2017 Giordano Barolo

Happy Saturday!  I spent my day running errands and then mowing and fertilizing the lawn before it might rain tomorrow, and now I am ready for a nice dinner and glass of wine.  Tonight, I have modestly broken an unwritten rule about never opening a Barolo until it's at least a decade old, but I really wanted something Italian with my Italian inspired dinner this evening.  I have opened a bottle of 2017 Giordano Baraolo, and hopefully this 9-year-old Nebbiolo is having a well behaved year, so let's find out!

The wine is a lovely bright ruby color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose presents classic aromas of cedar, ripe raspberry and dried herbs amid undertones of lavender and kirsch.  The first sip an interesting combination of black cherry, cedar and earthy peat that transitions to some funky notes of dusty limestone and powerful floral notes midpalate.  The finish is subdued, with mellow tannins providing for some dryness amid a lingering earthy funk.

Overall, I would rate this wine an 8, as it has great potential, but seems to be misbehaving like a petulant child this evening.  I have another bottle, so perhaps I'll try this one again in a few years.  This wine would pair well with some hard cheeses or hearty southern Italian cuisine that can put this little child in its place.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some hot Italian sausage with onions and peppers along with linguine sauteed with garlic, olive oil, asparagus and broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2024 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Malbec

Happy Saturday!  I had another day full of yard work, similar to what I did two weeks ago, and I must admit I am completely exhausted!  I likely will have a glass of wine and fall asleep on the couch, but at least there is wine! Speaking of which, tonight's wine is from one of my long-time favorite Walla Walla producers, Seven Hills Winery and the 2024 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Malbec.  Let's see how this new vintage is tasting!  

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Malbec.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry and plum amid hints of peppery spice.  The first sip is a rush of jammy fruit, marionberry, blackberry compote and plum that transitions nicely to some notes of cardamom, pipe tobacco and vanilla bean midpalate.  The tannins are mellow but well structured, prviding a nice foundation for the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a really pleasant drinking Malbec that could pair with a range of hearty dishes, or just sipping on the patio (which I will not do tonight for fear of dozing off!).  This wine would pair well with brased short ribs, London broil or lamb chops, but tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared New York strip, oven roasted beets and sweet potatos and steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2020 Château Haut-Therón Malbec Cahors

Happy Saturday!  I started the day rather mellow, heading to the farmers market and then home to do yard work and that's where the trouble started!  I finished raking all the small sticks from winter and then began my annual war with the dandelions, bending over and digging up three gallon buckets of them, I'm sure I will feel it tomorrow!  In any case, it's time for a nice dinner and bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2020 Château Haut-Therón Malbec Cahors that I picked up in a $150 case sale from Wines Till Sold Out.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

I'll admit, I'm a fan of Argentine Malbec, but I am approaching this French version with an open mind.  The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you would expect from a nice Malbec.  The nose presents aromas of leather, smoky charred oak, spicy pepper and bright red berries.  The first sip is a rather surprising rush of red fruit, cherry, currant and raspberry that transition easily to notes of mint and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are very mellow, providing for a classic French smooth dry finish, that will have you forgetting that you are drinking wine at all.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very classic Malbec, but not as bold as it's long, lost cousins from Mendoza.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hard cheeses, smoked meat or a classic steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye, mashed sweet potatoes and oven roasted broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2021 Woodward Canyon Estate Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I finally had a day to relax on my vacation, so I did some laundry and went out for a movie, and now it's time for Sunday dinner and a nice bottle of wine. Tonight I've opened a bottle from a recent shipment from Woodward Canyon Winery, the 2021 Woodward Canyon Estate Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the oldest vines in the Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  Let's see how this latest vintage is faring!

The wine has a classic Cabernet look in the glass, inky at the center and bright ruby along the edges. The nose is a more subtle affair, with aromas of leather, blackberry, toasted oak and basalt with undertones of lavender.  The first sip is a dynamic combination of black cherry, caramel and vanilla bean up front, that transition easily to some earthy notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are surprisingly mellow for such a young wine, providing just the right foundation for the long, smooth dry finish with just a faint bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's drinking well right now, but will likely gain a good bit of traction with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty meat dishes, from braised bison short ribs to rack of lamb to a big steak.  Tonight I have opted for the latter and am enjoying this wine with a Bisteca Fiorentina, grilled broccoli rabe and sweet potato puree.  Cheers!

2020 Seven Hills SHW Founding Vineyard Merlot

Well, it's selection day and I am voting for wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine from my latest wine club shipment from one of my favorite Walla Walla wineries which just arrived today!  The 2020 Seven Hills SHW Founding Vineyard Merlot is a single varietal wine made from grapes harvested from the original estate Merlot blocks planted by the McClellan family in the early 1980s.  So, let's see how this young wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a quality Merlot.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, black cherry, currant and a bit of toasted oak that makes you envision an old estate library.  Take a sip and you're awash in ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant that awaken your senses, before transitioning effortlessly to some vanilla bean and dried herb notes midpalate.  The tannins are as mellow as the finish, which is very dry and velvety smooth.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's drinking wonderfully now, but likely would improve with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a hearty steak, roast pork tenderloin, or spicy chili, just in time for the temperatures to fall.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bison ribeye along with some grilled leeks, oven roasted fingerling sweet potatoes and maple bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2020 Helix SoRho

Happy Sunday!  I have been hard at work in the yard all afternoon, having made an impulse buy of 11 flats of flowers at my local Menard's store, so I spend the afternoon planting impatients in the bed by my dining room and garage, before finishing the afternoon mowing just ahead of the rain! So, now I am ready for a nice glass of wine with my Sunday dinner and tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Reininger Winery.  The 220 Helix SoRho is a blend of Mourvèdre (47%), Grenache (28%) and Cinsault (25%) from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this vintage is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, with nice clarity as you might expect from Rhone style blend.   A swirl of the glass reveals an intriguing combination of aromas of cedar, cherry and raspberry with undertones of light floral notes.  The first sip presents a rush of ripe red fruit, cherry, raspberry and currant that dance on your tongue, with a hint of tartness and bitterness triggering thoughts of cranberry.  The tannins are mellow, offering a gentle back beat as the fruit sings in harmony on the wonderfully long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant drinking southern Rhone style blend that's ideal for summer sipping and enjoying with a broad range of dishes.  This wine would pair well with barbecue, lamb, pizza or tacos, almost universal for mid-week dinners!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with my Sunday dinner of garlic and olive oil marinated grilled pork tenderloin along with some steamed broccoli and grilled corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2007 Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Zinfandel

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's that magical first Saturday of the month, where I peruse the cellar to find something to open that's at least a decade in the making.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that a friend gave me quite a few years ago, so it literally has been in my cellar for a while, the 2007 Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley Zinfandel.  Normally, Zinfandel is not seen as particularly age-worthy, certainly not as much as a fine Cabernet, but since I've opened this bottle, it will be interesting to see how the wine has progressed over the past dozen years.

The wine is a bright garnet color in the glass, with a hint of auburn along the edges.  The nose is an interesting affair, with some earthy notes of leather, charcoal and spice interspersed with hints of floral aromas.  The taste is a rush of jammy ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum, classic for a Zinfandel, that transition nicely to some flavors of smoke and tart cherry midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat mellow, leading to a rather soft, but very dry finish with a bit of peppery spice at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's drinking nicely now, but I expect it would have been just as good a decade ago.  This wine would pair well with a variety of causal dinners, from pizza and tacos to barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic barbecue of slow cooked beef back ribs, finished off on the grill, with some Bourbon molasses baked beans and freshly made mustard potato salad.  Cheers!

2007 Girard Napa Valley Old Vine Zinfandel

Happy Labor Day!  I know, I technically missed Cellar Saturday as I was driving through the north woods of Minnesota, but thankfully it's a holiday weekend so this will still count as my Cellar Saturday for September, even though it's Monday.  Tonight I've decided to open an old bottle of 2007 Girard Napa Valley Old Vine Zinfandel, which is a bottle with a somewhat interesting story.  I bought this wine back in 2011 when the famed 1913 Room restaurant at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids was closing.  They were selling a lot of different items, silverware, china and other things (I think I have a couple butter knives) and the contents of their wine cellar.  So I bought this bottle for $18.50 along with a few others that are probably around here somewhere, and it's been in my cellar ever since.  So let's see how this one has aged!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, classic for a nice old vine Zinfandel.  The nose is chock full of sweet cherry, vanilla, oak and peppery spice, just what you might expect from the varietal.  The taste is a rush of cherry, fig and vanilla at the outset, which transitions to come green olive notes midpalate.  The classic Zinfandel peppery spice comes in right at the end, and lingers with the somewhat mellow tannins for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's still a very nice wine, but my sense is this was just a few years past its peak.  Like most Zindandels, this wine would pair very well with a variety of more casual, end-of-summer cookout fare, which is a good thing as tonight I'm enjoying this wine with some barbecued baby back ribs along with some coleslaw and corn on the cob.  The spice in this wine does wonders against the sweetness of the barbecue sauce.  Cheers!

Cogdal Vineyards Little Man Winery Big Lake Red Table Wine

What an eventful day!  My uncle and cousin were doing a Midwest road trip and decided to come for a visit last night and stayed for breakfast and church before they went off to visit some other relatives in central Indiana.  After they left, I decided to go to the outlet mall and then up to Lake Michigan for the afternoon, mainly to restock my olive oil and aged balsamic from the Olive Cart in South Haven, Michigan.  Which brings me to the wine I've decided to open tonight, the non-vintage Cogdal Vineyards "Little Man Winery" Big Lake Red Wine, after seeing the big lake this afternoon, how could I not open a Big Lake Red?  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is somewhat lighter in color, a bit of a cross between Pinot Noir and a Merlot, with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of green grass, mint and a hint of pipe tobacco.  The taste is quite nice, with a rush of ripe black fruit up front, blackberry, black cherry and kirsch that transition to some warm spice notes midpalate.  The finish is somewhat subdued, with mild acidity and mellow tannins supporting a smooth dry finish.

My view of the big lake in Saint Joseph, Michigan!

Now I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a big fan of my local red wines, as so much of it lacks depth or more often is just a sweet cherry fruit bomb, but having visited this winery, they have made some good progress with nice dry red wines and this one is no exception, so I'd rate it a solid 8.  An easy drinking red blend like this should be easy to pair with a variety of dishes, but as always I had to make it challenging, so tonight I'm enjoying this wine with panko crusted pork chops with some pasta and fresh green beans.  The subdued fruit and mild acidity of this wine makes it a prime target for pork, cheers!

2014 House of Cards Napa Valley Red Wine

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a busy travel week, being in Toronto on Monday and Montreal yesterday, but now I'm home!  I went to the gym after work and now I feel like the entire evening has slipped away, but at least there's wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a recent Costco purchase, the 2014 House of Cards Napa Valley Red Wine, which is so appropriate as lately I feel like my entire life is a house of cards!  So let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is a deep inky purple at the center, more reminiscent of a nice Napa Cabernet as opposed to a blend.  The nose is a pleasant array of leather, smoke, tobacco and dried herbs over some more subtle fruit notes.  The taste is more classic red blend, with some lovely ripe berries at the outset that transition to some wonderful notes of cocoa and Italian spice midpalate.  The finish is very nice, with rather mellow tannins supporting a nice, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a pleasant drinking everyday table wine and a very good value for just $15!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple midweek dinner of Kielbasa with kraut and pierogis, a throwback to my childhood on the south side of Chicago, where every grandma force fed you smoked sausage, cured cabbage and giant pasta pockets every Sunday!  Cheers!

2011 Rosso Col D'Orcia

Happy Taco Tuesday!  I bet you'll never guess what I'm having for dinner, but what wine to pair with said tacos?  Well, tonight I've just randomly decided to open a bottle of last month's office wine club selection, the 2011 Rosso Col D'Orcia, an interesting Sangiovese blend from Tuscany.  What makes this one interesting is that it's a blend of select Sangiovese clones, many of which are endangered.  This wine is a result of blending a number of those clones with two native Sangiovese varieties (60%), balanced with Celiegilio (30%) and Foglia Tonda (10%).  So let see how this will work with tacos!

The wine is a lovely garnet color in the glass, classic for a Tuscan blend.  The nose is wonderful rush of leather, black cherry, dried herbs and peppery spice.  The taste is a lovely blast of fruit, an interesting combination of sweet currant and berry offset by some tart cherry notes.  The fruit transitions nicely to some mineral and spice notes midpalate before we experience a reprise or red fruit on the finish.  The tannins are somewhat mellow, leading to a lovely, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it was a good value at $18 from Wines Till Sold Out, and it's drinking quite nicely right now.  With the red fruit, it would pair very well with a lot of casual dinners, from pizza to barbecue to tacos!  Cheers!

2012 Charles Krug Napa Valley Merlot

Happy day after Boxing Day!  Yes, I am still on staycation and I'm still definitely in the Holiday mood.  Tonight I've taken it easy and decided to have a bottle of wine from a winery I visited on my recent Napa Valley junket, the 2012 Charles Krug Napa Valley Merlot!

The wine is a deep ruby color at the edges leading to an inky black at the center.  The nose is a pleasant combination of leather, smoke and jammy red fruit, cherries, blackberries and plums.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit that bombards your senses, at first sweet and then a bit tart, you have ample cherry and ripe berry flavors dancing in your mouth.  As the fruit subsides, you get a nice bit of earthy goodness, oak and dusty limestone, before you reach the climax of rather young yet mellow tannins that provide the foundation for the long, smooth and voluptuous finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a remarkably pleasant drinking Merlot that was also a terrific value at right around $20 at my local wine store.  This wine would be wonderful with a nice steak or roast, but tonight I'm sipping this after my wonderful dinner of leftovers from Christmas!  Cheers!

2011 Clos du Tue-Boeuf La Caillere Cheverny

Happy Friday!  It's been a very busy week and I am ready to relax!  So what's more relaxing than opening a bottle of wine?  Tonight I've decided to open up another bottle of by boss' reject wines, this one a Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley of France, the 2011 Clos du Tue-Boeuf La Calliere.  So let's see what this one has to offer.

The color is very light in the glass, typical of an old world Pinot Noir.  The nose presents aromas of tart cherry, fresh strawberry, dried herbs, tamarind and musty earth.  The taste is a good bit of tart cherry up front that transitions into some smoke and earthy notes midpalate. The tannins are fairly mellow, leading to a fairly long, smooth, dry finish with just a bit of a reprise of red fruit at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7, it's nothing spectacular, but keep in mind that I am not a huge Pinot fan.  This would be a nice summer sipper, to enjoy on the patio, and would pair well with a variety of lighter dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this one with a grilled chicken breast over mixed greens with some oven roasted Yukon Gold fingerling potatoes.  Cheers!

2011 Alamos Malbec Seleccion

Happy Tuesday!  Today I had a most pleasant surprise when I arrived at the office, as my boss left me a case of wine!  Now granted it was his "reject" wines, various bottles that he's purchased and didn't really like, so I will happily be his waste bin!  Tonight I've opened one of the bottles he gave me, the 2011 Alamos Malbec Seleccion, a 100% Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina, so let's see how this reject wine does!

The wine has a classic Malbec look, with a deep inky center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents pleasant aromas of black plum and accents of leather and tar.  The taste is a rather subdued Argentine Malbec with just a bit if black fruit up front that transitions to some earthy mineral notes midpalate, only to have a reprise of ripe black fruit at the finish.  The wine expresses some bright acidity and relatively mellow tannins supporting a long, smooth, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant drinking wine that would be ideal for a hearty steak.  And it just so happens I have one of those lying around, so tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled filet mignon with some grilled corn and steamed sugar snap peas that I picked up at a farmers market last week.  Cheers!

2011 Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval

Happy Tuesday!  Well, this continues to be a busy time for me, so I'll try to make blog posts when I can, and tonight is one such time!  I've opened a bottle of 2011 Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval, a blend of Cabernet Franc (52%) and Merlot (48%) from the Columbia Valley of Washington. I happened to get this wine from Wines Till Sold Out at a decent price below retail, but not necessarily cheap!  I've often seen Andrew Will wines, but this may be the first that I've tried one, so here goes nothing!

The wine is an inky indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents tantalizing aromas of ripe berries, blackberry, blueberry intermingled with leather and tobacco.  The taste is very nice, with subtle fruit that gives way quickly to vanilla spice and cocoa powder, with a bit of cardamom and the faintest hint of cinnamon.  The tannins are very mellow, leading to a softer, more complex but very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it was much more complex than your standard Cabernet Sauvignon based blend, so it would take some effort to truly appreciate.  The wine was a relative bargain at $35 compared to the usual $45-plus I've seen locally, but not the least expensive.  I think this would be a more food friendly wine, a little more versatile, with the flexibility to be Zin-like with barbecue or Merlot-like with steak.  Of course, tonight I'm enjoying this bottle with a rare grilled Angus ribeye along with grilled corn and Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2013 DaMa Columbia Valley Syrah

Happy Saturday!  I've spend much of the day running errands and getting set to do some projects around the house (this home ownership thing is the biggest racket ever!).  So tonight I've decided to make a wonderful Mediterranean inspired dinner, and to complement that cuisine I thought a nice Syrah would be perfect.  Tonight it's the 2013 DaMa Columbia Valley Syrah that I recently received in a wine club shipment.

The wine is a bright ruby in the glass with great clarity.  The nose presents aromas of leather, black raspberry and lilac, that suggest this wine is a little more sophisticated.  The taste is somewhat fruit forward, with some lovely notes of black cherry and cassis that transition nicely to some white pepper spice and mineral notes swirling in a bit of smoke.  The tannins are somewhat mellow, but persistent, leading to a long, smooth dry finish that reaches its height with a reprise of cherry.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nicely structured Syrah that is much more reminiscent of the old world style of the Cotes du Roussillon. Tonight I am pairing this wine with grilled octopus along with a variety of grilled savory vegetables (red onions, garlic, leeks, white and yellow peppers), purple kale and grilled tomatoes.  What a taste of the Mediterranean right here, cheers!

2005 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy Cellar Saturday!  Of course, it's the first Saturday in March, so that means it's the day that I explore the cellar, looking for something fun to try and tonight I've decided on the 2005 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Valley Merlot, a wine that's been in my cellar for about nine years!  This wine is a blend of Merlot (82%), Cabernet Sauvignon (12%) and Cabernet Franc (6%) sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard in Walla Walla.  As with older wines, sometimes they can be unpredictable, and in this case, the cork disintegrated as I was opening the bottle, so that meant pouring into the decanter to try to limit my cork consumption this evening!

The wine is a beautiful ruby color in the glass, with a bit of opacity at the center.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, leather, cedar and cassis.  The taste is just a pleasure, with some warm fruit notes up front, blackberry, plum and cherry cola, that transition nicely to some warm spice notes midpalate.  The finish is generous, with mellow tannins supporting a reprise of ripe cherry on the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just an ideal example of a great, mature Merlot.  This wine would be ideal with a variety of hearty dishes, from roasts to stews or spicy pasta dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse, along with a baked potato and some grilled white asparagus, though I'm sure I'll be sipping this one all evening, even after the food is gone!

2012 Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Hump Day!  It's been a long, cold, snowy day here.  I got home from work, finished shoveling snow, then went to drop off dry cleaning and go to the gym.  Now I am certainly ready for a nice glass of wine as I make dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2012 Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa County that I picked up at my local supermarket a couple weeks ago. I've been on a bit of a Napa kick lately, so let's see how this one is!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of leather, limestone and a hint of blackberry and violet.  The taste is presents some floral notes up front before the ripe black fruit kicks in, blackberry and plum, which transition to some notes of black pepper spice midpalate.  The finish is somewhat subdued, with mellow tannins leading to a smooth, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a nice Cabernet, but nothing that causes me to get too excited, though this was also a decent value at just $24.  I'm also not a big fan of the artificial cork, but that's just a personal preference.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing, a black pepper bacon wrapped Angus filet mignon, baked potato and grilled asparagus.  This is a very nice steak wine, I will say that!  Cheers!

2000 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy February!  It's the first Saturday of the new month and of course that means it's Cellar Saturday, where I raid the cellar for something old and cool to open.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, the 2000 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Merlot.  This particular vintage is a blend of Merlot (75%), Cabernet Sauvignon (19%) and Cabernet Franc (6%). Now I've let this one decant for about an hour, so let's see what she's got!

The wine is a nice garnet color in the glass with a bit of brown along the edges.  The nose presents lovely aromas of leather, basalt, blackberry and prune, sort of the classic aroma of a mature Bordeaux.  The taste is surprisingly mellow and pleasant, with a rush of cherry cola up front that transitions to some notes of white pepper and mint midpalate.  The finish is very smooth and bone dry, though the tannins were quite mellow.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a beautiful example of a mature Walla Walla Merlot, but my sense is that it might be just on the downhill side of its life.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of black pepper bacon wrapped filet mignon grilled rare, along with a baked potato and grilled asparagus.  The earthy flavors of this wine are perfect with the lovely grilled beef.  Cheers!

2000 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of the new month and new year, and that means it's time to raid the cellar for something interesting to open!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2000 L'Ecole No. 41 Apogee, a blend of Merlot (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (34%) and Cabernet Franc (6%) from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in Walla Walla.  Now I haven't had this one in the cellar for too long, as I think I picked it up when I was in Walla Walla last summer, but in any case here goes nothing!

I let the wine decant for about 90 minutes before pouring.  The wine is a nice ruby color in the glass, with just a bit of opacity.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry, plum and a hint of forest floor.  The taste presents surprising flavors of cherry cola up front that transitions nicely to some notes of mocha, nutmeg and baking spice midpalate.  The finish if beautiful, with mellow tannins and a reprise of some earthy spice for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's just a beautiful and mature expression of the lovely Bordeaux-style blends the Walla Walla Valley is famous for.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of a rare grilled Angus New York Strip with grilled leeks, a loaded backed potato and some steamed broccoli.  The richness of the fruit and spice in this wine are a perfect complement to such a hearty meal.  Cheers!