2023 DaMa Wines Grenache Blanc

Happy Easter!  It's been a wonderful day of celebration of the risen Christ and the culmination of the holiest week in Christendom, and I admit I've been cooking most of the day, starting with breakfast frittatas for the worship team at church, then when I got home I started preparing dinner, which cooked all afternoon (more on that in a moment).  Today is also the last Sunday of the month, which makes it Dinner in the Diner Sunday, and I picked a surprising recipe from the Missouri Pacific Railroad, which used to run behind my uncle's house when I was growing up.  As for the wine, I picked a nice white wine for this meal, one that I received last week in my wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2023 Grenache Blanc.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a crazy pale gold color in the glass, making this a truly white wine!  A swirl of the glass reveals captivating aromas of ripe pear, honeysuckle and a hint of citrus.  The first sip has your mind racing to Asia, with a rush of sweet fruit, pear, white peach and hibiscus dancing around your palate, before easing into some modest minerality midpalate.  The finish is dry, crisp and refreshing, an ideal wine for sipping on the summer patio.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as even though I'm not a big white wine enthusiast, I'll make an exception for this one.  This wine would pair well with a variety of summer salads, Asian dishes, or lighter fish dishes like a roasted branzino.  Tonight, I am pairing this wine with a "Curry of Lamb, Indian Style" recipe from the Missouri Pacific Railroad dining car, though I took some liberty in braising lamb shanks with the curry broth, before adding some additional veggies and the coconut milk and rue to thicken this delicious sauces, served over steamed basmati rice and garnished with fresh pea tendrils.  Cheers!

2018 Vallée des Aigles IGP Côtes Catalanes Carignan

Happy Saturday!  I was planning to do yard work today, but it was too windy to get the leaf blower out, so instead I decided to build my raised garden bed and dig around the foundation of the shed and fill it with river rock to help drainage.  So a productive day of hard work and now I'm ready for a nice meal and glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2018 Vallée des Aigles IGP Côtes Catalanes Carignan that I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  Carignan is mainly used as a blending grape with Southern Rhone blends, and I think this is the first time I've tried the single varietal.  This wine was made from fruit harvested from 60-100 year old vines in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the south of France near the Spanish border and the Mediterranean.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, somewhat reminiscent of a nice Cabernet.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of sweet cherry, raspberry and aged leather, with soft floral undertones.  Take a sip and you're palate is awash in sweet fruit, cherry, raspberry and currant, that has acidity that at first blush makes you think of sweet-tarts candy, but then the taste evolves into some rich minerality and white pepper spice, before the smooth tannins kick in for added complexity on the long dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a surprisingly pleasant expression of a varietal that happily lives in the background.  This wine was also a terrific value at just $14 (I wish I'd bought more!).  This wine would pair well with hearty lamb dishes, beef stew or hearty pasta dishes.  Tonight, I am taking a bold departure and enjoying this wine with a sesame crusted tuna steak topped with sunflower sprouts, steamed rice and broccoli, with a citrus wasabi dipping sauce.  Cheers!

2022 Hazlitt Dry Rosé

Happy Sunday!  Yesterday I had one of the busiest days I can remember, so today I've decided to take it easy, cooking some slow roasted comfort food for dinner, doing a bit of yard work and laundry, and now I'm ready for a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of rosé that I picked up on my recent vacation and wine tasting side trip to the Finger Lakes region of New York.  The 2022 Hazlitt Dry Rosé is made from 100% Cabernet Franc from the Hazlitt 1852 Home Farm Vineyard in the Seneca Lake region of the Finger Lakes.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a lovely pale peach color in the glass, quite in character for the current trends in rosé.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, watermelon and green grass with a hint of lemon zest.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a fresh, clean depth of peach, strawberry and citrus that wash over your palate, before transitioning to some notes of green grass and a bit of minerality midpalate.  The finish is crisp and dry, ideal for summer sipping on the patio (which is rapidly coming to a close!).

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as this wine stacks up to some of the finest rosés from California and Washington to the South of France.  I have to admit I was skeptical of the Finger Lakes when I went to visit, but I was pleasantly surprised.  This wine would pair well with fresh summer caprese salad, a variety of cheeses, seared salmon or barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a dinner inspired by the other end of my vacation, a Vermont maple syrup glazed ham, mashed potatoes and steamed peas. Cheers!

2021 Nathaniel J. Moore Zweigelt Rosé

Happy Sunday!  It was a more subdued day today as I did some work and finished my laundry before going for a bike ride just before the rain began.  Now I've opened a nice bottle of wine from my recent vacation which included a stop in the Finger Lakes wine region in New York State.  One of the wineries I visited was the Inspire Moore Winery, where I picked up a bottle of this wine.  The 2021 Zweigelt Rosé is bottled under the Nathaniel J. Moore label, which is the namesake of the current winemaker and the second generation of this family owned winery. Nathaniel succeeded his father who unfortunately passed away in 2019 just as Nathaniel graduated from a local Enology & Viticulture program.  

As head winemaker, Nathaniel has continued his father's passion for Austrian varietals, including this wine.  Zweigelt is a cross between Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent, and has become one of the most planted red varietals in Austria.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!  The wins is a bright pink color in the glass, somewhat deeper in color than the typical rosés of the past few years.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of green grass, tart cherry and a bit of minerality.  The first sip is a subdued blend of strawberry, candied cherry and some earthy peat that eases into some notes of cranberry toward the finish.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a wonderfully crisp dry finish ideal for the closing days of summer.

Beyond the wines, I must admit, I was impressed with the cozy tasting room at the winery in Naples, as I had the chance to enjoy a tasting on the deck overlooking the vineyard, an idyllic place to sip wine!  And when you finish, there is a lovely restaurant next door that has some fantastic lunch fare.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very interesting varietal with a great flavor profile less likely to overwhelm the food you pair it with.  This wine would be wonderful with light summer fare, a variety of seafood and salad.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared, sesame crusted tuna steak, steamed jasmine rice and sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2019 Forgeron Boushey Vineyard Grenache

Happy Sunday!  Today has been an adventure as I completed the sauce making endeavor by canning 13 quarts of fresh pasta sauce with roasted garlic and peppers, in addition to doing laundry and other sundry chores around the house.  So, I figure I've earned a nice glass of wine, and tonight that wine is the 2019 Forgeron Grenache, a 100% Grenache from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  This is Forgeron's second vintage of a pure Grenache (you can see my review of the first vintage here), so let's see how this second effort is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with a lighter body, somewhat reminiscent of a Pinot Noir.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of cherry, plum and currant amid floral notes of lavender and a hint of minerality.  The first sip is a rush of ripe berry, that quickly evolves into sweetness and acidity coming to fisticuffs!  As these two settle down, the wine gracefully transitions to some mineral notes midpalate before easing into sweet cherry and white pepper notes on the finish, which is wonderfully smooth and dry.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I wasn't quite as impressed with this vintage as I was with the inaugural, but it's still a wonderful representation of the varietal.  This wine would pair well with lamb, Yankee pot roast or summer barbecue, which is a good thing given my dinner selection.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some slow cooked barbecued baby back ribs, corn on the cob and green beans, a perfect end of summer dinner!  Cheers!

2022 Bledsoe Family Winery Healy Rosé

Happy Sunday!  I finished planting all the annual flowers along the garage today, so my planting season is officially over.  To celebrate, I've opened a bottle of summer rosé since it's been in the upper 80s every day for the better part of a week.  Tonight, it's the 2022 Bledsoe Family Winery Healy Rosé which was just delivered in a club shipment yesterday (or maybe it was Friday, the days are running together lately!).  This wine is a 100% Syrah sourced from the Schafer, Flying B and Los Oidos vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a lovely pink salmon color in the glass, and give it a swirl and you're greeted with aromas of tropical sunshine, with mango, citrus and pineapple intermingled with white floral notes and just a hint of minerality.  Take a sip and you're palate is inundated with sweet tropical fruit, bright citrus and a crisp freshness that awakens your senses.  The tannins are mellow, providing for a crisp dry finish that exhibits a roundness that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I think this is the best effort yet of the Healy Rosé.  This wine practically begs to be enjoyed on long afternoons on the patio with friends, enjoying summer caprese salads, light seafood or summer barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a butter poached lobster risotto, as the creamy richness of the dish is a perfect foil for the bright acidity of this wine.  Cheers!

Mediteranore Rose Côtes de Provence

Happy Saturday!  I was looking for a nice rose to enjoy with dinner tonight and happened upon this non-vintage Mediteranore Rose Côtes de Provence.  This seems to be a somewhat odd rose season, as they have been somewhat harder to find at my local markets and wine stores.  In any case, with summer in full swing and my dinner tonight practically begging for a rose, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a pale orange/peach color in the glass, as you might expect from a rose from Provence.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of peach, strawberry and a hint of camembert and a bit of steel minerality.  Take a sip and you're greeted by orange citrus, peach and fresh cut melon before transitioning to some notes of crisp steel minerality midpalate.  The finish is light, crisp and refreshing with a dryness that is not overbearing, but ideal for summer sipping.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a lovely summer rose and a good value at just $12.  This wine would pair well with summer salads, light fish dishes, seared sea scallops or a lovely ceviche.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a wonderful crab fest, as I picked up some king crab legs at Costco yesterday, which I've steamed along with some corn on the cob and tangy cole slaw.  Cheers!

2016 Pambrun Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I admit I've taken the opportunity to relax a bit today, outside of doing a bit of laundry and grocery shopping, I've just taken it easy today.  Which of course means that I have extra energy for cooking and enjoying a bit of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle from a winery that I have an indirect ownership interest in, as it's owned by Willamette Valley Vineyards, which I bought and brought home from Walla Walla on my vacation a little over a month ago (wow time flies!).  This wine is full Cabernet sourced from two of my favorite vineyards, the Seven Hills Vineyard and the Summit View Vineyard in the Walla Walla Vallet.  The 2016 Pambrun Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted by Jon Meuret, the founder of Maison Bleue, who I've been a fan of since I visited back in 2014 or 2015.  It also has a connection to Jim Bernau, founder of Willamette Valley Vineyards, who traces his ancestors back to the early settlements of eastern Washingron back in the 1830s, so this is a nice crossroads of serendipity in wine!  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine has a classic Cabernet looks, with deep inky black and bright ruby along the edges.  A quick swirl releases aromas of blackberry, black cherry and cassis with undertones of minerality, including graphite, earthy loam and hints of dried herbs.  Take a sip and and a rush of black fruit envelops the palate with black cherry, blackberry and black currant that takes a bow and surrenders the stage to some anise and smoky flavors with hints of black pepper spice.  The tannins are supple and well structured, providing an ideal backdrop for the velvety smooth, lingering dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just perfect for sipping on the patio (though maybe not on a hot and humid night like tonight) or enjoying with a hearty dinner.  This wine would pair well with lamb, hearty roast beef, or an earthy mushroom risotto.  Tonight I have taken the direct approach and am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye, along with grilled leeks an peppers, along with some Italian green beans from the farmers market and some Boursin cream pasta with sun dried tomatoes.  Cheers!

2019 Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir

Happy Sunday!  I apologize for not posting in over a week, but we had some thunderstorms roll through midweek, and although all my big trees survived, my home computer, printer and modem did not (the modem survived but now I only have wifi access to the web, no wired access).  But now everything is back online, so it's an ideal time to open up a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle from Willamette Valley Vineyards, of which I am an owner, so I am very enthused to taste the 2019 Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir.  This wine is sourced from the three estate vineyards, including the original vineyard in the Salem Hills, the Tualatin Estate and the Elton Vineyard.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a pale garnet color in the glass with great clarity, just as you might expect from this varietal.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of ripe berries, blackberry, currant and raspberry intermingled with dried herbs and a bit of minerality.  The first sip reveals a rush of sweet berry fruit that eases into some anise and a hint of spice midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured providing some backbone to the velvety dry finish that lingers for a bit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's the type of Pinot Noir that I enjoy sipping, vibrant fruit and minerality that is not overpowered by any sort of funk.  This wine would pair well with salmon, lamb or earthy mushroom dishes, or even a classic truffle mac and cheese.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pretzel crusted chicken breast along with a saffron potato puree and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2018 Band of Roses Washington State Rose

Happy Tuesday!  I know this is a confluence of events with Cinco de Mayo happening on Taco Tuesday, but I've decided to go in a completely different direction tonight.  As it happens during a lockdown, I've decided to host a virtual wine tasting with a bunch of my work colleagues tomorrow night and I've decided to go with a sneak preview of one of the wines tonight.  The 2018 Band of Roses Washington State rose is a nice, irreverent wine from Charles Smith, which is one of the larger producers in Washington that has gained nationwide distribution.  The wines are very well priced and I know that no matter where I pick one up, the quality to value proposition almost always favors us consumers.  So let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is a very soft peach color in the glass, almost like a Chardonnay, but still clearly rose.  The nose is a wonderful cascade of tropical fruit, pineapple, mango, honeydew and citrus that seems as refreshing as s bright summer day.  The taste is a rush of citrus, strawberry and melon, with just a hint of minerality.  The tannins are somewhat soft, but unyielding, with subdued acidity providing for a wonderfully crisp, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a pleasant drinking summer rose, that I could see myself sipping on the patio, if it wasn't cloudy and 47 degrees (where are you spring!?!?).  This wine would pair with summer barbecue, burgers, or salads, but tonight I am going in another direction.  I am enjoying this wine with a recipe I found randomly on twitter (!) for chicken paprikash, a Hungarian chicken dish simmered in paprika and finished with sour cream to make a lovely sauce, served with a bit of jasmine rice.  Cheers!

2014 Anvil Walla Walla Merlot

Good Sunday afternoon!  I know it's been a remarkably long time since I've posted, but I am going to make up for it over the next couple weeks.  You see, I took a bit of a vacation to go out to Walla Walla for the 2018 Reveal auction and had a wonderful few days enjoying the wine, food and wonderful friends in my favorite wine-making area, so I promise at least three posts on that trip, with plenty of photos!  But for tonight, I've just decided to relax with a nice bottle of 2014 Anvil Merlot, a 100% Merlot from the Minnick Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA.  I tasted this in the Forgeron tasting room last weekend, so I couldn't wait to get home where my wine club shipment was waiting for me.  So let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is a lovely deep indigo with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Merlot.  The nose is a generous helping of blackberry and black cherry overlaid with hints of mint and earthy mineral notes.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit that envelopes your palate, washing it with rich notes of cassis, that gradually reveals layers of wonderful minerality and black pepper spice.  This finish is velvety smooth and very dry, with well integrated tannins that make this wine a joy to sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it has to rank near the top of my favorite examples of Merlot.  This wine would pair well with a broad array of dishes, from steaks and chops, to prime rib, to your favorite pasta dish, but tonight of course I'm enjoying this with steak.  Tonight it's a rare prime filet mignon with grilled leeks and brussels sprouts and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2016 Gnarly Head Sauvignon Blanc

Happy Monday!  I have to admit, my wine tonight is somewhat of an accident, as I bought this bottle mainly to use in cooking some mussels in white wine over the weekend (you know I'm unlikely to buy a white wine just for drinking!) so I looked at Costco for the cheapest dry white wine I could find and settled on the 2016 Gnarly Head Sauvignon Blanc.  Now it's Monday and I'm cooking a completely different kind of seafood, so why not finish the bottle?

The wine is a very light golden color in the glass, classic for a Sauvignon Blanc.  The nose is cascade of citrus and tropical notes, grapefruit, passion fruit and just a hint of pineapple.  The taste is quite crisp, with a gradual buildup of fruit that starts with some citron, moves to some notes of melon and then reaches an apex of tart apple over some hints of minerality in the background.  The finish is crisp and refreshing and quite dry, a really ideal white wine for a dry red wine lover like me!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7, as it's a very refreshing Sauvignon Blanc that would be quite versatile with food, and it was a terrific bargain at just $6 at my local Costco!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some sea scallops seared in wasabi oil along with some steamed white rice and sugar snap peas.  The tart citrus aspects of this wine are a wonderful counter to the richness of the scallops.  Cheers!

2016 Domaine La Sangliere Cotes de Provence Rose

Well, here it is, my last gasp of summer!  As the temperatures have been coming down, with highs only in the 60s and 70s and lows reaching into the 40s, I thought I needed one last bit of summer before the leaves start falling in earnest.  So today I've opened a bottle of 2016 Domaine La Sangliere Cotes de Provence Rose!  I saw this wine at Costco a few weeks ago and was fascinated by the blend of Cinsault (70%) and Grenache (30%) and the price was such that I couldn't resist getting a bottle even though it was late in the rose season, so let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is a lovely peach color in the glass.  The nose is a lovely combination of peach, strawberry, white floral notes and some minerality.  The taste is somewhat mellow when compared to the nose, with subdued flavors of citrus, mango and strawberry that transitions to some warm mineral notes midpalate.  This wine displays the classic French stealth finish, with mild acidity and incredible dryness that is feels like there wasn't a finish at all.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, as it's not a spectacular rose, but one that would be ideal with a variety of food on the patio during the summer.  It was also a wonderful value at just $8!  This wine would be ideal for summer salads, or a variety of seafood, which is handy since I'm enjoying this wine with my end of summer crab boil, featuring Alaskan king crab legs, corn on the cob and red potatoes with parsley and butter, the kind if dinner that you never notice you've just eaten a stick of butter!  Cheers!

2015 Forgeron Rose of Sangiovese

Happy Sunday!  Boy it sure feels like summer here now, I was mowing the grass today and was sweating like mad as it reached the upper-80s today!  Hot is the perfect weather for a summer favorite, rose!  Today I've decided to open a bottle of our office wine club selection for June, the 2015 Forgeron Rose of Sangiovese from the Walla Walla Valley of Washington!  I reviewed the 2014 vintage (you can see that here) so let's see how the 2015 stacks up!

The wine is a very light peach color, perfect for a dry rose for summer!  The nose is a lovely combination of grapefruit, strawberry and orange blossom notes, with just a bit of minerality in the background.  The taste is a lovely rush of sweet strawberry and tropical fruit up front that transitions to some wonderful floral notes midpalate.  The finish is crisp, with mild acidity and a smooth, very dry ending.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's one of my favorite roses for summer, perfect for sipping on the patio on a warm evening light tonight.  This wine would pair well with a variety of summer fare, from caprese salad to lighter fish dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with some pan seared sea scallops along with some bucatini tossed with broccoli rabe sauteed with garlic and olive oil topped with a bit of shaved parmesan.  Sante!

2010 Long Meadow Ranch Bootstrap Napa Valley Red Wine

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Hump day is always a reason to celebrate and when you bring a bottle of wine even more so!   Tonight I've decided to open a bottle I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out on their Napa Valley marathon, what's not to like about red wine from Napa?  The 2010 Long Meadow Ranch Bootstrap Napa Valley Red Wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (62%), Sangiovese (21%) and Petite Sirah (17%), so let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, somewhat lighter than the typical Cabernet which isn't surprising given the addition of Sangiovese.  The nose is a rush of minerality, with some notes of dusty limestone and leather intermingled with some ripe cherry and notes of green pepper.  The taste is a rush of ripe berries and cherry cola that linger on the tongue, followed by some mineral and spice notes midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with well structured tannins providing for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very pleasant drinking wine at a decent price of just $25.  This wine would pair will with a variety of hearty Italian dishes, from linguine with mussels to a classic baked ziti, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple dinner of prime ribeye grilled rare with some grilled Brussels sprouts and organic rainbow carrots.  The wine really complements the richness of the carrots and the heartiness of the steak.  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 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

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

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

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

2008 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

What a day!  It was gorgeous weather and I spend the afternoon in Grand Rapids where I visited one of my favorite wine merchants. G.B. Russo & Sons for a tasting and to buy some wine.  I happened upon some Walla Walla treasure there in the form of a bottle of 2012 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon, but since that will need a few years to mature, I decided to open another Cabernet favorite this evening when I got home, the 2008 Seven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon from the Seven Hills Vineyard in Walla Walla.  This one has been in my cellar for five or six years, so let's see if it was worth the wait!

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby color in the glass, with an inky black toward the center.  The nose presents delightful aromas of blackberry, cherry, prune and lovely spice notes of black pepper and a hint of leather and lilac.  This nose would fit perfectly on a high-end left bank Bordeaux (Margaux anyone?) even though it's 100% Cabernet.  The taste it just spectacular,with a bit of cherry cola up front that transitions to some lovely minerality of dusty limestone and basalt midpalate.  The finish is velvety smooth and exceptionally dry with just a hint of funk at the end.  I can't even describe how lovely and smooth this wine is, it's like sipping the gorgeous afternoon we had here today!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, and you know how seldom I rate any wines at 9 or above!  This wine is perfect for grilled steaks, rich French dishes from Provence, hard cheeses or just sipping!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grass fed Filet Mignon grilled rare with a baked potato and haricots verts almondine.  Cheers!

2009 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

So I made it home from Florida (have I mentioned I'm not a huge fan?  I know that's surprising, but having been born in winter in Chicago, I really love the cold!) and tonight I've decided to have a nice home cooked dinner.  And wouldn't you know I found an awesome deal on Angus filet so what else could I possible have tonight besides a black pepper bacon wrapped filet mignon?  And since I'm heading to the deep end of the steak pool, I need a wine to stand up to it with grace and poise, which screams Napa Valley Cabernet!  So I've opened a bottle of 2009 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that I stumbled upon in the cellar (don't you love surprises?).  I reviewed the 2010 vintage last year, which you can see here.

The wine is a classic deep, brooding Napa Cab, with an inky black center leading to some bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is just wonderful, even with the glass two feet away, the aromas are beckoning me to grab the glass and sip!  The nose presents aromas of black plum, blackberry, licorice and oak over a lingering hint of limestone minerality.  The taste is lovely, with a rush of ripe black fruit that envelopes your palate.  The rich berries and plum transitions effortlessly to some lovely mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are well intergrated and finely structured, providing the classic backbone to a big Cab like this one, along with it's velvety, bone dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's not from a great vintage, but it's always amazing how these wines develop with just a few years in the cellar.  As I mentioned, tonight I am enjoying this wine with the steak pictured above, grilled rare along with some grilled maroon carrots, and a big baked potato with butter and sour cream.  I just love big steak night, cheers!

2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Valley Merlot

It's hump day and boy can I use a nice glass of wine with dinner!  And since it's Merlot month, why not open a bottle of my favorite under-appreciated varietal?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Valley Merlot, which is actually a blend of Merlot (80%), Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) and Cabernet Franc (10%) from the Seven Hills and Ferguson estates.

The wine is a beautiful ruby color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose presents aromas of ripe dark fruit, green grass and coffee.  The taste is as smooth as it gets, with some subdued fruit notes up front that quickly give way to some smoky notes and cherry cola.  The earthy mineral notes of basalt really come through midpalate, surely the influence of the estate Ferguson fruit.  The tannins are vibrant, making a nice combination with the earthy minerality on the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, and it was a very nice value even at the full retail price of $36.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a perfect mid-week dinner of a petite porterhouse (yes there is such a thing in my world!) along with some grilled asparagus and sweet potato mash, what a perfect way to end an Autumn evening!  Cheers!