2021 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Taco Tuesday!  Well I guess that ruined the surprise of what's for dinner this evening.  Of course, there are so many good red wines to enjoy with classic tacos, but tonight I've settled on a bottle of 2021 Pepper Bridge Vineyard red wine.  This wine is a classic Walla Walla red blend of Merlot (34%), Malbec (33%), Cabernet Sauvignon (24%) and Petit Verdot (9%), making this an ideal wine for steak tacos! This wine is composed of varietals exclusively sourced from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington, so let's have a taste shall we?

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, as you might expect from such a blend.  The nose presents an intriguing blend of aromas, blackberry, ripe plum with undertones of anise, baking spice and cocoa powder.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit counterbalanced with tart cherry, that eases into notes of cedar and dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a lush mouthfeel and a deliciously smooth dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a solid example of the quality of red wine blends consistently produced in Walla Walla.  This wine would pair well with grilled steak, classic spaghetti and meatballs, rack of lamb, tacos or barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with my Taco Tuesday dinner of steak fajita tacos with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2021 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Petite Verdot

Happy Sunday!  Given that the last Sunday of November was 6 days ago, I missed it, so I've decided to do my "Eating in the Diner" tribute this Sunday, so you'll see what I've made from the Dining Car archives.  But first, I've selected a wine that I believe will go well with my selected repast, the 2021 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Petite Verdot, a 100% Petit Verdot from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a lovely bright ruby color in the glass, with a somewhat lighter body than you might see in the prime Bordeaux varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot.  The nose is in intriguing blend of green grass and floral notes of violet and buttercup, with undertones of leather and cocoa powder.  Take a sip and enjoy the rush of tart cherry, black currant and hints of baking spice, that easily transition to some flavors of cherry cola and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are supple and well integrated, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a delightful examples of a supporting cast member of the Bordeaux family that stands up well by itself.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty fall and winter dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty stews, pasta to pot roast.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with Swedish meatballs as prepared by the Pennsylvania Railroad on many of their signature trains, like the Broadway Limited.  Although, the recipe only includes the meatballs, I've opted for a less traditional plating, serving them with pappardelle rather than mashed potatoes, but still with the pickled cucumber salad and lingonberries.  Cheers!

2022 Post & Beam Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy weekend of volunteering and leaf blowing, and I am very tired now, and surely ready for a nice bottle of wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of wine that I bought on sale at my local wine shop yesterday, as it reminded me of my old boss who liked Far Niente wines (he was a bit of a Napa wine guru) and when I saw the 2022 Post & Beam Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon I had to buy a couple bottles to try it.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (91%), Merlot (6%), Petit Verdot (2%) and Cabernet Franc (1%), so let's see how it's tasting!

The wine seems a bit lighter in body than your typical over-muscular Napa Cabernet, which is a potentially good sign.  The nose reveals aromas of blackberry and cassis, with undertones of vanilla and a bit of earthy green grass.  The first sip is a rush of bold black fruit with just a hint of sweetness, blackberry, cherry and plum, that transition to some notes of mocha and cocoa powder midpalate.  The tannins are supple, but well structured, supporting a lengthy, smooth dry finish that exhibits more complexity than many big Napa Cabernets.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a very pleasing wine to sip, but would also pair with a broad range of dishes.  On sale for $38, this wine was also a reasonable value.  This one would pair well with the Napa classics of big grilled steaks, lamb and duck breast, but would also feel right at home with a classic risotto, crispy skin salmon or hearty pasta.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare pan seared New York strip, topped with rosemary and flaky salt, with bacon maple Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes.  Cheers! 

2020 Anvil Syrah

Happy Sunday!  And since it's the last Sunday of the month, it's time for Dinner in the Diner, where I explore a recipe from the dining cars of some of the most famous passenger trains of the 20th Century.  So, what to pair with my dinner?  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Anvil Syrah, the premium label from Forgeron Cellars.  The 2020 vintage is a 100% Syrah from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see what this wine has going on!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, with moderate body and clarity, just what you'd expect from a nice Syrah.  The nose reveals aromas of blackberry, blueberry and eucalyptus with undertones of basalt minerality.  The first sip is a rush of sweet black fruit, blackberry, blueberry and currant that dance around a bit of cocoa powder and toasted oak midpalate, with a trail of black peppery spice.  The tannins are still a bit sharp, but still provide for a long, smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a wonderful example of a single-vineyard Syrah from one of the premier areas of Washington for production of this varietal.  This wine would pair well with a variety of fall dishes, from braised short ribs, to rack of lamb, earthy wild mushroom risotto to Beef Wellington.  Tonight, I am taking a road less traveled and enjoying this wine with a recipe from the diner on the New York Central, the individual deep dish chicken pie from the 20th Century Limited.  The recipes for the filling, crust and rich sauce (this is superb) are presented below (though to be fair, I substituted boneless chicken breast for the white/dark meat combination suggested).  Cheers!

2020 Forgeron Cellars Syrah

Happy Saturday!  It's been a half relaxing, but busy day, with shopping, errands and then a trip to the gym, and now I am making dinner before heading out to a new event in town that a friend of mine is putting on.  At least there is wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2020 Forgeron Cellars Syrah.  This wine is composed of Syrah (94%) co-fermented with Viognier (6%) from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, perhaps somewhat heavier than you might expect from a Syrah.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of plum, blackberry, black cherry and peppery spice with floral undertones of violet.  The first sip is a rush of wild flavors, black cherry and plum up front, intermingled with toffee, cocoa powder and oak, before heading back to some black pepper spice at the finish.  The tannins are velvety smooth, making a fine foundation for the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a very pleasant drinking Syrah and certainly not priced out of the range of most consumers.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from braised short ribs to rack of lamb, pork tenderloin to mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some crispy skin salmon, mushroom pasta and asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2021 Pepper Bridge Seven Hills Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Saturday!  It's been a real waste of a day, I had such plans to get a bunch of work done, but by the end of the day I could only accomplish some basic errands and then I just decided to enjoy some cocktails before dinner.  But at least I selected a nice wine to go with my dinner.  The 2021 Pepper Bridge Seven Hills Vineyard Red wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (66%), Merlot (14%), Malbec (10%) and Petit Verdot (10%) all from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass just as you'd expect from this Bordeaux style blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals an interesting combination of aromas with some ripe red fruit, strawberry, cherry and currant intermingled with some dusty mineral notes of limestone and basalt.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe fruit and minerality, cherry, currant and raspberry that give way to some notes of dusty loam, cocoa powder and baking spice midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued but well integrated to provide a wonderfully long, dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just an ideal red blend for a variety of occasions and food pairings.  This wine would pair well with hearty steaks and chops, braised lamb shank, wild mushroom risotto or any number of hearty fall dishes.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a reprise of summer and some bourbon glazed barbecued baby back ribs, mustard baked beans and cole slaw made with pomegranate, honey, olive oil and sage blossom vinegar.  Cheers!

2019 Napa Underground Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  I had the chance to go to the farmers market today to pick up some interesting produce items to enjoy with my dinner and I also happened to meet up with the "Basil Brothers" who are two young people (I can never judge age, but my guess is they are between 10 and 12) and they produce some marvelous smoked herb salt which I will include in my meal prep this evening (also bought a bottle of chive blossom vinegar that I'm anxious to try!).  In any case, tonight I've opened a bottle of wine from I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2019 Napa Underground Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (87%), Merlot (7%), Cabernet Franc (4%), Petit Verdot (3%) and Malbec (1%).  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a beautiful bright ruby color in the glass, a bit lighter than your typical big Napa Cabernet.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of blackberry, currant and cassis, intermingled with hints of espresso and cocoa powder.  Take a sip and you're awash in ripe black fruit with herb influences throughout that ease into some notes of vanilla and peppery spice.  The tannins are somewhat subdued providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers till your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a solid Napa Cabernet and a good value at just $23.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from weeknight pizza or tacos, to steaks, braised short ribs or barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York Strip along with some mashed potatoes and grilled orange cauliflower and hatch chiles (they are finally here!).  Cheers!

2020 Forgeron Anvil "The Minnick" Proporietary Blend

Happy Sunday!  I spend much of the afternoon doing work (boo!), but now I am done and ready for a nice glass of wine and a wonderful Sunday dinner.  For my wine tonight, I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club selection from Forgeron Cellars, the 2020 Anvil "The Minnick" Proporietary Blend.  This wine gets its nickname from the Minnick Hills Vineyard where the grapes are sourced, in this case a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (38%), Malbec (18%), Cabernet Franc (16%), Petit Verdot (16%) and Merlot (12%).  So, let see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a testament to the heavy Cabernet hand in the blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of anise, lilac, cocoa powder and dusty limestone, a perfect beginning to usher you into the presence of this Walla Walla Bordeaux style blend.  Take a sip and be greeted by a rush of blue fruit, blueberry and currant that ease into some notes of caramel and baking spice midpalate.  The fine grain tannins are a perfect welcome to the smooth, long and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I think it's quite a bit better than the past few vintages I've reviewed.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty meat dishes, from grilled lamb and veal, to hearty steaks and barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared filet mignon, with grilled pearl onions sautéed in butter and rosemary, mashed potatoes and some steamed asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2021 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere

Happy Independence Day!  It's very hot today, but I still got a bunch of yard work done and now I'm ready for some cookout feast and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened up a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Seven Hills, the 2021 Walla Walla Carmenere.  I needed a wine to go with 4th of July food, so let's hope this one fits the bill!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from this lost Bordeaux varietal.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of ripe blackberries, blueberries and baking spice, with undertones of vanilla bean.  Take a sip and those warm spice aromas quickly succumb to cool fruit, as blackberry, blueberry and plum wash over your palate before transitioning to warm spicy notes of white pepper intermingled with cocoa and mocha notes midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a velvety smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a perennial favorite from Walla Walla and such a versatile, food-friendly wine.  This wine would pair well with steak, chops, pasta or hearty fish like salmon, we well as casual summer foods like barbecue and burgers.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some barbecued baby back ribs along with some roasted corn on the cob, mustard baked beans and cucumber salad.  Cheers!

2020 Pepper Bridge Winery Seven Hills Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Saturday!  It's been a solid day of leaf patrol, and after 8 hours I only finished the roof and front yard!  So more to do tomorrow, but at least for now I can relax with a nice meal and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2020 Seven Hills Vineyard Blend.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (25%) ,  Cabernet Franc (10%), Malbec (10%) and Petit Verdot (5%) all from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wonderful Autumn wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby taste of cooling temperatures, falling leaves and gourds, with aromas of leather, blackberry, cocoa powder and cedar on the nose.  One sip reveals a rush of black raspberry, pomegranate and hints of mulling spice that make this wine ideal for the season,  Midpalate, the character evolves to some basalt and mineral notes so characteristic of the vineyard.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a long, smooth dry finish with a kick of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a perennial favorite from Pepper Bridge.  This wine would pair well with classic steaks, but would also pair well with lamb, game or some hearty fall favorites like a sausage and sweet potato hash.  Tonight I am taking a more traditional route and enjoying this wine with some pan seared lamb loin chops with some herbs de Provence, along with oven roasted beets and asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2018 Seven Hills Pentad

Happy Friday!  It's been a long week, but at least it seems to have gone by relatively fast, so now I can relax a bit on the weekend.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine shipment I received from Seven Hills Winery, one of my favorite Walla Walla wine producers (this was even before they started shipping to my home state!).  The 2018 Seven Hills Pentad is a special blend that is not produced with every vintage, as historically Casey (and presumably now Bobby is continuing the tradition) would only produce Pentad when all the stars were aligned to make a truly special wine.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (42%), Merlot (25%), Petit Verdot (13%), Malbec (12%) and Carmenere (8%) al sourced from the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  So, let's see how this one is shaping up!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, reminiscent of a big bold Cabernet (which is likely a major contributor to the blend).  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry and cassis joined with some dusty mineral notes that will have you thinking of an classic college library.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of ripe black fruit encased in some dusty minerality before transitioning to some notes of tobacco and cocoa powder midpalate.  The tannins are vibrant and perfectly suited to the velvety, bone-dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's a really remarkable wine that would be ideal for a special occasion.  This wine would pair well with big juicy steaks, rack of lamb or venison tenderloin.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing, a rare grilled dry aged porterhouse that I picked up at a local butcher yesterday, along with some oven roasted rainbow carrots.  Cheers!

2019 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  I spend the day running errands and it seems like I've been busy all day but haven't really accomplished much, though at least I got some groceries and found a nice photo of Yosemite at the local thrift store for only $1, so, I guess that's something.  I am also heading to a stand-up comedy show tonight featuring some friend that took a stand-up class and will hopefully be entertaining us tonight.  In any case, it's nice that Seven Hills Winery is once again able to ship directly to my house, so tonight I am enjoying a recent wine club feature from them, the 2019 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of leather, black raspberry, cherry and a hint of violet, beckoning you to take a sip.  That sip reveals a rush of ripe black fruit intermingled with some tart cherry before transitioning to some earthy notes of dusty limestone and cocoa powder midpalate.  The tannins are silky smooth and well integrated, making for a luscious and very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

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

2008 Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Aglianico

Well, it's the first Saturday of the month and that means it's Cellar Saturday!  This is the magical day when I raid the cellar and find some wine that's at lease a decade in the making.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that hasn't been in my cellar very long, as I recently purchased it through the Platinum selection at Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2008 Feudi di San Gregorio Serpico Aglianico is a deep, brooding wine that is well known in the southern regions of Italy, particularly near Puglia, and it usually strikes me as a hearty wine to balance out the lighter wines of Tuscany and north.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, much more reminiscent of a big Cabernet, and classic for this black skinned varietal.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of leather, blackberry, currant and an interesting freshness amid notes of anise and cocoa powder.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of blackberry, plum and cherry that transitions easily to some notes of volcanic ash and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are exceptionally structured, providing for a velvety yet bone dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a great wine to remind you of why you should love Aglianico.  This wine would be idea with a big grilled porterhouse,  a hearty roast beef or even a spicy pasta dish.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with an Italian classic of sweet Italian sausage sautéed with onions and peppers and served with some vermicelli with garlic and olive oil topped with shaved Parmesan.  Cheers!

2017 Heart of the Valley Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The weekend is rapidly approaching, so I thought I might get a head start with a nice bottle of wine with my dinner this evening.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent find on Wines Till Sold Out, the 2017 Heart of the Valley Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, though from a less than stellar vintage, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from a Cabernet, though it's a bit lighter in weight than the standard Napa fare.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry and sage, intermingles with some subdued spice notes.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, currant and a bit of prune, that transitions easily to some notes of smoke and cocoa powder midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but there is a good bit of acidity on the long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's not a "knock your socks off" Napa Cabernet, but it's an easy everyday wine for just $20.  This wine would pair well with steaks and chops as well as barbecue or even tacos.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a tomahawk and tots, a rare grilled bison tomahawk ribeye topped with melted bleu cheese, along with some tater tots!  An ideal Thursday dinner!  Cheers!

2017 Tyrus Evan Seven Hills Vineyard Syrah

Happy Thursday!  The weather has turned decidedly winter like over the past week, with today's high reaching only 19 degrees (it hasn't been above freezing for more than a week!) so what better activity that sitting down with a nice glass of red wine?  Tonight I've opened a bottle I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2017 Tyrus Evan Seven Hills Vineyard Syrah, a 100% Syrah sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, with a bit of fuchsia along the edges, a bit more vibrant than the typical Syrah.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of black cherry, plum, cassis and a bit of vibrant floral notes of violets and a hint of cedar.  The first sip leaves you with an impression of a dark forest, with ripe black fruit flavors of plum, cassis and currant rushing over your palate before transitioning to some notes of cocoa powder and a hint of black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but still provide a nice foundation for a smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a classic Walla Walla Syrah, with great fruit and peppery spice, unlike the latest trends in bold minerality from the Rocks District.  This wine was also a terrific value at just $19!  This wine would pair with a variety of hearty winter dishes, from classic beef stew to hearty pasta of Yankee pot roast.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some chorizo and black bean tacos, topped with lettuce, tomato, sour cream, avocado and fresh jalapeno.  Cheers!

2019 Pepper Bridge Merlot

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I admit it's been a while since my last post, but I've been so busy between work and the play I was in at our local civic theatre, but the last performance was a Sunday matinee and now I am officially done with work for the year, so expect more than a few postings between now and early January!  Tonight, I've opened a perennial favorite Merlot, the 2019 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Valley Merlot.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (77%), Cabernet Franc (15%) and Malbec (8%) sourced from the Seven Hills, Waliser, Pepper Bridge and Octave Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, somewhat lighter than the more boisterous Cabernets, but just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry with an overlay of baking spice, cocoa powder and just a hint of green cedar.  At your first sip, you're greeted with a rush of ripe black fruit up front, blackberry, cherry and currant that transition easily to some warm spice notes, intermingled with some earthy minerality.  The tannins are supple and velvety, providing for a wonderfully smooth, dry finish that already has me reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's always a wonderfully build Merlot.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty, comfort dishes so prominent in the winter months, from braised short ribs to Yankee pot roast, wild mushroom risotto to truffle mac and cheese.  Tonight though, I am enjoying this wine with a tomahawk ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, along with some oven roasted baby potatoes with rosemary and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2018 Valdemar Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  So a few weeks ago, the Reveal Walla Walla Charity Auction was held.  I was last at this great event back in 2018 (you can see my post on the auction here) and although it was a lot of fun, I was not a winner.  This year the event was held virtually and the folks did a terrific job of organizing and running the auction, but without the chance to browse the event and meet the wine makers and sample the wines it wasn't quite the same.  I'll give the organizers credit though, as they were willing to send some samples out, depending on the winery, and I was fortunate enough to receive two samples of the 6 lots I bid on, and tonight I'm going to review the 2018 Valdemar Estates Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stone Valley Vineyard in the Rocks District AVA of the Walla Walla Valley.  I was interested in this wine as Marie-Eve Gilla, formerly of Forgeron Cellars, is now the winemaker at Valdemar.  So let's see how this young wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep, inky color at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as a classic Cabernet should look.  The nose is am old-world style layered affair, with some hints of violet and black plum intermingled with some mineral notes graphite and undertones of sage and mint.  The taste is a rush of black fruit, with some cherry, blackberry and fig, that transitions nicely to some cocoa powder midpalate.  The tannins are expertly structured, making for a very Bordeaux-esque exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant Cabernet that is a real example of the best of the old world and the new.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and roasts, to earthy mushroom risotto.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some zhatar seasoned lamb loin chops served with bucatini tossed in a mint and basil pesto with peas.  Cheers!

2018 Casillero del Diablo Carmenère

 Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a while since I've posted as I've been on a vacation road trip over ten days, driving from Indiana to Yellowstone and stopping at all manner of sites in between.  Tonight I hosted a virtual wine tasting with some of my coworkers and since we were focused on tasting a single varietal (Carmenère), I needed to find a bottle that everyone could find at their local market.  So, I chose the 2018 Casillero del Diablo Carmenère from Chile.  I was inspired to do this varietal tasting based on one held by Chuck Reininger a few months back that highlighted this lost Bordeaux varietal.  Let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, typical of a nice Carmenère.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, raspberry, green grass and a bit of Bordeaux style funk.  The taste is far less fruit forward than suggested by the nose,with subdued flavors of blackberry and currant that transitions to some earthy notes of tar and graphite intermingled with cocoa powder and black pepper.  The tannins are well structured providing a base for the soft dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, as it's a nice everyday drinking wine at a value price of just $10.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steak and lamb to chorizo tacos.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a truffle salted filet mignon along with some roasted baby potatoes I picked up at the farmers' market in Douglas, Wyo. last saturday and some steamed green beans with slivered almonds.  Cheers!

2011 Tikveš Vranec Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  It was exceedingly hot today, so I spent much of the day indoors, doing some chores and some online work, including a wine blog post!  As for the wine, tonight I'm enjoying a bottle that's been in the cellar for a number of years, the 2011 Tikveš Vranec red wine.  Vranec is one of the most popular varietals in Macedonia, where this wine was produced, and interestingly, the name means "strong, black and powerful horse (black stallion)" which I found interesting as the glass I poured certainly did this imagery justice.  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is really a black stallion in the glass, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of prune, blackberry, peppery spice and wild game, very stallion-esque.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, currant and plum that transition nicely to some notes of cocoa powder and green grass midpalate.  The tannins are robust, providing for a very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a very interesting wine that was also fairly inexpensive if I recall.  This wine would pair marvelously with venison or duck, with the fruit and earthy character accenting the game character.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a plain Jane Sunday dinner of grilled ribeye, along with some mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2017 Lu & Oly Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

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