2015 Château Les Giraudels de Milon Saint-Emilion

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's that magical first Saturday of a new month, when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I believe I bought from Wines Till Sold Out almost three years ago and it's been sitting in my cellar ever since.  The 2015 Château Les Giraudels de Milon Saint-Emilion is a blend of Merlot (75%), Cabernet Sauvignon (13%) and Cabernet Franc (12%), so let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity and just a hint of amber along the edges.  The nose presents classic Bordeaux aromas of cherry, currant and rose petals with just the right amount of underlying funk beneath the surface. The first sip is a surprising rush of tart cherry, toasted oak, dusty limestone and forest floor that all dance together to create the classic Bordeaux funk we love.  The tannins are still a bit sharp, but well suited to the long, smooth dry finish that lingers on your palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a classic Saint-Emilion, but may have a bit too much funk for comfort.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of dishes, from herb crusted rack of lamb to braised beef short ribs, wild mushroom risotto to grilled pork tenderloin.  Tonight, I am taking a bit of a different path and enjoying this wine with a crispy skin black pearl salmon, pearled couscous and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2021 Mark Ryan Water Witch

It was another very hot and humid Sunday, so I decided to go see a friend of mine perform in a play and stay in the air conditioning for most of the day.  Now it's time to brave the heat and grill dinner, which means it's time to open a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2021 Mark Ryan Water Witch, which I was surprised was the first vintage I've reviewed since the 2015 vintage!  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (22%), Malbec (6%) and Petit Verdot (2%) from the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep indigo at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, a testament to the impact of Cabernet in the blend.  The nose is a a surprisingly floral affair, with aromas of violet and rose, intermingled with notes of must and blackberry, for what would portend to be a very earthy affaire.  The first sip is an unexpected rush of tart cherry and blueberry that transitions to some earthy mushroom notes midpalate.  The tannins are well balanced, providing for a smooth dry finish with a bit of oak at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's very pleasant drinking, but not a terrific value for the price.  This wine would pair well with steak, grilled lamb or barbecued beef ribs, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a trio of my summer favorites, a cowboy ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare with grilled hatch chilies and fresh local corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2013 Il Palagio Sister Moon Rosso Toscana

It's the first Saturday of the new month, which means it's Cellar Saturday!  It's the day I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making to share.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that's been in the cellar for a while, so long in fact that I can't recall where I bought it!  The 2013 Il Palagio Sister Moon Rosso Toscana seems to be a blend of Sangiovese (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) and Merlot (20%) for a classic Super Tuscan blend.  Let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a medium body, a testament to the impact of Cabernet and Merlot on the blend, with lighter garnet and a hint of amber along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of black plum, rich leather and oak, interspersed with fig and rose petals.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, currant and plum with a wave of tartness washing over the top before easing into some earthy notes of dusty loam, tar, tobacco and vanilla bean midpalate.  The tannins are nicely integrated, providing for a long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine an 8.5, as it still exhibits more oak than I would prefer, but I think it's also aged fairly well.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from hearty pasta to grilled steak, branzino to summer barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this with my first summer grilled dish, some asada beef kabobs with onions, peppers and mushrooms served with black beans, corn and rice.  Cheers!

2023 Eberle Côtes du Rôbles

Well, what do you know, three days of posting in a row!  I thought it was a good idea to open another one of my mistakenly free bottles of wine, this time it's the 2023 Eberle Côtes du Rôbles.  This wine is a blend of Grenache (58%), Mourvèdre (34%) and Syrah (8%) all harvested from Paso Robles, California.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with a seemingly heavier body than you might expect from a GSM blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals enticing aromas of strawberry, rose petals and green grass that will have you fully engaged.  The first sip is an unexpected rush of sweet ripe fruit, cherry, strawberry and a hint of raspberry that easily transition to some earthy notes of tar and espresso midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, providing for a pleasant dry finish, with a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant and easy drinking Rhône-style blend that would pair well with a variety of dishes, from fish to tacos, barbecue to grilled lamb chops.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared salmon filet, steamed rice and sugar snap peas, as I sip this wine for the remainder of my Monday evening.  Cheers!

2020 Château Laurou 'Les Complices' Fronton

Well, I got a lot of chores done today, laundry, mowing, and I broke out the leaf vacuum, as I had some leaves come down in the front yard from a recent storm, but fall is rapidly approaching, so it's good practice!  At any rate, I'm now ready for a nice dinner on my labor day weekend, and a nice bottle of wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2020 Château Laurou 'Les Complices' Fronton that I purchased a month or two ago from Wines Till Sold Out.  This wine has a new varietal for me, as it's a blend of Negrette and Syrah from the southwest of France.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents a wonderful fruity, floral presence, with aromas of blackberry intermingled with violet and rose petals the grab your attention.  The first sip is trip, with the floral notes continuing amid some tart cherry and earthy peat notes, amid robust tannins that coat your palate.  The finish is very dry, with a continuation of the floral notes resulting in an elegant complexity.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderfully drinking wine, but the floral and earthy notes were a bit too much for me.  This wine would pair well with rich foods, much like the foods of France, with lots of heavy cream sauces, like a seafood Newburg, or filet mignon topped with Béarnaise.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a long tradition of Labor Day meals, steamed Maine lobster with drawn butter and corn on the cob.  This meal dates back to my sophomore year of college, when the Civil Air Patrol had their annual fall fundraiser selling lobsters for $5 each!  So, a bunch of my fraternity brothers would each pitch in $10 and we would have a feast!  I still have the lobster pot I bought to cook them in, and thus a tradition was born, though the price has changed a bit.  Cheers!

2020 Maison Bleue Lisette Rosé

Happy Sunday!  I spend a good portion of the afternoon decorating Christmas trees, and I'll admit I did not quite finish, but at least there is wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Maison Bleue Lisette Rosé.  I know it's a bit past rosé season, but what the heck.  This wine is a pure Grenache rosé from the Summit View Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington, so let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a lovely pale peach color in the glass, with aromas of peach, green grass and hints of rose petals.  Take a sip and you're greeted with crisp citrus, melon and fresh herbs that wash over your palate before transitioning easily to some notes of strawberry and earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is crisp and very dry with a reprise of peach and white floral notes and the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's an ideal summer sipper, perfect for friends on the patio.  This wine would be ideal with a range of summer salads, from a citrus and pomegranate with arugula, to roasted beet and feta.  This wine would also pair well with some curry chicken and vegetables, or classic lighter seafood, like alder planked salmon or pan seared halibut.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some steamed snow crab legs with drawn butter, ideal for a Sunday dinner!  Cheers!

2017 Time Waits for No One Monastrell

Happy Sunday!  It was a rainy day today, so I didn't do a whole lot except for indoor chores like laundry.  As tiring as all that can be, it's now time for a nice bottle of wine with my Sunday dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that was a recent Costco find, the 2017 Time Waits for No One oak aged Monastrell, a fine Spanish Varietal that should go nicely with my dinner.  And besides, with Halloween rapidly approaching, who could resist a label with a skull and crossbones?  So, let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with great clarity as you might expect from this varietal.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of rose petals, tawny dark fruit and a good bit of oak.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a tempest of flavors, with a rush of mulberry and cherry up front that transitions nicely to some vanilla caramel notes midpalate.  The tannins are well structured to provide for a wonderfully long, smooth dry finish that lingers with a bit of oak.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a value (I think this was around $12) that is quite food friendly.  This wine would pair with a variety of Spanish dishes, grilled lamb, wild mushroom risotto or a hearty pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a Zhatar seasoned New York Strip grilled rare on a bed of grilled leeks with grilled purple cauliflower and some oven roasted rose fingerling potatoes.  Cheers!

2020 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir

Well, it was an eventful Saturday, as I got the truck out and traveled to Illinois to move a windmill from my uncle's yard back to mine.  It was rather uneventful, as I prepared for the worst and had it removed and placed in the truck within about 10 minutes!  So, I got back early and had time to go to the hardware store and pick up some spray paint to repaint it before finding a spot to put it in the yard.  So, now that I have some time to sip some wine and make dinner, I've decided to open a bottle of 2020 Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir, which is a wine that I'm pleased to be an owner of, but also one that I think will go well with my classic Labor Day dinner.  So, let's see how this wine tastes!

The wine is a wonderfully bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity to create such a gem like appearance.  A quick swirl in the glass releases aromas of strawberry, a bit of tart cherry and the faintest hint of rose petals.  Take a sip and you have a rush of tart cherry up front that eases into some earthy mineral notes with a bit of tar midpalate.  The tannins are supple, creating a base for a wonderfully smooth, dry finish with a reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a classic Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley of Oregon.  This wine would pair well with a range of dished, from lamb to salmon, barbecue to asada beef tacos.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with my classic Labor Day dinner, of steamed lobster and corn on the cob.  Back in my sophomore year of college, the Civil Air Patrol would sell live Maine lobsters for $5 each for a fundraiser, so our first weekend back on campus was always a lobster fest in our fraternity house.  Since my local market had live lobsters on sale today, I've recreated my Labor Day lobster dinner.  Cheers!

2019 Forgeron Cellars Estate Cabernet Franc

Happy Sunday!  I spend a good portion of the afternoon volunteering to package meals for food insecure youth in the three counties surrounding where I live at Cultivate Culinary Food Rescue.  It was two hours of hard work to pack over a thousand meals, so at least there is that!  So now I'm ready for Sunday dinner and a bottle of wine, and I guess I'll make it a complete weekend of wines from Forgeron Cellars, as tonight I've opened the second wine from the recent wine club shipment, the 2019 Estate Cabernet Franc, which is sourced from the Equinox Ridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.  This is the first wine I've had from this vineyard, so let's see what it has to offer!

The wine has a deep inky center with deep ruby along the edges, as you might expect from the varietal.  A swirl of the glass releases aromas of blackberry and leather, with floral undertones of rose petals and lavender.  Take a sip and blackberry, plum, black cherry and currant wash over your palate, a scintillating combination of black fruit sweetness, that gives way to notes of charred oak and bright acidity midpalate.  The tannins are well structured to the long, smooth dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a really well executed expression of this often overlooked varietal.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of hearty dishes, from lamb chops to steaks, roast beef to hearty vegetable stew.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers! 

2018 DaMa Stoney Vine Vineyard Syrah

 Merry Christmas!  This being Christmas Eve, I am pretty much done with all my shopping and preparations, presents have been delivered and I am getting ready for a lovely winter's nap in front of the fire with a cup of hot buttered rum, easy on the butter, listening to a rebroadcast of a radio play of "It's a Wonderful Life" that I did with the Elkhart Civic Theatre two years ago.  But before that can happen, it's time for a glass of wine and some dinner.  Tonight I've chosen to open a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2018 Stoney Vine Vineyard Syrah.  This wine is the first that DaMa has produced from Syrah grown in the Rocks AVA, so I expect this 100% Syrah will be a bit more muscular and earthy, hence the image of Hercules on the label.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose is an interesting combination of ripe black fruit, blackberry, plum and currant with strains of savory notes of black olive and umami.  The taste is a rush of black fruit that washes over your palate, with hints of anise and rose petals, that transitions effortlessly to some mineral notes of dusty limestone with this faintest hint of vanilla midpalate.  The tannins are soft and well integrated, providing a velvety smooth, and very dry finish that lingers.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the more approachable Syrahs I've tried from the Rocks District, muscular but not brutish.  This wine would pair well with many classic Syrah pairings, from lamb to salmon, pasta to barbecue.  Tonight I am trying this wine with a new recipe I found on Instagram from a gentleman who goes by the moniker, "dontgobaconmyheart" for Boursin linguine.  I've modified the recipe slightly for such a special dinner as Christmas Eve and replaced the smoked sausage with Jonah crab claw meat.  In any event, the creamy, herb laden sauce on this pasta is ideal with the black fruit and minerality of this wine.  Cheers!

2009 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of the new month, so it's time for me to raid the cellar and find something at least a decade in the making to enjoy.  Tonight I've gone with the 2009 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino, a classic Sangiovese wine that has been dubbed the king of Italian wines, and one which I view as needing at least a decade of maturity before coming into its own.  Normally Brunellos aren't even released for more than four years after harvest due to the regulations involved, so it's somewhat easier to let a nice Brunello age in the cellar, since it might only take five more years after purchase.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a wonderful garnet color in the glass with great clarity and just a hint of amber along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, anise and leather, just as you might expect from a pure Sangiovese.  The taste is a rush of tart cherry intermingled with some earthy notes of tar, basalt and tobacco, that eases into some floral notes of dried rose petals midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing a nice base for the long, dry finish with a nice acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a really nice example of a Tuscan classic that is just coming into its own.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of Italian dishes, from pasta and risotto, to a nice thick Tuscan T-bone, aka bistecca Fiorentina.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Italian lasagna, as it's been chilly here today and having a wonderful, warm baked pasta seemed like the thing to do.  Cheers!

2013 Helix Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  I had the chance to go to the farmers market this morning and picked up some basil plants (purple, Thai and Tuscan) and found out that they should have some garlic scapes next week, so watch out!  Then I spend much of the afternoon doing yard work, mowing, weeding, and I finally got the patio furniture and fire pit out so I'm ready for outdoor dining.  I find something cathartic about yard work, where the cares of the world and everyday life just seem to fade away as I'm digging up dandelions or trimming branches.  So tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I've apparently had in the cupboard for a while, the 2013 Helix Cabernet Sauvignon, from the Phinney Hill Vineyard in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges as you might expect for a Cabernet.  The nose is rich with black fruit, blackberry, plum, cherry and currant, overlaid with hints of prune and rose petal.  The taste takes a very different path, with some distinct floral notes up front before transitioning to some ripe black fruit and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are ever so smooth, providing for a wonderfully dry, lingering finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, I'm not sure whether its the extra couple years in the cellar or something else, but this Columbia Valley Cabernet is punching well above it's weight class!  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty meat dishes, from venison and lamb to classic steaks.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a smoke grilled filet mignon, baked potato with sour cream and chives and some steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2014 Canto dei Mori Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Wine Wednesday!  When I was growing up, Wednesday was Prince spaghetti day, and what goes better with spaghetti than a nice Italian wine?  Tonight I have a classic, the 2014 Canto dei Mori Chianti Classico Riserva, a 100% Sangiovese from Tuscany.  I am a big fan of Tuscan red wines, whether the classics based on Sangiovese or Super Tuscans incorporating Bordeaux varietals, these wines are invariably interesting and a solid value for the price.  So let's see how this Chianti is tasting!

The wine is a light garnet in the glass with great transparency, just as you'd expect from the varietal.  The nose is rather subdued affair, with notes of ripe cherry, dried rose petals and some mineral notes.  The taste is classic Chianti, with a rush of tart cherry up front that transitions nicely to some notes of strawberry and vanilla midpalate.  The tannins are soft, providing a bit of balance to the acidity in the wine, and a soft, dry finish that lingers a bit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a nice, easy drinking Chianti that's ideal for midweek dinners, and it's a solid value at just $12 from Wines Till Sold Out!  This wine would pair well with a broad range of Italian dishes, from classic pastas to mushroom risotto, to a nice proscuitto and capocollo anti pasti.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple pasta with spinach alfredo sauce topped with a bit of shaved Parmesan.  Tutti a tavola a mangiare!

2015 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a rather lazy day for me, as it's been somewhat rainy and dreary I've spend the afternoon reading.  And now, it's time for a glass of wine before making dinner.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of next month's office wine club selection, the 2015 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (76%), Merlot (21%) and Petit Verdot (3%) from the Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills and XL Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  I recall my visit to Walla Walla during the 2015 harvest (I was there in late August, but given this was such a warm vintage, the harvest started much earlier than usual), and I recall there were extensive fires in the area in that late summer as well, as evidenced by my harrowing drive through Hell's Canyon as I departed that trip!  So, let's see how this wine has developed!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright garnet around the edges.  The nose is a rather elegant affair, bringing back reminiscences of leather bound volumes in my college library, intermingled with hints of rose petals and ripe black berry fruit.  The taste is a rush of cool black fruit, currant, blackberry, cherry and plum that dance around your tongue before transitioning to some lovely loamy mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are remarkably smooth and well structured to bring a balanced, long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers for what seems like a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it has to be one of my new favorite everyday drinking Cabernets.  This wine would be ideal with a variety of hearty winter fare, from grilled steaks and chops, to beef stew, pasta or chili.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip and garlic mashed potatoes with a red wine reduction and some Brussels sprouts oven roasted with bacon fat.  Cheers!

2015 DaMa Wines Walla Walla Cabernet Franc

Well, I have to admit I'm still not at 100% in recovering from my eye surgery, so my blog has suffered a bit.  Hopefully we can remedy that with some good wine and food, and tonight it's a bottle of 2015 DaMa Wines Walla Walla Cabernet Franc, which I received a couple months ago in my wine club shipment.  This is DaMa's first ever 100% Cabernet Franc with fruit sourced from the XL Vineyard (a fantastic vineyard for this varietal).  I let the wine breathe for a couple hours, so hopefully it's opened up a bit, so let's see how the premier tastes!

The wine is like a star in a beautiful garnet gown strolling down the red carpet at a premier, perfumed with hints or rose petals, blackberry and cherry with but a whiff of pipe tobacco as she passes.  At once, she tastes of earthy commonality and airy sophistication, a swift taste of ripe berry that evaporates only to be imbued with lofty floral notes of violets and star anise that bring you to a point of exhilaration.  And once again, you are brought back to earth, with smooth and vibrantly structured tannins that support the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a star for the varietal and the vineyard (the Reininger Cabernet Franc I fell in love with at last year's Reveal auction was also from the XL Vineyard).  This wine would pair best with warm friends enjoying a relaxing evening, but if you'd like to know what I'm eating tonight, I'm enjoying this wine with an alder planked steelhead filet with some couscous tossed with some golden beets that I oven roasted with some fat from some Bill-E's small batch artisan bacon from Alabama and some steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2016 DaMa Grenache

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I can't remember the last time I posted on a Wednesday so we should enjoy it while it lasts.  Tonight I've opened up a wine that I thought would pair well with my dinner, a very Pacific Northwest themed evening overall, so I've opened the 2016 Grenache from my recent DaMa Wine Club shipment.  This wine is a 100% Grenache from the Lonesome Spring Vineyard in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a lighter bright garnet color with great clarity, just as you'd expect from a pure Grenache.  The nose is a pleasant combination of bright red fruit intermingled with perfumed floral notes, strawberry, raspberry and some lavender and rose petals.  The taste is a burst of cherry, strawberry and red currant up front that transitions nicely to some notes of cocoa powder, tobacco and mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are soft, but well integrated, for a wonderfully long, smooth and dry finish that lingers a bit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant, easy drinking wine that would pair well with a variety of dishes, from venison to seafood.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Pacific Northwest dinner of Alder planked wild Coho salmon, with some rice and oven roasted baby bok choi.  The fruit and aromatics of this wine are just wonderful to counter the rich fattiness of the salmon.  Cheers!

2012 DaMa Columbia Valley Syrah

It's been a bitterly cold weekend here, today I think the high only got up into the teens and it's supposed to get below zero tonight.  So, what's better on a cold night than a nice Syrah, and tonight I've opened a bottle from one of the most pleasant Walla Walla winemakers, the 2012 DaMa Columbia Valley Syrah.  So let's see how this wine tastes on a frigid evening!

The wine is a rich ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, green grass, tarragon and a hint of rose petals, which combined make you feel like sitting in front of a fire with a good book.  The taste is a rush of black cherry cola, vanilla bean and a hint of tobacco that transitions nicely to some notes of white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are supple and fully integrated, creating a perfect foundation for the long, voluptuous and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a very pleasant drinking Syrah that warms your senses.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty winter dishes, from beef stew to Yankee pot roast, but tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a grilled teriyaki glazed pork tenderloin with Amish butter noodles and green beans almondine.  A full meal of comfort food!  Cheers!

2016 DaMaNation

Happy Saturday!  Have you ever had one of those projects around the house that should have been quite simple but suddenly it completely spun out of control?  That happens to me a lot, which probably says a lot about my home improvement skills.  Today it was a fence post that rotted and needed to be replaced, but it was more complicated since it was also the post where the gate was attached.  No problem I thought, I got a post, bought some new screws for the hinge, this should be easy.  Then I found the concrete that the old post was mounted in, and I proceeded to break it up with a sledge hammer and a wedge.  I made it down about two feed and couldn't swing anymore, so I borrowed a 30-pound hexagonal bar that my friend had, apparently it was once used on the railroad for laying track.  So another quick job that will last until tomorrow, but tonight I really could use a glass of wine.  I've decided to open a bottle of 2016 DaMaNation, a wonderful blend of Grenache (48%), Syrah (36%) and Mourvedre (16%) from the Lonesome Spring Vineyard in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So let's see if this one will provide some relaxation after a frustrating day in the yard!

The wine is a lighter ruby color in the glass with nice clarity, classic for a quality GSM blend.  The nose presents inviting floral aromas of rose petals and lavender with undertones of ripe black fruit and basalt.  The taste is a rush of cool fruit, black plum and blueberry with a bit of tart cherry that transitions almost unnoticed to earthy flavors of olive, white pepper spice and a hint of rosemary.  The tannins are quite smooth, providing a great start to the velvety smooth and very dry finish that seems to linger.  This wine is to my mind very comparable in old world style to the many high quality GSM blends from the Southern Rhone Valley of France.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's an approachable and easy drinking wine that's quite versatile from a food pairing perspective.  I actually brought a bottle of this to Thanksgiving dinner and we enjoyed it with classic turkey dinner (something that's a challenge to pair with a red wine), but it would also pair well with hearty stews, lamb or risotto.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some panko crusted center cut pork chops, cheese risotto and steamed broccoli and red peppers.  Cheers!

2015 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a somewhat busy weekend that's too rapidly coming to a close, on Friday evening I had some folks over for a pre-holiday get together and then had lots of activities and work after that.  So before the official end of the weekend, I thought it appropriate to open a nice bottle of wine with dinner.  Tonight it's a recent wine club selection from L'Ecole No. 41, the 2015 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon (coincidentally, I opened a double magnum of the '09 vintage for my get together on Friday).  This wine is sourced from some of the best vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley, including Ferguson, Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Loess and Summit View, providing a broad spectrum of the Walla Walla AVA terroir.  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep inky purple in the glass, with a bit of garnet at the edges. The nose is a lovely combination of blackberry, blueberry, smoke and rose petals, suggesting a style more old world than new.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, black cherry, blueberry, currant and blackberry that envelop the palate before transitioning seamlessly to some savory herbs and wonderfully earthy notes of basalt and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are youthful, but very well structured to provide a perfect backbone to the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely example of the fine Cabernet coming from the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with a broad array of hearty dishes, from braised short ribs to lamb chops to hearty pasta, but for Sunday dinner, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye, grilled Brussels sprouts and a big, loaded baked potato.  Cheers!

2016 Born of Fire Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a busy week and I have no idea how we've already blown past hump day and the weekend is almost here, but at any rate I've decided to open a bottle of Washington wine tonight.  I've not tried any wines from Born of Fire before, but my local market was having a wine sale last weekend, so I could't resist getting a 20% discount which made this 2016 Born of Fire Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon a bargain at just $12.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (90%) and Malbec (10%), from a new area of the Columbia Valley called "the Burn" which lies between the Columbia River Gorge and the Horse Heaven Hills.  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep purple color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry jam, rose petals and tar.  The taste is much less fruit forward than the strong aromas of blackberry would suggest, with a rush of green grass and dusty limestone that slips into some nice black fruit flavors with a hint of peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are well balanced and provide a nice foundation for the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's not really spectacular, but its a classic value, Columbia Valley Cabernet suitable for everyday drinking.  This wine would pair with a broad variety of dishes, from steaks and burgers to barbecue and pizza.  Tonight I am going a little off on pairing and enjoying this wine with a panko crusted halibut filet with steamed carrots and rice.  The fruit and mineral qualities really make a nice foil to the halibut.  Cheers!