2022 Château Lamothe Bordeaux

Happy Saturday!  It is hot as blazes here today, I did just a bit of yard work and could not stop sweating, so I decided to run errands and do my grocery shopping in air conditioned locations instead!  Granted it was only 95 today, but with the 70% humidity it was remarkably unpleasant, though not entirely unbearable.  In any case, now that the sun is low, it's time for dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I bought a few months ago from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2022 Château Lamothe Bordeaux is a classic right bank Bordeaux with a heavy hand of Merlot (80%) accompanied by Cabernet Sauvignon (12%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Malbec (4%).  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with great clarity, a testament to the Merlot influents.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of rich leather, earthy peat and oak with defined aromas of blackberry, currant and black olive.  The first sip is a rush of lovely black fruit, blackberry, plum and currant that ease into earthy notes of dusty limestone and olive tapenade midpalate.  The fine grain tannins provide the ideal foundation for the long, smooth dry finish that is classic Bordeaux.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it punches above its weight class, especially considering the price as this wine was a bargain at just $15!  This wine would pair well with a ranges of dishes, from hearty steaks and chops, to pasta or seared salmon.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye with sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms and some grilled corn on the cob.  Cheers!

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 Helix Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Today has been an extra work day as I try to catch up on a number of projects (I think I have a bad habit of allowing too much on my plate, and not just at dinner!), so now I've decided to open a bottle of wine that just arrived yesterday.  I think I ordered this around Father's day as Reininger was running a sale, but because of the heat of summer it didn't ship until last week.  The 2020 Helix Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend if Cabernet Sauvignon (89%), Tempranillo (7%) and Malbec (4%) from the Phinny Hill, Stone Tree and Stone Valley Vineyards in 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 with nice clarity.  The nose reveals and intriguing and complex layer of aromas, graphite, blackberry, leather, pipe tobacco, floral notes of violet amid hints of basalt, all of which have your mind racing in anticipation of the taste.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant, surrounded by bright acidity that catapults you to some wonderful mineral notes midpalate.  The fine grain tannins provide for a lengthy dry finish amidst notes of toasty oak that make this wine a rustic champ.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderfully complex, yet easy drinking wine that belies it's inexpensive price tag (I bought a half case for $160, and wish I'd bought more!).  This wine would pair well with a range of fall comfort dishes, from hearty beef stew or chili, pasta and risotto, or classic grilled steaks or lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled, prime bone-in ribeye with sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms with some steamed corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2019 Famiglia Castellani Chianti

Well it's Sunday and I am ready to turn my attention to cooking and sipping a nice glass of wine.  As I've had in mind what I am making for dinner, since it has an Italian flair, I thought it appropriate to open a nice bottle of Chianti.  Tonight, I've selected a bottle of 2019 Famiglia Castellani Chianti that I recently picked up from Wines Till Sold Out and their case sale, so you know it was a good value.  This wine is made to the more historical blending standards for Chianti, including the addition of some white grapes, and is a blend of Sangiovese (85%), Canaiolo (10%) and Ciliegiolo (5%).  So, let's see how this classic from Tuscany is tasting!

The wine is a lighter ruby color in the glass with great clarity, as you might expect from a Sangiovese heavy blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, light floral notes of violet, tar and a bit of sweet cherry.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry that eases a bit as it transitions to some notes of dried herbs and earthy peat midpalate.  The fine grain tannins are still a bit tightly wound, providing for a rather brief dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant example of a nice, easy drinking Chianti, which was also a solid value at just $12.50!  This wine would pair well with a wide range of Italian dishes, from hearty pasta and risotto to baked Branzino.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some Italian herb crusted chicken breast along with some fusilli primavera.  Cheers!

2021 Mark Ryan Monkey Wrench Red Wine

Well, it's the last day of a long weekend, so let's go out with a bang!  It's been snowing most of the day, so I think it's appropriate to open a nice hearty red wine to enjoy with dinner.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2021 Mark Ryan Monkey Wrench Red Wine, a lovely blend from the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington combining some interesting fruit from both the Red Mountain and Yakima Valley regions.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (30%), Malbec (4%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petit Verdot (3%), from the Quintessence, Olsen, Quinn, Henry Earl, Phinny Hill, Stanton and Klipsun Vineyards, a real powerhouse cast!  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect for such a Cabernet heavy blend.  Take a whiff and you're greeted with aromas of cedar, black cherry and plum, with faint undertones of mint and lavender.  The first sip is a warm rush of ripe cherry and anise with some tawny undertones, that transitions to some notes of vanilla bean and cherry cola midpalate.  The fine grain tannins provide an ideal backbone for a smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very pleasant drinking red blend that is an affordable everyday drinker at just $35 before wine club discounts.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty fall and winder dishes, from Yankee pot roast to hearty chili or beef stew, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared ribeye, baked purple potato and some oven roasted romanesco.  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!

2020 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Syrah

Well, after a long holiday weekend of planting flowers, cleaning off the patio furniture and grilling hamburgers and hot dogs for a dozen guests, it's nice to be back to normal.  It's funny how holidays tend to be so much more work than actual working!  So, tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from one of my long-time favorite Walla Walla producers.  The 2020 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Syrah is a 100% Syrah sourced from the Pepper Bridge (69%) and Seven Hills (31%) vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, reddish purple in the glass, with bright ruby at the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Syrah.  After some time to breathe, the nose presents a lovely cascade of aromas ranging from ripe blackberry, plum and kirsch, intermingled with leather and lilac amid undertones of earthy loam and meat.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in fruit, boysenberry, black raspberry and lingonberry that transition easily to some earthy mineral notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  The fine grain tannins are expertly integrated to support the velvety smooth, dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a fabulous example of the lovely Syrah being produced in the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with a variety of summer dishes, from grilled pork tenderloin to barbecued ribs, steaks to caprese salad.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a grilled veal loin chop with herbs de Provence along with Portobello mushroom farro and grilled asparagus.  Cheers!

2019 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy weekend, but since it was windy for most of it, I hardly did any leaf blowing.  I got the front yard cleared, but the back yard is going to be a challenge.  In any case, it's Sunday night, time for a nice meal and a good bottle of wine.  I was in Grand Rapids last week and stopped at Total Wine and found a few bottles to bring home, including tonight's selection, the 2019 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon.  I've been a fan of Drew Bledsoe's wine efforts for a while now, and this latest vintage is a blend of Cabernet (87%), Merlot (6%), Petit Verdot (4%) and Malbec (3%) from the McQueen, Lefore, Bob Healy and Figgins Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  So, let's see how this Sunday wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, brooding ruby color in the glass, as you might expect from a big, expressive Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, cassis, sandalwood and graphite, all expressive of the vineyards from whence this wine came.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of sweet black fruit, blackberry, cherry and marionberry, which transition easily to some notes of mocha and earthy notes of tobacco and graphite.  The fine grain tannins are well integrated, providing for a velvety smooth finish that lingers until you take your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a perennial favorite for the best of what Walla Walla has to offer to the Cabernet drinkers of the world.  This wine would pair well with a wide variety of hearty dishes, from lamb and steaks, to alder planked coho salmon.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap, with oven roasted fingerling potatoes and asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2016 Pambrun Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy Sunday!  It's been an interesting week as last Monday we had 4" of snow and it seemed like we time traveled right from Easter to Christmas, which of course did not prepare us for the weekend which came in with highs in the 80s and a lot of humidity!  At least I got most of my yard work, including my first mowing of the year, done yesterday before the heat and humidity gave way to torrential thunderstorms today!  Such is Midwest weather I guess.  At any rate, to end the weekend, I've decided to open a bottle of wine from a winery that I own shares in, the 2016 Pambrun Walla Walla Merlot, which is a winery owned by Willamette Valley Vineyards. So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a quality Merlot.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals rich, ripe aromas of blackberry, marionberry and kirsch amid the faintest hints of green cedar and tobacco.  A sip reveals a rush of black fruit flavors, blackberry, plum, marionberry and cherry that grab your attention before shifting to some earthy notes of limestone and basalt, amid some savory spice notes and a hint of sweetness over the top.  The fine grain tannins are expertly integrated 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 classic example of why Walla Walla excels with Merlot.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes from rack of lamb to braised short ribs.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime New York strip with some pearl onions and portabello mushrooms sautéed with fresh rosemary, along with a baked potato and some steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2018 Helix Cima Piccola

Well, it's Tuesday and I've decided to make a wine blog post!  I am making a nice dinner for this midweek night and thought why not enjoy a nice bottle of wine as well?  So, tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club selection from Reininger Winery, the 2018 Helix Cima Piccola.  This Super Tuscan inspired wine is a blend of Sangiovese (50%), Merlot (33%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (17%) sourced from the Phinny Hill, Stillwater Creek and Seven Hills Vineyards of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity as you might expect from a Sangiovese heavy blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of cherry, red currant, cedar and dusty limestone.  Take a sip and you experience a marked shift from what your nose was expecting, with a rush of ripe cherry, blackberry and currant that's almost sweet on the palate, before transitioning to some earthy mineral notes of basalt and limestone.  The tannins are fine grained and seemingly ever present, providing for a wonderfully long, smooth dry finish that lingers.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a very pleasant drinking Super Tuscan style blend, that will likely improve with another year or so in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of dishes, from classic Italian pasta, to seafood or hearty stews.  Tonight I am taking a more classic approach and enjoying this wine with a risotto alla Milanese topped with some pan seared sea scallops.  The lighter style of this wine makes it ideal with the gentle flavors of saffron and seafood.  Cheers!

2019 Reininger Mr. Owl's Red

Happy Sunday!  It's been a rather miserable weekend, with snow and rain every day, so I could hardly get any work done on getting rid of all the leaves in my yard, but at least there is wine!  So, I've decided to cook a wonderful fall Sunday dinner and open a bottle of 2019 Reininger Mr. Owl's Red.  Affectionately named for Reininger assistant wine maker, Raul, this wine has become a labor of love as Raul takes some of his favorite grapes from each vintage to craft this wine.  The 2019 vintage is a blend of Malbec (38%), Merlot (24%), Cabernet Franc (19%), Cabernet Sauvignon (9%), Syrah (5%) and Petit Verdot (5%) from the Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills, StoneTree, Stone Valley and XL 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 in the glass releases aromas of blackberry, pomegranate and smoky oak, which combined reminds me of my time in the Reininger barrel room!  A sip will have wonderfully rustic black fruit washing over your palate, blackberry, plum and currant that transition to some notes of cranberry midpalate.  The fine grain tannins provide an ideal platform for the long, smooth dry finish that just lingers till your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a fantastic new world style Bordeaux blend that is inconceivably priced at just $25 (on sale now for just $22.50 here: Mr. Owl's Red!).  This wine would pair well with steaks, burgers, pasta, or a good movie on the couch!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with my Sunday dinner of roasted chicken breast with roasted root vegetables and some bacon maple Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2019 Bledsoe Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been raining all day, with temperatures in the 40s, so I decided to make some butternut squash soup today, which turned out well.  And now I'm ready for a nice Sunday dinner and a glass of good wine. Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from the Bledsoe Family Winery, the 2019 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Merlot (13%), Malbec (11%) and Cabernet Franc (1%) from four different vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  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 great Cabernet.  A quick swirl in the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, cherry with undertones of earthy minerals.  The taste is a lovely combination of tart cherry and ripe blackberry up front that transitions easily to some earthy notes of graphite and cedar midpalate.  The fine grain tannins are ideal to support the long, velvety dry finish that lingers to your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's young and drinking nicely now, but will doubtless improve over the coming decade.  This wine is a classic Cabernet that demands to be paired with a big, juicy steak which is fortunate as tonight I am enjoying this wine with a big porterhouse grilled rare along with some grilled leeks, steamed cauliflower and a baked potato.  Cheers!

2018 Helix So Rhô

Happy Memorial Day!  This is a day that we honor those who gave their lives in service to our country.  It's a day that I spend each year heading to the cemetery to plant flowers on the graves of my family members.  But in addition to the more somber aspects of this holiday, it's also a time for parades and spending time with family and friends enjoying the first cookouts of the summer.  Today I am definitely participating in the food aspects, and to set the mood I've opened a bottle of 2018 Helix So Rhô, a southern Rhône style blend of Mourvèdre (42%), Cinsault (30%) and Grenache (28%) from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this one is tasting.

The wine is a beautiful garnet color in the glass, with nice clarity.  Raise the glass and you're greeted by aromas of black raspberry, currant and strawberry intermingled with an intriguing blend of dried herbs that hint at the adventure that awaits.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in ripe red fruit flavors, cherry, strawberry, plum and currant that take a easy detour to some notes of dark chocolate and black pepper spice midpalate.  The fine grain tannins make an ideal base for the long, smooth dry finish with just a slight kick of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's just another stellar vintage in a long line of successful Rhône style blends the Chuck and his team have produced.  This wine would pair well with some hard to pair dishes, like Indian curry, Moroccan dishes or even barbecue.  Which is fortunate as tonight I've made some South Carolina style barbecued chicken breasts, with a tangy mustard barbecue sauce, along with corn on the cob, pasta salad and Sriracha cole slaw.  Cheers!

2018 Forgeron Anvil "The Minnick" Proporietary Blend

Happy Sunday!  I've been mostly relaxing today, though I did spend an hour or so out on a bike ride through the neighborhood.  So, now it's time to contemplate dinner and what wine to enjoy with it.  As for dinner, Sundays make for some special dinners, so more on that in a bit, but the wine is a recent wine club selection from Forgeron Cellars Anvil label, the 2018 Anvil "The Minnick" Proprietary Blend.  This wine is a classic Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot, all sourced from the Minnick Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine looks like a classic Bordeaux, with a deep ruby color in the glass, edging toward dark indigo at the center.  The nose is more of a New World Bordeaux style, with hints of mint and green grass under bright fruit of raspberry, blackberry and plum, with the faintest hint of leather at the end.  At first sip, this wine brings back memories of sipping wine at a sunny table in front of a cafe in Paris, with tart cherry and blackberry rushing over the palate, transitioning easily to some notes of smoke, and sharp mineral.  The fine grain tannins are still a bit underdeveloped, but provide a nice base for the long and smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or so.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking example of a New World Bordeaux-style blend that only Walla Walla can do.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from steaks and barbecue to pasta and salmon.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with an herb crusted rack of lamb with oven roasted baby potatoes and pearl onions, broccoli rabe and blistered cherry tomatoes.  Cheers!

2010 Stag's Leap Artemis

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's that first Saturday of the month that prompts me to raid the cellar and find something at least a decade in the making to enjoy.  Tonight I am enjoying one of my favorite Napa Valley Cabernets, Stag's Leap Artemis, in this case the 2010 vintage which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (88%) and Merlot (12%).  This wine has certainly been in the cellar for a while, as it still has price stickers on the bottle from back when Michigan used to require price tags on everything.  At least I don't have to guess what I paid for this bottle!  So let's see how this wine has developed over the teens.

The wine is an inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose is a rush of sweet fruit aromas, black cherry, marionberry and blackberry intermingled with hints of nutmeg and dried flowers.  The taste is very old world in style, very reminiscent of a nice Pomerol, with ripe black fruit up front, blackberry, cherry and plum that transition easily to some notes of dried herbs and dusty limestone midpalate.  The fine grained tannins are still well built, providing for a smooth and supply dry finish.  

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just drinking beautifully now (and even though everyone has rated 2010 as a not so great vintage).  This wine would be ideal for a lot of hearty dishes, from lamb and beef tenderloin to mushroom risotto, but I think more than anything this wine begs to be enjoyed with a big steak.  And it just so happens I have a big, thick ribeye which I've grilled rare along with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and some baby red potatoes with butter and parsley.  Cheers!

2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee

Well, I think I may have finally come to an end of leaf blowing season at my house, and it couldn't come too soon as I have 100 feed of garland and Christmas lights to hang next weekend!  After the final day of blowing, raking and piling at the front of my yard, it's time for a nice glass of wine to make my dinner and evening more enjoyable.  Tonight I've opened a recent wine club shipment from one of my favorite Walla Walla wineries, L'Ecole No. 41!  The 2016 Apogee is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (25%), Malbec (11%) and Cabernet Franc (4%) from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, a testament to the heavy blend of Cabernet.  The nose is wonderful deep breath of leather, fresh herbs and a bit of black licorice over the top.  The taste is a rush of ripe berry fruit at the outset, blackberry, currant and blueberry that transitions nicely to some notes of dark chocolate and hints of baking spice midpalate.  The fine grain tannins amplify the smoothness on the finish, with a reprise of blackberry on the long, velvety dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would easily rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a bit better than some previous vintages of Apogee (those who know me know my preference for the Perigee blend of the two signature Bordeaux style blends that L'Ecole produces).  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty fall and holiday dishes, from prime rib roast, to cedar planked salmon to Christmas ham.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled petite Angus porterhouse with Bearnaise sauce, oven roasted purple potatoes and grilled asparagus.  Cheers!

2016 A Moveable Feast Cabernet Sauvignon

What a day!  After working all day I decided to cut the grass before dinner, and of course I hit a rock and now I have to take my mower into the shop to see if there was any permanent damage.  So, I need a good dinner and a nice glass of wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of Napa Valley Cabernet that I purchased from Wines Till Sold Out, and which will be a future wine club selection, the 2016 A Moveable Feast Cabernet Sauvignon (though I don't think they spelled movable right).  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 Cabernet.  The nose is a rather subdued affair, with some notes of leather, smoke, olives and a bit of spice.  The taste is a real departure from what you were expecting based on the aromas, with a rush of ripe cherry and blackberry fruit that transitions seemlessly to some mineral notes midpalate.  The fine grained tannins are well structured and integrated for a lush mouthfeel on the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a nice new world Cabernet that is easy drinking but doesn't offer a lot of complexity.  Of course it was also a pretty good value at just $18, making it an easy everyday drinker.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from pasta to steaks to barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare prime, bone-in ribeye with fire-roasted hatch chiles, some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato.  Cheers! 

2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Ferguson

Well, it's been a busy day as I drive all the way to West Chicago to see the Union Pacific "Big Boy" locomotive, which is doing a Midwest tour, so this was the closest it came to where I live and I figured why not spend a Saturday to see the world's largest operating steam locomotive?  At any rate, it was certainly a fun day and worthwhile trip, but now I need dinner and a glass of wine!  Tonight I've opened a perennial favorite, the latest vintage, the 2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Estate Ferguson, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (62%), Merlot (26%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Malbec (6%) from the Ferguson vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.  So let's see how this vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a lovely, deep, inky purple at the center, with bright fuchsia along the edges.  The nose is a complex and layered affair, with some lovely floral notes, black berry fruit, cedar and basalt that create an interesting dynamic.  The taste is a rush of cherry cola and blueberry at the outset that transition to some notes of dark chocolate before embarking on some mineral notes of dusty limestone and basalt.  The fine grain tannins are present throughout, making for a very dry finish, but one that can in some ways shock the senses.  So definitely let this wine breathe a bit as it really opens up nicely after an hour or so.

Overall, I would rate this wine an 8.5, it's definitely not my favorite vintage, but given it's youth, I expect it to mellow with a few years in the cellar.  This wine is a solid wine for a lot of hearty meal selections, from classic grilled steaks to braised short ribs, to pasta with spicy red sauce.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic steak frites, a prime New York strip grilled Pittsburgh rare, with some fries tossed with parmesan and parsley.  Cheers!