2024 DaMa Wines Grenache

Happy Mothers Day!  I hope all of you moms out there enjoyed a fantastic day with kids and grandkids!  I finished my grading today, so my first year as a professor is nearly concluded.  All that's left are all the ceremonies that come with graduation.  To celebrate, tonight I've opened a bottle from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers and also one of the only women-owned wineries in Walla Walla, DaMa Wines!  The 2024 DaMa Grenache is a 100% Grenache sourced from the Painted Hills Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington, so let's see how it's tasting.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a little more full bodied than you might expect from a Grenache.  The wine presents and inviting array of aromas, ripe strawberry, raspberry and cherry with undertones of lilac and hints of earthy minerality.  The first sip is a rush of sweet red fruit, cherry, raspberry and currant that east into some mineral notes and oak midpalate.  The tannins are fairly sharp with a good bit of acidity on the long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a fresh and pleasant drinking red wine that is perfect for the warmer days of summer (if they ever arrive!).  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from paella to moules frites, grilled lamb chops to pan seared halibut.  Tonight, I am taking the pacific seafood route and enjoying this wine with a crispy skin salmon filet, steamed rice and sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

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!

2022 Stag's Leap Artemis

Happy Sunday!  It's been very hot here today, though I did make it out for a bike ride for about an hour and just got cooled off.  In any case, now it's time to make dinner and open a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of wine that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out in one of their recent Mystery Selections which have featured two wines from this outstanding producer, this time it's the 2022 Stag's Leap Artemis.  I've been a fan of this wine for well over a decade having reviewed the 2010 vintage and the fabulous 2012 vintage previously.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with a brooding black center, just as you'd expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  A gentle swirl and your nose is treated to aromas of caramel, tar and lavender with undertones of leather and ripe black fruit.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit having a throw down with tart cherry before easing up to notes of warm baking spice, earthy minerality and mocha midpalate.  The tannins are still a bit sharp, but ease right into the warm dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking nicely now, but will likely improve handsomely with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair with a variety of hearty dishes from braised short ribs to rack of lamb, but more than anything, this wine begs for steak.  And it's a good thing my local market had a good variety yesterday, so tonight I can enjoy this wine with a rare grilled tomahawk ribeye topped with grilled garlic scapes and served with grilled asparagus and broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2017 Reininger Tahoma

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a while since I've posted on a Wednesday, so let's make this a little special.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from one of my favorite Walla Walla winemakers, the 2017 Reininger Tahoma.  This wine is not a regular production wine, but the most recent vintage (I reviewed the 2012 vintage here and I have a bottle or two of the 2015 vintage in the cellar, but chose to go out of order!).  Tahoma is a Super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese (42%), Cabernet Sauvignon (33%) and Merlot (25%) from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this latest vintage is tasting!

The color is deeper than a Sangiovese but lighter than a Cabernet, a perfect cross for the blend.  The nose is a welcoming combination of leather, candied cherry, and dried floral notes, that will have you picturing a grocer in Little Italy.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry, that easily transitions to earthy notes of graphite intermingled with vanilla caramel midpalate.  The tannins are a bit sharp, but still a nice foundation for the lingering dry finish with a reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking wine today, but likely to become more interesting over the next few years, highlighting Chuck Reininger's creativity in winemaking.  This wine would pair well with about any dish you could enjoy on a Roman holiday, from pasta to steak, Tuscan toast  to lobster risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared New York strip with oven roasted cauliflower and blistered cocktail tomatoes.  Cheers!

2020 Anvil Syrah

Happy Sunday!  And since it's the last Sunday of the month, it's time for Dinner in the Diner, where I explore a recipe from the dining cars of some of the most famous passenger trains of the 20th Century.  So, what to pair with my dinner?  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Anvil Syrah, the premium label from Forgeron Cellars.  The 2020 vintage is a 100% Syrah from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see what this wine has going on!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, with moderate body and clarity, just what you'd expect from a nice Syrah.  The nose reveals aromas of blackberry, blueberry and eucalyptus with undertones of basalt minerality.  The first sip is a rush of sweet black fruit, blackberry, blueberry and currant that dance around a bit of cocoa powder and toasted oak midpalate, with a trail of black peppery spice.  The tannins are still a bit sharp, but still provide for a long, smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a wonderful example of a single-vineyard Syrah from one of the premier areas of Washington for production of this varietal.  This wine would pair well with a variety of fall dishes, from braised short ribs, to rack of lamb, earthy wild mushroom risotto to Beef Wellington.  Tonight, I am taking a road less traveled and enjoying this wine with a recipe from the diner on the New York Central, the individual deep dish chicken pie from the 20th Century Limited.  The recipes for the filling, crust and rich sauce (this is superb) are presented below (though to be fair, I substituted boneless chicken breast for the white/dark meat combination suggested).  Cheers!

2019 Forgeron Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I feel like I got a lot accomplished this weekend as I managed to trim all the hedges yesterday before I had 16 people over for a cookout (and yes, my arms are really sore today, thanks for asking!).  Then today I finished the yard work with some mowing before easing into some dinner and wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2019 Forgeron Cellars Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon that I got in a wine club shipment last spring I think.  In any case, this wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Minnick Hills and Seven Hills Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky purple color in the glass, a testament to a pure Cabernet.  Take a whiff and you're treated to a cascade of aromas of ripe blackberry and currant, intermingled with floral notes of lilac and classic dark chocolate that is such a tradition of Walla Walla Cabernets.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black cherry, blackberry and cassis that transitions well to some notes of dark chocolate and mocha midpalate, amid undertones of dusty minerality.  The tannins are a bit sharp early, but they open up nicely with some time, supporting the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 as it's a really pleasant drinking wine now, but I think it will improve markedly with a few more years in the cellar.  It's also a good value at just $35 before any club or case discounts.  This wine would pair well with a variety of late summer and early fall dishes, from grilled steaks and barbecue to eggplant parmesan or hearty beef stew.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse, grilled poblanos and hatch chiles and some roasted white and purple potatoes.  Cheers!

2008 DaMa Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Well, it's April Fool's Day, but it's also the first Saturday of the new month, which means it's Cellar Saturday!  The magical day where I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that I recently purchased from the library at DaMa, the 2008 DaMa Walla Walla Valley Merlot.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass and a gentle swirl reveals aromas of prune, blackberry and oak with just a hint of mint underneath.  The first sip reveals a rush of tart cherry and black current that eases its way to some notes of tarragon and mint midpalate.  The tannins are a bit sharp, but ease back for a wonderfully smooth finish that's both earthy and dry.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as despite its 15 years it still has a good bit of life left in it.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from wild mushroom risotto, to linguine carbonara, smoked brisket to hearty winter beef stew.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic bone-in ribeye with some steamed asparagus and hollandaise.  Cheers! 

2020 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Vineyard Malbec

Happy Sunday!  Today was a day of chores, laundry, yard work, mowing and now I really just need to relax with a nice dinner and a glass of wine.  And tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, Seven Hills Winery.  The 2020 McClellan Estate Vineyard Malbec is the latest vintage of this interesting varietal from one of the long standing vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley, so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep purple color in the glass with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Malbec.  After a gentle swirl of the glass, you are greeted by aromas of blackberry, vanilla bean and a bit of kirsch with a hint of floral undertones.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant that transition to some notes of earthy peat and vanilla bean midpalate.  The tannins are a bit sharp, but ideal for bringing into focus the long, smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a perennial favorite for this varietal outside of Mendoza.  This wine would pair well with steak, grilled rack of lamb or hard cheeses, but tonight I am celebrating ocho de mayo, and enjoying this wine with some chorizo and black bean tacos with all the trimmings, lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream, avocado and fresh jalapeno.  The hearty profile of this wine is ideal with a spicy Sunday dinner, cheers!

2013 Raymond Reserve Napa Valley Merlot

Happy Sunday!  I spent the afternoon catching up on a few projects, then I went for another bike ride since it was once again sunny and in the 60s.  So, now it's time for Sunday dinner, and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2013 Raymond Reserve Selection Napa Valley Merlot.  I've been on a Raymond kick for a while, but this wine I just happened to find at my local wine store, which seemed like it might have been there collecting dust for a while.  At any rate, let's see what this wine has to offer.

The wine is a wonderfully deep ruby color in the glass, a bit lighter in composure than you might expect for a Napa Merlot.  A quick swirl and a whiff reveals some rather old world style aromas of candied plum, vanilla bean and cassis, with undertones of green grass.  A sip provides a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that linger for a bit before transitioning to notes of tobacco and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are a bit sharp for their age, but wonderfully integrated for a long, very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a really pleasant drinking Merlot, that at $32 was not unreasonably priced.  This wine would pair well with a variety of meats, from steaks to lamb chops to veal, but would also be at home with barbecue or pasta.  Tonight, I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus porterhouse over some grilled leeks, with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and some mashed potatoes and gravy.  Cheers!

2019 Chacabuco Malbec

 Happy New Year's Eve!  It's been a lackluster one to say the least and I along with many others are bidding a bon voyage to 2020 and desperately hoping that 2021 brings better tidings!  To help bid the old year nigh with a fond goodbye, I've decided to open another bottle of wine from the recent Wines Till Sold Out case sale.  The 2019 Chacabuco Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina was produced with grapes from the Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley, where some of the best and most affordable Malbec hails from.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, with garnet at the edges, just as you might expect from the varietal.  The nose is basket of ripe red fruit, cherry, currant and plum that exude a sweetness.  The taste is a rush of ripe cherry, currant and raspberry that eases into some notes of vanilla bean and toasted oak midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat soft at first, with a turn to sharpness for the long, dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant example of an Argentine Malbec at a price ($10) that makes this wine easy to sip.  This wine, like most Malbec would pair well with beef, steaks, roasts, chops, as well as hearty, earthy dishes like a wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight I am going the traditional route and enjoying this wine with some braised short ribs over mashed potatoes and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2017 Megan Anne Pinot Noir

 Happy Sunday!  I admit I've been slacking on by blogging duties, but I've been battling a cold which has inhibited my wine reviewing.  But tonight I've opened a bottle of Pinot Noir (those of you paying attention will note that I'm not the biggest pinot fan, but what the heck!), this one the 2017 Megan Anne Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, which is Mark Ryan's label for Oregon Pinot Noir.  I bought several bottles of this vintage from Wines Till Sold Out, when I saw the offer at nearly half price, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a little richer in color than many Pinot Noirs, but still with great clarity and a nice crimson color.  The nose is chock full of ripe red fruit, cherry and marionberry, with earthy aromas of peat and tar, with a ribbon of vanilla strung throughout.  The taste is a rush of cherry and raspberry that bows to some vanilla and caramel intermingled with earthy peat midpalate.  The tannins are a bit sharp, but well structured for the lingering dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, which it pretty high for a varietal that's not my favorite.  This wine would pair well with a variety of lighter dishes, from classic halibut, Dungeness crab or wild mushroom risotto, but I think it might also pair well with game, such as venison.  Tonight I am taking that route, enjoying this wine with a rare seared bison filet mignon with a rather whimsical pairing of tater tots and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2014 Pirouette Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  What remarkably strange times we are living in, today I had a practice session for the graduate class I'm teaching to move online from in person, which went as well as I expected.  But as we adjust, some positive things have happened as well, like tonight's wine!  Yesterday I was partaking in Sean Sullivan's Virtual Taste Washington (which you can see here) and at the end of the night I let the posters on Twitter and Instagram vote on which Washington wine I should open for tonight's session, and the winner is the 2014 Long Shadows Pirouette!  I bought this wine at the Vino Volo at Sea-Tac airport a few years ago, as it was the only way I could bring back a bottle of wine on the plane!  This wine is a classic old-world style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (57%), Petit Verdot (18%), Merlot (17%), Cabernet Franc (7%) and Malbec (1%) from some of the best vineyards in the Columbia Valley.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine has a deep, inky dark center with bright garnet along the edges, suggestive of the heavy Cabernet focus of the blend.  Keeping in mind that I opened this bottle a few hours ago, and the nose was quite strong when I first opened it, but it's calmed down as it's opened up, with aromas of leather, fig, cherry and a hint of strawberry, very reminiscent of a classic Bordeaux.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit up front, blackberry, cherry and cassis that gives way to some white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are a bit sharp, but fitting to support the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it really exemplifies the classic Bordeaux styling of the best blends of the Columbia Valley.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from classic pasta to steaks and chops.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Sunday comfort food dinner of pretzel crusted center cut pork chops, with some buttered pasta and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2013 Charles Krug Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well it was a chilly Monday, but somehow I managed to go to the gym and come back and grill under the eve of the garage, so all things considered, it wasn't a bad start to the work week!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine that's been in my cellar for a few years, but I finally got around to opening it, a wine from one of my favorite Napa Valley producers, which I've visited a few times, the 2013 Charles Krug Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  So let's see how this wine has matured!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Napa Cabernet.  The nose is chock full of leather, cassis and blackberry, beckoning you to take a sip.  The taste is a rush of cool, black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that transitions nicely to some notes of mint and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are still a bit sharp, providing some nice backbone for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a lovely example of a pleasant and approachable Napa Cabernet that is a decent value (current vintages are running about $25).  This wine would pair very well with a variety of hearty winter dishes, from stew to chili to braised short ribs, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a petit prime heart of ribeye, grilled rare and topped with bleu cheese, along with some bacon roasted purple Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!