2015 Reininger Cima

Happy Sunday!  This afternoon just got away from me, as I think I was a bit too ambitious on yard work and cooking, as I decided to vacuum leaves and mow, while deciding to make eggplant parmesan for dinner, which is neither quick nor easy!  But at this point it's worked out (though I have to taste my concoction to determine if my first solo effort at this dish turned out well, as the last time I made this was in grad school 22 years ago and my friend did most of the work!).  Since my dinner is nominally Italian, I thought, why not have a wonderful super-Tuscan style blend from one of my favorite winemakers?  I just received the 2015 Reininger Cima in my fall wine club shipment, which is a blend of Sangiovese (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (22%), Merlot (22%), Malbec (3%) and Petit Verdot (3%) from the Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills and XL Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  What makes this wine really special, is that it's aged in barrel for six years before bottling, so let's see how this latest vintage is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a credit to the Bordeaux varietals in the blend.   A swirl in the glass releases aromas of leather, blackberry, fig and spice box that are reminiscent of Italy.  The taste is a rush of blackberry, black cherry, and currant that transition well to some notes of cedar and peppery spice midpalate.  The rounded tannins are an ideal base for the wonderfully long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that easily convinces you to take another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's another terrific effort from Chuck and the crew to bring innovative, creative and wonderfully drinkable wines.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty fall dishes, from beef stew to classic Italian dishes, pastas to Tuscan toast.  As I alluded earlier, tonight I am enjoying this wine with my first solo effort at eggplant parmesan, as I bought some eggplant at the farmers market yesterday and needed to do something with them!  Cheers!

2017 Raymond Vineyards Yountville Napa Valley District Collection Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It's been a fairly busy day as I drove up with friends to Grand Rapids for an antique show, and arrived back home in time to open a nice bottle of wine and enjoy a little dinner.  So, tonight I've decided to open a recent purchase from Wines Till Sold Out, from a perennial favorite Napa Valley producer, the 2017 Raymond Vineyards Yountville Napa Valley District Collection Cabernet Sauvignon.  Last year I had an opportunity to taste the 2014 vintage of this wine (you can see here), so let's see what this latest vintage has to offer!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice, big Napa Valley Cabernet.  Swirl a bit in the glass and take a whiff and you're greeted by aromas of leather, blackberry and a hint of cardamom that dare you to take a sip.  And once you give in, you are hooked, as the flavors of black plum, blackberry and cassis wash over your palate before transitioning to some notes of vanilla bean and pipe tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are rounded and well integrated, providing as stellar base for a long, smooth dry finish with a nice bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a great tasting and classic big, bold Napa Valley Cabernet.  As such, this wine practically begs to be paired with a big grilled steak, and I think it would pair very well with a broad range of steaks, from the rich fattiness of a ribeye to a well seasoned New York strip.  Tonight I can oblige, as I'm enjoying this wine with a rare, pan seared prime filet mignon, along with some oven roasted sweet potatoes and some asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2016 Anvil Dionysus Cabernet Sauvignon

 Happy Friday!  It's been an inordinately long week, and although I haven't posted, you can rest assured that I still consumed a lot of wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars, the 2016 Anvil Dionysus Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (89%) and Petit Verdot (11%), from blocks 11 and 13 of the Dionysus Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  Since I've been ready for a glass of wine since noon, let's see what this baby has to offer!

The wine is a deep indigo at the center, with bright garnet around the edges, just as you might expect from an expansive Cabernet.  The nose is chock full of fruit, black raspberry, cherry and currant intermingled with fresh herb notes lingering over the top.  The taste is a rush of rich black cherry that dances around your tongue, beckoning the flavors of green grass, cocoa and fig to join the dance.  The tannins are nicely rounded, providing for a generous mouthfeel and a solid base for the lingering dry finish that leaves you asking for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classically formed Washington tribute to the Bordeaux of the left bank.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty fall dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty pasta with Bolognese sauce, lamb chops to hearty chili.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a big honkin' Angus T-bone steak grilled Pittsburgh rare with some grilled leeks and Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2012 Barons Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

 Ok, let me start by saying by all accounts I should be asleep on the couch right now, after spending so much of the weekend battling the leaves!  Yes, it's ,y annual battle, but today was the epitome of the battle as not only was I battling the leaves, I was also battling wind and our first snow of the season!  But alas, I think we are now past the halfway point, so it's all downhill from here (famous last words!) and now it's time for a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2012 Barons Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvigon (90%) and Merlot (10%) from the Hedges Estate Vineyard in the Red Moutain AVA.  So let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, suggesting a big wine.  The nose is classic big Washington red wine, suggestive of a Bordeaux style, with some black cherry, and plum edging toward prune, vanilla bean and suggestive spices.  The taste is a rush of black cherry and cola, that transitions to some notes of mint, dark chocolate and spicebox midpalate.  The tannins are round, but I have to admit the finish left me wanting, as it was just a bit flat.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's probably approaching it's peak but still a nice easy drinking Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with a lot of heaty fall and winter dishes, from beef stew, to the venison chili I had last night.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Sunday dinner of a rare grilled Angus T-bone on a bed of grilled leeks, some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2016 Helix Cabernet Franc

Happy Taco Tuesday!  Guess what's on the menu for dinner tonight.  Okay, surprise, it's tacos, but what to pair with them?  Well tonight I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Reininger and Helix, the 2016 Helix Cabernet Franc.  First I have to say that I love the new Helix label, if you haven't seen it before it's quite impressive!  As for the wine, this is a 100% Cabernet Franc from the Weinbau and XL Vineyards in the Wahluke Slope AVA of the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose is a warm breath of mountain air from south central Washington, with aromas of leather, ripe blackberry and a hint of cedar over the top.  The taste is subdued layering of black fruit, blackberry, cherry, currant and plum, overlaid with some notes of smoke and white pepper spice.  The tannins are rounded but gripping, providing for a wonderfully voluptuous, long dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I fell in love with Chuck's Cabernet Franc from the XL Vineyard at the Reveal Walla Walla auction two years ago, and the addition of some of that wine to this blend really makes this a favorite.  This wine would pair well with a variety of casual dinners, from pizza and barbecue to mac & cheese or tacos!  Tonight, being Taco Tuesday, I'm enjoying this wine with some classic beef tacos, as the fruit and richness of this wine really pair well with the spice and smokiness of the beef.  Cheers!

2016 Helix Cabernet Franc

It seems as I get older, time passes by more quickly, particularly weekends as it seemed it was just Friday and suddenly Monday is at my doorstep.  Well to help soothe the apprehension of a new work week, I've decided to open a bottle of a wine club shipment from Reininger Winery that arrived last week, the 2016 Helix Cabernet Franc.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Franc sourced from the Weinbau and XL Vineyards in the Wahluke Slope of the Columbia Valley of Washington.  I'm looking forward to tasting this wine, as I have experienced some of the fantastic Cabernet Franc that Chuck and his team have created from the XL Vineyard, so let's see how this vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a warm garnet color in the glass, quite characteristic of the varietal.  The nose presents rich aromas of leather and sandalwood intermingled with ripe red berry fruit.  The taste is a rush of cherry, raspberry and currant up front, with a hint of vanilla bean and caramel midpalate.  The tannins are nicely rounded, providing for a long, velvety and very dry finish, with a bit of acidity at the end.  This wine just reminds me of having a nice evening of dessert and coffee with friends, very pleasant to be around and it leaves you satisfied at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I think this is just a fabulous example of a pure secondary varietal that is so often overlooked outside of a Bordeaux style blend.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from hearty roasts and stews, to glazed pork tenderloin to cedar planked salmon.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a more simplified dinner of beef tacos with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2015 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy Friday!  It's been a long week and I am surely ready for the weekend, and what better way to kick it off than with a bottle of wine from one of my favorite Washington wine makers, Chuck Reininger.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that came in a recent shipment, the 2015 Reininger Walla Walla Valley Merlot, a blend of Merlot (96%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (4%) from the Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills and XL Vineyards.  I was in Walla Walla in August 2015, just as harvest was starting - one of the earliest harvests on record, so it's nice to finally taste the product I saw being harvested a little over three years ago.  Let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a lovely, deep ruby color in the glass, classic for a nice Merlot.  The nose presents wonderful aromas of ripe dark fruit intermingled with leather, oak and a touch of floral undertones.  The taste is a rush of fruit, to say this is fruit forward is an understatement as notes of black plum, boysenberry and cassis envelop your palate before transitioning gracefully to flavors of cocoa powder and sandalwood midpalate.  The round tannins and bright acidity make for a vibrant foundation for a long, smooth and very dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as this is a perennial favorite Merlot, and this vintage is a bright one.  This wine would be perfect with a big grilled steak, pasta, pizza or nearly anything grilled, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple dinner of linguine tossed with some broccoli rabe sauteed in garlic and olive oil.  Cheers!

2006 DaMa Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  Happy Cellar Saturday!  What a crazy day, as I bought a new Jeep about a week ago, and today I decided to clean out the garage to see if I could fit my old truck and the new Jeep, and alas success!  It involved tossing a bunch of stuff and making a trip to the Goodwill donation center, but by this afternoon I had both vehicles and everything else in the garage...snug but they all fit.  Then I decided to do the spring yard clean up, picking up big branches and raking the grass to get all the little branches...well I finished the front yard, but now I'm about to collapse, so I'll get to the back yard tomorrow.  But now it's time for a nice glass of wine!  And since it's the first Saturday of the month, it's time to raid the cellar for something harvested at least a decade ago.  I have to admit I didn't have to look far, as the DaMa wine club shipment from last week included a library selection, and in my case it was the 2006 DaMa Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon!

The wine is a lovely deep purple color in the glass.  The nose exudes wonderful Washington Cabernet fruit, with rich blackberry and cassis intermingled with the classic earthy funk that dares you to take a sip.  The taste is remarkably vibrant and fruit forward, with a rush of black cherry, blueberry and blackberry that smoothly transitions to some wonderful warm pepper spice notes midpalate.  The round tannins are the perfect set up for the long, voluptuous dry finish. 

This wine brilliantly shows the aging potential for Washington Cabernet and I can't help but rate this one a solid 9.  This wine would pair well with a variety of steaks, beef Wellington, prime rib or even barbecued ribs, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime Chipotle seasoned New York strip (it is Cinco de Mayo after all!) with a baked potato with sour cream and chives and some roasted purple carrots.  What a way to begin relaxing after a hard day of work, cheers!

2012 Helix Stillwater Creek Merlot

What a busy day I had today, this is the sort of day where I really need to relax with a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle from one of my favorite Washington wineries, Reininger, in this case from their second label, Helix.  I am a big fan of Merlot, and the 2012 Helix Stillwater Creek Merlot is a 100% Merlot from the Stillwater Creek and Bacchus Vineyards in the Columbia Valley.  So let's see if this wine can relieve the stress of my day!

The wine is a beautiful deep purple color at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  The nose is a cascade of earthy aromas, leather, peat and oak intermingling with ripe black fruit notes of cherry, currant and blackberry.  The taste is just lovely, with a rush of black cherry and currant that envelop the palate, only to shift to some notes of dark chocolate and candied plum, before finishing with some lovely black pepper spice.  The round tannins are ideal for the base of the long, smooth dry finish.

In his description, Chuck Reininger described this wine as a "sturdy Merlot" and I certainly agree.  I would call it stout and rotund and overall I'd rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderful Merlot and a terrific bargain at just $22!  This wine would pair exceptionally well with a nice steak, roast beef, London broil, any hearty meat dish, but tonight I'm enjoying this wine with some classic Midwest comfort food of a stuffed green pepper!  Cheers!

2011 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Syrah

TGIF!  Man I am ready for the weekend and a nice glass of wine, lucky for me I have plenty of nice wine available for me to try and tonight is no exception, as I've decided to open a bottle of 2011 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Valley Syrah!  So let's get right to it!

The wine is a rich, inky purple color in the glass, almost more reminiscent of a Cabernet than a Syrah.  The nose is perfumed with leather, blackberry and a hint of cinnamon.  The taste is a rush of rich, ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant that transitions into some dusty limestone, mocha and green acidity midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with rounded tannins supporting the long, smooth and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a fine example of the varietal and a food friendly wine.  I could see pairing this wine with a variety of dishes from barbecue to steak, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with some alder planked wild Alaskan sockeye with lemon pepper spice along with some linguine tossed with sauteed garlic scapes and broccoli rabe topped with shaved Parmesan.  The nice acidity in this wine is a perfect complement to the rich fattiness of the salmon.  Cheers!

2014 Forgeron Primitivo

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  I'm not sure I've ever posted on this most famous Mexican holiday, so here goes nothing!  Tonight I've decided to open a wine that I really liked when it came to the 2013 Vintage (see here) and since the 2014 recently arrived in a wine club shipment I couldn't wait to try it, the 2014 Forgeron Primitivo.  The wine is primary Primitivo (92%) from the Stone Tree Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope, but this year, they added a bit of Zinfandel (8%) from the Alder Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA to mellow the wine a bit, so let's see how this vintage stacks up!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a lovely combination of leather, blackberry and anise, soft and velvety.  The taste is a rush of rich black fruit up front, blackberry, black cherry and plum that transition nicely to some notes of black pepper spice and a reprise of anise midpalate.  The finish is quite smooth and luxurious, the tannins are rounded making for a less abrupt finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a great effort, but I have to admit I really enjoyed the 2013 vintage more.  This wine would pair well with a nice spicy pasta or pizza, but since it's a Mexican holiday, I'm enjoying it tonight with some wonderful tacos filled with pork chorizo and refried beans, topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and chipotle pepper sauce, the wine complements the spiciness so well!  Cheers!

2012 Black Stallion Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, lately I must admit I've been on a bit of a Napa Valley kick, enjoying a number of wonderful wines from the superb 2012 and 2013 vintages as I enjoy fond memories of my visit to the region last fall.  And tonight the trend continues as I've decided to open up a bottle of 2012 Black Stallion Cabernet Sauvignon, a nice wine from a boutique producer located in the Oak Knoll district along the Silverado Trail.

The wine is a lovely deep, inky purple color in the glass with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose provides lovely aromas of black cherry, cassis and leather with some mild hints of cocoa powder and baking spice.  The taste is very nice, with a blast of jammy fruit up front, blackberry, cherry and cassis that transitions nicely to mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are rounded and supple, providing for a long, smooth and very dry finish.  All in all, a classic Napa Cabernet!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a very nice wine and it was a good value as I found this at my local market for about $23.  As for pairings, this would be ideal with a variety of grilled meats, hearty stews or roasts, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple rare grilled New York strip, roasted potatoes and steamed broccoli with red peppers.  Cheers!

2012 Stag's Leap Artemis

Ahhh...a happy Sunday, time for a great Sunday dinner and a nice bottle of wine to go with it (I won't even mention that it's also Valentine's Day, but rest assured, you can certainly enjoy tonight's selection with your lover or anyone else you choose!).  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of one of my favorite Napa Valley wines, from a very solid vintage, the 2012 Stag's Leap Artemis, named after the Greek goddess of the hunt (see I told you I'd get you a Valentine's Day reference!).  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (89%), Merlot (9%) and Malbec (2%).

The wine is a classic Cabernet in the glass, with an inky black center leading to bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents inviting aromas of black cherry, plum and a hint of vanilla over soft notes of leather and smoke.  The taste is a blast of ripe fruit up front, cherry, red currant and berries, that transitions nicely to some mineral notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are round and supple, supporting the long, elegant and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's a classic Napa Valley Cabernet and it was a decent value as I scored this bottle from wineshopper.com for just $40.  I will also confess, the wine took some time to open up, as it was very tight after opening, but it really began to sing about an hour or so after opening.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing, of a rare grilled New York strip topped with grilled onions along with grilled Brussels sprouts and a baked potato.  An ideal wine with steak, cheers!

2010 Seven Hills Carmenere

Happy Sunday!  Sunday dinners are always an adventure, a time to experiment with different recipes, new foods and of course adventurous wine pairings!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine from one of my absolute favorite Walla Walla producers, but one that for some unknown reason has been sitting in my cellar for a few years when I should have enjoyed it a long time ago, the 2010 Seven Hills Carmenere, a near pure example of the varietal, with a bit of Merlot (6%) added to provide a bit of backbone.  Now I've already reviewed the 2012 vintage (you can see that review here), so don't ask me why I can't do things in order, so let's get to it!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of red raspberry, red currant and leather overlaid with a lovely spicy layer.  The taste is just amazing, with some rich fruit up front that hearkens back to a fine Amarone, amid layers of earthy notes, of cedar and tobacco.  Midpalate, you are treated to a symphony of cherry cola, mocha and spice, white pepper and herbs de Provence that just elevate this wine.  The finish is near perfect, with the smooth, rounded tannins supporting a lingering dry finish that dares you to hold back from taking another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's probably about at its peak, but it's just such a pleasant drinking wine that the food you eat with it is almost an afterthought.  But alas, my afterthought tonight is a lovely white cedar planked salmon filet, served with sweet potato mash and steamed broccoli.  The fruit is such a nice complement to the salmon, while the spice is a great foil to the richness of the sweet potatoes.  Cheers!

2012 Old Poodle Dog Cabernet Sauvignon

Who doesn't like dogs?  And who doesn't like Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley?  I figured as much, so I couldn't resist when I saw the Coho Wines new "Old Poodle Dog" Cabernet Sauvignon on Wines Till Sold Out and I've decided to open a bottle to enjoy this evening.  This wine is from the lovely 2012 vintage, which is a star for Napa, so let's see what cooks!

The wine is a classic inky purple in the glass with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of black plum, leather and oak with just a hint of dried violets along the edge.  The taste is very nuanced, with some initial flavors of plum and tart cherry that give way to some smoky elements midpalate with a nice bit of white pepper spice in the background.  The tannins are somewhat soft and round but still provide a nice base for the long, velvety and exceedingly dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's a very nice Cabernet and it was a descent value at just $30.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing of a rare grilled Angus New York strip, roasted potatoes and maroon carrots and steamed broccoli.  This wine is perfect for a big steak, cheers!

2012 Primus The Blend

Happy Saturday!  I actually got a lot done today, laundry, cleaning up the yard, washing my truck and later this evening I'll be going to a play!  So why not pause for a nice glass of wine, and tonight it's one I recently picked up at Costco at a very nice price, the 2012 Primus "The Blend" an intriguing blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), Carmenere (25%), Syrah (25%), Merlot (15%), Cabernet Franc (5%) and Petit Verdot (5%) produced in the Colchagua Valley of Chile.

The wine is a deep indigo in the glass, with brighter garnet along the edges.  The nose is a lovely combination of smoke, ripe black fruit, rosemary and clove.  The flavor is quite nice, with some sweet fruit notes of strawberry and plum up front that transition nicely to some earthy notes of toasted oak and blackberry midpalate.  The tannins are nicely rounded providing for a velvety mouthfeel, balanced acidity and a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's drinking very well now, but is likely a wine that's meant to be enjoyed while young.  It was also a solid value at around $14 at Costco.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rather unorthodox dinner of butternut squash ravioli with a fresh vegetable Alfredo sauce, the acidity of this wine is the perfect balance to the richness of the sauce.  This wine would also go very well with a nice steak or barbecue.  Cheers!

2012 Maison Bleue "Voyageur" Syrah

Wow, it's been while since I've posted on my blog!  And no, it's not because I've been exceptionally lazy, but because I've been so darn busy at work!  I was out of the office for the last 10 days of March traveling to Houston, Dallas, Austin, Boston and New York, I think I was home less than I was gone during the month!  So let's get back to business, time to open a great bottle of wine, and tonight't should be a good one, from one of my favorite producers of Grenache and Syrah, Maison Bleue!  Tonight I've opened a wine club selection that arrived in my office when I wasn't even there, the 2012 Maison Bleue "Voyager" Syrah!  This wine was made from 100% Syrah, with a limited production of just 192 cases.

The wine is a lovely bright ruby color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose is lovely, with aromas of green herbs, macerated plums, black pepper and tobacco, it's the kind of wine that makes you feel good just inhaling the aromas surrounding it.  The taste is so rich and sophisticated, not your average Syrah by any stretch.  This one has a lovely bit (emphasis on bit) of fruit at the outset, cherry, blackberry and cassis, that transitions effortlessly to some wonderful spice and mineral notes of black pepper and just a hint of anise.  The tannins are well rounded, offering a foundation for an exceptionally smooth, dry finish (not the mouth-puckeringly dry of so many wines today, much more like the fine dry reds of France).

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a great wine, but the price prevents it from being your everyday Syrah at $55 ($46.75 with the wine club discount).  This wine would be great with a variety of rustic beef dishes, pizza, or tonight's dinner, homemade tacos!  The rich fruit and hearty minerality are perfect foils to a hearty steak taco with crisp veggies and homemade guacamole.  Cheers!

2008 Arger-Martucci Vineyards Napa Valley Syrah

Well here we are, the last syrah of 2014...you love my puns don't you?  Anyhow, ahead of all the New Year's Eve festivities, I've decided to open a bottle of 2008 Arger-Martucci Vineyards Napa Valley Syrah to enjoy on the last evening of the year!  This wine has quite a pedigree, coming from the Atlas Peak appellation in the Odyssey Vineyard located near the well-known Antica and Stagecoach vineyards, the latter being home to many of Napa's greatest names, like Paul Hobbes, Decade 5 and Caymus.

The wine is a deep purple color at the center leading to a bright garnet color along the edges with just a hint of opacity.  The nose is quite nice, ripe black fruits and anise transition to some wonderful mineral notes.  The taste is very pleasant with some nice blackberry and cherry cola notes at the outset that transition to some lovely dark chocolate and mineral notes of dusty limestone and graphite midpalate.  The tannins are well rounded and supportive of the voluptuous, long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's easily one of the finer Syrahs I've had in a very long time, and it was an incredible value at just $15 from Wines Till Sold Out!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rather interesting pairing, some dungeness crab ravioli with some tomato basil cream sauce, as the earthy spice of this wine just does something magical with a rich dinner like this.  It would also do very well with barbecue or a simple grilled steak.  Cheers and here's to a wonderful 2015!

2012 Shadowood Napa Valley Reserve Red Wine

Well 2014 is rapidly drawing to a close, so why not go out with a bang, or at least a few nice bottles of wine!  Having just returned from the gym and feeling mighty fine about myself, I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 Shadowood Napa Valley Reserve red wine that I got about a week or so ago from Wines Till Sold Out.  This wine is a blend that's heavy on Merlot (94%) with a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) and just a touch of Malbec (1%) to round it out.

The wine is a deep, dark ruby color in the glass which combined with the nose makes you immediately think of a high-quality Merlot.  The nose is a lovely combination of dark fruit, blackberry, cassis and plum with a lovely layer of leather and toasted oak.  The taste is such a treat, with blast of great fruit up front that remains crisp, not syrupy which transitions nicely to some vanilla and mocha flavors midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with lovely rounded tannins supporting a long, supple and exceptionally dry finish, just as you might expect from a nice quality Merlot.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a solid wine from a great vintage at an incredible value of just $13!  You know as I was sipping this wine earlier, I got to thinking how much press has been devoted to the spectacular 2012 Napa Valley vintage, and I have to admit that for Cabernets, I haven't been impressed with the 2012 Napa vintage, but every Merlot I've tried from the same vintage has been phenomenal!  As for pairing, I know everyone says to drink this with charred meat or some such thing, which I'm not opposed to by any mean, but tonight I'm in the mood for some comfort food, so I'm enjoying this wine with some lovely baked truffle mac & cheese made with a recipe I found on Epicurious (see this Mac & Cheese Recipe Link, though I added about 2 tbs of white truffle oil to the recipe).  The dark fruit and dryness of this wine is perfect with the richness of the truffle mac & cheese!  Cheers!

2011 Maison Bleue Liberte Syrah

Well, it's been a long week, lots to do at work, but it was a really successful week so now it's time for a little time to relax and celebrate the good things that happened this week!  And for that I've decided to open up a bottle of 2011 Maison Bleue Liberte Boushey Vineyard Syrah from the Yakima Valley of Washington.  For those who don't remember, I first found out about Maison Bleue just after they opened their tasting room in Walla Walla and I was suitably impressed with the quality of the wines I tried.  So later when they started I wine club I was happy to join so I could continue enjoying their wines.

This syrah has a classic bright ruby color in the glass.  The nose is a lovely combination of rich black fruit, blackberries, plums and black currant intermingled with leather and a hint of anise.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward with a burst of blackberries and plum, but that transitions effortlessly to some nice smoky and earthy notes midpalate, with some nice coarse minerality that adds to the complexity of this wine.  The finish is quite nice, well rounded tannins provide a nice foundation for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's a very solid example of a Washington syrah that should improve with a few more years in the bottle.  The wine would pair very well with a lot of big meaty dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a nice grilled salmon steak served over a bed of baby kale with white balsamic reduction and a nice baked potato.  Finally a relaxing dinner at home!