2020 Château Laurou 'Les Complices' Fronton

Well, I got a lot of chores done today, laundry, mowing, and I broke out the leaf vacuum, as I had some leaves come down in the front yard from a recent storm, but fall is rapidly approaching, so it's good practice!  At any rate, I'm now ready for a nice dinner on my labor day weekend, and a nice bottle of wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2020 Château Laurou 'Les Complices' Fronton that I purchased a month or two ago from Wines Till Sold Out.  This wine has a new varietal for me, as it's a blend of Negrette and Syrah from the southwest of France.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents a wonderful fruity, floral presence, with aromas of blackberry intermingled with violet and rose petals the grab your attention.  The first sip is trip, with the floral notes continuing amid some tart cherry and earthy peat notes, amid robust tannins that coat your palate.  The finish is very dry, with a continuation of the floral notes resulting in an elegant complexity.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderfully drinking wine, but the floral and earthy notes were a bit too much for me.  This wine would pair well with rich foods, much like the foods of France, with lots of heavy cream sauces, like a seafood Newburg, or filet mignon topped with Béarnaise.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a long tradition of Labor Day meals, steamed Maine lobster with drawn butter and corn on the cob.  This meal dates back to my sophomore year of college, when the Civil Air Patrol had their annual fall fundraiser selling lobsters for $5 each!  So, a bunch of my fraternity brothers would each pitch in $10 and we would have a feast!  I still have the lobster pot I bought to cook them in, and thus a tradition was born, though the price has changed a bit.  Cheers!

2017 Napa Underground Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  Today was day of a lot of random chores, from yard work to laundry to making an apple pie, I was all over the place today.  but at least it's time now to relax with a nice Sunday dinner and a bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2017 Napa Underground Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a product of Girard wine maker Glenn Hugo (I opened a bottle of 2007 Girard Artistry on a Cellar Saturday a few years ago and needless to say, I'm a fan.  So, let's see how this more recent wine is faring!

The wine is a deep, inky black in the glass, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of blackberry, currant and a bit of allspice, with a slight undertone of leather.  Take a sip and you have a rush of black fruit, blackberry, currant and cherry, with a hint of mint under the surface.  The rich fruit transitions to some wonderful black pepper spice midpalate, as the tannins take command for a wonderfully complex, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it seems to punch well above its weight class for this $20 Cabernet!  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from summer barbecue, to pizza and tacos, but it's also ideal for fall, and I could see this wine paring with roasts, beef stew or chili.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a transitional summer to fall dinner, a rare grilled prime ribcap, along with some oven roasted leeks and white asparagus, along with some mashed sweet potatoes.  Cheers!

2018 L'Ecole No. 41 Perigee

Happy Sunday!  I did a little work this afternoon and then went for a bike ride given that the weather was sunny and nearly 80 degrees today.  So, to conclude my weekend I'm having a nice patio dinner and enjoying one of my favorite wines, the 2018 L'Ecole No. 41 Perigee.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (16%), Cabernet Franc (16%), Petit Verdot (9%) and Malbec (9%) all sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black at the center of the glass, with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a heavy Cabernet blend.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and marionberry intermingled with earthy notes of cedar and tobacco.  Take a sip and you are greeted by an amazingly complex and layered combinations of flavors, with blackberry and cherry undertones giving vibrancy to some violet, oak and herbs de Provence before your taste journey transitions to some anise and roast beef notes midpalate.  The tannins are expertly structured, bringing nice body and silkiness to the long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it just reminds me of being in Walla Walla, barrel tasting some of the great Bordeaux style blends, and this wine just exemplifies that tradition (and it's also perhaps my favorite vintage to date of the Perigee!).  This wine would pair well with a broad range of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops, to rack of lamb or hearty pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip topped with Béarnaise along with a bounty of oven roasted vegetables, including leeks, broccoli rabe, garlic scapes and blistered yellow cherry tomatoes.  Cheers!

2015 Forgeron Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  Today was a catch up on errands and things I've been meaning to get done for a little while, like getting my oil changed and my tires rotated, doing laundry and now I'm ready to relax for the evening with a nice dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a recent wine club bottle from Forgeron Cellars, the 2015 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (94%) and Malbec (6%) from the Minnick Hills, Seven Hills and Birch Creek Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose is a layered and complex affair with notes of leather and oak cascading to notes of toffee and vanilla, before ending up with some ripe black fruit notes of cherry and blackberry.  The taste is a rush of ripe blackberry, cherry and plum up front that give way to some note of vanilla with a bit of peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are fine and well integrated, with balanced acidity that gives this wine a decidedly old work character amidst a long, smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasure to drink (and at only $35, it's punching well above it's weight class!).  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty winter dishes, or just simply sipping by the fire.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a boneless ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  The rich fruit and balanced acidity in this wine make it great with a rich, fatty steak.  Cheers!

2011 Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval

Happy Tuesday!  Well, this continues to be a busy time for me, so I'll try to make blog posts when I can, and tonight is one such time!  I've opened a bottle of 2011 Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval, a blend of Cabernet Franc (52%) and Merlot (48%) from the Columbia Valley of Washington. I happened to get this wine from Wines Till Sold Out at a decent price below retail, but not necessarily cheap!  I've often seen Andrew Will wines, but this may be the first that I've tried one, so here goes nothing!

The wine is an inky indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents tantalizing aromas of ripe berries, blackberry, blueberry intermingled with leather and tobacco.  The taste is very nice, with subtle fruit that gives way quickly to vanilla spice and cocoa powder, with a bit of cardamom and the faintest hint of cinnamon.  The tannins are very mellow, leading to a softer, more complex but very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it was much more complex than your standard Cabernet Sauvignon based blend, so it would take some effort to truly appreciate.  The wine was a relative bargain at $35 compared to the usual $45-plus I've seen locally, but not the least expensive.  I think this would be a more food friendly wine, a little more versatile, with the flexibility to be Zin-like with barbecue or Merlot-like with steak.  Of course, tonight I'm enjoying this bottle with a rare grilled Angus ribeye along with grilled corn and Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2007 Bodegas Arrayan Syrah

Happy Sunday!  The end of the weekend but the beginning of the week, how does that work anyway?  Tonight I've decided to open a recent purchase from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2007 Bodegas Arrayan Syrah, a 100% Syrah from Mentrida, Spain.  So let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of tart cherry, violets and wild game with mint.  The taste is surprising it its complexity, with a rush of ripe fruit up front, cherry, blueberry and cassis that transitions to some lovely floral and spice notes midpalate.  The peppery spice subsides to reveal some wonderfully structured tannins supporting the velvety, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely Syrah that's in it's prime for drinking and it was a terrific bargain at just $17.  Tonight I am paring this with my own twist on Indian food, a chicken Tikka Masala with a broad array of vegetables served over basmati rice.  The black fruit and spice are perfect with Indian food, cheers!

2010 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Though I'll admit I started a little early with a bottle of Cabernet I opened last night, but it's a new day!  And for this new day I've opened a bottle of 2010 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which I recently scored from a local wine shop on sale!

The wine is a deep ruby along the edges leading to an inky purple at the center, just what you like to see in a quality Cabernet.  The nose is a lovely bouquet of ripe dark fruit, blackberries, plum and cassis that just exude quality.  The taste is much more refined than the typical big Napa Cab, it reminds me more of the great blends of Bordeaux, exemplifying refined flavor and complexity.  The initial ripe fruit subsides and presents lovely flavors of dark chocolate and mocha midpalate while the supple tannins support a smooth, dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

This is a really nice Cabernet that I would rate a solid 8.5, and certainly worth the bargain price of $28 I paid for it on sale (I really need to head back there tomorrow!).  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of rare grilled prime filet, garnished with grilled leeks and Brussels sprouts and a loaded baked potato.  Really an ideal wine for steak, as the fruit and subtle mineral flavors just enhance the entire meal.  Cheers!

2012 Harney Lane Old Vine Zinfandel Lizzy James Vineyard

Here we are, the last wine from the Snooth.com virtual tasting, the big one, the one I've been anxiously awaiting, the 2012 Harney Lane Old Vine Zinfandel from the Lizzy James Vineyard in Lodi!  This was a nice one to taste since Kyle Lerner, the owner of Harney Lane was one of the guests in Lodi broadcast during the Virtual Tasting.

The wine is a lovely deep garnet color in the glass.  The nose is just fantastic, with jammy fruit, blackberry, plum and some earthy notes of leather and toasted oak.  The taste is surprisingly crisp despite the jammy fruit on the nose, with some notes of tart cherry, blackberry and plum and a hint of rosemary and vanilla.  Really nice complexity and great balance, with nicely structured tannins that provide for a long, smooth dry finish that dares you to take another sip.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's one of the nicest old vine Zinfandels I've had, and even though the price is a bit higher at $35, it's well worth it.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with thin crust pizza with roasted veggies, but unlike many Zins, I would by no means limit this wine to pairing with pizza and barbecue.  This wine would hold it's own with lamb or wild game meats, hearty stews or even some hearty seafood dishes.  The best part about this wine is that much of their business is direct to consumer, so you can order this one on their website at http://harneylane.com/  Cheers!

2012 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Franc

Happy Easter!  Now before you think me a non-traditionalist for my dinner selection, I have a wonderful ham that I fully intend to cook for Easter dinner, but since my travel schedule is so hectic, I'll wait a couple of Sundays to make it so I can thoroughly enjoy the leftovers!  Oh, and the wine, since I don't have to pair with ham, I thought a more traditional wine would be in order as well, so tonight it's the 2012 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Franc.  This wine is 100% Cabernet Franc from the McClellan Estate vineyard and an incredibly limited production of just 23 cases!

The wine is a beautiful inky purple in the glass with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a lovely combination of leather, mint and ripe black fruit.  The taste is a refreshing blast of fruit up front, blackberry, boysenberry and black cherry that easily transition to some earthy notes of dusty limestone, white pepper and vanilla midpalate.  The tannins, though still developing are nicely structured, giving a great base for the long, smooth, dry finish.  I'm also impressed with the level of flavor complexity in this wine, as every sip seems to present another hidden nuance of flavor that you didn't notice before.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's an exceptional example of the varietal, though it could certainly improve with a bit of time in the cellar.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with my non-traditional Easter dinner of a rare grilled Angus porterhouse, baked potato and a variety of grilled veggies.  This is just the perfect wine to enjoy with a big steak, as it has the backbone and structure to stand up to charred beef, but the complex flavors to really complement all aspects of your meal.  Cheers!