2022 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Petit Verdot

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

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

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

2021 Reininger Malbec

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

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

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

2022 Château Lamothe Bordeaux

Happy Saturday!  It is hot as blazes here today, I did just a bit of yard work and could not stop sweating, so I decided to run errands and do my grocery shopping in air conditioned locations instead!  Granted it was only 95 today, but with the 70% humidity it was remarkably unpleasant, though not entirely unbearable.  In any case, now that the sun is low, it's time for dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I bought a few months ago from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2022 Château Lamothe Bordeaux is a classic right bank Bordeaux with a heavy hand of Merlot (80%) accompanied by Cabernet Sauvignon (12%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Malbec (4%).  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with great clarity, a testament to the Merlot influents.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of rich leather, earthy peat and oak with defined aromas of blackberry, currant and black olive.  The first sip is a rush of lovely black fruit, blackberry, plum and currant that ease into earthy notes of dusty limestone and olive tapenade midpalate.  The fine grain tannins provide the ideal foundation for the long, smooth dry finish that is classic Bordeaux.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it punches above its weight class, especially considering the price as this wine was a bargain at just $15!  This wine would pair well with a ranges of dishes, from hearty steaks and chops, to pasta or seared salmon.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye with sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms and some grilled corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2020 Seven Hills Pentad

Today was my annual pilgrimage to Illinois to plant flowers at the cemetery for all my family members and at least the weather was very pleasant.  Five flats of flowers planted and now I'm ready for a nice dinner and a glass of wine, before the serious flower planting commences tomorrow.  Tonight I've opened a perennial favorite, and although I have gone out of order in reviewing the 2021 vintage before this one, I am happy to share the 2020 Seven Hills Pentad this evening.  This wine is a blend of the five primary Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carmenere, but I can't find the fact sheet for the 2020 vintage, so we'll just have to enjoy this wine without knowing the breakdown of the blend.  Here goes nothing!

The wine is has a hearty look in the glass, inky black at the center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of green grass, leather and undertones of blackberry and currant.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit that transitions easily to some earthy notes of olive tapenade, and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a wonderfully dry finish that has just enough earthy funk to pay homage to the Bordeaux heritage.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's a classic version of what Walla Walla does so well with Bordeaux style blends.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from rack of lamb to braised short ribs, thick steaks to grilled octopus.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled T-bone steak with cowboy crust seasoning, oven roasted purple fingerling potatoes and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2023 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Malbec

Happy Saturday!  It was a long week, and it's not even over yet!  At least I got to sleep in today before working some more, but now it's time for a relaxing dinner and a nice bottle of wine before the time change which will have me groggy for the next week.  Tonight I've opened a bottle from a wine club shipment from Seven Hills Winery that I got yesterday.  The 2023 Seven Hills Walla Walla Malbec is sourced from fruit grown on the McClellan Estate Vineyard in Walla Walla, so let's see how this wine is starting out!

The wine has a dark center and bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect for a classic Malbec.  The nose presents a an intriguing combination of smoke, blackberry and leather, with undertones of earthy peat.  The first sip is jarring rush of tart cherry that eventually subsides, evolving into some notes of blackberry, olive tapenade and dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a wonderfully drinking Malbec, but is still quite young.  I expect this wine will age gracefully and be quite a stunner with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from hearty pasta, lamb or Sunday pot roast, but like any great Malbec, this wine yearns for a nice steak.  We wouldn't you know it, tonight I just to happen to have a pan seared Za'atar seasoned New York Strip over sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms with some steamed asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2008 Heritance Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Cellar Saturday!  This is the magical first Saturday of the month, when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight I am taking a second look at a wine I reviewed back in 2015 (see 2008 Heritance Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon), when I went on a ride in a Ford Tri-Motor with my uncle who recently passed away, so this one has meaning on multiple levels for me.  I bought this wine from Wines Till Sold Out and thought it was pretty good as an 7-year-old, let's see how it is as a teenager!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a Napa Cabernet.  A gentle swirl and you're greeted with a whirlwind of aromas, from prune to anise to tar, black currant to olive tapenade, the maturity is certainly becoming pronounced.  A sip and you are completely thrown back with a rush of mint, ripe red fruit and aged tobacco before transitioning to some warm spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are still well structured, providing for a solid base to the long, smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, this wine has definitely improved with age, and although 2008 was not a stellar vintage for Napa Valley, this wine is drinking very nicely right now.  This wine would pair well with great steaks, burgers or barbecue or classic Italian fare.  Tonight I am enjoying it with a combination of those dishes, with a rare, pan seared petit filet mignon, and some tri-color spaghetti tossed with cherry tomatoes roasted with olive oil, garlic, diced prosciutto, balsamic and burrata. Cheers!

2019 Stolen Horse Syrah

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy one for me, as I went to a graduation party and then completed a few projects around the house, and now I'm definitely ready for Sunday dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a wine club shipment from the Bledsoe Family Winery that arrived on Friday.  The 2019 Stolen Horse Syrah is a classic Syrah (98%) co-fermented with Viognier (2%) sourced from the Lefore, Flying B, Loess and Kenny Hill Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this new vintage is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nearly a Cabernet sort of feel.  After letting this one breathe for an hour or so, a easy swirl reveals aromas of green grass, smoky oak, and hints of wild berries that beckon you to taste.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a cascade of flavors, from blueberry reduction, to olive tapenade, smoke and earthy mineral notes.  The mouthfeel on this wine is a real treat, with velvety texture and well structured tannins to provide for a delightfully dry finish that lingers.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's such a solid example of the varietal, but also such an intriguing wine.  This wine practically begs to be paired with a hearty meat dish, from a grilled pork tenderloin to barbecued beef ribs.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Sunday dinner of herb crusted rack of lamb with potato puree, red wine demi and haricots verts almondine.  Cheers!

2012 Koyle Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  Today has been a somewhat relaxing day of chores (that sure seems oxymoronic), as I've done some laundry, organized a few things and prepped for cooking dinner, so it really hasn't been stressful at all.  And now I'm ready for a nice glass of wine as I start cooking my Sunday dinner, and tonight I've opened a bottle of 2012 Koyle Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon which I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Cabernet Franc (10%) and Petit Verdot (5%) from the Alto Colchagua Valley of Chile.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

In the glass, this wine is a classic deep ruby color, with just a touch of amber along the edges.  After a bit of breathing time, the wine presents aromas of olive tapenade and earthy leather, with undertones of red currant and plum.  Take a sip and it reveals a departure from the nose, with a rush of ripe cherry and currant, with much less of the earthy tones, which are instead replaced with a good bit of minerality midpalate.  The tannins are gripping, and the finish is quite dry, with a reprise of herbal notes.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant drinking Cabernet that might be a few years past its prime, but still a solid value at just $10.  This wine would be ideal with a casual weeknight dinner, with everything from burgers and steaks, to pizza and barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic herb crusted rack of lamb with mashed potatoes, a red wine demi and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Syrah

Happy Wine Wednesday!  So you might recall that last year Sean Sullivan of the Washington Wine Report issued the Washington Merlot Challenge, which required those accepting the challenge to drink at least one Washington Merlot each month for the year.  This year the chosen varietal for the challenge is Syrah!  So much to enjoy with Washington Syrah, so naturally I accepted the challenge and tonight I am fulfilling my obligation for January and enjoying a 2012 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Syrah from the Seven Hills Vineyard.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep garnet hue in the glass with nice clarity, classic color for a syrah.  Lift the glass and aromas of leather, caramel, blackberry and plum swirl around earthy notes of olive tapenade, peat and smoke.  On the first sip you're greeted with a rush of black fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant that eases into tawny notes of vanilla and caramel midpalate.  The tannins are still fairly sturdy, providing for a wonderfully long, dry finish that lingers into a reprise of olive tapenade at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a great example of a high-quality Walla Walla Syrah that's held up well over the past eight years.  This wine would pair well with lamb, roast pork tenderloin or mushroom risotto, but tonight I am enjoying this with some stir fried teriyaki steak with udon noodles for a simple midweek dinner.  Cheers!

2014 Reininger CPR Carmenere

So tonight I have the pleasure of enjoying another virtual wine tasting with Chuck Reininger (aka the CPR on this wine's label) and we will be tasting the 2014 CPR Carmenere.  Of course what's not to love about tasting a wine with the person that created it, I just wish I wasn't on eastern time!  Chuck will be joined by Sadie Drury, the vineyard manager at the Seven Hills Vineyard in Walla Walla, where the grapes for this wine originated.  This wine was very limited production, just 42 cases of 100% Carmenere from the Seven Hills Vineyard in Walla Walla, so let's see how it's shaping up!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose is at first a delicate affair with aromas of cedar, lavender and white pepper spice which opens up to some wild blackberry and currant.  The taste is a rush of black cherry, pomegranate and plum that transitions easily to hints of charred meat and olive tapenade midpalate.  The soft tannins usher in a nice bit of acidity and peppery spice amid the long, smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just starting to come into its own after aging more than five years in barrel.  This wine would be excellent with grilled lamb, filet mignon or sesame crusted pork tenderloin, but tonight, since it's raining, I am staying indoors with and enjoying this wine with a classic linguine carbonara.  Cheers!

2008 Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Prestige

Well, happy Groundhog Day Eve!  It's the first of February, and the first Saturday of the new month, which means it's Cellar Saturday, that magical time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight I've opened a classic Rhône blend that's been maturing for a while, the 2008 Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Prestige!  As a Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault, so let's see how this one has developed over the last dozen years!

The wine is a deep ruby color, with a hint of amber along the edges, and a bit darker in the center.  The nose presents aromas of kirsch, olive tapenade and a hint of lavender, a very meaty set of aromas.  The taste is surprisingly fruit forward, with lots of ripe cherry and plum that transitions to some flavors of charcoal midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing a nice foundation for a long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a bit different than your typical Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and may be somewhat of an acquired taste.  I was worried this wine might be too light, but it's a heavy bugger that's ideal for pairing with lamb or big steaks, which is a good thing, since tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare prime ribcap along with some oven roasted rainbow carrots.  Cheers!

2015 Sleight of Hands "The Psychedelic Syrah"

Happy Friday!  Hopefully you got all your black Friday mojo out of your system, I know I did and now it's time for a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I bought when I was visiting Walla Walla last Spring and had a chance to meet Trey Busch and the team at Sleight of Hands Cellars, the 2015 Psychedelic Syrah, from the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, Oregon.  This wine is a 100% Syrah, from the Stoney Vine Vineyard, which is an ancient riverbed characterized by softball size rocks (which Trey is so proud to show off!).  This vintage follows the 2014 which was my 2017 wine of the year (see here), so it has some big shoes to fill, let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a wonderful garnet color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose is a wonderfully earthy cascade of olive tapenade, smoke, leather, earthy mineral notes overlaid with ripe black fruit, blackberry and currant with an undertone of mint.  The taste is a psychedelic combination of ripe black fruit, heavy earth tones, a hint of lavender and some green olive that just swirl in your mouth and in your mind.  The tannins are thick and chewy, enveloping your palate and setting the perfect stage for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's likely one of the best examples of Syrah I've enjoyed this year, and I think it's grown on me since i tasted it back in April, but I still prefer the 2014 vintage.  This wine would be ideal with a lot of hearty fall dishes from lamb chops and shepherds pie to mushroom risotto or prime rib, (even Turkey, though we're a day late and a buck short for that).  Tonight I am going a little off the beaten track, as I bought a nice piece or prime brisket at Costco and decided to slow roast it today and make brisket tacos for dinner.  The earthiness of the wine is a perfect accompaniment to the richness of the brisket.  Cheers!

2015 Chateau Grand Lacaze Medoc

Happy Saturday!  I have to admit I didn't get very much done today, I had so many wonderful plans to work in the yard and get some chores done around the house, and then I decided to sleep in and the rest is history (or anti-history since it never happened!).  But at least I'm now ready for dinner and a wonderful bottle of wine, and tonight's treat is a bottle of Bordeaux that I recently picked up at Costco.  I will admit when I first went to France in 1995, I really took a liking to Haut Medoc, but I suppose in a pinch, a regular Medoc will do, so tonight it's the 2015 Chateau Grand Lacaze Medoc, a wonderful left bank blend of Merlot (50%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (50%).  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose is so Bordeaux-y, with wonderful earthy notes of leather, basalt, ripe red fruit, and the faintest hint of funk.  The taste is wonderfully earthy, with a rush of earthy peat intermingled with red currant, cherry and plum that transitions nicely to some notes of graphite and olive tapenade midpalate.  The tannins are still youthful, but nicely structured for the long, smooth and very dry finish, just as you'd expect from a nice Bordeaux.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a pleasant drinking table wine today that will likely improve a bit with a few years in the cellar.  This wine was also a terrific value at less than $10, making it an ideal everyday wine.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes from grilled fish to roast pork tenderloin to steak.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with an appetizer of stuffed artichoke along with a rare grilled prime New York strip, sweet potato hash and steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2006 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of the month, that magical day when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade old to enjoy.  Well tonight it was literally a bottle I stumbled upon in the cellar, as several weeks ago I was looking for a bottle of French wine and happened upon this bottle misplaced in the section where all the Bordeaux are sitting, the 2006 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon, so given that this is the first weekend of Washington Wine Month, it seems like an appropriate choice.  So let's see how this one has matured since I got it about 10 years ago!

Now keep in mind, I decanted this wine for about an hour before tasting.  The wine is a lovely color in the glass, with deep, inky purple at the center, garnet along the edges with just a hint of brown.  The nose is such a smack in the head, as it instantly brings back memories of tasting this wine when it was new, wonderfully earthy notes of leather, grass and peat over some start minerality, but then layered on that is some clear signs of maturity, roast meat, olive tapenade and rich herb notes.  How amazing that I feel like I'm done and I haven't even had a sip yet!  The taste is nothing like the aromas, you're greeted with a rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, plum and currant that transitions effortlessly to some earthy spice notes and olive midpalate.  The tannins are mature and well balanced, providing for an exceptionally smooth, voluptuous dry finish.

I was expecting this wine to be a nice cabernet, but man this was just a sensory experience that bordered on overload!  Overall, I'd rate this wine a solid 9.5 easy, as it's just a phenomenal Cabernet, and it wasn't even the top of the line wine from L'Ecole back in 2006!  This wine would pair exceptionally well with steak, wild game, roasts, or as I'm enjoying tonight, some wonderful Italian dishes!  I'm enjoying this wine with some pasta I picked up at Eataly a few weeks ago, topped with some Italian sausage marinara, but who am I kidding, I'll be enjoying this wine for the rest of the evening, long after dinner is through!  Cheers!

2013 Varej Piemonte Barbera

Happy Humpday!  To celebrate I've opened a bottle of 2013 Varej Piemonte Barbera, because who doesn't like a little midweek Barbera?  This little number was our office wine club selection for this month, and one I picked up from Wines Till Sold Out for a really great price!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry, zesty spice notes and a bit of olive tapenade.  The taste is quite nice with some ripe fruit on the outset, blackberry and cherry, which gives way to some black pepper spice and dried herb notes midpalate.  The tannins are still a bit tight, but they provide some nice backbone to the long, very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's a very nice everyday wine, and a particularly good value at just $10!  It would be a great first course wine to enjoy with some charcuterie on the patio.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some prosciutto perline pasta from Trader Joe's with some parma rosa sauce, and a spinach salad with olive oil and balsamic.  Cheers!