucia Rose Red Wine

Happy Sunday! Forgive my lack of posts but with the end of semester and getting ready for Christmas, time has been at a premium for me!  But tonight I submitted grades and my first semester is officially in the books, so it's time for a nice Sunday dinner and a bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2022 Mark Ryan Winery Lucia Rose Red Wine,  This wine is a blend of Petit Verdot (35% from the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard), Cabernet Sauvignon (30% from block 16 of the Quintessence Vineyard), Merlot (25% from the Red Willow Vineyard) and Malbec (10% from the Henry Earl Vineyard).  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a testament to the heavy hand of these Bordeaux varietals.  The nose is chock full of ripe black fruit aromas, blackberry, currant and plum, with undertones of charred oak and meaty spice.  Take a sip and you're awash in black fruit, with a hint of sweetness that easily moves into some earthy notes of oak and peat, with anise and herbal notes.  The tannins are balanced, providing for long, smooth dry finish that lingers to you next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderful expression of a classic Bordeaux style blend from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  This wine would pair well with the holidays, just sipping on a cold winter evening in front of the fireplace.  Thinking of Christmas dinner, this would be ideal with a prime rib and all the trimmings, but tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a grilled T-bone steak, baked potato and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2020 Château Haut-Therón Malbec Cahors

Happy Saturday!  I started the day rather mellow, heading to the farmers market and then home to do yard work and that's where the trouble started!  I finished raking all the small sticks from winter and then began my annual war with the dandelions, bending over and digging up three gallon buckets of them, I'm sure I will feel it tomorrow!  In any case, it's time for a nice dinner and bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2020 Château Haut-Therón Malbec Cahors that I picked up in a $150 case sale from Wines Till Sold Out.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

I'll admit, I'm a fan of Argentine Malbec, but I am approaching this French version with an open mind.  The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you would expect from a nice Malbec.  The nose presents aromas of leather, smoky charred oak, spicy pepper and bright red berries.  The first sip is a rather surprising rush of red fruit, cherry, currant and raspberry that transition easily to notes of mint and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are very mellow, providing for a classic French smooth dry finish, that will have you forgetting that you are drinking wine at all.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very classic Malbec, but not as bold as it's long, lost cousins from Mendoza.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hard cheeses, smoked meat or a classic steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye, mashed sweet potatoes and oven roasted broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2020 Mark Ryan Winery "The Dissident" Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been cold an rainy today, so I confess I haven't done much outside of some laundry, but at least there's wine!  Tonight I am getting ready for a bit of Italian for dinner, and though I seriously thought about opening a nice bottle of Italian wine, I opted for a bottle of wine I just recently received from a special promotion by Mark Ryan Winery.  The 2020 Mark Ryan Winery "The Dissident" Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (72%), Merlot (24%), Malbec (3%) and Petit Verdot (1%) from 11 different vineyards in 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, just as you might expect from a classic Washington Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of ripe cherry, aged leather, currant and a hint of tarragon.  The first sip is a rush of sweet cherry, intermingled with charred oak, hints of tobacco and dark chocolate which transition easily to some mineral notes of dusty limestone and basalt midpalate.  The tannins are expertly structured, providing the ideal base for the long, smooth dry finish that lingers and beckons you to take another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classic example of the new world meets old world character of Washington Bordeaux style blends.  This wine is an easy drinking, hearty Cabernet, that was also a terrific value (normally $45, there is a wine club special for just $32 through the end of the month). This wine would pair well with a big steak, hearty stews, or fall pasta dishes.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some squid ink linguine tossed with some sautéed shrimp in some of my homemade sauce.  Cheers!

2020 Stolen Horse Syrah

Happy Saturday!  It's certainly starting to feel like fall, in fact we are supposed to get some frost tomorrow night!  Thankfully I made a quick call to my sprinkler guy yesterday and we got everything winterized before the first freeze.  In any case, tonight it's time for a nice dinner that might be a last hurrah of summer, along with a wine that I've enjoyed for nearly a decade (see my previous reviews of the 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 vintages).  The 2020 Stolen Horse Syrah is a Syrah (97%), co-fermented with a bit of Viognier (3%) sourced from the Loess, Flying B, Kenny Hill and LeFore 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, ideal for a nice Syrah.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of smoked meat, blackberry jam, blueberry and hints of lavender.  Take a sip and you're treated to an evolving mix of black and blue fruit, charred oak, and a bit of tart cherry before easing into some notes of earthy tar and white pepper midpalate.  The tannins are silky smooth, a perfect base for the long dry finish that will have you contemplating the depth of flavor you just experienced.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a lovely example of the varietal with a cascade of terroirs from the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from cedar planked salmon to barbecue, fall pasta to risotto.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a last gasp of summer, some barbecued beef ribs, corn on the cob and sriracha slaw.  Cheers!

2015 San Rustico Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Happy Sunday!  It's been a slow, rainy day here, though I managed a couple hours between raindrops to remove some fencing temporarily in anticipation of a tree removal tomorrow morning.  But now I'm back inside, finishing laundry and making Sunday dinner.  For tonight's festivities, I've opened a bottle of a perennial favorite Italian variety that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2015 San Rustico Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a blend of Corvina and Corvinone (68%), Rondinella (27%) and Molinara (5%), dried for three months before pressing.  So, let's see how this wonderful and interesting wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  A gentle swirl of the glass releases aromas of black cherry, kirsch and warm spices, with undertones of smoke and earthy loam.  Take a sip and your senses make and abrupt turn with a rush of sweet ripe cherry, blackberry and prune that very gradually evolves into some white pepper spice and bit of charred oak.  The tannins are nicely structured for the long, smooth dry finish with a reprise of spice notes on the very end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a very pleasant drinking wine and it was a great value at just $30.  This wine would be perfect with steaks or game meat, such as bison, elk or lamb, as well as smoky barbecue.  Tonight I've taken a different approach and am enjoying this wine with some bucatini with mussels fra diavalo, as the spice and acidity of the sauce marries well with the up-front sweetness of this wine.  Cheers!

2020 Kirkland Signature Malbec

Well, tonight's blog post is made possible almost entirely by Costco!  Of course the main reason I went there today was to get some less expensive gas, since I was on the last orange bar, and about to get the warning light on my car.  But one thing led to another and I ended up with a cart full of meat, wine, coffee and snacks!  So, to celebrate, tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Kirkland Signature Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer and what else Costco provided for this evening!

The wine is a classic Malbec, deep, inky purple in the glass with bright ruby along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of prune, black cherry and charred oak, with some undertones of pipe tobacco.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a blast of tart cherry that gradually subsides to notes of plum, blackberry and currant, intermingled with some earthy mineral notes of basalt.  The tannins are bright and well structured, providing for a rounded finish that's dry with a reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very solid Malbec and a terrific value for just $7 on sale, but it could use a year in the cellar to mellow a bit.  This wine was practically made to be enjoyed with a fatty steak, as the acidity would cut right through the richness of a prime steak.  And wouldn't you know it, Costco is a great source for prime beef, so I'm enjoying this wine with a prime tomahawk ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, along with some grilled leeks and asparagus and a big baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheers!

Eclipse Bourbon Barrel Cabernet Zinfandel

Happy Sunday!  I got a few things accomplished this afternoon, including painting the base coat of the windmill I brought home yesterday as well as smoking a large short rib plate which will be my dinner tonight.  Which brings me to the wine I've opened this evening, the Eclipse Bourbon Barrel Cabernet Zinfandel blend from the Dry Creek Valley of California.  This wine was made by a friend of mine which he does as a hobby, sourcing grapes from California and blending and aging the wine for his friends.  So, given that my dinner will be barbecued tonight, I couldn't think of a better wine than a Zin-Cab blend!

The wine is an inky color with a deep garnet color along the edges, as you might expect from such a blend.  The nose presents aromas of leather and oak, with some undertones of blackberry jam.  Take a sip and you are treated with an evolving series of black fruit, blackberry, blueberry and currant that transition easily to some notes of charred oak and mineral midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, which opened the door for some pronounced acidity on the dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, as it's a solid effort from my friend, but could be a bit more refined in complexity.  As I mentioned, this wine would pair well with barbecue, and it just so happens that I'm enjoying this wine with dinner on the patio, barbecued beef short ribs along with some mustard baked beans and sriracha slaw.  Cheers!

2019 Forgeron Cellars Estate Cabernet Franc

Happy Sunday!  I spend a good portion of the afternoon volunteering to package meals for food insecure youth in the three counties surrounding where I live at Cultivate Culinary Food Rescue.  It was two hours of hard work to pack over a thousand meals, so at least there is that!  So now I'm ready for Sunday dinner and a bottle of wine, and I guess I'll make it a complete weekend of wines from Forgeron Cellars, as tonight I've opened the second wine from the recent wine club shipment, the 2019 Estate Cabernet Franc, which is sourced from the Equinox Ridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.  This is the first wine I've had from this vineyard, so let's see what it has to offer!

The wine has a deep inky center with deep ruby along the edges, as you might expect from the varietal.  A swirl of the glass releases aromas of blackberry and leather, with floral undertones of rose petals and lavender.  Take a sip and blackberry, plum, black cherry and currant wash over your palate, a scintillating combination of black fruit sweetness, that gives way to notes of charred oak and bright acidity midpalate.  The tannins are well structured to the long, smooth dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a really well executed expression of this often overlooked varietal.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of hearty dishes, from lamb chops to steaks, roast beef to hearty vegetable stew.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!