2021 Helix Cima Piccola

Happy Sunday!  It's been a while since I've posted and I apologize, but life has been incredibly busy lately!  At least now I have a little time to post, and tonight it's a favorite Washington Super Tuscan produced by Chuck Reininger and his crew at Helix.  The 2021 Helix Cima Piccola is a blend of Sangiovese from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard (48%), Cabernet Sauvignon (28%) and Merlot (24%) from the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The nose presents a delightful combination of ripe red cherry, raspberry and currant amid hints of floral and sandalwood.  This first sip a classic Tuscan adventure as the flavors of the Sangiovese come up front and center with cherry notes intermingled with dried herbs, that transition easily to some earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish with just the right amount of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a classic wine in the style of a Super Tuscan that would make any Italian dish just a bit better.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from pizza and pasta to Florentine steak, but tonight I am going vegetarian and enjoying this wine with a homemade eggplant parmesan.  The fruit and spice of this wine are ideal for the hearty depth of flavor of a good eggplant dish.  Cheers!

2021 Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy Wine Wednesday!  I must admit it's been a while since I've posted on a Wednesday, but I suppose that's what holiday vacations are for!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of the most recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery, one of my favorite wineries in Walla Walla!  The 2021 Pepper Bridge Merlot is a blend of Merlot (82%), Malbec (9%) and Cabernet Franc (9%) harvested from the Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Waliser and Octave Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a lovely, deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from this varietal.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of ripe blackberry, cherry and currant amid subtle floral notes of violet and sandalwood.  The first sip is a ripping adventure of tart cherry that eases into some calmer notes of black currant and a bit of mocha, before hitting its earthy stride with flavors of earthy peat and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are ripe and supple, providing for a velvety dry finish with a reprise of tartness at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely example of this underappreciated varietal from the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of more casual dishes, from smoky barbecued ribs to pizza, burgers and brats to tacos, or even the classis steak dinner.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some fajita steak tacos, with all the spice I can muster!  Cheers! 

2021 DaMa GSM

Happy Saturday!  It was a wild day of yard work, as I mowed for the first time this year, but had to pause for a while to let a thunderstorm pass, but I finally finished, then changed the oil and tuned up the lawn mower, so I feel accomplished!  And now, for a nice glass of wine with dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2021 GSM.  This wine is a blend of Grenache (56%), Syrah (29%) and Mourvèdre(15%) from the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a lovely bright ruby color in the glass, it really is gem-like in the light, with a bit of fuchsia along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, tart cherry and bits of earthy sandalwood and peat.  Take a sip and you're awash with rich, sweet fruit, blueberry, marionberry and cherry that dance around until you ease into some hints of cardamom and earthy notes.  The tannins are somewhat subdued but they still manage to hold everything together for a wonderfully smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's an adventurous wine that will have your palate going in multiple directions.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from pastas and risotto, to Sunday roast beef.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bit of a Pacific Northwest pairing of crispy skin salmon with a lemon dill cream sauce, along with some roasted sweet potatoes with red onion and jalapeno, and some steamed rainbow cauliflower.  Cheers!

2019 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy weekend, but since it was windy for most of it, I hardly did any leaf blowing.  I got the front yard cleared, but the back yard is going to be a challenge.  In any case, it's Sunday night, time for a nice meal and a good bottle of wine.  I was in Grand Rapids last week and stopped at Total Wine and found a few bottles to bring home, including tonight's selection, the 2019 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon.  I've been a fan of Drew Bledsoe's wine efforts for a while now, and this latest vintage is a blend of Cabernet (87%), Merlot (6%), Petit Verdot (4%) and Malbec (3%) from the McQueen, Lefore, Bob Healy and Figgins Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  So, let's see how this Sunday wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, brooding ruby color in the glass, as you might expect from a big, expressive Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, cassis, sandalwood and graphite, all expressive of the vineyards from whence this wine came.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of sweet black fruit, blackberry, cherry and marionberry, which transition easily to some notes of mocha and earthy notes of tobacco and graphite.  The fine grain tannins are well integrated, providing for a velvety smooth finish that lingers until you take your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a perennial favorite for the best of what Walla Walla has to offer to the Cabernet drinkers of the world.  This wine would pair well with a wide variety of hearty dishes, from lamb and steaks, to alder planked coho salmon.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap, with oven roasted fingerling potatoes and asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2019 Helix Pomatia (aka Tucker Legacy Red)

Happy Friday!  Yes, I've been neglectful of my wine blogging duties, but I am back for hopefully a good weekend.  So, today I received my wine club shipment from Reininger Winery and was a bit surprised when three big boxes of wine were dropped off by my friendly UPS man.  I recalled ordering a case of Helix Pomatia and then the normal shipment, but silly me, it appeared I accidentally ordered a case of Pomatia in January when it was too cold to ship and then called to add a case to my March wine club shipment as well!  Despite my rabid incompetence, I can assure you that extra case will not go to waste (perhaps an office wine club selection?).  So, since I have so much of this wine now, I'm enjoying a bottle of the 2019 Helix Pomatia, which was recently renamed the Tucker Legacy Red wine.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Syrah (32%), Merlot (10%) and Petit Verdot (2%) from the Phinny Hill, Stillwater Creek and StoneTree Vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  A gentle swirl releases aromas of leather, oak and wild berries with a hint of cedar.  Take a sip and you have a rush of berries, blueberry, cherry and mulberry intermingled with a bit of umami before transitioning to some notes of vanilla and sandalwood midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, providing a solid base for the long, smooth dry finish with a slight kick of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a perfect everyday red wine that punches way above it's weight class.  It's also a terrific value, as this wine was just $18 with the wine club discount (which I highly recommend you join, or at least get on the waiting list!).  This wine would pair with a broad range of weekday dishes, from barbecue and burgers, to pizza and pasta.  Tonight I am taking the everyday approach and enjoying this wine with some linguine and Italian sausage marinara with a bit of shaved parmesan and fresh basil.  Cheers!

2018 30 Miles Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Boxing Day!  At least to all my friends in the British Commonwealth.  The holidays are winding down, and I like many others are really looking forward to next week when we can put 2020 in the rearview mirror.  But one of the good parts about the holidays are the wine gifts that folks give, and my friend Tennille makes a solid effort to find me a good, value priced wine each year for Christmas, and this year she gave me a bottle of 2018 30 Miles Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  So, let's see how she did this year!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, but not quite as brooding as some of the biggest Napa Cabernets.  One whiff and you are immersed into ripe jammy fruit, blackberry, plum and cassis that transition nicely to some earthy aromas of sandalwood and minerals.  The taste doesn't deviate much from the nose, as blackberry, cherry and currant wash over your palate, before easing into some vanilla and oak midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tight, but offer a nice base for the long, dry finish with plenty of lingering fruit.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a really nice everyday Cabernet, that is likely a great value under $20.  This wine would pair naturally with a nice steak, but would also be at home with some hearty pasta or barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime center cut ribeye along with grilled leeks, steamed red potatoes and some asparagus with Hollandaise.  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!

2012 Reininger Cima

TGIF!  Man it's been a long week and I'm glad the weekend is here, though I'll probably be busy all weekend catching up on chores around the house.  But at least it's now wine o'clock and I am opening a good bottle tonight, the 2012 Reininger Cima, Chuck's interpretation of a Super Tuscan blend.  The 2012 vintage was barrel aged for six years before release (see this wine is actually new!) and is a blend of Sangiovese (50%), Merlot (25%), Cabernet Sauvignon (22%) and Petit Verdot (3%) from the Pepper Bridge, Seven Hills and XL Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting so early in its life!

The wine is a lovely deep garnet color in the glass, a bit fuller bodied than your typical Sanviovese heavy blend.  The nose is a mellow combination of vanilla bean, sandalwood, lilac and a hint of Asian spice intermingle to bring your taste buds to attention.  The taste shifts you 180 degrees, as your mind was expecting something spicy and you are hit with a rush of ripe black fruit, currant, cherry, plum that subsides into some soft notes of vanilla and cassis midpalate.  The tannins are soft, juxtaposed against some nice acidity to balance the long, smooth and pleasingly dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wine you can explore for hours as you sip - a wine that goes against the stereotypes for the main varietal.  This wine is a great sipper, but could also pair well with anything from seared tuna to hearty pasta, to steaks and chops.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap topped with grilled garlic scapes, some oven roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and an big baked potato with all the fixin's.  Cheers!

2007 Liberte Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Cellar Saturday!  I don't think I can recall the last time the first of the month fell on a Saturday, so this is a bit of a bonus Cellar Saturday, that magical first Saturday of the month when I raid the cellar looking for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight I've opened a bottle I likely bought nearly a decade ago, and honestly I bought it because I loved the label, the 2007 Liberte Cabernet Sauvignon, a whimsical Cabernet from Paso Robles.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine has the classic color of a Cabernet, inky black at the center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is chock full of rich, jammy fruit that's quite reminiscent of a Zinfandel, blackberry, candied plum and black cherry intermingled with sandalwood and a bit of spice box.  The taste is remarkably vibrant despite it's maturity, with a rush of ripe fruit, black cherry, blueberry and boysenberry that transitions nicely to some earthy leather and peat, with a nice touch of peppery spice toward the finish.  The tannins are very well structured, providing a lovely foundation for the long, smooth and very dry finish, that is remarkably Bordeaux-esque.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I think this would stack up well some some prime Napa Cabernets, but as I recall, this wine was a bargain well under $20!  It would pair well with a big steak, casual summer meals such as barbecued ribs, burgers or even grilled trout.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a prime Filet Mignon grilled rare with a big baked potato, and grilled leeks and fresh asparagus (the new crop from Michigan finally came in!).  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!

2004 Forgeron Cabernet Sauvignon Champoux Vineyard Horse Heaven Hills

Happy springtime!  It's the first Saturday of May, which means it's Cellar Saturday, and on top of that it's an absolutely beautiful day here, sunny and in the mid-70s so what more could you want other than a nice mature glass of wine?  Tonight's selection is a lovely 2004 Forgeron Cabernet Sauvignon from the Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA of Washington State.  This is a bottle I picked up a few years ago in a three-year vertical, this being the youngest with a limited production of just 175 cases.

The wine is a beautiful deep purple color in the glass, leading to a bright garnet along the edges with nice clarity.  The nose is quite interesting, with some jammy fruit notes, strawberry, blackberry and prune, overlaying some lovely floral notes of violet and sandalwood.  The taste is just delightful, with some cherry cola and blackberry notes up front leading to some earthy notes of dusty limestone and smoke midpalate.  The tannins are very well integrated making for a velvelty mouthfeel and a long, smooth, captivating finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's marvelous right now and showing the full potential of a great Washington Cabernet, and although I don't recall what I paid for it, Forgeron in general offers some of the best values of all the producers in the Columbia Valley.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic spaghetti dinner, but it would go well with a nice steak or a hearty beef stew, or just sipping on the patio with some firm cheeses.  Cheers!