2019 Forgeron Anvil "The Minnick" Proprietary Blend

Sunday has been a rather relaxing day, I did a couple loads of laundry and now I am having an early dinner before heading out to an audition at my local community theatre.  For no reason other than it's been sitting on my counter for months or maybe years, tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2019 Forgeron Anvil "The Minnick" Proprietary Blend.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot, meant to pay homage to the classic Bordeaux-style blends, so prevalent in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this one is tasting.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a testament to the influence of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the blend.  The nose presents aromas of black raspberry, currant and cherry with undertones of eucalyptus and hints of floral.  The first sip is a surprising rush of tawny black fruit, intermingled with hints of forest floor and white pepper spice, before easing into some hints of vanilla bean midpalate.  The fine grain tannins present the ideal structure for the velvety smooth dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, having enjoyed the vintages going back to 2017, this is a perennial favorite for Walla Walla blends.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from hearty pasta to lamb, steaks to barbecue.  Tonight, I am going a bit off the beaten path and enjoying this wine with some herb crusted cod and bucatini tossed with asparagus and broccoli rabe sautéed in garlic and olive oil.  Cheers!

2020 Groth Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  On Friday, I needed to stop at my local market to pick up ingredients for a team meeting and cooking event at church, and as I walked down the quiet aisles (pro tip, shopping at 9 pm on a Friday avoids the crowds!) I happened upon a display of clearance alcohol.  I usually check to see if there are any interesting wines on clearance and what should I find but four bottles of tonight's wine for just $10.97 each!  Needless to say, I bought all four that were left and tonight I am enjoying the first bottle of 2020 Groth Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  I reviewed the 2008 vintage here on a Cellar Saturday, highlighting the aging potential of this wine.  Let's see how this vintage is shaping up!

The wine has the classic look of a big Napa Cabernet, inky black at the center, bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is chock full of juicy, ripe fruit, blackberries, cherry and plum, with undertones of eucalyptus and baking spice.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry that gives way to some more nuanced notes of blackberry and currant, before transitioning to some earthy notes of leather, dark chocolate and espresso midpalate.  The tannins are well structured to provide for a smooth dry finish that will leave you reaching for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a lovely example of a big Napa Cabernet that would be well worth it, even if it wasn't a spectacular bargain!  This wine would pair well with many hearty winter dishes, from beef stew and braised lamb shank, Bolognese pasta or Yankee pot roast.  But who are we kidding, this wine practically begs to be paired with steak, and tonight I am enjoying it with a rare grilled thick ribeye along with oven roasted sweet potatoes and cauliflower.  Cheers!

2015 Titan Spring Valley District Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It has been a weekend full of leaf blowing, raking and carrying, but it's almost over and over the past month, I've managed to carry about 6 metric tonnes of leaves to the front of my house in anticipation of the city coming to collect them next week!  Needless to say, I am pretty exhausted and ready for a nice bottle of wine with dinner.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2015 Titan Spring Valley District Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that I bought from Wines Till Sold Out about six months ago.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, as you'd expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose presents an intriguing set of aromas, plum, eucalyptus, black cherry and notes of violet, that beckon you to take a sip.  That first sip is a rush of old world Cabernet flavors, black cherry and blueberry, intermingled with aged leather and rustic spice box which transition easily to some notes of white pepper spice and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are supple and well structured, providing a solid base for the long, smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it seems to punch much higher than its weight class as a $30 wine.  This would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from braised short ribs and hearty pasta, to rack of lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a hearty Sunday dinner of rare grilled porterhouse with grilled asparagus and a big baked potato with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2022 Bledsoe Family Winery Flying B Estate Red Wine

Happy Independence Day!  I am always happy for the 4th of July, the heat of summer and all the outdoor cooking and eating, it's just an all around pleasant time of year!  We had a lot of rain today, which may have impacted the parade and early fireworks, but it cooled things down enough for a great cookout and a good excuse to open up a nice red wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I recently received from Bledsoe Family Winery, the 2022 Bledsoe Family Winery Flying B Estate Red Wine!  Some of you more astute fans may recognize this branding as it was what Bledsoe used for the family Cabernet Sauvignon from 2015-17, but then it became the Bledsoe Family Cabernet, so let's see what this throwback blend has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, reminiscent of the old Cabernet, though we are uncertain of this current blend!  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, green grass, tart cherry and lavender that hearken back to the old wine, but there is something just a bit different.  The first sip is a rush of rich, black fruit, plum, currant, cherry and blackberry that thickly coat your mouth before transitioning to some earthy mineral notes and eucalyptus midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing a solid base for the long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's not quite to the level of the old Flying B Cabernet, but it's a very interesting and lovely red wine to enjoy with food or sipping on the patio with family and friends.  Speaking of food, this wine would pair well with steaks and chops, but it won't stop there, as it would be great with grilled vegetables, hearty pasta or spicy fajitas.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with my 4th of July dinner of grilled picanha with fire roasted poblanos and smoked black beans, corn and rice.  Cheers!

2013 Cobblestone Vineyards Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Well, it's the first Saturday of the new month, which makes this Cellar Saturday, that magical day when I raid the cellar to find something at least a decade in the making to taste.  Tonight I've opened another vintage of a wine I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out (in this case I bought a 5-year vertical).  The 2013 Cobblestone Vineyards Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of prune, anise and dried herbs, with a faint undertone of mint.  Take a sip and you're awash in a cascade of blackberry and currant, with notes of espresso, dark chocolate and eucalyptus that transition to some notes of dried herbs that will have you envisioning an old-school Italian grocery.  The tannins are in your face, providing for a velvety mouthfeel and a long, dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's drinking well now, but might have already reached its prime.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to baked pasta or braised lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some barbecued beef ribs, baked beans and some vinegar coleslaw.  Cheers!

2012 Cobblestone Vineyards Atlas Peak Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's the first Saturday of a new month which means it's Cellar Saturday!  It's time to raid my cellar and find something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight I've opened the first bottle in a 2012-2016 vertical I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2012 Cobblestone Vineyards Atlas Peak Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (96%) and Petit Verdot (4%) from the Atlas Peak AVA of Napa Valley.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a classic, big Napa Cabernet.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of prune, lavender, eucalyptus and a bit of ripe blackberry.  Take a sip and you are immediately in big Cabernet country, with a rush of black fruit that washes over your palate, blackberry, cherry and plum, that transition easily to some notes of anise, white pepper spice and earthy loam.  The tannins are robust, providing for a velvety mouthfeel and a long, smooth dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's really matured well over the years.  This wine would pair well with a lot of hearty dishes, but like most big Napa Cabs, it would be exceptional with steak.  Tonight I am doing just that and enjoying this wine with a big dry aged prime ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, with grilled leeks, oven roasted sweet potatoes, blistered cherry tomatoes and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2017 Casalforno Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Friday!  I am doing a quick dinner and glass of wine before my rehearsal this evening for the production I am in at the Elkhart Civic Theatre.  So, tonight I've opened a bottle of 2017 Casalforno Chianti Classico Riserva that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out,  I reviewed the 2010 Vintage several years ago, so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass with nice clarity, just as you might expect from a nice Sangiovese based wine.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of leather, oak, cherry and eucalyptus that bring the earthy notes of Tuscany to your mind.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe cherry fruit that evolves to some earthy notes of tar, tobacco and oak, before returning full circle to some notes of cassis on the finish.  The tannins are subdued, providing for a very pleasant, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a very pleasant drinking Chianti, and a value at just $13!  This wine would pair well with a variety of Italian dishes, from risotto to hearty pasta, cured salami to classic hard cheeses.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a classic linguine carbonara based on a new recipe I tried tonight.  Cheers!

2018 Daou Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a long couple weeks off, and tomorrow I am back to work, so why not enjoy one last nice bottle of wine before then?  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I recently purchased from Trader Joe's, the 2018 Daou Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles.  I've not tried any of the wines from Daou before, but I have heard some good things, so I couldn't pass up buying a bottle when I saw it at Trader Joes.  So, let's see how this wine tastes.  

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a big Cabernet.  A cascade of black currant, cherry and plum invigorates your nose with the first whiff, along with a bit of leather and some light notes of lavender.  The taste is classic Cabernet, but not the big, punch in the face Cabernet you'd expect from Napa, but this one is delightfully fruit forward, with blackberry and currant throughout, with a bit of black pepper spice and eucalyptus midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and very well integrated for a lingering dry finish, with a good bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a really nice example of the varietal that highlights the interesting fruit and terroir of Paso Robles.  This wine was also a good value at just $25 at Trader Joe's.  This wine would pair well with a lot of hearty, classic dishes, from steaks and chops to prime rib and hearty pasta dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a prime, bone in ribeye grilled rare, along with a baked potato and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2016 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a while since I've posted on Wednesday, so I figured it would be a good idea to open a nice bottle from one of my favorite Washington producers before I head out to my play rehearsal (have I mentioned I'm playing Ebeneezer Scrooge in the Elkhart Civic Theatre production of A Christmas Carol as a radio play?).  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2016 Seven Hill Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon, a 100% Cabernet sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard.  So let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect for a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of leather, oak, balckberry and plum with just a hint of floral notes over the top.  The taste is a rush of black cherry at the outset that envelopes the palate before transitioning to some notes of dark chocolate, cassis and eucalyptus midpalate.  The tannins are velvety, and wonderfully integrated to support the long, voluptuous dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a marvelously structured, but approachable big red wine.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to stews and pastas.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with an old school homestyle favorite comfort food, swiss steak with stewed tomatoes along with some roasted garlic mashed potatoes.  Cheers!

2009 Cayuse Armada Vineyard Syrah

Happy Saturday!  Given it's the first Saturday of the month, it's also Cellar Saturday, when I dig into the cellar and find a more mature bottle to open.  It's also Cayuse weekend in Walla Walla, which is a rather interesting festival where Cayuse winemaker Christophe Baron releases the new vintage of his wines.  Given this convergence of events, I've decided to open a bottle of 2009 Cayuse Armada Vineyard Walla Walla Syrah to help celebrate.  I've let this wine decant for about two hours thus far, so let's see how it tastes.

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass with a tinge of auburn along the edges.  The nose is a complex layering of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and cassis, along with some leather, smoke and dusty limestone gravel, with some mild floral undertones.  The taste is a rush of blackberry and eucalyptus that transitions to some mineral notes of dusty limestone midpalate before a reprise of funk at the finish.  The tannins are velvety smooth and nicely structured for the wonderfully smooth and dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, with the caveat that this is the type of wine that's a bit of an acquired taste.  It has some definite Bordeaux style funk going on with a good bit of earthiness, so if that's not a style of wine you enjoy, you might want to look elsewhere.  This wine might be a bit tough to pair, as it's very distinctive, so perhaps it's best just to pick a meal that can come along for the ride!  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a prime New York strip grilled Pittsburgh rare along with some linguine tossed with olive oil, fresh garlic and broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2007 Cliff Creek Cellars Syrah

Happy Sunday!  I was looking for a bottle of wine to open for dinner and was surprised to find a bottle from a producer I met at the Portland airport while there on business in April 2014 (you can see that post here: 2009 Cliff Cree Cellars Merlot).  They are an interesting small producer located in Southern Oregon, in the town of Gold Hill.  At the time I really loved the Merlot, but apparently didn't think the Syrah was too bad either, hence I'm enjoying the 2007 Cliff Creek Cellars Syrah with my Sunday dinner!

The wine is a beautiful ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents earthy aromas of leather, musty peat and oak over layers of lush berries and plum with just a hint of smoke.  The taste is quite nice, with some initial ripe black fruit that gives way to some eucalyptus and baking spice midpalate.  The finish is very smooth, with a reprise of some berries intermingled with toasted oak, as the well developed tannins support the long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, as it's very nice, but not as nice as the stellar Merlot (I really need to find that other bottle I brought back!).  This wine would be good with a variety of rustic winter dishes, but tonight I'm pairing it with a classic holiday Sunday dinner or roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and classic green bean casserole.  Cheers!

2011 Forgeron Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Friday!  I've been running ragged trying to get all the food ready for my annual Christmas Party tomorrow evening, so I've barely had time to even think about what wines to serve tomorrow let alone what I should open this evening, so I'll make it easy and open a nice Washington red.  Tonight it's the 2011 Forgeron Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, a limited production wine from a cool vintage.

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose exhibits notes of blackberry, cherry, leather and a hint of eucalyptus.  The taste evokes some lovely flavors of cherry cola up front that evolves into some lovely mineral notes of dusty limestone, smoke and dark chocolate midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, as the sturdy tannins provide a nice foundation for the long, smooth, and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a great example of a fine Washington Cabernet.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of a rare grilled Angus New York Strip, baked potato and grilled asparagus.  It might pair well with a variety of hearty winter dishes, but to me, this wine just begs to be served with a nice steak.  Salut!

2012 Reininger Malbec

Well it's Sunday evening and I feel like I got a lot accomplished today.  I did a bit of spring cleaning, planted some herbs in my herb garden, and embarked on something completely new for dinner, but more on that later.  So tonight I've opened a bottle of 2012 Reininger Walla Walla Malbec which I just received in a wine clubs shipment a few weeks ago.  This particular wine is 100% Malbec from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in Walla Walla, and a limited production of just 171 cases.

The wine is a deep, inky purple color in the glass, with a bit of garnet at the edges.  The nose presents some lovely blackberry notes, dark cherry, leather and a hint of eucalyptus.  The taste is at first crisp and refreshing with a rush of ripe black fruit that transition nicely to some earthy notes of mossy oak and white pepper midpalate.  The tannins are evident but not overpowering, leading to a finish that is more smooth than bracingly dry, but still quite long and delicious.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8 with plenty of room to grow in the cellar (I can't wait to try my next bottle in a few more years).  It's also a great wine to pair with a variety of rustic foods, which brings me to my dinner tonight.  Yesterday I was at my local market and they had fresh Morel mushrooms as they are now in season, so I couldn't resist and bought some.  After looking at a number of recipes, I decided to go with some linguine with a Morel mushroom cream sauce with fresh asparagus, a perfect dinner chock full of spring delicacies.  The fruit of this wine was a nice foil to the earthiness of the mushrooms, which in turn reinforced the earthy characteristics in the wine.  That was a delicious evening for all!  Cheers!