2022 Mark Ryan Winery Dead Horse Cabernet Sauvignon

Well it's been a rainy day that turned much colder, and now I'm ready to head out to the theater for a play after dinner, but there's always room for wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of wine that's been in the cellar for a couple years, the 2022 Mark Ryan Winery Dead Horse Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (88%), Merlot (5%), Cabernet Franc (3%), Malbec (2%) and Petit Verdot (2%) from the Quintessence, Ciel du Cheval and Klipsun Vineyards in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just what you like to see.  The nose presents aromas of earthy graphite and oak intermingled with notes of blackberry and currant that get your mouth to watering.  The first sip is a rush of black fruit, that quickly evolves into multiple layers of mineral, spice and earthy notes so classic in Washington Cabernet.  Midpalate, we settle on some vanilla caramel notes with a tail of peppery spice on the finish.  The tannins are well integrated into the warm and exceedingly dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9 as it's a very pleasing and drinkable Cabernet in its youth.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from pasta to hearty stews, braised short ribs to rack of lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a grilled bone-in ribeye with some charred Romanesco and a big baked potato with sour cream and chives.  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!

2022 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Palm Sunday!  As we head into Holy Week, I find it's a good time to take stock of the important things in life and let the things of the world fade.  Our faith and our families are among those important things, and one of the best ways to celebrate with family is with a good meal accompanied by a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I'm having both, and the wine I've opened is the 2022 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (86%), Petit Verdot (6%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Merlot (4%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Octave and Yellow Jacket Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  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, just as you'd expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose is an elegant affair, with aromas of aged leather, ripe berries and undertones of lavender and vanilla bean.  The first sip is a rush of cool fruit, blueberry and currant with just the faintest hint of sweetness, that easily gives way to some earthy home cooking midpalate, with baking spice and anise with some light hints of pepper.  The tannins are a bit tight, but very well structured, providing a solid foundation to the velvety smooth dry finish.

I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking Cabernet with all of the character and nuance of the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with the heartiest of dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty baked pasta, thick steaks to Texas barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared bison ribeye with sautéed mushrooms, onions and peppers, steamed asparagus with hollandaise and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2022 DaMa Wines Walla Walla Merlot

It was a beautiful day here, with lots of sunshine, but unfortunately we didn't quote make it into the 60s so my hope that spring will arrive is still alive.  I am excited to go see a play at the Elkhart Civic Theatre tonight, but before that, I need to have dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that just arrived in a wine club shipment yesterday.  The 2022 DaMa Wines Walla Walla Merlot is a 100% Merlot from the XL Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from the varietal.  The nose reveals aromas of bing cherry, with undertones of rose petals and a hint of mint.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry that quickly mellows to some notes of caramel and dark chocolate midpalate, with a reprise of fruit, blueberry and blackberry.  The tannins are a bit in your face, which is all good when they take their place as the backbone of the smooth and exceedingly dry finish that reminds me of a nice right bank Bordeaux.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking well now, but will likely be much more approachable with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from classic steak to grilled veal chops, rack of lamb to hearty pasta.  Tonight, I am going a bit off the beaten path and enjoying this wine with some Italian sausage with onions and peppers and bucatini sautéed in garlic and olive oil and tossed with broccoli rabe and asparagus.  Cheers!

2020 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  I have to admit that it really doesn't matter how I plan, I never seem to get as much done during the weekend as I had hoped, and this weekend was no different.  I planned on catching up on some reading during the rain this afternoon, and that didn't happen, but at least I am now making Sunday dinner and enjoying a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Pepper Bridge Vineyard red wine, which is an annual blend that Pepper Bridge does based solely on fruit sourced from their namesake vineyard.  For 2020, this was a blend of Merlot (39%), Malbec (30%), Cabernet Sauvignon (22%) and Petit Verdot (9%).  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from the Merlot and Malbec in the blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of anise, tarragon and hints of violet amid undertones of peppery spice.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant with a velvety texture that just grabs your attention.  The fruit transitions well to some dark chocolate and herb notes midpalate, even as the fine grained tannins deliver you to the long, smooth finish that will have you clamoring for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderfully bold wine that practically begs for a grilled steak, hence a perfect wine for summer grilling season.  This wine would be ideal with the aforementioned steaks, but also with summer smoked brisket, barbecued ribs or even simple burgers and brats for Independence Day celebrations.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip topped with Béarnaise and served with grilled purple asparagus.  Cheers!

2017 Cave Dog Napa Valley Red Wine

Happy Saturday!  It's been a busy day of cooking for a range of folks, but now it's time to relax a bit with a nice glass of wine and some hearty dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2017 Cave Dog Napa Valley Red Wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%) and Merlot (50%) from a stellar vintage in the Napa Valley, so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby red color in the glass, a testament to the blend.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, earthy cedar, cardamom and peat that has a definite old world sort of vibe.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of cool black fruit that washes over your palate, transitioning easy to some earthy notes and spicy pepper midpalate.  The tannins are robust, creating a wonderfully vibrant dry finish that lingers as you reach for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking, quality wine at a value price of just $20.  This wine would pair well with steak, slow roasted pot roast, or vibrant Italian dishes.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a thick Angus, bone-in ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare along with some bacon maple Brussels sprouts and oven roasted baby carrots.  Of course, I'll likely be finishing this bottle on the patio with a wonderful fall fire.  Cheers!

2019 Poggio Badiola

Happy Sunday!  Well, last week I was traveling, and last night I had a dozen people over for a practice run of hot dogs and hamburgers ahead of Labor Day, so tonight is the first chance I've had to post in a while!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine that I picked up at Costco yesterday, the 2019 Poggio Badiola.  This wine is an interesting "super Tuscan" as it's primarily Sangiovese (65%) and Merlot (30%) along with some Petit Verdot (5%).  So, let's see what this wine has to offer.  

The wine is a light ruby color in the glass, with great clarity, a nod to the heavy hand of Sangiovese in the blend.  A gentle swirl reveals a funky little wine, with notes of tar, strawberry, anise and dried spices.  One sip and you are immersed in a wild ride that starts with a bit of red meat which then zigs to some fresh strawberry before taking a zag to some white pepper spice at the finish.  The tannins are well structured, offering a pleasing dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant drinking everyday wine at a value price of just $13.  This wine would pair well with pasta, steak, or even hearty fish like salmon or branzino.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a grilled veal rib chop along with some squid ink linguine tossed with cherry tomatoes roasted with garlic, olive oil, balsamic and pancetta.  Cheers! 

2021 Belles d'Eguilles Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé

Happy Sunday!  I haven't posted in a bit since between fighting a cold and an incredibly busy time at work, I just haven't had the opportunity.  But tonight that changes as I've opened a bottle from a rosé four-pack that I bought from Wines Till Sold Out, what better way to enjoy some nice summer wines from Provence?  The 2021 Belles d'Eguilles Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan from Provence in the south of France.  So, let's see what the Mediterranean rosé has to offer!

The wine is a very pale peach color in the glass, as has been the trend with recent rosé vintages.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of peach, honeydew, tart grapefruit and a bit of lemon zest.  Take a sip and out comes the sun (despite the cool, rainy weather here today) with bright citrus, strawberry and hints of melon, intermingled with some mineral notes that characterize the region.  The finish is somewhat crisp, but very dry, making this wine ideal for outdoor summer dining.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a solid rosé at a good value, but it's not as impressive as others I've enjoyed this summer.  This wine would pair well with summer salads, barbecue, burgers and brats as well as hearty fish dishes.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some crispy skin salmon done mid-rare, some wild rice and haricots verts almondine.  Cheers!

2019 Anvil Boushey Vineyard Syrah

Happy Easter!  I started early this morning at church preparing breakfast for the 85 people in the choir and worship team, so needless to say I've tried to relax a bit this afternoon and that means making a non-traditional Easter "ham" and enjoying a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of the most recent Forgeron wine club shipment which arrived yesterday, the 2019 Anvil Boushey Vineyard Syrah.  This wine is a 100% Syrah from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington, so let's see how this is tasting!

The wine is a deep inky purple color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Syrah.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals complex, earthy aromas of leather, graphite and some floral notes intermingled with a hint of cassis.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of ripe blueberry, blackberry and currant that dance on your palate before transitioning to some dark chocolate notes midpalate.  The tannins are nicely integrated for the midrange, dry finish with a bit of tart cherry on the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a nice example of a solid Syrah, but the past two vintages have not been as solid as the 2016 or 2017.  This wine would pair well with a traditional Easter ham, lamb, or even a nice cedar planked salmon filet.  As I mentioned, I am enjoying this wine tonight with a non-traditional Easter ham, being some hickory smoked barbecued pork spareribs, along with some baked beans and sriracha slaw.  Cheers!

2016 Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Saturday!  So today was the day that I took down all the Christmas decorations, so another holiday season is officially in the books (though I'll probably be encountering tinsel until March).  After all that work this afternoon, I've decided to open a bottle of wine that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2016 Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva is a 100% Sangiovese for a classic Chianti, bringing the freshness of Tuscany to your table.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity as you'd expect from the varietal.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of bright red berries, cherry, raspberry, currant and strawberry with undertones of floral and Tuscan herbs.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of red fruit, raspberry, tart cherry and currant that transitions to some earthy notes of tar, tobacco and limestone midpalate.  The tannins are well structured with some bright acidity to provide for a vibrant but very dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant, easy drinking Classic Chianti, that was also a terrific value for just $13!  This wine would pair well with classic Tuscan dishes, from a Bistecca Fiorentina to a Tuscan toast with fava beans.  Tonight I am going more of a traditional Italian pairing, enjoying this wine with some porcini mushroom and truffle ravioli with some Italian sausage marinara.  Cheers!

2018 Nelms Road Cabernet Sauvignon

Thank heavens it's Friday!  It's been a long week and I am surely ready for a break.  Between work and rehearsals for an upcoming community theatre production I'm in, it seems like I was up at 5:30 each morning and then running non-stop until 11 pm!  But, no rehearsal tonight so I get to enjoy a bottle of wine and a dinner that does not consist of quickly reheated leftovers.  So, with that in mind, I've opened a bottle of 2018 Nelms Road Cabernet Sauvignon, a second label Columbia Valley Cabernet produced by Woodward Canyon Winery, a winery that I first visited over 20 years ago!  Let's see how this wine is shaping up.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from a mellow Columbia Valley Cabernet.  A gentle swirl releases aromas of ripe black plum, currant and cherry, intermingled with notes of black pepper spice and a bit of green cedar.  A first sip reveals a rush of black fruit, dried herbs and a hint of leather, that just has a wonderfully velvety mouthfeel.  Midpalate provides a bit of vanilla bean wrapping up with some black pepper spice on the finish.  The tannins are well structured and approachable, for a lovely dry finish that will have you soon reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a solid everyday Cabernet at a value price of just $25.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty, winter comfort dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty pasta, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a mid-rare grilled bison New York strip along with some oven roasted potatoes and beets, and asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

Woodward Canyon NV Red Wine

Well, it's finally starting to feel like fall, with highs in the 50s and lows in the 40s, and with that it seems that leaves and pumpkins and preparing for the winter will soon be upon us.  In the meantime, I'll enjoy the local high school football games and a whole lot of yard work, along with some wonderful big red wines.  Tonight is one such wine, a perennial favorite for and everyday drinking red wine, the Woodward Canyon non-vintage red wine.  This one is a combination of Cabernet Franc (46%), Merlot (18%), Barbera (16%), Petit Verdot (7%), Cabernet Sauvignon (5%), Chardonnay (4%!), Syrah (1%), Mourvedre (1%), Grenache (1%), and Dolcetto (1%). These wines were sourced from vintages including 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 from the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity, a testament to the two right bank Bordeaux varietals.  A quick swirl in the glass releases aromas of leather, oak, violet and undertones of black cherry.  Take a sip to have a rush of blackberry, black cherry and currant wash over your palate, with intermittent hints of earthy tar and spice box, before transitioning to some peppery spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are nicely integrated to support the smooth dry finish that is very old world in style.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's such a treat to drink and a wine you can enjoy often at just $25.  This wine would really pair well with just about anything, from steaks and chops, to barbecue and pizza.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a barbecued chicken breast along with some oven roasted root vegetables (see I told you fall was here!) and some steamed Italian green beans.  Cheers!

2016 Maison Bleue Voyageur Syrah

Happy Saturday!  It's been a day of intense yard work, as today was hedge trimming day!  I managed to trim all the bushes and hedges in the front yard, and my arms and back will be paying the price tomorrow, and I still need to do the back yard and rake up all the branches!  In any case, I have to clean up for the theater tonight, so I've opened a bottle of 2016 Maison Bleue Voyageur Syrah.  It's been a while since I've had any wines from Maison Bleue, despite the fact that I am a shareholder in the vineyard as they don't ship to Indiana!  But having recently visited Walla Walla, I brought back a case of Maison Bleue and Pambrun wine, so I'm set for a while!  This particular vintage is a 100% Syrah sourced from the Les Collines, Stone Valley and Yellow Jacket 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 great clarity.  A gentle swirl releases aromas of black raspberry, currant and ample mineral notes of graphite and dusty loam.  A sip reveals an unexpected rush of vibrant, sweet fruit, blackberry, currant and plum that dance around your palate before easing into notes of floral notes of violets intermingles with some tobacco and herb notes.  The tannins are supple bringing the finish to a climactic moment that brings you a sigh of easy satisfaction as you reach of another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant drinking classic Syrah from the Walla Walla Valley, unpretentious and approachable.  This wine would pair well with a variety of challenging dishes, from spiced Moroccan chicken, to green curry to a classic lamb.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a summery dinner of maple sesame wild sockeye along with some chilled pasta salad and sriracha slaw.  Cheers!

2017 Helix Cima Piccola

Happy Friday!  It's been quite a busy week, so I'm glad to settle back and open a nice bottle of wine to start the weekend.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine club selection from one of my favorite Washington wine makers, Chuck Reininger.  The 2017 Helix Cima Piccola is a super Tuscan style blend from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  This vintage is made up of Sangiovese (49%), Merlot (32%), Cabernet Sauvignon (16%) and Petit Verdot (3%) from the Phinny Hill, Stillwater Creek, Stone Tree and XL Vineyards.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a testament to the heavy hand of the Bordeaux varietals in the blend.  Take a whiff and the aromas of blackberry, cherry and currant intermingle with earthy notes of leather and dried herbs.  A sip reveals the Tuscan roots, as notes of black cherry dance with espresso bean, as black pepper bursts forth from a dusty spice box at the finish.  The tannins are expertly structured to provide for a wonderfully dry finish amidst peppery spice notes and balanced acidity.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I think this might be my favorite vintage of the Cima Piccola!  This wine strikes me as a very versatile food friendly wine, which would pair well with steaks, veal chops or barbecue as well as it would with hearty Italian dishes from risotto to classic pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bit of off the beaten path Italian, some basil and garlic linguine that my aunt sent for Christmas tossed in some Boursin cheese sauce with smoked sausage and shallots.  Cheers!

2017 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Walla Walla Red Wine

Well, things just continue to get weird during this whole pandemic.  Today I stopped at Walgreens and they finally had toilet paper in my preferred brand so I picked up some, but then I went to the grocery store and was informed that I was buying too much meat as I had three packages of steak and they are only allowing two...so now I'm really getting worried!  If it took two months to get toilet paper back on the shelves, I shudder to think how I'll survive months without steak!  This may turn in to a wine and ramen noodle blog!  In any case, to celebrate the two steaks I got, I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2017 Pepper Bridge Vineyard red wine.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (52%), Malbec (23%), Petit Verdot (13%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (12%), all from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.  So let's see how this vintage is tasting!

The wine is an inky affair at the center, with bright fuchsia along the edges, as you might expect from a Merlot- and Malbec-heavy blend.  The nose is a pleasant combination of ripe blackberry, currant and blueberry with hints of leather and anise.  The taste is a rush of blueberry and blackberry in jammy quantities, that transitions to some mineral and earthy notes midpalate.  The tannins are stout, which combined with the surprising acidity provide for a vibrant, and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking nicely now, but will likely soften a bit with some time in the cellar.  This wine would pair with a variety of dishes, from barbecue to pasta, pizza to steak, as the fruit just makes a great partner for great food.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Madras curry rubbed T-bone on a bed of grilled leeks, with a baked potato and some steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2011 Fattoria di Travalda Santa Lucia Toscana

Happy Saturday!  I've been relaxing a bit today, visiting with some friends and doing a bit of reading, so nothing too strenuous.  And now it's time for a bit of wine with my dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out, and a future office wine club selection, the 2011 Fattoria di Travalda Santa Lucia Toscana, a super Tuscan that's has more similarity with a Bordeaux than a traditional wine from Tuscany.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Cabernet Franc (30%), Merlot (30%) and Petit Verdot (10%), so let's see how good the Italians are at making French wine!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a Cabernet heavy blend.  The nose is wonderfully Bordeau-esque blend of aromas, leather, smoke, anise, dried herbs and a hint of mint over the top.  The taste is a rush of cool, black fruit, black cherry, boysenberry and plum, that transition to some mineral notes along with black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat tight, but provide for an exceptionally long, dry finish, with a reprise of anise at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just about reaching its peak potential now, and it was a great value at just $15!  This wine would pair well with a broad range of Mediterranean dishes, steaks, wild game or nice earthy mushroom dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some wild Alaskan pollack filets seasoned with herbs de Provence along with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and some farro.  Cheers!

2010 JP Azeitão Red Wine

Have you ever had one of those days where it seems everything you try to do goes horribly wrong?  Well today was one of those days.  I started out early as I needed to go to a funeral, and when I started to make breakfast, my toaster didn't work, which was a real disappointment as I've had it for years and it was a really nice 4-slice toaster.  So no worries, I can run out and get a new toaster in the afternoon when I get back from the funeral.  So I make my toast in a frying pan, not the best but it worked.  Then we start for the funeral and realize that for some reason it was postponed by a week, I've never had that happen before, but I suppose as good a reason as any to go out for a second breakfast.  I come back for the toaster adventure, found one online which would be a good replacement and order it, but then realize I need to make toast tomorrow, so I head out and buy one, get it home and it doesn't work, so back to the store to exchange it (though to a normal, rational human, this might have been a clue about the toaster and the electrical outlet), finally came home with another new toaster and it doesn't work either!  Well the clueless wonder that I am thinks maybe I should check the breaker box and sure enough, the kitchen outlet breaker was tripped, so virtually my entire day was just wasted effort!  At least now I will have three functioning toasters and it's also the first Saturday of the month and the new year, which means it's Cellar Saturday, when I get to open a bottle of wine at least a decade in the making!  Tonight it's one of my only bottles of Portuguese wines which has been in my cellar for at least seven years, the 2010 JP Azeitão, a blend of Castelão (a grape used in making port that can be harshly tannic in its youth), Aragonez (the Portuguese version of Tempranillo) and Syrah.  So let's see if this wine will turn my day around!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose is an interesting combination of green grass, tar and leather with a hint of mint at the back.  The taste is rush of ripe fruit, with black plum, almost a prune character, cherry and hint of black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are still fairly taut after a decade, providing for a very well structure and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, as it's a pleasant wine but nothing particularly special.  This wine would pair well with a variety of Mediterranean dishes, from paella to bouillabaisse to hearty steaks.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with an herb butter braised cod filet with some farro and applewood bacon roasted purple Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

Reininger CPR Third Edition

Happy Boxing Day!  Well as with all the holiday rush, I confess I've been sorely neglecting the wine blog, and for that, I apologize.  Now that the rush is over, I have time to do more, though don't get too excited as it seems I'm also battling a cold which could hamper my wine blogging efforts.  To make up for that, I've opened up a bottle of very unique wine to share with you tonight, the Reininger CPR Third Edition.  Of course, the CPR represents Chuck Reininger's initials, and this wine comes in editions rather than vintages, as you see, this wine was inspired by the Solera blending tradition, where each year they bottle 20% of the wine and replace it with wine from the new vintage.  As a result you have a wine consisting of eight varietals from nine different vintages!  I reviewed the inagural edition here: CPR First Edition and had a chance to barrel taste the third and fourth editions on a visit to Walla Walla in 2017 (see: here), and since I was in an odd mood, I decided to skip the second edition and go right to the third tonight.  This edition is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (26%), Syrah (19%), Cabernet Franc (16%), Petit Verdot (10%), Merlot (9%), Malbec (7%), Sangiovese (7%) and Carmenere (6%) from the Ash Hollow, Pepper Bridge, Phinny Hill, Seven Hills, Stone Tree and XL Vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA from vintages spanning 2005-13.  So let's see how this intriguing blend is tasting!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose exudes a cascade of wild berries, amid earthy aromas of leather, cardamom and some delicate floral notes.  The taste is a rush of cool black fruit, black raspberry, cherry and plum that excites the senses before transitioning to some wonderful notes of vanilla bean, a hint of cedar accentuated by some white pepper spice.  The flavors just dance around the palate until the fine grain tannins and delightful acidity cut in to establish a dramatic finish that lingers for what seems like hours.  This is certainly a wine that could pair exceedingly well with a variety of food, but it's also the kind of wine that will continue to develop nuances of flavor as you sip it throughout an evening.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a delight to drink and experience the evolution of flavor over an evening.  It's also a very food friendly wine as I could see myself enjoying this wine with everything from steak to barbecue, tacos to oven roasted salmon, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled petit prime New York strip, with some grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes with a merlot reduction.  Cheers!

2015 Buty Conner Lee Vineyard Merlot-Cabernet Franc

Happy Monday!  I came home today to find my garage door not working, and then realized that it wasn't working because the power was out all over the neighborhood.  So, I did what anyone would do, yard work!  As I finished mowing, the power was restored and you all got to have this wonderful wine blog post.  Tonight I've opened up a bottle of a future wine club selection, the 2015 Buty Winery Conner Lee Vineyard Merlot-Cabernet Franc. This is my first wine from Buty, and this one is a classic Columbia Valley Bordeaux style blend of Merlot (67%) and Cabernet Franc (33%).  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, as you'd expect from Merlot and Cabernet Franc.  The nose is a wonderfully earthy combination of dusty limestone, leather, musk and candied cherries that has a distinctly Tuscan sort of vibe.  The taste is a rush of ripe blackberry, cherry and boysenberry that completely envelops the palate before transitioning to some notes of white pepper spice and a hint of lavender.  The silky tannins are well integrated for a wonderfully complex, long dry finish that lingers.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a wonderful example of some of the great blending in the Columbia Valley.  This wine would be great paired with a big steak, but it would also sing with some pizza or barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some braised beef short ribs, mashed potatoes and some bacon roasted broccoli rabe.  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!