2021 Mark Ryan "The Dissident" Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  Our crazy weather has continued this week, going from snow and the 30s to the 80s and back to rain and the upper 30s this weekend.  Needless to say, I did  not get all of the yard work done that I'd hoped this weekend, but at least there is good food and wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Mark Ryan Winery, the 2021 "The Dissident" Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (83%), Merlot (10%), Cabernet Franc (3%), Malbec (2%) and Petit Verdot (2%) from some of the premier vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this big wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with the look of a big bold Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of  blackberry, cherry, leather and oak, a bit more subdued that some of the current range of big Cabs.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of ripe black fruit with a range from blackberry and cherry to currant and plum, that transition easily to some notes of vanilla bean and cocoa powder midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth providing for a long, lush finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a solid Cabernet that is very approachable in its youth.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from hard cheeses and charcuterie to grilled steaks and chops.  Tonight I am pairing this wine with a rare grilled prime New York strip that I picked up at my local market, topped with Béarnaise along with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers! 

2019 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Franc

Well, with a big wine club shipment last week, I suppose I should have expected to make this a Seven Hills weekend!  Tonight I'm having my neighbors over for a classic home-spun Sunday dinner and so I thought one of the recent wines would be a perfect one to accompany our dinner, the 2019 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Franc.  This single varietal wine was blended from fruit from the McClellan Estate Vineyard and the Summit View Vineyard, which are located on the southern end of the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass with nice clarity, just a bit less heavy looking than you might expect from a Cabernet Sauvignon.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of vanilla, anise, ripe blackberries and a hint of white pepper spice.  Your first sip is a rush of ripe blackberry, cherry and plum that transitions to some earthy notes of dusty limestone and dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are silky smooth, providing for a wonderfully lush, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderful example of a single-varietal bottling of what is usually a blending grape.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from risotto and beef stew to prime rib or cedar planked salmon.  Tonight we are enjoying this wine with a Sunday dinner of braised bison short ribs with mashed potatoes and bacon maple roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2018 Seven Hills Winery Pepper Bridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's been a busy week, and after a bike ride it's time to open a nice bottle of wine and enjoy a wonderful dinner.  Tonight I've opened a classic Walla Walla Cabernet from one of my favorite wine makers and vineyards.  The 2018 Seven Hills Winery Pepper Bridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a classis Cabernet from a section of the Pepper Bridge Vineyard that exemplifies the best of what Walla Walla Cabernet can be.

The wine is a deep, brooding color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  A gentle swirl releases aromas of violets, blackberry and cherry intermingled with dusty loam.  Take a sip and you are treated to a rush of ripe fruit as cherry, blackberry and currant cascade to earthy notes of dusty limestone, mint and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are expertly structured to form the base of the long, lush and wonderfully dry finish that will have you asking for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a perennial favorite and a great example of what the Walla Walla Valley and this classic vineyard can produce in a Cabernet.  This wine is easy to sip on it's own, but would also pair well with lamb, classic steaks and chops, as well as hearty fall pasta dishes.  Tonight, inspired by last night's episode of Masterchef with French dishes inspired by Chef Ludo Lefebvre, I am enjoying this wine with a steak frites, a classic French bistro dish of rare New York strip topped with béarnaise and some purple potato fries.  Cheers!

2016 Giuseppe Campagnola Valpolicella Ripasso

Happy Sunday!  Sometimes on a Sunday, you just need to open a wine from Italy, and after spending the afternoon working around the house on various projects and finishing with yard work, I am in need of a nice Italian Wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2016 Giuseppe Campagnola Valpolicella Ripasso that I bought from Wines Till Sold Out a few months back.  I am a big fan of Amarone, and for a more affordable alternative, I love a good Valpolicella Ripasso, or the second pressing of the dried grapes used for Amarone.  This wine is a classic blend of Corvina (60%), Rondinella (35%) and Molinara (5%).  So let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is a wonderful deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of blueberry, currant, and cherry with hints of rosehip and graphite.  The taste is very fruit forward with a rush of cherry, blueberry and currant that transitions nicely to notes of tar and pomegranate midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, with balanced acidity to drive the long, lush and wonderfully dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a pleasant drinking and food friendly wine that's also q solid value at just $15!  This wine would be wonderful with a creamy risotto, or pasta with cream sauce as the acidity of this wine would be an ideal balance.  It would also pair well with lamb, wild game or a classic well-marbled steak as the fruit and acidity would be great to cut through the fattiness of a prime steak, which is great since tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a grilled prime ribcap along with grilled romanesco and a big baked potato with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2013 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Merlot

Well, I have to admit this doesn't happen very often, when I review one vintage of a wine and then subsequently review the previous vintage, but that's what's happening tonight!  Nearly two months ago I reviewed the 2014 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Merlot (you can see that one here) and tonight I am opening a bottle of the 2013 Rutherford Hill Napa Valley Merlot.  I picked this one up at my local market last weekend since they were having a 20% off wine sale, and apparently they had a few bottles of the previous vintage on the shelf to create this wonderful situation.  So let's see if this one is as good as the 2014!

The wine is a rich, inky purple in the glass with nice garnet along the edges.  The nose presents a rather sophisticated blend of leather, dusty limestone, dried herbs and just a hint of funk that makes this wine reminiscent of a nice Bordeaux.  The taste is a rush of cherry cola and plum that transitions evenly to some mineral notes midpalate before some peppery spice notes rear up near the finish.  Speaking of which, the tannins are very nicely structured, providing for a very smooth, lush and dry finish that lingers for a while.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, but will qualify that I prefer the 2014 vintage.  This wine would be ideal with many hearty fall dished, from roasts and steak, to chili and braised short ribs, but tonight I am heading a different direction and enjoying this wine with some hot Italian sausage with onions and peppers.  The cool fruit and earthy flavors make a nice contrast to the spice of this meal.  Cheers!

2014 Seven Hills Ciel du Cheval

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I just returned from the gym and am rewarding myself with a nice glass of wine and some dinner of course.  Tonight I've decided to dig into the cellar as I had a bottle of the 2015 vintage in the dining room, but realized I haven't yet tried the 2014 Seven Hills Ciel du Cheval red wine, so tonight is the night!  This is a wonderful Bordeaux style blend from fruit grown in the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA.  The 2014 vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (46%), Merlot (30%), Petit Verdot (17%) and Cabernet Franc (7%).  So let's see how this vintage tastes!

The wine is a deep, inky black color at the center with bright ruby along the edges, classic for a Cabernet-centric blend.  The nose is wonderfully layered combination of blackberry, white floral and earth that just expresses the vineyard.  The taste is complex and beautifully structured, with layer upon layer of flavor building up to a crescendo, ripe blackberry and plum build into notes of dark chocolate and tobacco which layer on top of earthy notes of dusty limestone and oak.  The chewy tannins provide the perfect backbone for the long, lush and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine an easy 9, as it surpasses the 2013 vintage, and is arguably my favorite since the 2009 and 2010 vintages.  This wine would be perfect with nice big steaks, chops, roasts, hearty Italian dishes or wonderful wild salmon.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus New York strip on a bed of baby arugula along with some fresh grilled local corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2015 Forgeron Barbera

Happy Tuesday!  It's been a busy week so far and it doesn't look like it will let up any before the holiday weekend, so I may as well enjoy a bottle of good wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of the recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars, the 2015 Forgeron Barbera, a 100% Barbera from the Sagemoor Vineyard in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  I picked this wine for an easy pairing with dinner, so let's see how I did!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, with bright ruby along the edges, somewhat more reminiscent of a Cabernet than a Barbera.  The nose exudes quality, with rich leather, clove and ripe black fruit, with just a bit of floral undertones.  The taste is a rush of cool, ripe blackberry and cherry up front that transitions nicely to some subtle white pepper spice notes midpalate.  The tannins on this wine are almost not to be found, leading to a lush finish that's dry, yet not as abrupt as you might find in a Cabernet.

I decided to take a photo as I was cooking tonight, just to show that I do actually cook!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a pleasant, easy drinking and food friendly wine.  This wine would pair well with a broad array of dishes, as it's just easy to please.  I would enjoy this wine with anything from steak to pizza to barbecue, but tonight I've decided to go Italian, with some chicken Italian sausage with onions and peppers and some pasta tossed with garlic and olive oil.  The fruit and low acidity in this wine are perfect with some spicy sausage.  Cheers!

2013 Woodward Canyon Estate Dolcetto

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Of course it's also Thanksgiving eve, so we can throw that in there too.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine from Woodward Canyon, one of the first wineries I visited on that fabled first visit to Walla Walla nearly two decades ago.  Tonight it's the 2013 Estate Dolcetto from the Walla Walla Valley.  I reviewed the 2012 vintage here, so let's see how this one is faring!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose is chock full of leather, green grass and blackberry fruit that just beckons you to take a sip.  And the taste is just lovely, with a rush of cherry cola, blackberry and plum flavors that envelope the palate, while lush mineral notes combine with dark chocolate and prune midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully structured providing a nice foundation to the long, lush and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just another wonderful example of the great quality of Dolcetto being produced in the Walla Walla Valley.  This is an exceptionally food friendly wine as I could see this pairing well with holiday turkey or ham, wonderful salmon dishes or a beautiful cheese course, but tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip with sauteed onions and peppers and a big baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheers!

2011 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Ahhhh...it's autumn but it sure doesn't feel like it this week, it was sunny and 72 here today!  In any case, warm or cool, it's time for Merlot and tonight I've opened a bottle of 2011 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Merlot, which was part of my recent wine club shipment!  The one happens to be 100% Merlot from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard and just 387 cases produced.

The wine is a beautiful bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose exhibits aromas of rich, dark, ripe fruit, blackberries, plum, currant over some earthy elements of oak and leather.  The taste is quite nice, with a blast or ripe berries up front that transition nicely to some cherry cola and mocha notes midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully smooth and well integrated, leading to a long, lush finish that dares you to ask for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, with ample room to improve with some time in the cellar.  In fact this one reminds me a lot of a nice Bordeaux, which could be put down for your kids to enjoy!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic rare Angus T-bone, some home fries with onions and some steamed green beans (oh, the last of the fresh green beans!).  The wine provides a lovely fruit forward complement to such a savory meal.  Cheers!

2005 Recoletas Reserva Ribera del Duero

Well, it's the first of August and it's Saturday, so that could only mean one thing, it's Cellar Saturday!  That wonderful time I raid the cellar to find something interesting to drink.  Tonight, after a hard day of yard work I've decided to open a bottle of 2005 Recoletas Reserva Ribera del Duero, a lovely Spanish Tempranillo I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  Now keep in mind for this wine, I did not decant it, but it does open up nicely within an our or two of the first pour.

The wine is a beautiful deep garnet in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose is a lovely combination of blackberry jam, leather, dark chocolate and dried flowers.  The taste is a dramatic departure from your expectations on the nose, rather than a jammy fruit bomb, you are treated with some lovely cherry cola and dark chocolate notes at the outset that transition effortlessly to some coarse mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are perfectly balanced on the finish, which reprises some of those fruit expectation with hints of strawberry jam on the long, lush and  very dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's drinking quite nicely and was an exceptional value at just $16!  Tonight I am pairing this wine with a classic bone-in Angus ribeye topped with grilled leeks, baked potato and some steamed green beans.  The balance of fruit and acidity in this wine make it ideal paired with a bold red meat dish, but it would also be nice with small plates and cheeses.  Cheers!

2012 Forgeron Sagemoor Barbera

Today is the first day that really felt like Spring around here, it was raining and humid with a high in the low 70s, so not bad really.  In honor of the first feels like Spring day, I've decided to have some barbecue tonight and what could be better with barbecue than Zinfandel?  Barbera!  And tonight I've opened a bottle of the 2012 Forgeron Sagemoor Barbera which I received as one of my Spring wine club selections.  I reviewed the 2011 Vintage here about a year ago, so now we can see how the current vintage stacks up.

The color is a rich garnet in the glass.  The nose is an intriguing combination of fresh herbs, white pepper and ripe berries, blackberry, cassis and tart cherry.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, cherries, boysenberry and plum that transitions to some dark chocolate and cherry cola notes midpalate.  The firm tannins provide a nice frame for the opulent, long and lush finish that just beckons you to another sip.  This is certainly one of those inherently food friendly wines as well, sure to please while cooking and eating.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's pleasant and drinking well now, and it was a pretty good value at $25, such that I don't feel at all bad about enjoying this one on a Thursday night!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some barbecued country style pork ribs with some mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus.  The fruit and spice in this wine just meld with the richness of the pork, but then again with such a food friendly wine, how could it not go well?  Cheers!