2023 Kirkland Signature Stag's Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday! It was a great first week of classes, have I mentioned that I am now a teaching professor of finance?  In any case it was a good week, and now I am spending the weekend preparing for next week, but in the interim I can enjoy a nice dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I picked up at Costco yesterday, the 2023 Kirkland Signature Stag's Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  You had me at Stag's Leap Costco!  So, let's see how this (likely too young) wine is tasting!

The wine has the look of a classic big Napa Cabernet, inky black at the center and bright ruby all around.  The nose presents aromas of leather, Bing cherry, hints of white pepper and just a bit of dried herbs.  The first sip is an intriguing combination of green grass up front that transitions to some ripe cherry and blackberry and earthy limestone midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing for a long, smooth dry finish with a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it would have rated higher, but it's still quite young and has a bit of sharpness along the edges (if they release this a year later, this wine would be really singing!).  This wine would of course pair well with steak, but also with barbecue, braised lamb shank, or even a variety of pasta dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Midwest dinner of pan seared New York strip, over sautéed red onions and mushrooms with some corn on the cob (I am reliably told there is more than corn in Indiana).  I will likely enjoy the rest of this wine beside the fire this evening, cheers!  

2022 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Well happy Saturday!  I spent much of the day mowing, then running errands and completing a little work before having dinner and heading to the theatre for our penultimate performance!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from one of my all time favorite Walla Walla wineries, the 2022 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is 100% composed of Cabernet Sauvignon from the McClellan Estate Vineyard, with some of the older vines in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine has a classic look of a quality Cabernet in the glass, inky black at the center and bright ruby along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals a nose chock full of ripe black fruit and earthy elements that make Walla Walla wines so special, leather, limestone and peat.  The first sip is a rich mouthful of ripe blackberry, currant and plum that dance around your palate with hints of mint and and dried herbs.  The tannins are subtle but well structured, providing for a long, smooth, dry finish that decidedly more European in character.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a fabulous example of the high-quality Cabernet that the Walla Walla Valley is capable of.  This wine would pair well with classic steaks, braised short ribs, or pappardelle Bolognese, but it would also feel right at home in a summer cookout of burgers and brats.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared New York strip with sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms, along with some oven roasted asparagus.  Cheers!

2021 Seven Hills Pentad

Happy Saturday!  It's been a somewhat relaxing day today, finishing up a few chores and errands before settling in for dinner before the theatre tonight.  For this post, I've opened up a bottle of 2021 Seven Hills Pentad, a classic Bordeaux style blend of five grape varietals (hence "Pentad") from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (19%), Petit Verdot (9%), Malbec (9%) and Cabernet Franc (8%), so let's see how this previous vintage is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with an inky center, a testament to the heavy hand of Cabernet Sauvignon on the blend.  The nose presents welcoming aromas of leather, cedar and ripe blackberry amid undertones of baking spice.  The first sip is a marked departure from the Cabernet heavy expectations, as you are awash in mellow notes of boysenberry and plum, before the heavy hand of Cabernet makes its presence known with a rush of acidity, leather and earthy limestone midpalate.  The tannins are up front but well structured, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers into your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it represents the best of Walla Walla when it comes to blending Bordeaux varietals, and although I think it's drinking well now, it will likely improve with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with hearty meals, pasta, beef stew, braised short ribs or lamb rack, and of course steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a cowboy crusted ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, oven roasted potatoes and steamed sugar snaps.  Cheers!

2016 Château de Lafaurie-Monbadon Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

Happy Saturday!  I admit I slept in this morning as I was up late last night doing some volunteer cooking, so I took it easy today and did some random chores, grocery shopping and then decided to relax with a cocktail before dinner.  Tonight, I've decided on a different dinner, and that calls for a different wine, so I've opened a bottle of 2016 Château de Lafaurie-Monbadon Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  This wine is a classic Bordeaux, a blend of Merlot (70%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) and Cabernet Franc (15%).  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from such a Merlot heavy blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, cherry and cassis with undertones of violets and a hint of aged leather.  The first sip is a surprising rush of tart cherry that quickly gives way to some sweet blackberry and raspberry, before transitioning to some earthy notes of cedar and dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are still a bit tight, providing for a very sharp dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very easy drinking and food friendly Bordeaux that was also a solid value at less than $14.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops, to braised lamb shank, rich baked pasta to country barbecue.  Tonight, I am once again taking the road less traveled and enjoying this wine with a Japanese style stir fry.  Given the tight grocery budgets we are all facing, I decided to marinade some sliced chuckeye steak (if you are unfamiliar it's very flavorful and usually around $5-6 a pound) in some Bachan's Japanese Barbecue sauce, then christened my Hexclad wok and stir fried with some fresh veggies, served over white rice.  Cheers!

2021 Pepper Bridge Seven Hills Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Saturday!  It's been a real waste of a day, I had such plans to get a bunch of work done, but by the end of the day I could only accomplish some basic errands and then I just decided to enjoy some cocktails before dinner.  But at least I selected a nice wine to go with my dinner.  The 2021 Pepper Bridge Seven Hills Vineyard Red wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (66%), Merlot (14%), Malbec (10%) and Petit Verdot (10%) all from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass just as you'd expect from this Bordeaux style blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals an interesting combination of aromas with some ripe red fruit, strawberry, cherry and currant intermingled with some dusty mineral notes of limestone and basalt.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe fruit and minerality, cherry, currant and raspberry that give way to some notes of dusty loam, cocoa powder and baking spice midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued but well integrated to provide a wonderfully long, dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just an ideal red blend for a variety of occasions and food pairings.  This wine would pair well with hearty steaks and chops, braised lamb shank, wild mushroom risotto or any number of hearty fall dishes.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a reprise of summer and some bourbon glazed barbecued baby back ribs, mustard baked beans and cole slaw made with pomegranate, honey, olive oil and sage blossom vinegar.  Cheers!

2019 Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I had a wonderful day yesterday at the local Elkhart Airshow, seeing a lot of vintage World War II airplanes and reenactments, and then I had a wonderful dinner with the neighbors.  So, today I did a bunch of yard work and now I am ready for a nice bottle of wine with dinner.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a recent purchase from a long-time favorite Walla Walla Winery, the 2019 Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (93%) and Petit Verdot (7%) from the Champoux, Woodward Canyon, Wallula and Weinbau Vineyards, some of the best of  Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black and the center with bright ruby along the edges, letting you know that you're about to taste something special,  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of raspberry, blackberry and oak, beckoning you to take a sip.  And that first sip reveals flavors of black cherry, raspberry and dark chocolate, intermingled with mineral notes of graphite and limestone midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated providing for a velvety dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, but it has the potential to improve with a few years in the cellar (lucky I have a couple more reserved for future consumption!).  This wine would pair well with a broad range of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to hearty shews or rich pasta dishes.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled thick Angus porterhouse along with some grilled broccoli rabe and blistered cherry tomatoes.  Cheers!

2016 Pambrun Walla Walla Valley Merlot

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

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a quality Merlot.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals rich, ripe aromas of blackberry, marionberry and kirsch amid the faintest hints of green cedar and tobacco.  A sip reveals a rush of black fruit flavors, blackberry, plum, marionberry and cherry that grab your attention before shifting to some earthy notes of limestone and basalt, amid some savory spice notes and a hint of sweetness over the top.  The fine grain tannins are expertly integrated for a velvety smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classic example of why Walla Walla excels with Merlot.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes from rack of lamb to braised short ribs.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime New York strip with some pearl onions and portabello mushrooms sautéed with fresh rosemary, along with a baked potato and some steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2016 Bergevin Lane Vineyards Moonspell Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy day of cooking and work, but at least this evening I have the opportunity to relax a bit with a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened up a bottle that I brought back from my road trip to Walla Walla last summer, the 2016 Bergevin Lane Moonspell Cabernet Sauvignon.  I had the chance to buy some of their 2009 vintage from a local restaurant when I first moved back to Elkhart (you can see my review of that wine here) so I was thrilled when I happened upon their tasting room on my last trip, bringing back a few bottles.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is an inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you would expect from a nice Cabernet.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of green grass, earthy limestone and hints of green herb, a breath of the Walla Walla Valley, as I took a whiff and was immediately taken back to my visit last summer.  Take a sip and you're treated with a rush of fruit, tart cherry, black raspberry and currant, that transitions effortlessly to some warm spice notes, along with some earthy minerals midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured providing a great base for the long, smooth 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 a classic rendition of a Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  I really enjoyed the 2009 vintage when I tried it, and this one is no different, a refreshing taste that brings me right back to the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with big hearty meals, from steaks and chops, to Yankee pot roast, venison loin to rack of lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a bone-in bison ribeye along with some roasted golden beets and potatoes, along with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2016 Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Saturday!  So today was the day that I took down all the Christmas decorations, so another holiday season is officially in the books (though I'll probably be encountering tinsel until March).  After all that work this afternoon, I've decided to open a bottle of wine that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2016 Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva is a 100% Sangiovese for a classic Chianti, bringing the freshness of Tuscany to your table.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity as you'd expect from the varietal.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of bright red berries, cherry, raspberry, currant and strawberry with undertones of floral and Tuscan herbs.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of red fruit, raspberry, tart cherry and currant that transitions to some earthy notes of tar, tobacco and limestone midpalate.  The tannins are well structured with some bright acidity to provide for a vibrant but very dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant, easy drinking Classic Chianti, that was also a terrific value for just $13!  This wine would pair well with classic Tuscan dishes, from a Bistecca Fiorentina to a Tuscan toast with fava beans.  Tonight I am going more of a traditional Italian pairing, enjoying this wine with some porcini mushroom and truffle ravioli with some Italian sausage marinara.  Cheers!

2008 Otis Kenyon Walla Walla Merlot

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of the month, that magical day when I raid the cellar to open a bottle that's at least a decade in the making.  So tonight I've decided that since I'm in the mood for Merlot, why not open a bottle from a solid Merlot Maker, Otis Kenyon.  I have other reasons for this choice as since it's supposed to get down near 50 degrees tonight, I also plan to have a fire on the patio, which makes sense given the history of Otis Kenyon.  According to the story I was told in Walla Walla last spring, the Otis Kenyon family patriarch moved to Milton-Freewater to establish his dental practice in the early 1900s.  With a struggling practice, a new dentist moved into town, and somehow James Otis Kenyon decided to burn the competitors office to the ground, resulting in his providing excellent dental care to the guests and guards at a local prison.  So today, as a nod to that story the labels of Otis Kenyon wines contain his silhouette are burned along the edges.  The 2008 Otis Kenyon Walla Walla Merlot is 100% Merlot from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards.  So let's get to the wine!

The wine is a lovely, deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose is chock full of leather, cherry, raspberry and fig with an overlay of floral and juniper notes.  The taste is a perfect balance of old world and new world styling, with a rush of ripe fruit, blueberry, cherry and plum that transitions nicely to some wonderful mineral notes of limestone and basalt midpalate, a marriage of fruit and funk.  The tannins are quite subdued at this point, but still well integrated to provide nice structure to the long, very dry finish, that treats you to a reprise of some floral and cardamom notes right at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's a wonderfully structured Merlot that I could easily sip by itself on the patio, or enjoy with a broad range of dishes, from steaks to barbecue to tacos.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Northwest pairing, cedar planked steelhead along with potato puree with chives and steamed sugar snap peas, in a perfect evening for a dinner on the patio.  Cheers!

2017 St. Sagnol Coteaux Varois en Provence Rose

It was sunny and 86 today, and very humid, which once again reminds me that we are in the heart of rose season!  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I picked up yesterday at Trader Joe's, the 2017 St. Sagnol Coteaux Varois en Provence Rose!  For those unfamiliar with Coteaux Varois en Provence, the area is in a more mountainous region, offering higher elevations and more protection from the impact of the Mediterranean, often resulting in wines with more continental character.  They typical varietals are dominated by Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault, which is to be expected in Provence.  So let's get to the wine!

The wine is a pale pink, almost peach color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of peach, citrus and a marked floral motif amid hints of limestone minerality.  The taste is a subdued cascade of fruit, with pink grapefruit, hints of passion fruit and melon that gives way to some earthy notes of green grass and stark minerality midpalate.  The finish is crisp and clean, and very dry, a perfect wine for summer!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a wonderfully crisp and dry rose to enjoy on the patio on those warm summer evenings.  This wine was also a terrific value at just $7!  This wine would pair very well with salad, fresh seafood and even some fresh fruit desserts, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with some fish tacos topped with sriracha slaw on white corn tortillas.  Cheers!

Fruit Hills Winery Cabernet Franc

Happy Tuesday!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of local wine!  Local wine, you say?  But you live in Indiana?  Absolutely right, and I freely admit that I'm not a big fan of much of the red wine that's produced in Northern Indiana or Michigan, but I actually tasted this wine a couple years ago at a local art show and I liked it, so I bought a bottle.  So, I thought what the heck, Tuesdays are slow, so let's enjoy a bottle of non-vintage Fruit Hills Winery Cabernet Franc!  Fruit Hills Winery is a nice little winery in Bristol, Indiana, that's on an orchard that's been around since the 1850s and it's a pleasant place to stop by on your next visit to Amish country!  But what about the wine?  Here goes nothing!

The wine is somewhat lighter in color than many examples of Cabernet Franc, as this one looks more like a Pinot Noir.  The nose gives the impression of a wine produced in a much more sophisticated wine region, rich leather and smoke over ripe fruit notes of blackberry and plum.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit up front, tart cherry, plum and boysenberry that transitions to some modest notes of Kirsch and limestone mineral midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat tight, but provide some bright acidity for the smooth, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, as this is a local dry red wine that I enjoy and would have no qualms serving to guests.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from steaks to barbecue to chili, but tonight is Taco Tuesday, so I am enjoying this one with some chipotle rubbed sockeye tacos with a fresh red cabbage and cilantro slaw.  The acidity of the wine is a perfect foil to the richness of the salmon, cheers!

2014 Sleight of Hand Cellars "The Psychedelic Syrah"

So a few weeks ago I happened to be speaking with Julie Titus at Seven Hills Winery, making sure I had the wines that I thought I had (after my hard drive crash, it seems there are wineries that have a better idea of what's in my cellar than I do!) and she mentioned that she had recently enjoyed "one of the best Syrah's" she had ever had.  Of course I was intrigued, and she was kind enough to give me the contact information for the kind folks at Sleight of Hand Cellars so that I could get a few bottles of their 2014 "The Psychedelic Syrah"!!!  Now I do love me some Syrah, and this one is crafted from fruit of the Stoney Vine  Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA.  The folks at Sleight of Hand bill their wines as "Serious wines without the serious attitudes" so I think I could definitely get along with these guys!  I encourage you to check out their website (here: http://www.sofhcellars.com/) and see some of the interesting wines they are producing, but now let's get on with the show!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose is just an explosion of everything that's great about Syrah, green grass, lavender, green olives, smoke and minerals with lovely undertones of ripe purple fruit.  The taste is like nothing I've experienced before, it just takes me right back to the many lovely tasting rooms in Walla Walla, with wild earthy flavors, bursts of ripe cherry, blackberry and blueberry, earthy limestone, licorice and smoke that just give you such a sense of the place that produced this wine.  The tannins are elegant, creating a velvety mouthfeel than envelops you creating a long, dry finish that's silky and very memorable.  This is appropriately names, as this was a psychedelic experience!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's one of the best examples of the varietal that I've ever had the pleasure to drink.  I could tell you about pairings, but why ruin the experience?  Just sip this wine on the patio with a group of friends and you'll forget all about dinner.  Of course I'm hungry though, so tonight I am pairing this with a lovely grilled lemon herb halibut filet with some grilled organic rainbow carrots, earth meet sea!  Cheers!

2013 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Monday!  I know Mondays can be hard, so let's lighten things up a bit with a nice glass of wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of one of my favorites, the 2013 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla Valley AVA in Washington!  I reviewed the 2012 vintage way back in 2014 (wow how time flies!) which you can see here. So let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a deep purple color at the center with a bright ruby along the edges, just what you'd expect from a high-quality Cabernet.  The nose is just a breath of ripe berries and earthy leather and oak, that just brings back memories of autumn (lucky it's still spring, I just checked!).  The taste is a rush of ripe berries, blackberry, marionberry and black cherry that linger on the tongue before transitioning to some wonderful mineral notes of basalt and limestone midpalate.  The finish is divine, with a reprise of black cherry as the wonderfully integrated tannins set up the supple and very dry finish that seems to last several minutes.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's drinking wonderfully now, but could still improve with some time in the cellar.  This would be a great wine with grilled steak or braised short ribs, but tonight I'm enjoying it with a light dinner of bucatini tossed with some broccoli rabe sauteed with garlic and olive oil topped with some shaved parmesan.  Cheers!

2012 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve

Happy Saturday!  I have to admit, I didn't really do much today, and it feels kind of nice to spend a Saturday relaxing, watching football and of course opening a bottle of wine to enjoy.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle I bought a few weeks ago at Costco, the 2012 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve Columbia Valley red wine, a blend of Merlot (80%), Cabernet Sauvignon (8%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Malbec (6%).  So let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is an inky indigo at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry, cassis with just a hint of dusty limestone.  The taste is classic Columbia Valley Bordeaux-style blend, with a subtle buildup of black fruit at the outset, blackberry, plum and currant that transition almost imperceptibly to some winderful mineral notes of graphite and basalt midpalate.  The tannins are young but well structured to support the wonderfully long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a solid effort for a more mass produced wine (6,000 cases) but a great value at just $27.  This would be an ideal grilled meat wine, but it would also be great with firmer cheeses.  Tonight I am pairing this one with a rare grilled filet mignon with a baked potato and some wonderful grilled cauliflower.  Cheers!

2013 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I  got a few things done today, including mowing the lawn and doing a load of laundry, so now I'm ready to relax a bit.  I've decided to treat myself today and open a nice bottle of 2013 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon. Now I remember tasting this at the winery last year (I think?) and it was pretty good, so let's see how it is now!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, blueberry and plum accented by some leather and graphite with just a hint of lavender.  The taste is classic Walla Walla cabernet, with a blast of ripe black fruit up front that transitions to some wonderful notes of dark chocolate and blueberry midpalate.  There is a good bit of limestone minerality on the finish, as the wonderfully structured tannins provide for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a favorite wine from one of my favorite producers in one of my favorite regions.  This wine would be ideal with hearty meat dishes or southern Italian dishes.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic Midwest summer dinner of a rare grilled Angus bone-in ribeye, along with some grilled sweet corn (I bought yesterday from a farmer in Beecher, Illinois) and some grilled Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2013 Gravel Bar Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Hump Day!  I have to admit since I'm on staycation this week, I hardly noticed hump day at all.  But at the very least I've decided to open a nice bottle of wine to celebrate the middle of the week and tonight it's the 2013 Gravel Bar Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (91%) and Malbec (9%) primarily from the Wahluke Slope in the Columbia Valley.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky black color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you would expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, currant, leather and some mineral notes of graphite and limestone.  The taste is quite nice, with a rush of ripe black fruit up front, that transitions nicely to some notes of mocha, dark chocolate and cassis midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and well integrated for a long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nicely drinking wine right now, and it was a terrific bargain as I found this at my local wine store for just $16!  This wine would pair nicely with some hearty grilled steaks, braised short ribs or rustic Italian dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled farm to table sirloin steak that came from one of the cows at the recent Elkhart County 4-H Fair, some garlic mashed potatoes and steamed Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2011 Muga Rioja Riserva

So I'm at Boston' Logan airport and the last words you ever want to hear when you arrive are, "your flight's wicked delayed!"  So here I am at Legal Seafoods for dinner (I have 4 hours to kill) so why not enjoy some wine?  Now keep in mind I'm doing this on my phone so please forgive the typos!  I just got a half bottle of 2011 Muga Rioja Riserva so let's see what this one has to offer!

The color is a nice deep ruby. The nose presents aromas of plum, currant, limestone and a bit of Bordeaux style funk. The taste is quite nice with a rush of black fruit up front followed by some smooth mineral notes of dusty likestone and basalt. The tannins are nicely structured lending to the long, smooth dry finish. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a nice Rioja from a producer I like. It would be great with a variety of Mediterranean dishes, but tonight I'm at Legal Seafoods enjoying this with some blackened tuna sashimi and a Bostob baked scrod for dinner. Cheers!

2006 Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It's officially the first Saturday of May and that means it's time to raid the cellar for something that's been waiting around for a decade or more to be experienced.  Tonight I've decided to open a nice little California Cabernet from the Alexander Valley, the 2006 Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon, so let's see what it has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, plum and cassis overlaid with some earthy notes of leather and tar.  The taste is packed with jammy fruit up front, with blueberry, plum and blackberry, that transition nicely to some notes of black pepper and spice along with some earthy notes of limestone midpalate.  The finish is just lovely, with still well structured tannins providing the foundation for a long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's aged very nicely and is drinking exceptionally well right now.  This wine would be ideal for a big steakhouse sort of meal, and that exactly what I'm going for tonight with a thick Angus New York Strip grilled Pittsburgh style along with some oven roasted potatoes and Vidalia onions and steamed asparagus.  The wine is just a perfect counterbalance to the richness of the steak, cheers!

2013 Le Grand Noir Cabernet Sauvignon

Ahhh...taco Tuesday, and what shall I drink?  Wine of  course, and I was thinking of a nice rose to preview for summer, but the weather has taken a turn toward the chilly, so I've decided to hold off and instead, tonight it's a bit of a bargain wine that I picked up a couple weeks ago at one of my favorite Grand Rapids wine and food retailers, G. B. Russo & Sons!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2013 Le Grand Noir Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) and Syrah (15%) from France.

The wine looks like a classic Cabernet, with deep ruby color and nice clarity.  The nose presents lovely aromas of blackberry and cassis and a hint of green grass and tar over the top.  The taste is actually quite nice for a young Cabernet, with a rush of ripe fruit up front, raspberries, black cherry and plum with a nice transition to some Asian spice and mineral notes of basalt and limestone midpalate.  The tannins are young and vibrant, providing for a very smooth, long and bone dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, as it's still young but drinking very nicely.  It was also a great bargain at just $10, which would make this an ideal, everyday wine that would pair well with grilled steaks, roasted meats and tacos!  Yes, tonight I am celebrating taco Tuesday with some chorizo tacos with fresh salsa verde and this wine is a great match.  Cheers!