2017 Reininger Walla Walla Syrah

Happy Memorial Day!  It's a day to honor those who have served and sacrificed for our nation, and it's also the unofficial start of summer!  In that light, I've decided to grill today and open up a recent wine club selection from Reininger Winery, the 2017 Reininger Walla Walla Syrah.  This wine is a 100% Syrah from the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep purple in the glass with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of strawberry, blueberry and cherry, with a hint of lavender seeping in.  The taste is chock full of ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry, blueberry and currant that transitions nicely to some notes of dark chocolate and smoke midpalate.  The tannins are fine providing the base for the velvety smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a very pleasant Syrah to sip on a summer evening.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from steaks and lamb to Thanksgiving turkey (seriously, the black fruit in this wine would be perfect with turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce).  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with grilled shish-kabobs made with marinaded beef tenderloin and shrimp with peppers, red onions, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes.  Cheers!

2017 Lu & Oly Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

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

2017 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Carmenere

Happy Saturday!  Well I got a some shopping done today since it was raining for much of the day, so I made a trip to Costco just for the halibut (Waka Waka!) which you can see more of below.  So what wine could I pair with my favorite fish?  I've decided on a recent wine club selection from Reininger, the 2017 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Carmenere.  This wine is a 100% Carmenere from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with a bit of dark indigo at the center.  The nose is an interesting combination of black currant, peppery spice and a bit of earthy peat..  The taste is a rush of tart cherry, raspberry, currant and a good portion of white pepper spice that transition to some lovely notes of cherry cola, cocoa and the barest hint of mint.  The tannins are very fine with a balance of acidity that brings a velvety dry finish that has you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a really wonderful example of the "lost Bordeaux varietal."  This wine would pair very well with a broad range of rich dishes, from a cheese risotto to hearty pasta with cream sauce, roast lamb to a casual barbecue.  Tonight I am going a bit off the beaten path and enjoying this wine with a pan seared halibut filet along with some farro and oven roasted rainbow carrots, for a dinner that is both light and hearty.  Cheers!

2017 Forgeron Zinfandel

Today was Washington's Birthday, but unlike many government workers, I and many others like me had to work today, so it's time to relax and enjoy a nice dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of the latest wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars, the 2017 Zinfandel.  This wine is a 100% Zinfandel from the Alder Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA of Washington.  The 2017 vintage was a challenge given the record cold winter in Eastern Washington that year, so let's see how this food-friendly wine is shaping up!

The wine is a lovely ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from the varietal.  The nose offers and intriguing blend of earthiness and refined fruit notes, smoke, oak and candied cherries get your attention quickly.  The taste is classically Zinfandel, with a rush of ripe cherry, blackberry and blueberry up front that gives way to some notes of vanilla bean midpalate with a hint of white pepper spice as you approach the finish.  The fine tannins are ideal as a base for the long and elegant dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it is a solid contender to challenge the quality of a classic Lodi Zinfandel.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of weekday dishes, from barbecue to burgers, steaks to pizza and tacos.  Tonight I am taking a cue from the Italian connection of this varietal and enjoying this wine with some slow cooked braciole with linguine and topped with shaved Parmesan and fresh basil.  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!

2013 Secco-Bertani Original Vintage Edition

Happy New Year!  It's been a relaxing day and I've done some reading and watching of the "Twilight Zone" marathon and now it's time for a New Year's dinner and tonight I am going totally Italian given my recent day trip to Chicago and Eataly!  My wine for the evening is a 2013 Secco-Bertani Original Vintage edition red wine from the Veneto region of Italy (this is in Northern Italy) that I picked up on the recent trip.  This wine is primarily made from Corvina grapes (80%), Sangiovese Grosso (10%), Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) and Syrah (5%), according to a blend from an original recipe from 1888, so let's see what it has to offer!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass with great clarity, somewhat lighter, in the style of a nice Sangiovese.  The nose is a wonderful blend of earthy leather, lavender and a combination of herbs that reminds me of many of the small grocers in Little Italy.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, cherry, blackberry and plum that transitions effortlessly to some notes of spice box, nutmeg and tea midpalate.  The tannins are very fine, providing a nice backdrop for the long, dry finish as the acidity kicks in to provide notes of tart cherry at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking Italian red wine that would pair exceedingly well with a broad range of Italian cuisine, from Tuscan toast to risotto to classic pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with an old Italian favorite comfort dish of braciole served over a plate of bucatini with plenty of fresh basil.  The fruit and spice of this wine just complements the hearty beef and spice of the braciole so well.  Cheers!

2015 Mark Ryan Winery "Lonely Heart" Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's been an interesting day, long and full of work with a bonus drive home from Grand Rapids, which of course means I get to stop at the Costco in Kalamazoo and see what wonderful prime beef might be available!  Tonight I found some lovely rib caps (more on that below) and an 11-pound prime brisket that I picked up for a friend with a smoker.  And since it's Wine Wednesday, of course I need to open up a nice bottle of wine, and tonight I've opened a bottle from Mark Ryan Winery that I must have received a year or so ago in a wine club shipment.  The 2015 "Lonely Heart" is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Obelisco and Klipsun Vineyards in the Red Mountain District in the Columbia Valley of Washington, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a perfect Cabernet color and consistency, inky black at the center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is an elegant cascade of leather, graphite and black cherry intermingled with hints of mint and warm spice.  The taste is complicated.  My first sip was like a head-on collision between ripe plum and tart cherry that almost made me dizzy.  My second sip after the wine opened up a bit was classic Red Mountain Cabernet with rich, ripe black fruit, plum, cherry and blackberry enveloping your palate, before giving way to some notes of mocha and cocoa powder midpalate.  The fine tannins provide for a velvety smooth and dry finish that lingers for what seem like half an hour.

Overall, I rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a fabulous and classic example of a Columbia Valley Cabernet, that's drinking well now, but has the potential to age very well for a decade or more.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from hearty Italian pasta, to wild mushroom risotto, to braised short ribs or a classic steak.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with the aforementioned rare grilled rib cap, some grilled Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2016 Reininger Malbec

Thank goodness it's Friday!  It's been a long week and I'm definitely in need of a weekend.  So to start things off right I've decided to open a bottle from one of my favorite Washington wine makers, Chuck Reininger.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2016 Reininger Malbec, a 100% Malbec from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA.  So let's dive right in, the weekend is wasting away!

The wine is a deep, inky purple color in the glass with bright garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Malbec.  The nose is a wonderful, warm cascade of ripe fruit intermingled with earthy notes of leather and cedar.  The taste is classic Malbec, with a rush of black fruit, blackberry, boysenberry and currant that envelops the palate befoer giving way to hints of mint, cedar and black pepper spice midpalate.  The finish is delightful, with the fine grain tannins providing for a soft and supple finish that is dry but not nearly as sharp as I've found on many Argentine interpretations of the varietal.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a really wonderful example of a Malbec with somewhat of a softer side.  This wine would pair very well with grilled steaks and chops, a smoked beef brisket, or barbecued beef ribs, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with pacific northwest steak, or a coho salmon steak as they call it here!  The salmon steak is served with a molasses bacon glaze along with some steamed wax beans and wild rice.  Cheers!

2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Klipsun Cabernet-Merlot

Well the week is certainly moving along, and unfortunately we are back to winter after we thought spring finally arrived last weekend, it was only 40 degrees when I got up this morning!  So in that light, having a somewhat heavier wine might be appropriate to keep the chill at bay.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Klipsun Cabernet Merlot blend from the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Merlot (40%) from the Klipsun vineyard, which was originally planted in 1984 and has become one of my favorite vineyards for Cabernet.  So let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from the blend.  The nose presents aromas of smoke, dusty limestone, ripe black cherry and blackberry with just a hint of lilac layered over the top.  The taste is a rush of rich, ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant that transitions nicely to some notes of caramel, mocha and dusty limestone midpalate.  The fine grain tannins offer ample support for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just an exceptionally pleasant wine to just sip in the evening, by a warm fire in late May!!!  This wine would pair well with big steaks, chops, Sunday Yankee pot roast or even some great barbecue.  But tonight, I'm enjoying this wine with just some leftovers, so clearly my focus this evening is on the wine and not the food!  Cheers!

2016 Helix Columbia Valley Sangiovese

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy weekend of gardening and projects around the house and now I just need to relax with a nice Sunday dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to make some comfort food for dinner with a bit of Italian flavor, so why not open a bottle of Italian inspired wine?  Alas, I've settled on a recent wine club selection from Reininger Winery, the 2016 Helix Columbia Valley Sangiovese.  This wine is a 100% Sangiovese from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington, so let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass, with great clarity, just as you'd expect for the varietal.  The nose is classic Sangiovese, with aromas of leather, cherry, dried herbs and a hint of rose petals.  The taste is just divine, with a rush of ripe cherry and strawberry fruit at the outset that expresses some wonderful tartness before transitioning to some notes of white pepper spice and a hint of espresso midpalate.  The fine tannins offer ideal structure with balanced acidity for the wonderfully smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of my favorite vintages of Chuck Reininger's efforts at Sanviovese (he's been making Sangiovese from Stillwater Creek since the 2004 vintage!) and one that is ideal for food.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of Italian dishes, from Caprese salad on the patio this summer, to hearty pasta and pizza, but tonight I am doing comfort food and enjoying this wine with some stuffed peppers!  The acidity and spice are the perfect match for the oregano and basil in the stuffing and the richness of the cheese and sauce.  Cheers!

2016 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's the last day of Washington Wine Month, so let's go out with a bang!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of my recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (come to think of it, I'm not sure I've even opened the 2015 vintage yet!).  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), Merlot (9%), Malbec (6%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (3%) all sourced from the Seven Hills, Octave, Pepper Bridge and Yellow Jacket Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  The 2016 Vintage was interesting in that it started out very warm, with early bud break, but then shifted to cooler weather in the second half of summer, making for some classic Walla Walla wines.  So let's see how this one fares!

The wine is dark and brooding at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is somewhat cool, with faint aromas of blackberry and blueberry intermingled with subtle notes of leather.  The taste is a rush of cherry, blackberry and cola that eases into some white pepper spice notes midpalate.  The velvety mouthfeel creates a full and lingering finish, with fine tannins providing a lingering, and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a classic Walla Walla Cabernet from a somewhat cooler vintage.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from steaks and chops, to pasta and barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime petite filet mignon, with a baked potato and some bacon roasted asparagus.  The wine is such a good friend of a delicious steak, cheers!

2016 Seven Hills Reserve Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday! It’s been a long week, and now that weekend is here it’s time to enjoy a nice bottle of Washington wine, after all it is Washington wine month!  Tonight I’ve decided to open a bottle of 2016 Seven Hills Reserve Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. This was a recent wine club shipment for me and although I think it probably needs a few more years in the cellar, I decided to open up a bottle. Out of the 29 Cabernet vintages that Seven Hills has produced, this is just the 11th vintage of reserve Cabernet, highlighting how selective Casey McClellan is in a producing reserve wines. This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Klipsun and Artz Vineyards in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington. So let’s see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep inky black in the glass with bright Garnet along the edges. The nose presents wonderful aromas of dusty limestone, black cherry, fig and oak. The taste is a wonderful rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, blackberry and cassis that transitions effortlessly to some earthy notes of dusty limestone, leather and anise mid-palate, leading to a reprise of fruit on the finish. Fine grained tannins are a wonderful foundation for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that last seems to last minute or more.  This wine has some remarkable structure and depth that make it a pleasure to sip.

Overall I would rate this one a solid 9 as it drinking fabulously now, however I believe it will certainly improve with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes from hearty steaks and chops to pasta and a variety of Mediterranean dishes.  Of course, tonight I’m enjoying this wine with a New York strip grilled Pittsburgh rare, some oven-roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and a baked potato with sour cream and scallions. The wonderful fruit in this wine really makes a great pairing with the with the hearty grilled steak. Cheers!

2014 Seven Hills Walla Walla Valley Red Wine

Merry Christmas!  Yes, I know it's only Christmas Eve, but I am fairly certain I won't have any time for wine blogging tomorrow, so you take Christmas wishes when you can get them!  Tonight I am getting ready for a nice quiet dinner and to listen to our community theater radio production of "It's a Wonderful Life" which was recorded at an encore performance we did last Friday evening.  In the interim, I've decided to open a bottle I wine I recently bought from my favorite Walla Walla Winery, Seven Hills, their 2014 Walla Walla Valley red wine.  This inaugural vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Malbec (10%) and Petit Verdot (5%) from the Summit View, Pepper Bridge, Cockburn, McClellan Estate, Stone Valley, Seven Hills Vineyard, Waliser Rocks and Fire Ridge vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine is meant to highlight the terroir of the Walla Walla Valley AVA, so let's see how Casey did!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, classic for the concentrations of Cabernet and Malbec.  The nose presents earthy aromas of dusty limestone and leather, intermingled with some ripe black fruit, black pepper spice and a hint of violet.  The taste is a rush of ripe black cherry, blueberry and black currant up front that transitions nicely to some notes of caramel and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are fine and provide an inviting structure to the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I think it's a new favorite for an everyday drinking wine.  This wine would pair very well with a variety of dishes, from braised short ribs, to prime rip or ham for Christmas dinner.  But tonight I am enjoying this wine with a prime New York Strip steak grilled Pittsburgh rare, grilled leeks and asparagus and a bit baked potato with butter, sour cream and scallions.  The velvety structure of this wine is a perfect foil to a hearty grilled steak.  Cheers!

2012 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's been a very busy day, so what better way to end it than with a nice glass of wine?  Tonight I've opened a bottle from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, the 2012 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (96%) and Petit Verdot (4%) from the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  I've had this wine in the cellar for a few years, so I thought it was time to give it a try!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a glorious cascade of delightful floral notes of violets and roses, overlaying some rich black fruit, cherries, blackberries and currant.  The taste reminds me of what I love about Chuck Reininger's work, wonderful expression of terroir with wonderful stark minerality coursing over lovely vibrant fruit notes, with fine grain tannins supporting the long, smooth, voluptuous finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as you'd be hard pressed to find a better, more expressive Cabernet for the price.  This wine would be ideal with a variety of hearty dishes from steaks to braised short ribs to classic Italian sausage with onions and peppers.  But tonight I am going classic meat and potatoes, enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Kansas City style bone-in strip steak, with grilled leeks and rainbow carrots, along with some mashed potatoes and gravy.  Cheers!

2014 Forgeron Barbera

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a wonderful day today, though a little chilly, but at least it's stopped raining!  So tonight I've decided to open a recent wine club selection from Forgeron, a wonderful producer of some great wines out of Walla Walla.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of the 2014 Columbia Valley Barbera, so let's see what this wine has to offer.

The wine is a deep ruby color, almost inky at the center, very similar to the color on a nice Merlot.  The nose is a lovely combination of leather, smoke, graphite and red fruit, raspberries, cherries and currant.  The taste is a lovely rush of cherry cola, blackberry and pipe tobacco that transitions effortlessly to some lovely notes of dark chocolate and dried Italian spices midpalate.  The finish is very smooth, with fine grained tannins supporting a long, dry finish with a reprice of spice at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's one of my favorite vintages of Barbera from Forgeron over the past several years.  This wine would be wonderful with steak, roasts or even barbecue, but in my eyes it practically begs to be paired with classic Italian pasta dishes, so tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a simple linguine with tomato basil marinara topped with shaved Parmesan.  Cheers!

2011 Chateau Grand Tayac Reserve Margaux

Happy Saturday!  So based on the weather forecast which called for rain and thunderstorms today, I rushed home to vacuum leaves and cut the grass before the deluge, and of course today has been the most beautiful day with sun and a high of 83!  So much for planning based on what the forecasters predict, but at least that gave me a relaxing day capped off with a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight it's a bottle I've been cellaring for a few years, as I just don't think some wines should be consumed early in their lives (you can see the review of the 2009 vintage here).  The 2011 Chateau Grand Tayac Reserve Margaux is a classic Bordeaux made from Cabernet Sauvignon (70%),  Merlot (27%) and Petit Verdot (3%) grown from 40-year-old vines right next to the Gironde.  So let's see how this one has developed!

The wine is a beautiful ruby color in the glass, a bit lighter than a typical American Cabernet, reflecting the old world style.  The nose is classic Bordeaux with a rush of leather, cherry and currant along with earthy undertones.  The taste is somewhat fruit forward, with some tart cherry and black currant that gives way to some mineral notes of dusty limestone and mocha midpalate.  The finish is lovely, with a reprise of earthy Bordeaux funk amid fine tannins that provide the structure for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a great example of the king of Bordeaux.  This wine would pair well with some soft cheeses, pasta, or a classic steak, which is great since tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled T-bone topped with grilled garlic scapes, a baked potato with all the trimmings and steamed green beans.  The earthy notes in the wine are perfect for a hearty steak!  Cheers!

2014 Reininger Walla Walla Syrah

Happy Monday to you all, and happy Independence Day eve!  I was fortunate to have the day off today thus creating a 4-day holiday weekend.  So tonight I am celebrating with some 4th of July classics, among them a nice wine from the Walla Walla Valley of Washington, the 2014 Reininger Walla Walla Syrah.  This wine came in a recent wine club shipment and is 100% Syrah from the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills vineyards, so let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is an inky black color at the center with bright ruby along the edges, somewhat more reminiscent of a Cabernet than a Syrah.  The nose is a lovely combination of leather, blueberry and violet notes that practically grab you by the collar and force you to take a sip.  The taste is lush with ripe fruit, blueberries, blackberries and plum that transition smoothly to some wonderful mineral notes midpalate, ending with some nice white pepper spice.  The fine grain tannins are perfect to support the long, smooth and voluptuous dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the nicest Syrahs I've had in quite a while.  This wine would be great with a variety of spicy Mediterranean or North African cuisine, but tonight I've pulled out the stars & strips and am enjoying this wine with some Kansas City rubbed barbecued baby back ribs, grilled corn on the cob and potato salad, a perfect Independence Day feast!  Cheers!

2014 Seven Hills Klipsun Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a harrowing week thus far, so I'm glad we made it past hump day!  Traveling for business is not as glamorous as you may think and this week was no exception with flight delays galore, but I'm home now and it's time for a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle from one of my all-time favorite wineries, Seven Hills from Walla Walla.  Tonight I'm enjoying the 2014 Seven Hills Klipsun Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, a 100% Cabernet from the Red Mountain AVA of Washigton.  So let's see if it tastes as good as the aromas I've been inhaling as I type!

The wine is a deep, brooding inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a lovely combination of leather, basalt and lovely ripe berries, blackberry, cherry and black raspberry.  The taste is wonderfully elegant, with a some lovely fruit up front, cherry and blackberries, that transitions to some earthy mineral notes midpalate that is a wonderful marriage of old world and new world.  The finish is just lovely, with fine grain tannins that provide multiple levels of complexity on the smooth, velvety and wonderfully dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a wonderful example of the potential for Cabernet from the Red Mountain.  This wine is an ideal steak wine, but would be nice with some rich pasta dishes, or earthy mushroom risotto.  But fortunately for me, tonight I am grilling a nice USDA Prime New York Strip, along with a baked potato with sour cream and fresh chives and some steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2014 Maison Bleue "Bourgeois" Grenache

Happy Sunday!  It sure feels like summer here, and it's supposed to be above 90 degrees for the next 5 days!  Given the heat, it seems like a nice time to open some lighter, more summer friendly red wines, and tonight's is a treat.  The 2014 Maison Bleue "Bourgeois" Grenache is a 100% Grenache from Monette's Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington, so let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is somewhat lighter in color with vivid garnet color and great clarity, as you'd expect for a nice Grenache.  The nose offers aromas of red currant, kirsch with undertones of earth and white pepper spice.  The taste is wonderfully light, with a lively bit of red fruit up front, cherry, raspberry and currant that transitions nicely to some notes of peppery spice, and earthy notes of peat and pipe tobacco midpalate.  The fine grain tannins offer great support for the long, smooth and very dry finish that beckons you for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's just a light, pleasant and complex red wine for summer that pairs well with food, but could also be easily sipped on the patio on a nice warm evening.  This wine would be great with pasta, summer salads or seafood.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a lovely cedar planked sockeye salmon with a maple glaze along with some steamed asparagus and jasmine rice.  The fruit and acidity are perfect against the richness of the salmon, cheers!

2012 Helix Columbia Valley Syrah

So so here is the big news this week I disconnected from Comcast! I became very tired of paying so much money for such little service which means now I have no Internet at home.  So until my Internet is installed on Tuesday, I will be blogging in from my phone.  So please excuse any typos. Now for today's wine the most important thing!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle that I recently got from my wine clubs selection at Reininger the 2012 Helix Columbia Valley Syrah!  So let's see how this one tastes. 

The wind is a deep inky purple in the glass. The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry green grass and smoke. The taste is a rush of ripe fruit upfront with blueberries, current and a hint of boysenberry that transitions to some white pepper notes midpalate. The fine grain tannins provide a great foundation for the long smooth and exceptionally dry finish, that leaves you wanting more. 

Overall I would rate this wine a solid eight as it's a great red wine for a variety of dishes, from lamb to pasta to barbecue. Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a little different pairing, some seared sea scallops over a bed of spring greens along with some linguine tossed with garlic and olive oil topped with shaved Parmesan. Cheers!