2021 Stags Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a relaxing day, I did some indoor chores and then went for a bike ride before the intense heat returns next week.  So, now it's time to open a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I think I bought from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2021 Stags Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a classic Napa wine from a very solid vintage.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine has in inky black center, with bright ruby throughout, just as you'd expect from a nice Napa Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of ripe blackberry and cherry with notes of leather and oak that will have you thinking you're sipping wine in an Ivy League library.  The first sip is a rush or ripe blackberry and currant intermingled with tart cherry that transitions nicely to some earthy limestone and oak midpalate.  The tannins are vibrant and well integrated, providing for an ideal foundation for the long, voluptuous dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just an ideal expression of the upper echelons of Napa Valley Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with friends and hard cheeses on a patio, or perhaps with a big steak for dinner/  Tonight, I am taking the classic route and enjoying this wine with a classic summer dinner of a grilled bone-in ribeye over onions and portabella mushrooms sautéed with Worcestershire sauce, steamed sugar snap peas and corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2013 RJV Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's the first Saturday of a new month, which makes this Cellar Saturday, that magical time where I open a bottle from the cellar at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I bought from Wines Till Sold Out, but it's been in the cellar for nearly a decade since I bought it.  The 2013 Robert John Vineyard (RJV) Cabernet Sauvignon (RJV) Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the D'Ambrosio Vineyard in the Coombsville AVA of Napa Valley.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is an inky black at the center, with deep ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of big jammy fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant amid notes of oak, tawny fruit and enticing spice.  The first sip is a clash of flavors, with earthy tar and limestone crashing against ripe blackberry and cassis amid undertones of tawny port before transitioning to some earthy limestone and mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued yet still supportive of the long, smooth dry finish of a classic Napa Cabernet.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as I think it may be just a bit past its prime.  This wine would pair well with just about any big, hearty dish, from braised short ribs to rack of lamb, mushroom pasta to smoked beef brisket.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic pan seared filet mignon over béarnaise sauce with steamed asparagus and mushroom farro.  Cheers!

2018 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  Last week was spring break and though it started out promising, we are ending the week with a clear reminder that mother nature rules the calendar!  In any event, tonight I have opened a bottle that has regretfully been in my cellar too long so it's well past time to open this one.  The 2018 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (91%), Merlot (6%) and Petit Verdot (3%) from the XL, Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington. So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with an inky black center, just as you'd expect from a high-quality Cabernet.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of ripe black fruit, lavender, smoke and candied plum that will have you hankering for a sip.  Oh, that first sip is worth the wait, with a rush of ripe blueberry, blackberry and currant that wash over your palate before transitioning to some earthy mineral notes of dusty limestone and graphite midpalate.  The tannins are expertly integrated and well structured to provide the perfect base for a lingering dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a perfect representation of the earthy pinnacle of a great Walla Walla Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from roasted lamb to hearty beef stew, braised short ribs to mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of a grilled bone-in ribeye, blistered cocktail tomatoes and a big baked potato with butter, sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2023 Doubleback Merlot

Happy Sunday!  I am officially on spring break, which means I am spending a lot of time grading and preparing for the second half of the semester, but I still have some time to enjoy a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of wine that has been a couple years in the waiting, but also out of order (as I realized I still haven't opened any of my bottle of the prior vintage).  In any case, let's enjoy the 2023 Doubleback Merlot, a blend of Merlot (91%) and Cabernet Franc (9%) from the Shafer, McQueen and LeFore Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a testament to the heavy hand of Merlot in the blending.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, green grass and graphite that will have you rapt in anticipation.  Take a sip and it's like a warm wool blanket enveloping your palate with flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate and cola that is a classic Walla Walla feature, eventually transitioning to some earthy limestone.  The tannins are somewhat chalky, but still provide an ideal base for the lingering dry finish that will have you reaching for your glass.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's an elevated example of what the Walla Walla Valley is capable of producing in Merlot.  This wine would pair well with a range of winter dishes, from hearty stew to wild mushroom risotto, roast beef to zesty steak tacos.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rather elevated Sunday dinner of a pan seared filet mignon on a base of Béarnaise sauce, along with farro simmered with oyster and trumpet mushrooms and bacon roasted brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2020 Forgeron Cellars Walla Walla Merlot

Happy Sunday!  I did a lot of chores today and now I'm ready for Sunday dinner and a nice glass of wine.  On that count, I've decided to open a bottle that I've had in the cellar for a while now, the 2020 Forgeron Cellars Walla Walla Merlot.  This wine was sourced from the Minnick Hills Vineyard, a favorite source for this wine maker, located in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is drinking!

A deep ruby look in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  The nose presents aromas of oak, cherry, limestone and graphite, a classic look for a Walla Walla red.  The first sip belies the nose as you're treated to s rush of ripe cherry, blackberry and currant that easily transition to some earthy mineral notes of basalt, oak and tar midpalate, with a bit of tawny notes at the finish.  The tannins are well structured, so a long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's certainly a pleasant, easy drinking wine, with a good bit of Walla Walla character built in.  This wine would pair well with a range of winter dishes, from hearty stews and chili to braised short ribs and hearty pasta.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a bit of surf and turf for my Sunday dinner, a grilled porterhouse along with some pan seared sea scallops, and some sugar snaps for good measure.  Cheers!

2022 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Petit Verdot

Happy Sunday!  Now that the holiday rush has largely subsided, we can once again focus on the importance of balancing work with wonderful food and wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of wine from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, Seven Hills Winery.  The 2022 Seven Hills Petit Verdot was sourced entirely from the McClellan Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington. Let's see how this new vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with a heavier body more reminiscent of a nice Merlot.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry and plum, intertwined with some light floral aromas of violet and lilac that have you anxious to take a sip.  That first sip is a concert of flavors that come at you fast, blackberry and plum that east into some tart cherry before blasting some earthy limestone from the quarry walls, just before you head for a picnic lunch with smoked meat and olive tapenade on the forest floor.  At the end of the concert, the tannins sweep up for the long, smooth dry finish that will have you reaching for more.

Overall, I rate this wine a solid 9 as it's a perennial favorite for a single bottling of a typical blending Bordeaux varietal.  This wine also seems to be a perfect food-friendly wine that would pair with a broad range of dishes, from barbecue to pizza, steak to pasta, Indian to Asian cuisine.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a chicken and vegetable Thai inspired curry noodle dish.  The fruit and acidity are an ideal complement to the rich spice of the curry rice noodles.  Cheers!

2021 Reininger Malbec

Merry Christmas!  It's been a rather subdued day, but now it's time for a beefy dinner, and what better wine to go with beef than a nice Malbec.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2021 Reininger Malbec, which contains mainly Malbec (98%) with a touch of Petit Verdot (2%) harvested from Pepper Bridge (82%), Stone Valley (16%) and Seven Hills (2%) Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

This wine has the classic look of Malbec, inky black with bright ruby along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass and you're treated to aromas of green grass, olive tapenade and dusty limestone, with undertones of ripe blackberry and plum.  The first sip is a rush of earthy minerality, graphite, basalt and limestone that open up into some lovely floral notes dancing between hints of ripe black fruit and peppery spice.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing a long, smooth dry finish with a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I don't think it quite measures up to the 2019 vintage, but there is still time for this one to develop.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from burgers to barbecue, braised short ribs to chorizo tacos, but more than anything, this wine demands a big steak.  And we're in luck, since tonight my Christmas dinner is a extra thick grilled ribeye along with wild mushroom farro and steamed asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

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!