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!

2021 Mark Ryan Winery Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I'm glad to report that the weather finally broke here, as yesterday it was incredibly hot and humid, but a cold front came through and today we are enjoying highs in the low 70s and expected lows in the upper 40s tonight.  This was good news as I have been waiting for a cool day to don my long sleeves, jeans and gloves to remove some of the poison ivy that's grown up this spring (the price you pay for living in a personal forest!), but now it's time for a special dinner!  Tonight is the last Sunday of the month, which means it's time for Dinner in the Diner, where I craft dinner from a recipe served in the dinning cars of some of the great long-distance trains of the 20th Century.  But before we get to that, we have to open the wine! Tonight's selection is from Mark Ryan Winery, a personal favorite harkening back to my grunge years, the 2021 Mark Ryan Winery Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (95%) and Merlot (5%) from some of the oldest vines in the Quintessence, Red Willow, Ciel du Cheval Vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how these old vines are producing!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity, much different than some of the big Cabernets you commonly see.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of black cherry, strawberry and red currant intermingled with dried herbs and a hint of green cedar.  The first sip is a rush of fresh green herbs that transition easily to ripe red fruit notes of cherry, currant and marionberry, before easing into some notes of black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth and expertly integrated, providing for such a pleasing, long, dry finish that you'll be immediately reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9 as it's just a wonderful example of the great quality of Cabernet being produced in Washington.  This wine would pair well with just about any red meat, from steaks and chops, to braised short ribs or classic burgers for the 4th of July.  Tonight, I am pairing this wine with a classic recipe from the Northern Pacific Railroad, the sirloin of beef with mushroom sauce.  I took the chef's prerogative and adjusted this slightly to grilled T-bone instead of baked sirloin, but the roasted vegetables and mushroom sauce stayed true to the recipe.  Cheers!

2019 Decero Remolinos Vineyard Malbec

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy weekend, and always sad when it comes to the end and you're not exactly sure what you accomplished!  At any rate, I'm ending the weekend on a high note with a wonderful wine that is perfect for my Sunday dinner choice. The 2019 Decero Remolinos Vineyard Malbec was harvested from vineyards in the Agrelo sub-appellation of Mendoza, planted at an elevation of 3,500 feet.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Malbec.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals wonderful aromatics of blackberry, leather and white pepper spice.  Take a sip and you're awash in ripe blueberry, blueberry and currant that transition easily to some earthy notes of basalt and green cedar.  The tannins are expertly structured, providing for a velvety smooth dry finish that lingers till your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderful expression of a Malbec that stands well above the standard fare of this varietal.  This wine was also a terrific value available at Costco for just $16!  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, but practically begs to be paired with a gaucho served steak.  And tonight I'm in luck, enjoying this wine with a cowboy ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare with horseradish, roasted garlic and grilled asparagus.  Cheers! 

2019 Pepper Bridge Merlot

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I admit it's been a while since my last post, but I've been so busy between work and the play I was in at our local civic theatre, but the last performance was a Sunday matinee and now I am officially done with work for the year, so expect more than a few postings between now and early January!  Tonight, I've opened a perennial favorite Merlot, the 2019 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Valley Merlot.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (77%), Cabernet Franc (15%) and Malbec (8%) sourced from the Seven Hills, Waliser, Pepper Bridge and Octave Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, somewhat lighter than the more boisterous Cabernets, but just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry with an overlay of baking spice, cocoa powder and just a hint of green cedar.  At your first sip, you're greeted with a rush of ripe black fruit up front, blackberry, cherry and currant that transition easily to some warm spice notes, intermingled with some earthy minerality.  The tannins are supple and velvety, providing for a wonderfully smooth, dry finish that already has me reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's always a wonderfully build Merlot.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty, comfort dishes so prominent in the winter months, from braised short ribs to Yankee pot roast, wild mushroom risotto to truffle mac and cheese.  Tonight though, I am enjoying this wine with a tomahawk ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, along with some oven roasted baby potatoes with rosemary and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2018 Nelms Road Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

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

2018 San Pedro "1865" Carmenere

Happy Sunday!  It seems that summer is starting to calm down, we've seen hot and humid and rather chilly evenings on consecutive days, so I'm hoping for consistency!  As I get ready for Sunday dinner, I've decided to open a bottle of a recent Costco find, and one of my favorite varietals, Carmenere, the lost Bordeaux grape.  Carmenere was long thought extinct thanks to the phylloxera plague in 1867.  It was later discovered in Chile, having been cultivated since 1850 from French cuttings mistaken for Merlot.  The 2018 San Pedro "1865" Carmenere is named for the winemaker's founding year, and is sourced from a variety of vineyards in Chile's Del Maule Valley.  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, as you might expect from a pure Carmenere.  A quick swirl in the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, plum with some mineral notes of basalt and a hint of green cedar.  A taste reveals flavors of black cherry and currant that ease into notes of tobacco and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are rather subdued, but still find time to support a supple, dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant drinking wine and a solid value at just $13.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from tacos to pizza, pasta to steak.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with the latter two, a rare grilled New York Strip along with some garlic scapes and asparagus sautéed in olive and tossed with linguine and topped with shaved parmesan and a bit of purple basis.  Cheers!

2018 Pepper Bridge Merlot

Happy Saturday!  It's been a relaxing day for me, just enjoying some time with friends this morning and spending time reading this afternoon, I guess now it's time to enjoy a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open the most recent vintage of Merlot from the Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2018 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Valley Merlot.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (81%), Cabernet Franc (13%) and Malbec (6%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Octave Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby color in the glass, classic for the varietal.  Raise a glass and you're greeted with essence of blue and black fruit, blueberry, cherry and plum with lingering aromas of green cedar and dusty loam.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum with flavors of toffee and smoky oak midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and supple, creating a voluptuous mouthfeel and setting the stage for a long, smooth and very dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classically built Washington Merlot that lends itself to quiet sipping or boisterous meals.  This wine would pair well with the classics, steaks and chops, lamb and roasts, or hearty risotto.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled filet mignon on a bed of grilled leeks, along with some mashed potatoes with a red wine demiglace and asparagus with Hollandaise.  Cheers!

2017 Pepper Bridge Merlot

Well, the holiday season is progressing nicely, recently the city came by and picked up the last of the leaves, so it seems autumn is quickly fading as I prepare for my annual hunting trip to get my Christmas trees this weekend.  So as a little respite, I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2017 Merlot.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (76%), Cabernet Franc (12%) and Malbec (12%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge and Octave Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this most recent vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, just as one might expect from a quality Merlot with a bit of Malbec in the blend.  The nose is a rather elegant affair, with some light floral notes over ripe plum and graphite with a touch of green cedar over the top.  The taste is a rush of black cherry that gives way to some spice notes of clove and cinnamon before easing into vanilla bean and a hint of white pepper.  The tannins are expertly structured, providing the base for a long, velvety dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking wonderfully now, but is sure to improve with a bit of time in the cellar (I confess, I got three bottles and this is my second, so I'm not so sure on my ability to age this one!).  This wine would seem to be very food friendly and versatile, as I could enjoy this one with anything from steaks to pizza to tacos and barbecue, but tonight I've decided to take the road less traveled.  I am enjoying this wine with a citrus stuffed oven roasted rainbow trout, with thyme, blood orange and Meyer lemon along with some porcini mushroom farro and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2017 DaMa Winery Tempranillo

Happy Sunday!  I had the best of intentions today, with plans to get some work done, go to the gym, and...well at least I started making dinner!  Tonight I've decided to pair my upcoming feast with a recent wine club selection from DaMa wines, the 2017 Tempranillo, a 100% Tempranillo from the Alder Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA of Washington.  I think the producers in the Columbia Valley are doing some wonderful things with some Spanish varietals like Tempranillo, so I'm excited to see how this one tastes. 

The wine is a bright ruby in the glass, somewhat darker at the center than I might have expected.  The nose is a lovely old world breath of fresh air loaded with ripe berry fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant, intermingled with notes of tobacco and dried sage and a hint of leather over the top.  The taste is a refreshing rush of rip fruit up front, cherries, blackberries and strawberries that evoke a bit of sweetness before transitioning on to more rustic notes of green cedar and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are sturdy, providing for a robust yet velvety smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely example of an old world varietal taking root in the new.  This wine would be ideal for a broad range of dishes, from paella to taco Tuesday, from pizza to steaks.  But tonight, after the snowstorm earlier in the week, I needed a reprise of summer, with some barbecued beef back ribs, red skin potato salad, cole slaw and corn muffins.  Cheers!

2016 Flying B Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

So today as I was about to head out and run some errands, the UPS guy showed up with my Bledsoe Family Wines fall wine club shipment!  Woo hoo!  What a way to head into the weekend!  So I've decided to open a bottle of the 2016 Flying B Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon and see how the second vintage is tasting (I reviewed the first vintage here).  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) and Syrah (15%) from the Bob Healy, Lefore, Loess and Seven Hills Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  I had a chance to meet the winemaker, Josh McDaniels last spring and I was impressed, so let's see how he's done with this wine!

The wine is a deep inky purple at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a quality Cabernet.  The nose is chock full of blueberry, raspberry and green cedar aromas that give you a strong sense of what you're about to experience.  The taste is just a showstopper, much beyond what the aromas had me expecting.  A harmony of earthy green grass overlaid with floral hints, that reach higher to notes of dark chocolate and tobacco amid the full and velvety mouthfeel.  The tannins are silky smooth as the dry finish just marks the apex of a tasting experience that should rightfully last an entire afternoon.

It's hard to describe this wine without superlatives, so I would happily rate this wine a solid 9.5, perhaps one of the best wines I've tasted this year and such a big leap beyond the first vintage (though I really liked that one too!).  This wine practically begs to be paired with a big, rich, prime steak grilled to perfection, but I could also just see myself sipping this one on the porch tonight!  I am enjoying this wine with a marinaded tagliata steak along with a loaded baked potato and grilled Brussels sprouts, but none of that seems very important to me right now.  Cheers!

2014 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Merlot

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I've decided to open a nice bottle of Merlot, and a bottle that will likely be a wine club selection soon, the 2014 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Merlot.  This wine is a Merlot blended with a bit of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon that likely provides a bit of added heft and complexity.  I also selected this wine based on what I'm having for dinner, which I began cooking at lunchtime if that provides you any hints.  So let's see how this wine tastes. 

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with deep, inky purple at the center.  The nose is a pleasant combination of ripe black fruit, green cedar and some wonderfully subtle floral undertones that exemplify the level of complexity in the wine.  The taste is classic Merlot, with a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and cassis that envelop the palate.  Midpalate, you're treated to some notes of dark chocolate and espresso with a reprise of black cherry before the wonderfully structured tannins provide for the smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderful Merlot that's boosted by the added Bordeaux varietals.  This wine would pair well with a variety of steaks and chops, fresh pasta dishes, or since we are entering the fall months, hearty stews and roasts.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic braised short ribs over mashed potatoes with chives along with some steamed broccoli.  The freshness of the wine and wonderful fruit really brings up the richness of the short ribs.  Cheers!

2014 Maison Bleue Coureur des Bois

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  No green beer for me thanks, but I can still open a nice bottle of wine to enjoy with my traditional meal.  Tonight I've decided to open a wine club selection that I just received today, the 2014 Maison Bleue Courer des Bois, a classic Columbia Valley blend of Mourvedre (40%), Syrah (40%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), which provides a bit more heft than the standard GSM blend.  So let's see how she tastes!

The wine is a bit darker in color than your typical GSM blend, but still vibrant garnet.  The nose is a wonderful blend of leather, tart cherry and green cedar.  The taste is quite nice, with a more subdued bit of ripe fruit up front, that transitions to some lovely earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated and smooth, providing an excellent foundation for the long, luxurious dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as I think it's drinking nicely now, but could certainly improve with a few years in the cellar.  As for the pairing, it would be wonderful with a variety of hearty meat dishes, from roasts to lamb chops, but today is St. Patrick's Day, so I'm enjoying this wine with a traditional dinner of corned beef and cabbage with some oven roasted red potatoes and  carrots and some traditional soda bread.  Cheers!

2012 Chateau Vrai Caillou Les Vignes de la Garene Bordeaux Superieur

Happy Tuesday!  It's just started to rain, so I've decided to open up a nice bottle of Bordeaux, in this case a wine club selection from last year, the 2012 Chateau Vrai Caillou Les Vignes de la Garene Bordeaux Superieur, a nice blend of Merlot (70%), Cabernet Franc (20%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%), so a typical right bank Bordeaux with a high Merlot concentration.  So let's see how she tastes!

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby color in the glass, classic for the varietals.  The nose is a lovely expression of ripe berry fruit, leather and graphite that so often characterizes the terroir of the right bank of the Gironde.  The taste brings me back to my time in France two decades ago, with a rush of dark fruit, blackberry, currant and black cherry that transition to some wonderful earthy notes of smoke, minerals and green cedar midpalate.  The finish is very smooth and quite dry, with fine tannins that are very well structured.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a very pleasant drinking Bordeaux and a terrific value as I found this one in Grand Rapids at G.B. Russo's for just $12.  The wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from stews to roast beef to steak, but tonight I'm enjoying it with a simple mid-week dinner of linguine with a bit of arrabiata sauce garnished with shaved Parmesan and frech basil.  Cheers!

2006 Hendry Napa Valley Pinot Noir

Happy Saturday!  Well it's the first Saturday of February, which of course means it's "Cellar Saturday" when I get to raid the cellar for a bottle of wine that's had a bit more time to mature, a decade at least.  So tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2006 Hendry Napa Valley Pinot Noir that my boss gave me last year.  Now Napa is known more for Cabernet than Pinot, so let's see what this wine has to offer.

The wine is a lighter garnet color, somewhat darker and with a bit more of a brownish tint than your typical Pinot,  The nose is classic Pinot, with a rush of ripe strawberries and plums overlaid with some mineral notes and a bit of smoke.  The taste is actually quite nice, with a rush of ripe fruit up front, strawberries, cherries, and currant, that transition to some notes of green cedar and basalt midpalate.  The finish was quite nice, with smooth tannins and a very nice, long dry finish that has nice acidity but doesn't have the harshness that some Pinots can exhibit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very enjoyable Pinot Noir from a region that's really not known for the varietal.  This wine would pair with a variety of dishes, from lamb to seafood, but tonight I'm enjoying it with an old school seafood Newberg, a wonderful combination of scallops, shrimp, mussels and crab in a decadent sherry cream sauce served over puff pastry.  The acidity in this wine is perfect to counter the richness of the sauce.  Cheers!

2012 DaMa Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy Hump Day!  I know last month was a bit of a bust for my wine blog, as I was traveling a lot for work, but now I have some time at home for a little while so expect more blog posts in August!  Tonight I've decided to open a wine club selection that's been waiting around for a few months, the 2012 DaMa Walla Walla Valley Merlot,  You know I love me some Merlot and what could be better on Wine Wednesday?

The wine is a lovely, deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, currant, leather and smoke, a very inviting combination.  The taste is really quite interesting, with a blast of ripe red fruit up front, cherry, raspberry and currant intermingled with red licorice that transitions nicely to some mineral notes of dusty limestone and a bit of green cedar midpalate.  The description of this wine on the DaMa website notes, "This lovely new wine is like that treasured sweater: classic, comforting and warm from the inside out," and that is especially true for this wine, it has a particularly warm presence.  The finish is quite pleasant, with moderately chewy tannins supporting the smooth, warm dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's just such a pleasant wine to sip and a classic expression of Merlot, which is so seldom seen today.  This would be a great wine for grilled meats, barbecue or rustic Italian dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this with a lovely mid-week dinner of a rare grilled prime petit filet mignon along with a baked potato and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2012 Twenty Rows Napa Valley Merlot

Happy Hump Day on this holiday shortened week!  Tonight I had to work late, so I'm just getting around to opening a bottle of wine, and tonight it's the 2012 Twenty Rows Napa Valley Merlot, a blend of Merlot (90%) with a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) and Cabernet Franc (5%) to take the edge off.  I actually picked this bottle up at a local Italian restaurant that was changing up their wine list and all the old wines had to go at just $20 a bottle!  Well, you know how much I love me some Merlot so let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center with a bit of garnet along the edges,  The nose presents wonderful aromas of green cedar, mocha and black currant, perfect for a classic Merlot.  The taste was wonderful, with a blast of ripe berries and cherry cola at the outset that transitioned nicely to some mineral notes and warm spice.  The tannins are somewhat soft but nicely integrated for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's drinking very nicely right now and was a solid bargain at just $20!  This would be an ideal steak wine, which ironically enough it my humpday dinner, as I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime petit filet mignon with a baked potato and grilled asparagus.  Cheers!

2014 Forgeron Rose of Sangiovese

Happy Tuesday!  I've been waiting for this night as I had the chance to do a little seafood shopping at Whole Foods last weekend and I chilled a nice bottle of rose just for the occasion.  Yes, I know it's still winter, but a little rose at least reminds me that summer is just around the corner!  And tonight it's a good one I picked up on my trip to Walla Walla last summer, the 2014 Forgeron Rose of Sangiovese, which I know realize includes a preview of their new labeling!  This wine is sold out at the winery, but thankfully I scored a couple bottles last year.

The wine is a lovely peach color in the glass, and the nose evokes aromas of pink grapefruit, basalt and a bit of green cedar.  The taste is just lovely, like a gorgeous summer afternoon in a bottle, with vibrant citrus notes up front that transition seamlessly to flavors of strawberry overlaying some mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is bone dry, perfect for summer drinking but also ideal for some great food pairing with heartier dishes and particularly big seafood dishes.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a great summer rose and as I recall was a terrific value under $20.  Tonight I am pairing this wine with some macadamia crusted mahi mahi, mashed red skin potatoes and steamed cauliflower.  A perfect wine for a big fish meal, Sante!

2013 Spring Valley Vineyard Nina Lee Syrah

UIt's time for Sunday dinner, but what wine to serve?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle from my latest wine club selection from Spring Valley Vineyards, the 2013 Nina Lee Syrah.  Now a few months ago I reviewed the 2012 vintage (you can see that post here: 2012 Nina Lee Syrah), and this one is a blend of Syrah (80%), Cabernet Sauvignon (16%) and Viognier (4%), all from the Walla Walla Valley appellation.  So let's see how the latest release stacks up.

The wine is a lovely deep garnet color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, black pepper spice and a bit of green cedar.  The taste is lush, with ample flavors of ripe berries, black cherries and a good bit of spice that transitions nicely to some mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and well integrated, creating a smooth, voluptuous finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9 again, it's just a beautiful example of the varietal that accentuates the terroir of the Walla Walla Valley.  This strikes me as a real four season wine, at home in a blizzard like I'm experiencing now, or a warm summer evening on the patio.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled teriyaki glazed pork tenderloin, mashed sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli, the fruit and spice just marry perfectly with the richness of pork.  Cheers!

2010 L'Ecole No. 41 Seven Hills Estate Merlot

Have you ever made it to the end of the day and felt like you've just been beaten up?  That's how I feel today, after trying to get my house decorated for my upcoming Christmas party next weekend not to mention that I still have a lot of cleaning to do, particularly vacuuming spruce needles!  Oh well, I'll get it done soon enough, but until then it seems only appropriate to open a nice bottle of wine at the end of the day, and tonight it's one of my favorite varietals from one of my favorite wineries, the 2010 L'Ecole No. 41 Seven Hills Estate Merlot, which is actually a blend of Merlot (78%), Cabernet Sauvignon (13%) and Cabernet Franc (9%).

The wine is a beautiful rich ruby color in the glass, with a nice dark indigo at the center.  The nose is quite inviting, with aromas of black cherry, green cedar, and a hint of fresh herbs.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry and a hint of candied plum, which transition smoothly to some earthy elements of tar, toasted oak and pepper midpalate.  The finish is remarkably earthy, with integrated tannins supporting the long, smooth dry finish that leaves you wanting another sip.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's drinking very well now, but given it's from a strong vintage it will no doubt improve with some time in the cellar.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a nice petite sirloin, grilled rare, along with a big baked potato and some grilled Brussels sprouts.  A Merlot like this one is a sure bet to pair well with a nice steak house sort of dinner.  Cheers!

2012 Encantado Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Do you know what day it is?  Do you...know what day it is?  That's right, it's hump day, and for me it was an exceedingly long hump day as I didn't leave the office until nearly 7 pm, and although I was supposed to go to the gym tonight, I was just too tired, so I decided to make it a wine Wednesday instead!  And tonight's wine is one that just arrived from Wines Till Sold Out today, the 2012 Encantado Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a cabernet blend from several select blocks in Napa produced by Pine Ridge Vineyards in a 200-acre estate that spans five appellations: Stags Leap, Rutherford, Oakville, Carneros and Howell Mountain.

The wine is a deep, inky purple color in the glass edging toward some lighter ruby.  The nose is rather oak laden with a hint of green cedar, with some dark fruit notes mixed in.  The taste is really quite nice, with a veritable explosion of dark, jammy fruit up front, plum, blackberries and a hint of cocoa that transitions nicely to some dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are remarkably mellow for such a young wine, and the velvety, rounded mouthfeel makes for a long, dry and quite pleasant finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8 with room to improve with age, and best of all it was an absolutely spectacular bargain at just $19!  Tonight I am pairing this with a rather low maintenance dinner of heirloom tomato and basil ravioli with some creamy pesto sauce (I highly recommend the Three Bridges Refrigerated Pasta for quick, easy but delicious midweek meals where you really don't feel like cooking, like wine Wednesday!