2021 Charles Krug Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Today it's been very hot and humid, and although this morning I spent a few hours helping friends clear out a house, the rest of the day has been spend huddling in the air conditioning!  At least inside, I can open up a nice bottle of wine to enjoy. Tonight, I've opened a bottle from a favorite Napa Valley producer, the 2021 Charles Krug Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.   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'd expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of leather, ripe cherry and green herbs with some mineral undertones.  The first sip is a delight, a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant that wash over your palate before retreating and allowing the earthy mineral and warm spice notes present themselves midpalate.  The tannins are firm but yielding, ideal for the long, smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a delightful Napa Valley Cabernet that tends to be much more affordable than the bigger names out there.  This wine would pair well with a variety of bold dishes, but as always it would be best with a nice big steak.  Well, we're in luck as tonight I am enjoying this wine with a nice big T-bone grilled rare along with some grilled hatch chilis, the first of the season that I picked up at my local market this morning!  Cheers!

2019 Yokayo Buteo Rockpile Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I am exhausted, I spent seven hours working in the yard today, trimming hedges and cleaning up all the scraps and now I need to relax with a nice dinner and glass of wine!  Although I may find it a strain to lift a glass to my mouth, tonight I've opened a bottle that was an impulse add on to an order from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2019 Yokayo Buteo Rockpile Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Malbec (16%) and Petit Verdot (9%) from the Rockpile appellation in Sonoma. So, let's see if I can lift this glass and taste this wine!

The wine is an inky black at the center with deep garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a big California Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, plum and green cedar.  The first sip is a rush of ripe fruit, cherry, strawberry and plum with undertones of earthy peat and cedar that transition to some notes of mocha and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are firm and vibrant, providing an ideal foundation for a long, smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very pleasant drinking Cabernet that punches above its weight class, as this wine was available for the bargain price of $17!  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from crispy skin salmon to mushroom risotto, steak to grilled lamb chops.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled T-bone steak, oven roasted shishito peppers with flaky salt and grilled corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2020 Woodward Canyon Old Vines Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I had a rather uneventful Sunday, did a little laundry, went to the gym, ran some errands and now I'm ready to finish my weekend with a nice dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a rather special wine, that is seemingly always at the top of the ratings.  The 2020 Woodward Canyon Old Vines Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (94%), Petit Verdot (3%) and Malbec (3%) sourced from the Sagemoor, Wienbau and Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyards in Washington state.  I can't wait to take a sip!

The wine has an inky black look at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, anise, black currant, lemongrass and cocoa that egg you on to take that first sip.  And that sip is a delight as you experience a rush of ripe black fruit that fills your mouth as your brain catches up.  Soon, you are whisked to an Ivy League library with rich leather, anise and vanilla caramel midpalate, before the firm yet smooth tannins set you up for the long, velvety dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's exemplary of what great Washington Cabernet can be.  While this is likely not an everyday sipper, it's well worth opening with family and friends for a special evening.  This wine would pair well with braised short ribs or rack of lamb, but who are we kidding, this big wine wants nothing but steak!  Tonight, I am doing just that, and enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus ribeye, blistered tomatoes on the vine, bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes and gravy.  Cheers!

2018 Forgeron Barbera

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy weekend and now I'm finally getting around to relaxing before it all starts again tomorrow.  So, tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars.  The 2018 Forgeron Barbera is a 100% Barbera from the Sagemoore Vinyard in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a wonderful deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  A quick swirl and a whiff of generous red fruit greets you, with aromas of strawberry, cherry and currant intermingles with earthy notes of leather and sage.  One sip reveals a delightful balance of ripe red fruit, intermingled with vanilla bean, that gives way to some nice acidity and a bit of pomegranate midpalate.  The tannins are firm, but well integrated for a delightfully long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a nice example of the varietal with a nice view into the terroir of Sagemoor.  This wine would pair well with a variety of pastas, barbecue or even a nice spicy chili, but tonight I'm going a bit off the beaten path.  I'm enjoying this wine with an Asian sesame grilled pork tenderloin with some steamed rice and sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2017 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon

 Happy Wine Wednesday!  This had been a crazy day by all accounts, starting with a power outage, the second in a week - it's like I'm living in California but with crappy weather!  Speaking of California, that's where tonight's wine hails from, the 2017 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon, from a long-time favorite producer from Paso Robles. Oddly enough, it seems I've developed a trend of only enjoying the odd-year vintages of Justin Cabernet, as I've enjoyed the 2013, 2015 and now the 2017.  So let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is an inky deep indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a solid Cabernet.  Take a whiff and you are treated to a rush of ripe blackberry, cherry and plum, with hints of lavender underneath, suggesting more of an old-world style of Cabernet.  The first sip is a rush of jammy fruit at first, that eases into some earthy notes of green grass and sharp mineral notes.  The tannins are firm, but well integrated, setting the stage for the long, smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking Cabernet, and at just $24 it's one you can enjoy on a weeknight.  This wine would pair well with beef, lots of beef, as well as casual summer dishes from burgers to barbecue to pizza.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus New York strip, with some fire roasted peppers, oven roasted baby potatoes and some steamed Italian beans.  Cheers!

2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Valley Syrah

 Happy Taco Tuesday!  I bet you'll never guess what I'm having for dinner.  And for some reason, one of my favorite wines to enjoy with tacos is a nice Syrah, and I've opened a good one tonight.  The 2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Estate Walla Walla Syrah is a 100% Syrah sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass with nice clarity and body.  The nose exudes aromas of leather, black pepper and hints of violet that bring to mind some old-world charm.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, with blackberry, plum and blueberry, with a bit of tart cherry midpalate.  There is a good bit of earthiness and texture to this wine that provides for some interesting tastes as the wine opens up while sipping throughout an evening.  The tannins are firm and well integrated for the long, dry finish that hits you with a bit of bitter chocolate at the very end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a really pleasant drinking and food friendly wine.  This one would pair well with anything from grilled steaks to barbecue, to shrimp skewers or pasta (ideal for the upcoming Labor Day weekend!).  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some simple beef taco with cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and jalapenos on fresh corn tortillas.  Cheers!

2013 Maison Bleue Voyageur Syrah

Happy Saturday!  I have to admit, this was a day that started easy enough, with a trip to the farm stand for some fresh sweet corn, but then I returned home to about 6 hours of yard work and now I really need to relax!  Well tonight I've dug up a bottle from the cellar that I haven't reviewed before, the 2013 Maison Bleue Voyageur Syrah from the Yellow Jacket Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  So let's see how this wine has matured over the past few years!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, classic for a nice Syrah.  The nose expresses aromas of ripe blackberry, currant and plum over hints of violet and baking spice.  The taste is a tawny rush of ripe black fruit, layered flavors of blackberry, plum, cherry and currant that give way to some notes of white pepper spice, smoke and charred meat midpalate. The tannins are still wonderfully firm and structured, filling the mouth and providing an ideal foundation for the long, smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasurable Syrah to sip on the patio or enjoy with a variety of foods.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from grilled steak to lamb chops, braised short ribs to salmon, but tonight I am taking the road less traveled and enjoying this wine with a modified seafood boil.  I am enjoying this wine with steamed snow crab legs, buttered red potatoes with parsley and the aforementioned corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2018 Mark Ryan Crazy Mary Mourvèdre

Happy Thursday!  Today I had an eye doctor appointment, so now that my vision is getting almost back to normal, it's time for dinner and a glass of wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent release from Mark Ryan Winery, the 2018 Crazy Mary Mourvèdre.  This wine was a limited production (just 210 cases) of 100% Mourvèdre from the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, very classic for the varietal.  The nose is chock full of warm red fruit, cherry, currant and cassis, with floral hints of violets and rich earthiness.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, cherry, blueberry and currant that transition nicely to some earthy notes of tobacco and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are firm but refined, providing the perfect base for the long, dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just pleasant to drink and one of the better example of a pure form of the varietal.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from summer barbecue to pasta, lamb chops to pork tenderloin.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a Thai green curry chicken with vegetables over jasmine rice (I had a surplus of Thai basil in the garden, so I had to use it!).  Cheers!

2014 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been rather relaxing today, I got a little work done and had a chance to watch a couple episodes of the Last Dance documentary on the Bulls.  And now it's time for dinner and a bit of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of the 50th Anniversary edition of Mondavi's Cabernet, the 2014 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  So let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is an inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, classic for a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose is an earthy combination of leather, tar and tobacco with undertones of blackberry and currant.  The taste is a rush of tart cherry at the outset that eases into some blackberry flavor before transitioning to some mineral notes of dusty limestone and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are rather firm, making for a long, smooth dry finish with a good bit of acidity on the back end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a solid effort for a 50th Anniversary Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with steaks and chops, pasta or risotto, but it would also go well with summer barbecue.  Tonight I've decided to enjoy this wine with my Sunday dinner of surf 'n' turf, a rare grilled petit filet mignon, grilled lobster tail, and some asparagus.  Cheers!

2008 Groth Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Cellar Saturday!  That magical first Saturday of the month where I raid the cellar and try to find something at least a decade in the making and tonight is a treat.  This wine is not only a vintage 12 years back, it's actually been in my cellar for nearly a decade, as I bought this bottle in October 2011!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of the 2008 Groth Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a year off from the stellar 2007 vintage, but as I recall when I tasted this at the time I bought it this was a fairly hefty wine.  I've decanted this wine for a couple hours, and there was a good bit of Bordeaux-esque funk when I opened it, but it seems to have settled a bit since then, so let's check it out!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of rich leather, ripe blackberry and plum, with just a subdued hint of funk.  The taste is remarkably smooth and well structured, with a lot of dark fruit rushing forward, blackberry, cherry and blueberry envelop the palate, before transitioning nicely to some smoky oak and just a hint of lavender midpalate.  The tannins are firm but well behaved, and the acidity is still pronounced despite the age, providing for a long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's really as good as I remember it, and it's really reaching its prime.  This wine might pair with a variety of dishes, but as a big Napa Cab, this wine practically begs to be consumed with a big honkin' steak, and tonight we're in luck!  As I'm enjoying this wine with a big honkin' New York strip grilled Pittsburgh rare with sauteed onions, a big baked potato and grilled asparagus.  The fruit and acidity of this wine is perfect with red, red meat.  Cheers!

2016 Mark Ryan Little Sister Merlot

Happy Sunday!  I just relaxed today, watched a movie and am getting ready for a mellow Sunday dinner, and since I read about a Washington Merlot Challenge on Twitter, I've decided to get started tonight.  As most of you know, I'm a big fan of Merlot, despite the idiocy of Hollywood movies, so it wasn't exactly an arm twister to get me on board the Merlot challenge train!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I got from a wine club shipment a little over two years ago (my how time flies!), the 2016 Mark Ryan Little Sister Merlot, a 100% Merlot from the Phinney Hill and Red Willow Vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a beautiful ruby color in the glass, classic for the varietal.  The nose is an earthy rush of leather, charcoal and graphite with just a hint of violet and a bit of raspberry jam over the top.  The taste is a cool bit of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and a bit of currant that transitions to some notes of dusty limestone and white pepper spice midpalate.  The wine is a bit more tannic than a typical Merlot, which is expressive of Washington state, creating a wonderfully smooth and very dry finish than lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a lovely expression of the high quality Merlot that's produced in the Columbia Valley.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of casual weekday or weekend dishes, from barbecue and pizza to steaks and pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some simple beef tacos topped with all the good stuff.  Cheers!

2015 DaMa Collage

Well, it's officially the first day of autumn (yeah, don't get technical with me, I know the astronomical autumnal equinox is supposed to be Monday, but the first day of fall has always been the 21st of September).  And since it's now fall, it was of course time to bust out the leaf vacuum, as my yard was already partially covered in leaves!  Ironically enough, it was also crazy hot today, as I think we peaked at 87!  So, tonight I'm resting in the air conditioning with a glass of wine, specifically, the 2015 DaMa Wines Collage, a blend of Merlot (53%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) and Cabernet Franc (7%) from the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, tart cherry and fig, with hints of lilac over the top.  The taste is cool and smooth, with a burst of cherry cola at the front that evolves into some vanilla bean and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are firm but well structured, layering the long, smooth and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a very pleasant sipping wine that would pair well with a variety of dishes, from pasta to steaks to wild salmon.  Since I'm tired and not in the mood for cooking anything elaborate, tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple dinner of Trader Joe's lobster ravioli topped with tomato cream sauce and shaved parmesan.  Cheers!

2013 Angel's Landing Napa Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I've had my usual Sunday afternoon of grocery shopping and laundry, so now it's time to have a bit of relaxation for the evening.  And for that I'm opening a bottle I stumbled upon in the cellar last week, the 2013 Angel's Landing Napa Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.  I can't recall where I got this bottle, but I figured with a decent vintage and a Napa Cabernet, it's likely to pair well with Sunday dinner, so let's see what it has to offer!

The wine is a deep inky color, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect for a Cabernet.  The nose is chock full of blackberry, prune and currant with earthy undertones of leather and green grass.  The taste is quite fruit forward, with a rush of blueberry and black raspberry that transitions nicely to some earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are quite firm, adding some sharpness to the long and exceptionally dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a really nice Napa Cabernet, but the finish could be smoother in my view.  This wine is practically begging to be paired with a nice steak, and tonight is its lucky night, as I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime New York Strip along with grilled asparagus and a baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2013 DaMa Wines Cowgirl Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It's been a lovely, lazy day of just watching college football and really not accomplishing much of anything, which is what Saturdays are supposed to be!   So tonight I have decided to open a bottle of wine I brought back from my recent trip to Walla Walla, one that I only seem to get every few years, the 2013 DaMa Wines Cowgirl Cabernet Sauvignon (you can see my review of the 2009 vintage here).  This particular vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (80%) and Merlot (20%) from the Gamache and Stillwater Vineyards in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So let's see what this girl has to offer!

The wine is a lovely deep purple color, classic of a Cabernet.  The nose is a rush of ripe purple fruit, cherries and plums overlaying some lovely notes of green grass and spice box.  The taste is classic Columbia Valley Cabernet, with a rusk of ripe plum and cherry that just dances around your palate before transitioning to some dark chocolate and mineral notes midpalate.   The finish is just wonderful, with firm tannins and just the right amount of acidity to support the long, supple and very dry finish, with just the faintest hint of Bordeaux-style funk at the very end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a really wonderful everyday Cabernet and a spectacular bargain at just $19 from the winery!  This wine would pair well with anything from pizza and pasta to baby back ribs, but tonight I am going with a Cowgirl classis of a cajun reasoned grilled Angus porterhouse, big baked potato with sour cream and chives and some grilled leeks and broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Candy Mountain Red Wine

Happy Taco Tuesday!  What a lovely day, it's been warm and humid and feeling a lot more like summer than it did last week.  So, a perfect night for tacos and wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine that's been sitting in my cellar for a couple years, the 2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Candy Mountain Red Wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) and Merlot (40%) from the Candy Mountain Vineyard in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, almost reminiscent of a nice Cabernet.  The wine exudes aromas of leather, blackberry and caramel spice, that just makes your mouth water.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, raspberry, and currant that transitions nicely to some dusty limestone notes midpalate.  The finish is elegant and smooth, with firm tannins supporting the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's much better than the last vintage I tried (you can see the review of the 2010 vintage here), which was just too warm and spicy for my taste. This wine would be good with steaks, or with sizzling fajita steak tacos that I'm having tonight!  The ripe fruit is a perfect foil to the zing of the tacos, cheers!

2014 Maison Bleue Frontiere Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  Today I've opened a bottle of wine from Maison Bleue, a wonderful producer of great quality Grenache and Syrah from Walla Walla.  But this time I've gone a different route and opened a new bottle of their 2014 Frontiere Cabernet Sauvignon, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Waliser Vineyard in the Rocks AVA in the Walla Walla Valley.  Given my dinner choice tonight, I needed a good Cabernet, so let's see how this one stacks up.

This is my first wine from the Rocks, and I've been hearing positive things about this AVA.  The area is mainly alluvial material washed down the Blue Mountains by the Walla Walla River, resulting in soil dominated by large cobblestones.  This enhances drainage prompting roots to go deeper, and more heat deeper in the soil, which comes through in this wine.  The wine is an inky black color at the center with lovely garnet hues along the edges.   The nose is quite interesting, with a soothing combination of coarse mineral notes, cassis and mint that are somewhat unexpected.  The taste is a real departure for a Cabernet, with some lovely notes of red and black currant up front that transition nicely to some mineral notes of dusty granite over notes of tobacco and black tea leaves.  The tannins are firm and provide for a velvety, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderfully structured and pleasant drinking Cabernet that would pair well with anything from steak, to pasta to hearty stews.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a USDA Prime cowboy ribeye, along with a big ol' baked potato and some grilled broccoli rabe.  The wine really holds up well to the steak, as the acidity nicely cuts through the richness of the steak.  Cheers!

2013 Edge Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Ahh...Hump Day,,,what a beautiful day!  We're on the downward slope toward the weekend, so let's enjoy a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine that some friends bought me for Christmas, the 2013 Edge Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  The wine is a blend of grapes from a number of vineyards with the goal of being a more value priced Napa offering, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is classic Napa Cabernet, with aromas of leather, cedar and anise with wonderful notes of ripe black fruit.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward with a rush of blackberry, cherry and plum that transitions nicely to some spice notes of cinnamon and mocha midpalate.  The tannins are firm but well stuctured, an ideal foundation to the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, for a value priced Napa Cabernet (online I found this for under $20) this could be a very nice everyday wine.  It would be great with a variety of red meat and tonight I'm enjoying this one with a rare grilled prime sirloin with some linguine tossed with broccoli rabe sauteed in garlic and olive oil.  Cheers!

2012 Raymond Napa Valley Merlot

Almost a year ago, I had the chance to visit Napa Valley for a weekend ahead of a business trip to San Francisco and one of the vineyards we visited on the Napa Valley Wine Train was Raymond.  It was a very trippy winery, what with the wild colors and blow up dolls, but I really liked the wine.  I haven't had a chance to enjoy it again until recently when I found that my local wine store carries their Merlot, so I picked up a bottle in honor of Merlot month and have opened it tonight.

The wine is a deep ruby along the edges with a darker, inky appearance at the center, just as you'd expect on a nice Merlot.  The nose presents aromas of tart cherry, mulberry and a faint bit of mint.  The taste is quite nice, with a rush of rich black fruit up front, cherry. plum and currant, that transition effortlessly to some black pepper spice and mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are firm, providing a nice foundation for the mocha and dark chocolate notes that swirl amid the smooth, and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's just a terrific example of the varietal and is such an easy drinking wine.  It would pair well with a variety of hearty fall dishes, but today was a reprise of summer so I'm enjoying this one with a rare grilled prime petit filet mignon with grilled asparagus and a baked potato.  Cheers!

2012 Clos du Val Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Hooray for Sunday afternoons!  I finally had a chance to get caught up on yard work, picking up branches, mowing the grass and sweeping up a wheelbarrow full of acorn shells from the sidewalk, but now it's time to relax with dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened up a bottle I picked up at the local wine store maybe six months ago, the 2012 Clos du Val Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  So let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with an inky center.  The nose is classis Cabernet, with aromas of leather, blackberry, black cherry and oak.  The taste is wonderful, with a bit of sweet black fruit up front, blackberry, cherry and cassis that transition effortlessly to some notes of tobacco and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are firm, providing a wonderful foundation for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.  This is just how a wonderful Napa Valley Cabernet should taste.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's a great bottle of wine that at just $25 would compare favorably to many Napa Cabernets selling for double that price.  This is a great steak and potatoes sort of wine, which is fortunate since that's what's for dinner tonight!  I am enjoying this one with a rare grilled prime filet mignon, a home grown baked potato I picked up at my Amish farm stand yesterday, and some grilled asparagus.  Cheers!

2013 Farmers of Wine Italian Red Blend

So today was interesting for a variety of reasons.  I went to Illinois this morning to visit with my uncle who is undergoing rehab for a stroke, then I went to his house to pick up a few things for him and take some photos of his old pickup truck that I am contemplating restoring.  By the time I was ready to come home, I stopped at a beer and wine store in Beecher, Illinois called "Tubby's" how could I resist a name like that?  They had a decent selection of wine for a town of 4,200 residents, but one bottle caught my eye, the 2013 Farmers of Wine Italian Red Blend.  Now I'm a sucker for interesting packaging and since this was a farm town and the wine was presented as though it was in a burlap feed sack, I had to buy a bottle!  It was only $10, so let's see what it has to offer!

The wine is a nice ruby color in the glass with great clarity, similar to a lot of Tuscan blends.  The nose presents aromas of cedar, black fruit, anise and graphite.  The taste is very nice, with a rush of ripe black fruit up front that transitions to some wonderful mineral notes and peppery spice midpalate.  The finish is exceptional, with firm tannins at the base and a hint of sweet fruit for the long, voluptuous dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.  As I reviewed their website (http://www.farmersofwine.com/) I learned that this wine is a blend of Primitivo and Negroamaro from Puglia, which all makes sense now!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant drinking wine and a great value.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Hereford New York Strip, with some steamed broccoli and a baked potato.  This would be great with a variety of Italian dishes as well, or just sipping on the patio which I intend to do later.  Salut!