2022 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Palm Sunday!  As we head into Holy Week, I find it's a good time to take stock of the important things in life and let the things of the world fade.  Our faith and our families are among those important things, and one of the best ways to celebrate with family is with a good meal accompanied by a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I'm having both, and the wine I've opened is the 2022 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (86%), Petit Verdot (6%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Merlot (4%) from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Octave and Yellow Jacket Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose is an elegant affair, with aromas of aged leather, ripe berries and undertones of lavender and vanilla bean.  The first sip is a rush of cool fruit, blueberry and currant with just the faintest hint of sweetness, that easily gives way to some earthy home cooking midpalate, with baking spice and anise with some light hints of pepper.  The tannins are a bit tight, but very well structured, providing a solid foundation to the velvety smooth dry finish.

I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking Cabernet with all of the character and nuance of the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with the heartiest of dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty baked pasta, thick steaks to Texas barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared bison ribeye with sautéed mushrooms, onions and peppers, steamed asparagus with hollandaise and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2016 L'Esprit De Chevalier Pessac-Léognan

Happy Sunday!  It's been a rainy afternoon, so I decided to dispense with the yard work and focus on some indoor projects, like replacing the backing on a new painting I bought at the thrift store, fixing my live trap to catch the second groundhog that roamed into my yard on Friday and other assorted household chores.  So, now I'm ready for a nice dinner and a glass or few of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a magnum of 2016 L'Esprit De Chevalier Pessac-Léognan that I bought a month or two ago during the Wines Till Sold Out magnum event.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Merlot (45%) and Petit Verdot (10%), making this a classic Bordeaux blend.  I'm going to need some of this wine for the red wine demi that I'm making for my main course, so if there's enough extra for another glass or two that seems fine to me!  So, let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is an inky black at the center with just a touch of ruby along the edges.  The nose is a lovely presentation of leather, ripe black fruit and hints of anise and pepper.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of cool black fruit that's a bit tart at first, before transitioning into some blackberry and cherry sweetness.  The tannins are refined and well structured, which works well with the spicy dry finish with just a hint of acidity at the end. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a great example of the old world styling and craft of Bordeaux.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from grilled steaks to braised short ribs, hearty beef stew to wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a Sunday dinner of herb crusted rack of lamb with red wine demi, potato puree and some grilled asparagus.  Cheers!

2017 Forgeron Malbec

Happy Saturday!  It was a busy week back at work, so I'm afraid I might have been a bit lax on my blog posting.  But fear not!  Tonight I've opened a bottle from a wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars that I've been looking forward to for some time.  The 2017 Forgeron Malbec is a 100% Malbec from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with a bright fuchsia along the edges.  The nose is an expressive combination of dark red fruit intermingled with a variety of spice notes, pepper, smoke and leather, that almost has you picturing a gaucho as you prepare to take a sip of this wine.  The taste is an interesting rush of smoky blackberry and plum, juxtaposed with tart cherry and hints of lavender before easing into some notes of dark chocolate and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are well structured and integrated, providing for a delightfully smooth and very dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's about as solid of a domestic Malbec as you're likely to find.  This wine is very consistent with the styling seen in some of the great southern hemisphere Malbecs.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from classic steaks and chops to beef Bolognese.  Tonight I am pairing this with a rare grilled big honkin' porterhouse I picked up at the market today, along with a baked potato and some asparagus with Hollandaise.  Cheers!

2009 Helix Columbia Valley Syrah

 So this has been one of my classic days without even a smidge of organization whatsoever!  I thought I was doing well, taking advantage of the one non-rainy day this weekend to get my yard work done, and I thought I was doing well as I was putting the leaf blower away at 6:45, when my phone alarm went off, telling me I have theater tickets and the performance starts in 45 minutes!  So, instead of dinner and wine, I raced to the theater to enjoy a marvelous performance of Silent Sky and now I'm back for dinner and wine!  Sure, it's 10 pm, but there are still two hours left of Cellar Saturday, that first Saturday of the month where I open a bottle at least a decade in the making, and tonight it's a good one, the 2009 Helix Columbia Valley Syrah!  So let's see how this wine is shaping up.

The wine is a beautiful, deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from a nice Syrah.  The nose is a cavalcade of lovely fruit aromas that seems to scream autumn, blackberry, currant, cherry with undertones of earthy tar, pepper and sage.  The taste is a rush of ripe, jammy blackberry, plum and mulberry, that transitions easily to some notes of dusty limestone and peat midpalate, with a reprise of vanilla bean.  The tannins are smooth and well integrated, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers on the palate for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it is likely at its peak, but still providing a food friendly approach that is full of fall flavors.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dished from lamb, to eggplant Parmesan to a wonderful slow cooked chili with cornbread.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a wild autumn meal of rare grilled elk strip steak, with a Blue Smoke Game Changer rub that is spiced with clove and juniper, along with some oven roasted fingerling sweet potatoes and grilled asparagus.  Cheers!

2018 Pine & Brown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, I just returned from my evening bike ride, so now that I've done my exercise for the day, I can make up for it with a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that just arrived yesterday from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2018 Pine & Brown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (95%) and Petit Verdot (5%) from the Oakville District of Napa Valley.  So, let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose is a classic blend of leather, black fruit and a hint of lavender over the top. The taste is classic big Napa Cabernet with a rush of black currant, cherry and blackberry, that transitions easily to some notes of cedar, and mocha midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing a nice backbone for the long, smooth dry finish with a nice accent of black pepper spice.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking Cabernet from a solid Napa Valley vintage.  This wine obviously craves a steak, but would also pair well with easy weeknight dishes ranging from pasta to pizza or burgers.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some steak fajita tacos (it is Taco Tuesday after all!) with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2008 Tero Estates Windrow Vineyard Hill Block Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's the first Saturday of the month, and that means it's Cellar Saturday!  That glorious time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in waiting.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I bought on one of my many trips to Walla Walla, though I can't be sure which one, perhaps I brought this back from the 2014 trip.  In any case, tonight's wine is the 2008 Tero Estates Cabernet Sauvignon from the Hill Block of the Windrow Vineyard, a historic vineyard in the AVA first planted in 1981, though the Hill Block is relatively new, having been planted in 1998.  I remember buying a few bottles from the Tero/Flying Trout tasting room on the first floor of the Marcus Whitman Hotel and quite enjoyed the wine I tasted (I think this was before their combining with Waters and 21 Grams).  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (94%) and Cabernet Franc (6%) for a bit of polish.  So let's see how well this wine has developed over the past decade!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of dusty limestone, with start mineral aromas over mild hints of blackberry, cassis and hints of lavender.  The taste is a complete departure from the stark mineral aromas you just experienced, as it's a rush of ripe, sweet black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that transitions beautifully into some notes of mocha, dark chocolate and a bit of pepper on the finish.  The tannins are very well structured, providing ample backbone for the long, smooth and very dry finish that just lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a fabulous Walla Walla Cabernet that could pair well with a broad range of dishes.  I would enjoy this wine with steak, but I don't see this a primarily a steak wine, rather it would be wonderful with some lamb with herbs provencale, Copper River salmon or a variety of hearty Italian pastas.  The latter is what I'm enjoying tonight as I've paired this wine with a new concoction of jambalaya pappardelle, which consists of cherry tomatoes with andouille sausage and shrimp and a bit of fresh basil and oregano and fire roasted hatch chiles.  The hit of the spice and pasta with the ripe fruit of this wine is a fabulous combination.  Cheers!

2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Cabernet Franc

Happy Sunday!  Yesterday was a day full of errands and yard work, and today I got to relax a bit and do some work inside the house (though I set a live trap for a groundhog and managed to catch a raccoon, so I had to take that critter for a drive this afternoon).  Tonight it's time for a nice glass of wine and a good Sunday dinner, so I've decided to open up a bottle of 2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Cabernet Franc.  This is a limited production wine (just 250 cases) of 100% Cabernet Franc from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a lovely garnet color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose exhibits light aromas of leather, violets and a bit of pepper with some undertones of cocoa powder.  The taste is wonderfully characteristic of the varietal, with a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, currant and plum that transitions easily to some notes of dark chocolate and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are youthful, but well structured, providing a great base for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking wine and great example of a varietal that is often overlooked as a blending grape.  This wine has a certain Mediterranean flair to it, so it would pair nicely with a broad range of cuisine, from the bouillabaisse of the French coast, to Sicilian pasta dishes to Greek moussaka. Tonight I am enjoying this with a bit of French or Belgian bistro cuisine, some moules-frites, since I went to Costco yesterday and am trying to use up the 5 pounds of mussels I bought!  Cheers!

2014 Seven Hills Walla Walla Valley Red Wine

Merry Christmas!  Yes, I know it's only Christmas Eve, but I am fairly certain I won't have any time for wine blogging tomorrow, so you take Christmas wishes when you can get them!  Tonight I am getting ready for a nice quiet dinner and to listen to our community theater radio production of "It's a Wonderful Life" which was recorded at an encore performance we did last Friday evening.  In the interim, I've decided to open a bottle I wine I recently bought from my favorite Walla Walla Winery, Seven Hills, their 2014 Walla Walla Valley red wine.  This inaugural vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Malbec (10%) and Petit Verdot (5%) from the Summit View, Pepper Bridge, Cockburn, McClellan Estate, Stone Valley, Seven Hills Vineyard, Waliser Rocks and Fire Ridge vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine is meant to highlight the terroir of the Walla Walla Valley AVA, so let's see how Casey did!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, classic for the concentrations of Cabernet and Malbec.  The nose presents earthy aromas of dusty limestone and leather, intermingled with some ripe black fruit, black pepper spice and a hint of violet.  The taste is a rush of ripe black cherry, blueberry and black currant up front that transitions nicely to some notes of caramel and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are fine and provide an inviting structure to the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I think it's a new favorite for an everyday drinking wine.  This wine would pair very well with a variety of dishes, from braised short ribs, to prime rip or ham for Christmas dinner.  But tonight I am enjoying this wine with a prime New York Strip steak grilled Pittsburgh rare, grilled leeks and asparagus and a bit baked potato with butter, sour cream and scallions.  The velvety structure of this wine is a perfect foil to a hearty grilled steak.  Cheers!

2015 Stave and Steel Cabernet Sauvignon

So today I went to my local supermarket for my usual grocery shopping endeavor, and to my surprise they were having a special on wine with all bottles 15% off, so although I seldom shop for wine at the supermarket this gave me a motivation to explore.  I ended up finding five bottles, two were Charles Shaw wines from Washington, which are usually a good bet for supermarket wine, but then I saw this 2015 Stave and Steel Cabernet Sauvignon from California and I was fascinated, as it it was "bourbon barrel aged."  Now apparently aging alcoholic beverages in used bourbon barrels is all the rage right now, with beer makers doing it, and now apparently wine makers as well.  To be fair, the wine was aged in these barrels for just four months, so it wasn't like they spent years in there, but I'm willing to give it a try, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a lovely garnet color in the glass, with nice clarity, somewhat lighter than you might expect from a big California Cabernet.  The nose is quite nice, with sophisticated aromas of leather, tobacco, dried herbs, certainly the nose portrays a wine of quality well beyond the price I paid.  The taste is a rush of ripe blueberries, cherry and plum at the outset, that evolves into an almost prune or raisin flavor mixed with vanilla and smoky pepper spice midpalate.  In many ways the wine reminded me a lot of a nice Amarone with the flavor profile.  The tannins were refined, yet somewhat soft, leading to a long, smooth and dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as the bourbon barrel aging certainly adds something to this wine as it's tasting well beyond its weight class for a wine I just bought for $19!  This is certainly an interesting one, and not your traditional big fruit bomb Cabernet, but more like an old world Cabernet, or as I mentioned an Amarone with the fruit and spice concentration.  In any case, this wine is practically begging to be paired with a nice big steak or some barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled coffee-rubbed prime filet mignon over a bed of grilled leeks, with some Brussels sprouts grilled with bacon and corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2015 Sleight of Hand Cellars "Levitation" Syrah

Happy Friday!  I must admit that things have gotten away from me the past couple weeks.  I've had so much that I planned to get done, including a few blog posts but alas I am a consummate slacker!  So tonight I've decided to open a bottle of Syrah from Sleight of Hand Cellars, one of my new favorite Sytah producers following my introduction to their Psychedelic Syrah last year (see my pose here).  So tonight it's the 2015 "Levitation" Syrah, a 100% Syrah from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  Keep in mind I opened this bottle an hour ago to let it get a bit of air, so let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a lovely deep inky purple in the glass with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a wonderfully earthy combination of leather, blackberry and a hint of lilac over the top.  The taste is near perfection for the varietal, with a ripe juicy rush of black fruit, blackberry, cherry and cassis that lingers on the palate before easing into some rich mineral, anise and pepper notes midpalate.  The tannins are at first wilting but then stiff, providing the perfect contrast and oomph for the long, smooth and voluptuous dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as I think it's one of my new favorite Syrah's.  I don't think it's as nice as last year's Psychedelic Syrah, but I think it can give this year's vintage a run for its money!  This wine would be ideal with a broad range of summer dishes, from grilled steaks to barbecue to chicken kabobs, but tonight I am celebrating Cinco de Mayo a week late with some wonderful local chorizo tacos with all the trimmings.  Such a fun wine with food, cheers!

2010 Genium Celler Priorat

You know, it's been a while since I've enjoyed a nice Spanish wine, so tonight I've opened a bottle I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2010 Genium Celler Priorat, a blend of Garnacha (45%), Syrah (20%), Merlot (20%), Carinena (10%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%).  I've often viewed Priorat and similar wines from Spain as the poor cousins of Chateauneuf du Pape and the classic GSM blends of France, but in reality, these wines are in a style and class of their own.  So let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep purple in the glass, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a blend of earthy aromas, leather, oak and spice box intermingled with some soft fruit notes and hints of floral undertones.  The taste is a rush of black fruit, cherry, blackberry and plum that transition to some notes of anise and peppery spice midpalate.  The chalky tannins can be somewhat of a challenge, but in this wine they work, providing nice balance to the rich fruit and setting up the long, very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's pleasant to drink, but also somewhat versatile when it comes to food pairings.  I rely on Spanish reds for more challenging dishes to pair, like my dinner tonight, an Indian spiced oven roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus.  The rich fruit and balanced spice on the finish make a nice pairing with the herb spice of the chicken, a protein that can be a challenge with red wine.  Cheers!

2013 V. Sattui Family Red Wine

Happy Tuesday!  Man how the weather can change, it has been hot and dry and we desperately needed rain (my grass and bushes were suffering severely!) but now it's rained the last three days and turned markedly cooler, the high today was only 48 and it was down in the 30s last night!  Oh well, that means it's a good time to open a nice bottle of red wine, and tonight it's the 2013 V. Sattui Family Red wine from Napa Valley, a blend of mainly Zinfandel with a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec.  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a nice deep garnet color in the glass,  The nose is chock full of green grass, ripe berries and some earthy peat and oak.  The taste is quite nice, with a rush of black fruit up front, blackberry, cherry and plum that transitions nicely to some notes of spice box and pepper.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but the wine still has a nice, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, it's a nice everyday wine that's a decent value at about $20.  With the Zinfandel component, this wine would pair well with many summer dinners, from barbecue to burgers to pizza, but tonight I'm enjoying it with a rare grilled New York Strip with grilled leeks, haricots verts almondine and some couscous.  Cheers!

2014 Forgeron Zinfandel

Happy Selection Sunday!  Now that all the NCAA seeding is complete, we can get down to business, and enjoy a bottle of wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2014 Forgeron Zinfandel, a 100% Zinfandel from the Alder Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills.  This was a recent delivery from the Forgeron wine club so let's see how it is!

The wine is a lovely, bright ruby color in the glass.  The nose is a wonderful combination of leather, spice, boysenberry jam and clove with just a bit of earthiness.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit up front, blackberry and boysenberry, that transitions nicely to some notes of dark chocolate, tobacco and pepper spice.  The finish is very nice, with balanced tannins providing a nice base for the long, dry and very smooth finish that leaves you thinking about your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a really nice example of a varietal that can be difficult.  This Zinfandel would pair well with a variety of dishes, from a London broil to a smoky barbecue, but tonight I am going a different route.  My local market had red, yellow, green and orange peppers on sale today for 2 for $1 so I decided to make my mom's old recipe for stuffed peppers!  The richness of the peppers with a bit of spice in the sauce and creamy mozzarella melted on top makes an ideal pairing for this wine.  Cheers!

2013 King Estate Oregon Pinot Noir

Happy Hump Day!  I just got back from the gym and now I've popped a pizza in the oven, so what wine to open?  How about a nice Oregon Pinot?  In this case it's a bottle that my friends brought last weekend and left for me (along with a water bottle and a sparkly hair apparatus), the 2013 King Estate Oregon Pinot Noir, so let's see how it is!

The wine is a bit lighter in color, with bright ruby color, classic Pinot.  The nose presents aromas of green grass, tar and that classic Pinot twang (which can best be described as a combination of tart cherry, burnt toast and barnyard).  The taste is pretty nice for a Pinot (and you know I'm not the biggest Pinot fan), with a rush of tart cherry, currant and some pepper spice that transition to some notes of tobacco and a hint of vanilla midpalate.  The finish is very nice, with a reprise of tart fruit on a long, smooth and dry finish, that seems to linger a bit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a nice example of the varietal, but not spectacular,  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from salmon to dungeness crab, to a classic pot roast.  But tonight, I'm enjoying this wine with a thin crust pizza with spicy sausage and caramelized onions, as the tart fruit in the wine is a perfect foil to the richness of the pizza.  Cheers!

2013 Farmers of Wine Italian Red Blend

So today was interesting for a variety of reasons.  I went to Illinois this morning to visit with my uncle who is undergoing rehab for a stroke, then I went to his house to pick up a few things for him and take some photos of his old pickup truck that I am contemplating restoring.  By the time I was ready to come home, I stopped at a beer and wine store in Beecher, Illinois called "Tubby's" how could I resist a name like that?  They had a decent selection of wine for a town of 4,200 residents, but one bottle caught my eye, the 2013 Farmers of Wine Italian Red Blend.  Now I'm a sucker for interesting packaging and since this was a farm town and the wine was presented as though it was in a burlap feed sack, I had to buy a bottle!  It was only $10, so let's see what it has to offer!

The wine is a nice ruby color in the glass with great clarity, similar to a lot of Tuscan blends.  The nose presents aromas of cedar, black fruit, anise and graphite.  The taste is very nice, with a rush of ripe black fruit up front that transitions to some wonderful mineral notes and peppery spice midpalate.  The finish is exceptional, with firm tannins at the base and a hint of sweet fruit for the long, voluptuous dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.  As I reviewed their website (http://www.farmersofwine.com/) I learned that this wine is a blend of Primitivo and Negroamaro from Puglia, which all makes sense now!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant drinking wine and a great value.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Hereford New York Strip, with some steamed broccoli and a baked potato.  This would be great with a variety of Italian dishes as well, or just sipping on the patio which I intend to do later.  Salut!

2013 Bacaro Nero D'Avola Terre Siciliane

Happy Friday!  It's been a long week (despite the holiday) and I really need to relax.  And what better way to relax than to open up a nice bottle of wine to enjoy!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine that I bought at a local restaurant when they were revamping their wine list and selling every bottle in the cellar for just $20 each.  The wine is a favorite varietal from Sicily, the 2013 Bacaro Nero D'Avola!

The wine is an inky black color in the glass, just as you'd expect from the "black grape of Avola." The nose presents aromas of leather, black plum, pepper and anise, classic for this varietal.  The taste is a muscular Italian, with some subtle black fruit notes up front, blackberry, plum and a hint of currant that transition nicely to some mineral notes and black pepper midpalate.  The tannins are still a bit tight on this one, but they make a nice foundation for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a wonderful and easy going example of an underappreciated varietal from an underappreciated region.  This wine is also a terrific food wine, and tonight I'm enjoying this with some hot Italian sausage with onions and peppers along with some linguine with garlic and olive oil.  The acidity of this wine really cuts thought the fat of the sausage for a wonderful balance.  In the words of my favorite TV chef, Lidia Bastianich, "Tutti a tavola a mangiare!"

2001 Resalte de Penafiel Gran Resalte Ribera del Duero

OK, I know I've been a total slacker lately, but the end of August was a big travel week for me at work, and Saturday I was driving to Chicago so I totally missed Cellar Saturday, but I'm making up for it tonight with a delayed Cellar Saturday, and for this one I have a special treat, something I rarely have a chance to enjoy, a mature Spanish wine!  In this case the 2001 Realte de Penafiel Gran Resalte Ribera del Duero, a 100% Tempranillo that was aged for 32 months in new French oak, and now I'm tasting it today!

The wine is rich ruby color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose presents pleasant aromas of blackberry, ripe plum, leather and tobacco.  The taste is simply breathtaking, a building crescendo of black fruit at the outset, blackberry, plum and cherry that transitions effortlessly to some meaty notes of mocha and dark chocolate midpalate.  The finish is punctuated by smoke, dried herbs and a subtle pepper spice even as the subdued tannins support the long, supple and very dry finish.  This wine is truly a pleasure to sip!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I can't recall the last time I've opened a wine and enjoyed it this much.  I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out, and although it was a bargain it was not inexpensive at $48.  Tonight I am pulling the classic move of pairing an expensive and wonderful wine with a cheap date of a dinner, after all it is Labor Day and what else could I eat but classic barbecue baby back ribs with some baked beans, mustard potato salad and Asian slaw?  The fruit and spice of this wine just pair beautifully with barbecue.  Cheers!

Cogdal Vineyards Cabernet Franc

So yesterday I took a little drive to South Haven, Michigan and on the advice of my boss, I decided to do a little wine tasting at Cogdal Vineyards.  He mentioned they had some reasonable red wines that were actually dry (usually Michigan "dry" red wines are a cross between blackberry jam and Welch's concord grape juice), so I decided to give them a try.  He also mentioned that their Cabernet Franc was pretty good, hence this post! I was particularly interested in this wine as the owner, Jack, who was guiding me through the tasting, informed me that they grow the Cabernet Franc at the vineyard, so this wine is truly a product of the vineyard I visited (which was very picturesque, see the photos below!).  The wine is actually a blend of the Cabernet Franc along with some local hybrids, but unfortunately there wasn't a technical sheet available with the details, so it will remain a mystery for now.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is somewhat lighter in color and body than some other Cabernet Francs that I've tried.  The nose presents a pleasant combination of blackberry, warm spice, green grass and smoke.  The taste is a rush of fruit up front, blackberry and tart cherry that transition to some lovely pepper spice notes and smoke midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but still provide some nice backbone for what actually is a pleasant, smooth dry finish!

The tasting room at Cogdal Vineyards, a very nice place to try some wines!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's one of the first Michigan red wines that I've enjoyed!  It was also a good value at just $19, and one that would be pleasant to sip on the patio of the tasting room (if only it wasn't so hot yesterday!).  This would be a good wine for some lighter fare, particularly some of those tough to pair pork or barbecue dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a teriyaki glazed grilled pork tenderloin along with some farm fresh corn on the cob and steamed green beans, a perfect Midwest summer Sunday dinner!  Cheers!

A view of the vineyard at Cogdal Vineyards in South Haven, Mich.

Some of the grapes as we approach harvest time!

2011 Helix Sangiovese

Happy Friday!  I just got back from the gym and now I'm ready for wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from Reininger, the 2011 Helix Sangiovese, a pure blend of Sangiovese from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Columbia Valley (quite a ways to the north and west of Walla Walla).  So let's see how this wine stacks up!

The wine has a classic reddish-purple coloration of a nice Sangiovese.  The nose presents aromas of sour cherry, pomegranate, tobacco and a bit of smoke.  The taste is vibrant, with a good bit of cherry cola and pepper up front that transitions into some tart cherry and earthy notes midpalate.  The tannins are exceptionally well integrated into the smooth, voluptuous dry finish.  This is not your standard Sangiovese, as it just appears to be a bit more influenced by the terroir of the vineyard.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as I think it's a terrific effort on the varietal and represents the heritage well.  I think this wine would be ideal with a broad variety of Italian dishes, but tonight I am enjoying it with some porcini mushroom and truffle triang0li from Trader Joe's, served with some creamy pesto (could anything be better with Sangiovese than basil?  Cheers!

2012 Maison Bleue "Bourgeois" Grenache

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

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

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