2022 Accendo Cellars Laurea Napa Valley Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  It's been chilly and rainy all day here, so I did some laundry, had our first rehearsal of tech week, and now I'm ready for Sunday dinner.  As for the wine, tonight I opened a surprise bottle from Wines Till Sold Out, well I guess technically this was a "mystery pack" of deeply discounted, higher end wine.  The 2022 Accendo Cellars Laurea Napa Valley Red Wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (94%) and Petit Verdot (6%) from the Napa Valley, Yountville, Diamond Mountain  and St. Helena AVAs.  Since I love surprises, let's see how this surprising wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a quality Napa Cabernet.  The nose presents a cascade of ripe blueberry and blackberry intermingled with earthy leather, cedar and dusty loam, with just a hint of lavender.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in ripe black fruit that eases into some earthy notes of leather and dusty mineral notes, before swinging back around to some backing spice and a reprise of blackberry.  The tannins are well structured, providing for an elegant, lingering dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just an overall, pleasing Cabernet that will stand the test of time.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dished, from braised short ribs to hearty wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight I am taking a more traditional approach and enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye, seasoned with Cowboy crust along with some asparagus with hollandaise and parsley buttered red potatoes.  Cheers!

2015 Seven Hills Vineyard Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It seems like the weekend just flew by and now it's time for Sunday dinner, where did the time go?  Well, at least it's time for opening a nice bottle of wine, and despite my extensive cellar of Seven Hills Wines, this wine was a recent buy from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2015 Seven Hills Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet sourced from the original wines planted by wine maker Casey McClellan and his father in 1980.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a high-quality Cabernet.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, cherry and cassis with bits of herb and tobacco.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of ripe black fruit flavors that wash over your palate, black cherry, currant, mulberry and plum that transition to some notes of dusty limestone and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth a beautifully structured for an elegant dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just exactly what a nice Walla Walla Cabernet should be, and this wine is just reaching its stride at age 7.  This wine would pair well with steaks, chops, or even barbecue and burgers if summer ever arrives!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip, along with some steamed asparagus with hollandaise and some porcini mushroom farro.  Cheers!

2017 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Tuesday!  It's sure been strange living in pandemic times, but at least there are always brighter sides to the circumstances, like this morning when I filled my gas tank for just $1.54 a gallon!  Unfortunately, there are a lot of people hurting right now, whether from this horrible virus or just because of the turmoil it's caused in the economy.  Although I may not be able to help them directly, I am still trying to live as normally as possible, supporting local businesses and the Washington wine industry.  So in that spirit, tonight I've opened a bottle from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, Chuck Reininger!  The 2017 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) and Merlot (15%) from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry and black cherry, with just a hint of blueberry.  The taste is a dance party of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry, plum and currant all playfully enmeshed on a floor of velvety tannins that escort you gently to penultimate hints of anise and peppery spice ahead of the elegant and smooth, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic Cabernet that really highlight's Chuck's wine-making style and the wonderful quality of Walla Walla's old-world style.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of hearty dishes, from steak and lamb to Italian sausage and cedar planked salmon, but tonight is Taco Tuesday, so I am enjoying this wine with some classic beef tacos, with fresh jalapenos on wonderful corn tortillas.  Cheers!

2017 Forgeron Zinfandel

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

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

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

2014 Anvil Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  The weekend is almost over, so I have one last evening to open a nice bottle of wine and spend some time making a nice dinner - after all, Sunday dinners should be something special!  Tonight I was wandering around my cellar looking for a nice bottle of wine to open, and I happened upon a bottle of 2014 Anvil Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and that was the one!  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (92%) and Petit Verdot (8%) from the Dionysus Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  Dionysus was planted back in 1988, so the older vines really tend to shape the character of the wine.  I reviewed the 2013 vintage of this wine here back in 2017, so let's see how this vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a deep, inky color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a complex tangle of earthy notes and rich fruit, leather and peat with notes of black cherry and blueberry with hints of black pepper.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, blueberry and boysenberry that transitions to some notes of pipe tobacco and a hint of mocha with some wonderful peppery spice on the finish.  The tannins are well structured and integrated, providing a nice base for the elegant and smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9 as it's got the character and presence of a wonderful old vine Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with lamb, steak, wild mushroom risotto or some hearty pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime petite filet mignon with some mashed potatoes with chives, garnished with a Merlot reduction and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts. 

If you'd like to try this wine, it's still available from Forgeron cellars at the following link.  Cheers!

2016 Seven Hills Summit View Vineyard Clone 191 Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Friday!  It's been a long week and I am definitely ready for a nice glass of wine or two this evening.  Tonight I've decided to open one of my favorite Cabernets that I just got in a shipment from Seven Hills Winery, the 2016 Seven Hills Summit View Vineyard, Clone 191 Cabernet Sauvignon!  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington, and quickly becoming a perennial favorite of mine, is it just highlights the fantastic potential of Washington Cabernet.  So let's see how this third vintage tastes!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a perfect example of the Walla Walla nose of dusty limestone intermingled with tart cherry and blueberry aromas with just a hint of spice.  The taste is just fantastic, with a rush of cherry cola, blackberry and blueberry that transitions easily to some notes of mineral, anise and warm spice notes of white pepper midpalate.  The finish is a lingering reprise of spice, with firm tannins and delightful dryness.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a fantastic example of a great Cabernet with the earthy approach-ability of Walla Walla.  This wine practically begs to be paired with a big steak, but I think it would also fare well with lamb, hearty pasta or even summer barbecue.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime New York strip, with some mashed potatoes with chives and grilled leeks and asparagus.  Cheers!

2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Perigee

Happy Sunday!  I have to admit this has been an odd Sunday, as I started doing laundry, than decided to take a break and go for a bike ride, then went back to chores with cutting the grass, so now I'm ready for a glass of wine and some dinner.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of one of my favorite Bordeaux style blends from one of my favorite Walla Walla wineries, the 2013 Perigee from L'Ecole No. 41!  This vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (20%), Cabernet Franc (15%), Malbec (9%), and Petit Verdot (6%), from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA.  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect for a blend so heavy on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  The nose presents lovely ripe red fruit cherry, currant and plum intermingles with some light floral notes and a hint of cedar and mint.  The taste is a rush of ripe red fruits that expresses the wonderful terroir of the Seven Hills Vineyard.  The cherry, raspberry and current transition elegantly to some wonderful notes of dark chocolate and mocha midpalate.  The chalky tannins are the ideal foundation for the long, elegant and very dry finish that just beckons you to take another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a premier example of the wonderful blends from the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, or simply sipping on the patio on a summer afternoon.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare prime New York strip, oven roasted fingerling potatoes and grilled asparagus.  This wine is perfect with a really good steak, Cheers!

2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Candy Mountain Red Wine

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

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

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

2011 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank

Happy Sunday!  I know with the long holiday weekend, everyone probably has some plans for gathering with friends and family and honoring those who have served and sacrificed in the military.  My Memorial Day weekend usually involved going home and planting flowers on my parents' and grandparents' graves and then trying to relax a bit, which is what I am doing today.  And what better way to relax than with a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight's wine is a bit of a departure for a Napa Valley wine, in that it's not a Cabernet, but rather an homage to the classic Right Bank Bordeaux, which typically rely more heavily on Merlot in blending.  The 2011 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank is a blend of Merlot (78%) and Cabernet Franc (22%), so this one is comparable to a Saint-Emilion.  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with mild opacity.  The nose is a wonderful combination of green herbs, ripe red raspberry and currant, black licorice and a bit of rose petal, very similar to a nice right bank Bordeaux.  The taste is quite nice, with a nice bit of red fruit up front, raspberry, cherry and currant that transitions nicely to some wonderful mineral notes over some hints of tobacco midpalate.  The finish is elegant and subdued as the tannins are very well integrated such that the flavors just linger on the palate like a fine Bordeaux.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's certainly a great effort from a cool vintage that's just a pleasure to drink!  Of course, I have no idea where I got this bottle, it was just sitting in the wine rack, so I'll have to be thankful for such pleasant treasure finds!  This wine would be ideal with a variety of dishes, but as usually, I am enjoying this with a nice steak, in fact a big honkin' porterhouse grilled rare along with some nice grilled asparagus that just came in from Michigan.  Cheers!

2007 Louis Boillot Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Chapelle

Happy April Fools Day!  No, I'm not joking on this post, but at least it's the first Saturday of the month, which means it's Cellar Saturday!  That fun day when I open a bottle that's at least a decade old that's been waiting to be tried.  Today was a day of spreading mulch around the yard, so full of earthy aromas, which means it's probably appropriate to enjoy a nice earthy pinot noir from Burgundy tonight!  And for this Cellar Saturday, I've opened a bottle of 2007 Louis Boillot Volnay 1er Cru from Clos de la Chapelle, one of the 30 premier crus from Volnay.  I believe I may have received this wine as a gift from my boss, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is very light in color, almost appearing like a rose.  The nose is a lovely combination of bright red berries, floral notes and a heaping helping of earthy goodness.  The taste is interesting, as you have a good bit of ripe red fruit, raspberry, cherry, mulberry, that has a nice balance of acidity, before you transition to some wonderful earthy mineral notes.  The finish is quite dry but very elegant, with a reprise of mild acidity from the very well integrated tannins.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nice Burgundy, but unfortunately I'm not the biggest fan of pinot noir.  This wine would be fantastic with lamb, mushroom risotto or about any hearty, earthy dish.  Tonight I am enjoying this with some classic comfort food, stuffed cabbage!  I used to love my mom's stuffed cabbage, but I put on a little twist simmering it with some arrabiata sauce and top with a bit of shaved parmesan.  Cheers!

2013 Charles Krug Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I've been doing some chores, like laundry and also doing a bit of relaxing this afternoon, so now it's time to get down to business, namely the business of enjoying a glass of wine as I'm preparing dinner!  And tonight it's a special one that I brought back from my recent trip on the Napa Valley Wine Train, the 2013 Charles Krug Vintage Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (94%) and Petit Verdot (6%). so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a high quality Cabernet.  The nose is a pleasant combination of blueberry, espresso and a hint of smoke,  The taste is a wonderful rush of ripe fruit up front, blueberries, blackberries and cherries, that transition nicely to some wonderful notes of vanilla bean and caramel.  The tannins are wonderfully structured to provide for an elegant and exceptionally dry finish that seems to last several minutes.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's truly an exceptional Napa Valley Cabernet, ideal for wonderfully decadent dinners, like the rare grilled Angus porterhouse I am having tonight with a baked potato and some steamed sugar snap peas.  This wine is priced at $100, but I think they were running a special gift pack with the 2013 "Generations" which made this wine a bit more approachable.  Cheers!

2005 Font de Michelle Cuvée Etienne Gonnet Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Well, it's the first Saturday in December, which of course means it's Cellar Saturday, that one day a month that I try to dig deep in the cellar for something with a bit of maturity.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle that's only been in my cellar for a few months, but is certainly ready to try, the 2005 Font de Michelle Cuvée Etienne Gonnet Châteauneuf-du-Pape.  This wine is a blend of Grenache (70%), Syrah (15%) and Mourvedre (15%), that should just about be ready to drink (I personally believe these wines should wait at least a decade before they are mature enough to drink).  So let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, a bit darker than usual but in my view an ideal color.  The nose presents aromas of ripe fruit, plum, cherry and dates, overlaid with some wonderful dried floral and spice notes.  The taste is a nice rush of sweet fruit up front, a combination of berries and dried fruit that transition to some lovely spice notes midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with a reprise of sweet fruit in the tannins, that play a perfect counter to the lingering dryness on the finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a truly lovely example of a French classic.  This wine would be perfect for the holidays, pairing well with turkey, ham or lamb, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a lovely sesame crusted seared ahi tuna filet with some steamed asparagus and jasmine rice.  Cheers!

2005 Chateau Potensac Medoc

Happy October!  You ever wonder what October is the 10th month, rather than the 8th month?  I wonder about crazy things sometimes, but today I am wondering about the first Saturday of the month, which of course is Cellar Saturday!  Today I've opened a bottle that's been in my cellar for less than a day, the 2005 Chateau Potensac Medoc, which I bought at Costco today!  The Chateau is one of the Cru Bourgeois estates producing Medoc, that lovely Cabernet Merlot combination from the left bank of the Gironde, so let's see how this one grabs me!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, tar, blackberry and kirsch with just the faintest floral overtones.  The taste brings out the gravelly clay soils of the Garonne, but the fruit is still a major player with flavors of black cherry and plum, but the star is the minerality that expresses itself midpalate, really highlighting the terroir of the Chateau.  The finish is divine, with still vibrant tannins after more than a decade, supporting the long, smooth and exceptionally elegant and dry finish, with just a hint of funk at the end.

I am a big Bordeaux fan, and this is a gem that I would easily rate a 9!  This would be ideal with aromatic or hard cheeses, or with a variety of hearty Autumn dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this with some additional Costco fare, a rare grilled Prime ribcap steak, with some grilled asparagus and oven roasted fingerling potatoes.  The minerality of this wine is a perfect foil to the rich fattiness of the ribcap, my new favorite cut of beef.  Salut!

2013 Spring Valley "Derby" Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Friday!  Well, it's been a long, busy week (have I mentioned July is the busiest travel month of my year?) and with flight cancellations and everything else going on, I could sure use a break.  So tonight I've decided to open a recent wine club selection from Spring Valley Vineyard, the 2013 "Derby" Cabernet Sauvignon, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Spring Valley Vineyard in Walla Walla.  So when all else fails, open a good bottle of wine and enjoy!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of leather, green grass and plum with just a hint of violet.  The taste is just wonderful, with a good bit of black fruit juxtaposted with some tart green notes up front that washes into soft, earthy mineral notes of basalt and mossy oak midpalate with just a bit of black pepper spice.  The tannins are youthful but nicely integrated for the long, elegant finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking very nicely now, but will likely mature a bit with a few years in the cellar.  This is a nice food wine, perfect for big steaks, roasts or barbecue, but tonight I'm going off script and enjoying this with a bit of chicken Tikka Masala, who says Cabernet isn't for Indian food?  Cheers!

2012 Stag's Leap Artemis

Ahhh...a happy Sunday, time for a great Sunday dinner and a nice bottle of wine to go with it (I won't even mention that it's also Valentine's Day, but rest assured, you can certainly enjoy tonight's selection with your lover or anyone else you choose!).  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of one of my favorite Napa Valley wines, from a very solid vintage, the 2012 Stag's Leap Artemis, named after the Greek goddess of the hunt (see I told you I'd get you a Valentine's Day reference!).  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (89%), Merlot (9%) and Malbec (2%).

The wine is a classic Cabernet in the glass, with an inky black center leading to bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents inviting aromas of black cherry, plum and a hint of vanilla over soft notes of leather and smoke.  The taste is a blast of ripe fruit up front, cherry, red currant and berries, that transitions nicely to some mineral notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are round and supple, supporting the long, elegant and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's a classic Napa Valley Cabernet and it was a decent value as I scored this bottle from wineshopper.com for just $40.  I will also confess, the wine took some time to open up, as it was very tight after opening, but it really began to sing about an hour or so after opening.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing, of a rare grilled New York strip topped with grilled onions along with grilled Brussels sprouts and a baked potato.  An ideal wine with steak, cheers!

2012 Spring Valley Vineyard Nina Lee Syrah

Happy Saturday!  It's been a fun filled day with all sorts of football to watch, and I get to go out to the Elkhart Civic Theater for a performance tonight, so what could be better?  How about a glass of nice wine from the Walla Walla Valley?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 Spring Valley Vineyard Nina Lee Syrah, a pure 100% Syrah from the Spring Valley Estate Vineyard, named after the wife of Frederick Corkrum, the son of the patriarch of Spring Valley, Uriah Corkrum, for whom other Spring Valley wines have been named.

The wine is a bright garnet color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose presents some wonderful earthy notes of leather, blackberry and a hint of violet that exudes a certain richness.  The taste is just divine, with some mild ripe fruit up front, blackberry, plum and cassis which transition seamlessly to some lovely mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and integrated, despite their youth, making for a long, smooth and elegant dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it is drinking so well now and compares well to many more expensive Syrahs I've tried.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with something a bit more Autumnal, a wonderful wasabi marinated grilled pork tenderloin accented with some grilled plums that were from my friends Shani and Karen's tree up in Grand Rapids, where I visited last weekend, along with some green beans and a baked potato.  Yum, the richness of the pork and plums and the spice of the wasabi make for a lovely war of flavors that can only be settled by this wonderful wine.  Cheers!

2012 Maison Bleue "Bourgeois" Grenache

Another hump day comes to an end, let's celebrate with a glass of nice wine!  Tonight I've recovered from my eye exam and pupil dilation, so now I can actually see what I'm typing once again!  With the return of my eyesight, I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 Maison Bleue "Bourgeois" Grenache from Columbia Valley, a blend of Grenache (90%) and Syrah (10%).  I am a big fan of Maison Bleue, so I can't wait to see what this latest wine club selection will hold!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass with awesome clarity, making it look like a real jewel.  The nose is a lovely, vibrant combination of red currant, strawberry and some lovely Asian spice and a bit of pepper, that braces you for a bit of sweet and savory.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit up front, cherry, blackberry and cassis that transitions smoothly to some warm spice notes midpalate.  The fine tannins provide just enough backbone for what is arguably one of the most elegant, lingering dry finishes I've experienced in quite some time.  I just typed that entire sentence and the finish is still going!

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 9, with plenty of room to grow with some time in the cellar.  I really like Grenache, and this one, in my opinion, rivals some of the best of the Rhone Valley.  Tonight I am enjoying this one profusely, along with a standard mid-week meal of rare grilled prime sirloin, some grilled leeks, steamed asparagus and roasted fingerling potatoes.  Such an elegant wine, I'm just sorry I don't have something better to eat with it!