2025 DaMa Wines Grenache Blanc

Happy Sunday!  This is indeed a rare occasion as tonight I am opening a bottle of white wine to enjoy with my dinner.  I recently received this wine in a wine club shipment, and I am excited to try it with a Sunday dinner that really calls for a white wine.  This wine is a 100% Grenache Blanc from the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington, so let's see what this new wine has to offer.

The wine is a crystal clear white in the glass with hints of white grapefruit color.  The nose presents aromas of bright citrus, pineapple and a hint of pear, surely as the winemaker suggests, sunshine in a glass!  The first sip is a rush of tropical fruit intermingled with green apple, course mineral notes and ample vibrant citrus that transitions to some notes of white floral midpalate.  This finish is crisp and dry with plenty of acidity along the way, a perfect sip for a warm and humid evening on the patio as I am experiencing tonight!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it seems to be altering my perception of white wine, and I could see myself enjoying this throughout the summer!  This wine would pair well with such a broad range of dishes, from spicy Thai or Indian, to seared sea scallops or pan seared halibut.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic Midwest Sunday dinner of bourbon crusted chicken thighs, steamed asparagus and corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2008 Sommavite Brunello di Montalcino

Well, it's the first day of December and also the first Saturday of the new month which means it's Cellar Saturday!  Last month I totally forgot to open a wine more than a decade old on the first Saturday of the month, so for that I apologize.  In any case, tonight I've opened a bottle of 2008 Sommavite Brunello di Montalcino.  I am a huge proponent of letting the great Italian wines like Brunello and Barolo wait for at least a decade from the vintage before they are ready to drink, and this one is just about ready.  So let's see what this epitome of Sangiovese has to offer!

The wine is a nice ruby color in the glass, with hints of amber along the edges.  The nose is classic Brunello, with hints of cherry intermingled with leather, dried spices, coarse mineral notes and a light floral overtone.  The taste is somewhat fruit forward with a rush of cherry and red currant with light mint overtones that transitions nicely to some earthy notes of tar and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are velvety and nicely integrated for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a nice example of a good quality Brunello that's had some time to develop in the bottle.  This wine would be ideal with hearty Italian pasta, fall mushroom risotto, or a classic bistecca alla fiorentina.  Tonight I am heading in the latter direction, enjoying this wine with a prime New York strip grilled Pittsburgh rare (half the bistecca anyway) along with some sauteed onions and peppers, grilled asparagus and a big old baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2007 Domaine du Grand Tinel Chateauneuf du Pape

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of a new month, that magical day when I raid the cellar and open a bottle that's at least 10 years from harvest.  Tonight I've decided to open a wine of the Pope, the 2007 Domaine du Grand Tinel Chateauneuf du Pape, a classic blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre that traces its roots back to when the Pope was a French resident!  So let's see how this wine has matured!

The wine is a deep ruby color, a tribute to the Syrah in the blend.  The nose is a classic combination of green grass, floral notes and rich black fruit notes.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward with a rush of plum, black cherry and currant that washes over the palate before transitioning to some course mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are quite reserved, providing for a wonderful, long, smooth and dry finish, with a reprise of blackberry at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a lovely example of a nice, approachable Chateauneuf du Pape.  This wine would pair nicely with southern Mediterranean dishes, to fresh shellfish, to classic pasta dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with panko crusted chicken, creamy pesto penne and haricots verts.  Cheers!

2014 Maison Bleue Frontiere Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  Today I've opened a bottle of wine from Maison Bleue, a wonderful producer of great quality Grenache and Syrah from Walla Walla.  But this time I've gone a different route and opened a new bottle of their 2014 Frontiere Cabernet Sauvignon, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Waliser Vineyard in the Rocks AVA in the Walla Walla Valley.  Given my dinner choice tonight, I needed a good Cabernet, so let's see how this one stacks up.

This is my first wine from the Rocks, and I've been hearing positive things about this AVA.  The area is mainly alluvial material washed down the Blue Mountains by the Walla Walla River, resulting in soil dominated by large cobblestones.  This enhances drainage prompting roots to go deeper, and more heat deeper in the soil, which comes through in this wine.  The wine is an inky black color at the center with lovely garnet hues along the edges.   The nose is quite interesting, with a soothing combination of coarse mineral notes, cassis and mint that are somewhat unexpected.  The taste is a real departure for a Cabernet, with some lovely notes of red and black currant up front that transition nicely to some mineral notes of dusty granite over notes of tobacco and black tea leaves.  The tannins are firm and provide for a velvety, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderfully structured and pleasant drinking Cabernet that would pair well with anything from steak, to pasta to hearty stews.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a USDA Prime cowboy ribeye, along with a big ol' baked potato and some grilled broccoli rabe.  The wine really holds up well to the steak, as the acidity nicely cuts through the richness of the steak.  Cheers!

2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee

Oh, happy Sunday!  I finished all of my chores, so many (whoever thought you'd have more chores as an adult than you ever had as a child?), I mowed, I planted, I changed the filters on the furnace, but now I'm done and ready for a break.  And what better break than to open a bottle of wine from one of my longtime favorite Washington producers, L'Ecole No. 41.  Tonight it's the 2013 Apogee, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (20%), Malbec (15%) and Cabernet Franc (5%) from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in Walla Walla.

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass, the sort of color that raises your expectations of the wine. The nose presents lovely aromas of candied fruit, leather and anise.  The taste is a rush of fruit up front, cherry, blackberry and cassis that transitions without a moments hesitation to some notes of cherry cola, tobacco and a bit of coarse minerality midpalate.  The finish is just wonderful, with young, yet well developed tannins supporting the long, voluptuous and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, I've always thought the Apogee was the less pleasurable of the Apogee/Perigee blends from L'Ecole, but this vintage is starting to win me over.  This is an ideal red meat wine, and of course I'm enjoying this one first on the patio by itself, but soon it will accompany a rare grilled Angus porterhouse with some grilled organic rainbow carrots and some haricots verts almondine.  Cheers!

2012 The Vincent Columbia Valley Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  Tonight I am taking it a bit easy, so I thought I'd open a bottle of nice Columbia Valley red wine I picked up a couple weeks ago in Grand Rapids, 2012 "The Vincent" red wine from Mark Ryan Winery's Board Track Racer label.  This particular vintage was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (47%), Merlot (40%) and Malbec (13%).

The wine is a lovely dark garnet color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of rad fruit, cherry, raspberry and plum along with some earthy notes of peat, morel and a hint of leather.  The taste is nice blast of ripe fruit, cherries, raspberries and a hint of dark chocolate at the outset, which then transitions nicely to some coarse minerality midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing a good foundation to the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I'd rate this wine a solid 8, it's a terrific everyday wine and a solid value at $20.  Tonight I am enjoying this one with some old fashioned Midwestern comfort food, stuffed bell peppers!  The rich fruit and bright tannins make this an ideal complement to the rustic spice of the peppers, tomato sauce, beef and rice in the peppers, but it would also be ideal with many hearty fall dishes (after all, Autumn officially began last week!).  Cheers!

2005 Recoletas Reserva Ribera del Duero

Well, it's the first of August and it's Saturday, so that could only mean one thing, it's Cellar Saturday!  That wonderful time I raid the cellar to find something interesting to drink.  Tonight, after a hard day of yard work I've decided to open a bottle of 2005 Recoletas Reserva Ribera del Duero, a lovely Spanish Tempranillo I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  Now keep in mind for this wine, I did not decant it, but it does open up nicely within an our or two of the first pour.

The wine is a beautiful deep garnet in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose is a lovely combination of blackberry jam, leather, dark chocolate and dried flowers.  The taste is a dramatic departure from your expectations on the nose, rather than a jammy fruit bomb, you are treated with some lovely cherry cola and dark chocolate notes at the outset that transition effortlessly to some coarse mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are perfectly balanced on the finish, which reprises some of those fruit expectation with hints of strawberry jam on the long, lush and  very dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's drinking quite nicely and was an exceptional value at just $16!  Tonight I am pairing this wine with a classic bone-in Angus ribeye topped with grilled leeks, baked potato and some steamed green beans.  The balance of fruit and acidity in this wine make it ideal paired with a bold red meat dish, but it would also be nice with small plates and cheeses.  Cheers!

2011 Forgeron Malbec StoneTree Vineyard

Well happy Saturday!  Today I slept late, ran errands, then bought some fresh pine and cedar garland to start decorating for the holidays, so tonight I've earned a little break.  And what's better with a break than a nice bottle of wine?  Tonight's selection is one that I recently received from one of my wine club shipments, the 2011 Forgeron Cellars Malbec from the StoneTree Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope.  Now had I realized when I grabbed my corkscrew how limited the production of this wine was (just 95 cases!) I might have held onto it for a while, but what the heck!

The wine is a deep dark brooding ruby color in the glass, that is almost black at the center leading to brighter color along the edges.  The nose is just fantastic, some bright fruit notes, blackberries, plums, with a lovely smokiness overlaying some toasted oak and spice notes that just brings to mind all that is best about the holidays, the wonderful foods, fires in the hearth, pine boughs hung and trees decorated, fresh fruit, the smell of pies and cookies wafting from the kitchen, this wine just smells like Christmas to me!  The taste is just as much of a treat, with some rich fruit flavors up front, cherry cola, blackberries, currants, all cooked down to a lovely glaze, which transitions to some wonderful spice notes mixed with smoke midpalate.  The finish is just lovely, with some coarse mineral notes, dusty limestone along with the well structured tannins supporting a long, supple and sublimely dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's probably my favorite Malbec (of course you all know I'm not a huge fan of Malbec, but I could drink this one all day long).  The price was a little steep at $46, but given the limited production it's perfectly understandable and worth it.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a little unusual comfort food, some steamed snow crab legs along with oven roasted fingerling potatoes and some grilled asparagus, but it would be perfect with any hearty winter meal, from rich stews to braised short ribs or lamb, the sweet fruit and spice makes this one a perfect Christmas wine for all!  Sante!

2011 Maison Bleue Liberte Syrah

Well, it's been a long week, lots to do at work, but it was a really successful week so now it's time for a little time to relax and celebrate the good things that happened this week!  And for that I've decided to open up a bottle of 2011 Maison Bleue Liberte Boushey Vineyard Syrah from the Yakima Valley of Washington.  For those who don't remember, I first found out about Maison Bleue just after they opened their tasting room in Walla Walla and I was suitably impressed with the quality of the wines I tried.  So later when they started I wine club I was happy to join so I could continue enjoying their wines.

This syrah has a classic bright ruby color in the glass.  The nose is a lovely combination of rich black fruit, blackberries, plums and black currant intermingled with leather and a hint of anise.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward with a burst of blackberries and plum, but that transitions effortlessly to some nice smoky and earthy notes midpalate, with some nice coarse minerality that adds to the complexity of this wine.  The finish is quite nice, well rounded tannins provide a nice foundation for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's a very solid example of a Washington syrah that should improve with a few more years in the bottle.  The wine would pair very well with a lot of big meaty dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a nice grilled salmon steak served over a bed of baby kale with white balsamic reduction and a nice baked potato.  Finally a relaxing dinner at home!