2022 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny Proprietary Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  I didn't do a whole lot today as I was trying to relax a bit before my theatre performance tonight.  That said, I still wanted to enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner, and tonight I've opened a bottle from a recent Napa Legends Mystery Pack from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2022 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny Proprietary Red Wine is definitely a mystery as I couldn't find much on the blend, so let's just enjoy it anyhow!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, which likely reflects some classic Bordeaux varietals in the blend.  The nose presents aromas blackberry and currant, with layers of oak, leather and just the faintest bit of lavender.  The first sip is a rush of rich fruit that has a rather surprising warmth to it.  The ripe blue and black fruit accentuate the textured layers as you embark on a journey though blackberry and huckleberry before heading into the valleys of dusty minerals and graphite.  As you head back up to the finish, you leave the valley for some remarkably smooth and structured tannins that provide for a wonderful dry finish that has a distinctive old world sort of character.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's just an outstanding red wine with the character and boldness of Napa, but the sophistication of a winemaker at the top of their craft.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from wild mushroom risotto to braised short ribs, rack of lamb to it's destiny, a nice grilled steak.  And that's how I am enjoying this tonight, with a pan seared New York strip over a bed of sautéed onions and shitake mushrooms, along with pasta and steamed Italian pole beans.  Cheers!

2022 Reininger Syrah

Happy Sunday!  I've been somewhat relaxed today, taking a break before doing a full day of flower planting and yard work tomorrow.  So, to celebrate my doing nothing, I've made a wonderful Sunday dinner and have opened a bottle of 2022 Reininger Syrah.   This wine is a 100% Syrah sourced from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Syrah.  A gentle swirl of the glass and you're greeted with aromas of rich black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum just dripping with sweetness amid undertones of anise and baking spice.  The first sip is an intriguing rush of ripe black fruit that melts into notes of tea, black licorice and earthy loam midpalate.  The tannins are silky smooth, with bit of acidity on the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant example of the vibrant Syrah that Chuck and his team are producing in the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would be ideal for sipping on the patio in front of a fire, or if you must eat, try this one with some grilled venison, lamb or carne asada.  Tonight, I am enjoying this with my Sunday dinner of rack of lamb with potato puree, red wine reduction and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2016 Forgeron Facon Rouge Syrah

Ahhh...Sunday, a chance to catch up on my relaxation!  Today I relaxed by mowing the grass after church, and now I am ready to do a little cooking for Sunday dinner.  Of course cooking goes better with wine and tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Forgeron Cellars, the 2016 Facon Rouge Syrah, a 100% Syrah from the Blue Mountain Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA.  Now I was a bit surprised by this wine as the past few vintages of Facon Rouge have been GSM blends, but this one leaves out the G & M, so let's see what it has to offer.

The wine is a wonderful deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a Syrah.  The nose is a breath of fresh air from the French countryside, with aromas of lavender, blueberry and a hint of spice.  The taste is rush of ripe fruit, blackberry, blueberry and plum that transition to some wonderful warm spice notes midpalate.  This wine has a lot going for it, as at first it seems quite powerful in its fruit expression, but then it mellows to some soft tannins and a smooth, dry finish that completes the journey.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's just a wonderfully balanced Syrah.  You might expect this to pair well with strong dishes like roast lamb or pasta with spicy sauce, but tonight I'm taking a different approach, as I think the lovely fruit and spice notes of this wine need something more subdued to pair it with.  So tonight I'm enjoying this wine with an olive oil poached trout (my first ever attempt!) served with lemon along with wild mushroom risotto and steamed sugar snaps.  Cheers!

2012 Krutz Family Cellars Stagecoach Vineyard Napa Valley CabernetSauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a busy week so far, so it's nice to celebrate hump day with a nice glass of wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 Krutz Family Cellars Stagecoach Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that I purchased a month or so ago during a Wines Till Sold Out Napa marathon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), Malbec (13%) and Petite Verdot (9%) from the Stagecoach Vineyard, which ranges from 1,200 to 1,850 feet in elevation, situated between the Pritchard Hill and Atlas Peak AVAs.  So let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a deep inky purple at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is lovely combination of leather, oak and some earthy notes of peat and sage, somewhat more Bordeaux than big Napa Cabernet.  The taste is white nice, with a rush of ripe black fruit up front, black cherry, blackberry and currant that transition to some lovely notes of mocha and tea leaves midpalate.  The tannins are silky smooth and well integrated for the lingering and very dry finish, that brings a reprise of a bit of Bordeaux style funk at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderful example of an old world style Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with a nice steak or a variety of spicy Mediterranean dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Prime ribcap, along with some grilled leeks and Brussels sprouts and a bit of linguine tossed in garlic and olive oil on the side.  The earthy flavors and dark fruit really pair well with the richness of the steak.  Cheers!

2014 DaMa Wines Rose of Cabernet Franc

Well now that I've completed all my posts about my fabulous Walla Walla road trip, we will be treated with reviews of the many great wines I brought back from the trip!  First up, as summer seems to be winding down much faster than I'd prefer, I thought I'd enjoy a bottle of rose, particularly since this hot and humid summer has really been the "Summer of Rose!"  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2014 DaMa Wines Rose of Cabernet Franc that I picked up in the tasting room a week or so ago.

The color on this wine is exceedingly pale, a quick glance and you might actually mistake it for a white wine, but rest assured it's all rose.  The nose presents lovely aromas of strawberries, honeydew and crisp citrus notes, ideal for a summer on the patio.  The taste is a rush of floral, melon and citrus, that takes a bit of a break for some nice mineral notes midpalate.  Surprisingly, the finish recounts some lovely sweet strawberry notes that cap off this beautiful glass of summer.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, simply because it's not quite as dry as I prefer, particularly on the finish.  Tonight I am enjoying this with a classic Pacific Northwest dinner of wild Alaskan Coho salmon filet grilled on a northern white cedar plank, with some steamed wild rice and fresh picked green beans.  The fruit and acidity of this wine make it a perfect foil to the richness of the salmon, and I have to mention that white cedar imparts very different flavors to the fish than your normal red cedar, which go perfectly with this wine!  Cheers!

2005 Saddleback Cellars Napa Valley Merlot

TWell, it's the first Saturday of the month, so you know what that means, it's Cellar Saturday!  And not only that, it's also the 4th of July which makes opening up a well matured wine even more fun!  Tonight I've opened up a bottle of 2005 Saddleback Cellars Napa Valley Merlot, one that I've been looking forward to, as a nice quality Merlot tends to hit its stride at about the 10-year mark.  Keep in mind I've let this one breathe a bit, but I didn't decant it, so we'll see how it goes!

The color in the glass is a nice garnet with very nice clarity despite its maturity.  The nose is a lovely combination of ripe berries, red plum and macerated cherries, overlaid with a bit of leather and moss, reminiscent of some wonderful French Bordeaux.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit up front, raspberries, blackberries and plum that transitions flawlessly to some flavors of cherry cola and mocha midpalate.  The finish is just lovely, with silky tannins and mild oak on the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as I love Merlot and this is a prime example of an expertly produced bottle that highlights the varietal.  Although this would be an ideal wine for a juicy porterhouse, tonight is the 4th of July!  How could I enjoy this with anything other than barbecued ribs, grilled corn on the cob, creamy cucumber salad and a nice grape tomato caprese salad!  The wine has such great flavors it really complements the variety of great tastes we get on holidays like these.  Cheers!

2007 Elk Cove Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Merry Christmas!  Yes, I know it's only Christmas Eve, but this is the night when I typically watch a whole bunch of Christmas movies while gorging myself on Chinese food, since it won't leave me too full for the real feast tomorrow!  I just returned from the gym, just to make me feel good about myself before the feast of obesity begins, all the presents are wrapped and I just placed my order at the Jade Garden, so I may as well open a bottle of wine to enjoy this evening, and tonight it's one of my all time favorite Oregon Pinots, the 2007 Elk Cove Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.  Now in all the time I lived in Portland, I never got into the Pinot scene like everyone else it seems, but I did find this one that appealed to me, a big bold Cabernet and Bordeaux drinker that wasn't the light, whispy Pinots that you often find in Oregon or Burgundy!

Now I'll admit I had a hard time finding this wine today, I tore the cellar apart, looking in case after case, knowing had to be there somewhere, and alas I found it in a half case of Languedoc!  So here we are, a beautiful deep garnet color in the glass with great clarity.  The nose is just a rush of Oregon Pinot memories, rustic earthy elements of peat, leather, blackberries and fresh herbs.  The taste is a burst of fruit, plums, black cherries and cassis, all of which blend together for some earthy mineral notes of limestone, cedar intermingled with Asian spice midpalate.  The finish is remarkably smooth, without the tannins and dryness that you can get from a Cabernet, this one is just all around pleasant to drink from start to finish!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely example of the fine Pinots coming from the Willamette Valley, but it's probably reached it's peak for drinking now.  As I mentioned, tonight it's Christmas Eve which means Chinese food, so I'm pairing this with some wonderful Kung Po chicken, steamed dumplings and spring rolls, some of my favorites!  Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

2010 Salvatore Principe Blue Groove Zinfandel

So tonight I'm having my Easter dinner a week early, so what goes better with glazed ham than a nice Lodi Zinfandel?  I can't think of anything, so tonight I've opened a bottle of 2010 Salvatore Principe Blue Groove Signature Series Zinfandel that I bought yesterday at one of my old time favorite wine stores, G.B. Russo's in Grand Rapids.

The wine is a lovely deep purple color in the glass, classic Zin.  The nose is a marvelous, jammy combination of black plums, raisins and a hint of leather and limestone.  The taste is a wonderful  blast of fruit, plums, raisins, blackberries and cassis that lasts for a few seconds and then transitions to some herb notes of black pepper, thyme and cocoa powder.  The finish is lovely, with some bold tannins supporting a long, silky finish that seems to last a minute or more.  A classic Lodi Zinfandel, rich, fruity and somewhat rustic.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, as it's a very nice example of a quality Zinfandel, but it was also a terrific value at just $7!  I wanted to buy a case, but there were only three bottles left, so I bought those.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with my early Easter dinner, of glazed ham, some red hasselback potatoes (thanks for the recipe Epicurious! Red Hasselback Potato Recipe at Epicurious) and the ubiquitous green bean casserole!  The wine makes such a great compliment to meats like ham, but it would also be great with a steak or pizza.  Cheers!

Domaine Serene Rockblock SoNo Syrah

Once again the weekend is coming to a close, so why not make the best of it with a bottle of Northwest wine?  Tonight's selection is a little different, as it's a multi-vintage wine from Domaine Serene, produced from the best grapes and vintages from two vineyard sites in the Walla Walla region of Oregon.  And for those unfamiliar with the area, Walla Walla is just a few miles north of the Oregon border and fortunately good wine grapes don't stop growing once you reach Oregon!  The fruit for this wine was sourced from the Seven Hills and Stone Valley Vineyards in Oregon.  As a non-vintage wine, this one should be interesting.

The wine has a nice deep, inky purple color at the center, leading to a bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is at first a spicy sweetness, with black pepper and blueberries that ease into some hints of smoke, cocoa powder and a touch of lavender.  The taste is wonderfully complex, with some spice and floral notes up front that transitions smoothly to blueberries and black plum midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat rustic and smoky that suppose a silky finish that lingers on the palate.  Very pleasant to sip at the end of a long day!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely example of Walla Walla Valley Syrah that shows a lot of complexity.  The only real negative I can see with this wine is the price, as I paid $33 for this bottle at my local wine merchant, G.B. Russo's, so it's clearly not an everyday wine if you're on a budget!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple Sunday dinner of salad, herb roasted chicken breast and some steamed fingerling potatoes with butter and parsley.  The rich blue fruit and spice of this wine make a nice foil to the more subdued flavors of chicken and potatoes.  Cheers!

2008 Northstar Stella Maris Red Wine

Ahhh... another weekend winding down, so at least I could end it with a nice bottle of wine!  Tonight it's the 2008 Northstar Stella Maris Columbia Valley Red Wine, a bottle I picked up from a wine shop in Seattle a couple years ago I think, it's sad how I so easily forget where I get these bottles of wine, but at least I'll record my drinking them for posterity.  The wine itself is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (46%), Merlot (46%), Petit Verdot (3%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Syrah (2%).  The fruit for this Columbia Valley blend were sourced from a number of great vineyards in the Columbia and Walla Walla Valleys, including Northstar Estate, Windrow, Minnick Hills, Horse Heaven Vineyard, Kiona and Shaw Red Mountain.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with a lovely nose of ripe plum, blackberries, leather, anise and green cedar, with just a hint of baking spice.  The taste is lovely, with an explosion of black ripe fruit on the outset, but not sweet and jammy like some wines.  The fruit transitions smartly to some green grass and tart cherry notes midpalate that lead you right to a silky smooth finish supported by very well structured tannins.  The wine has such a lush mouthfeel, it's just a pleasure to sip, even on a summer afternoon!

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, I really enjoyed sipping it and could continue doing to for hours, but as I recall it was a bit more expensive, probably in the $25 range, so a little more expensive than an everyday red.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some grilled Copper River Sockeye salmon, with a touch of dill cream sauce along with some steamed basmati rice and grilled rainbow carrots, so yummy!  The wine smoothly interacts with the fresh crisp flavors of the vegetables while not detracting from the lovely salmon flavor, a perfect Northwest treat!

2003 Piancornello Brunello di Montalcino

Here we are at my fourth "Cellar Saturday" and I've decided to go back to my love of Italian wines, and particularly the wines of Tuscany.  Now of course you can't explore the wines of this region without taking some time for the undisputed king of Tuscan wines, Brunello di Montalcino, and this case the 2003 vintage of Piancornello. For those familiar with Brunello, you'll immediately recognize that vintage as one that caused quite a stir with the confiscation of four producers' 2003 Brunello on charges that they had fraudulently included foreign varietals in their wine labeled Brunello.  By law, Brunello must be made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, and although the investigation was somewhat inconclusive, the U.S. government blocked the import of 2003 vintage Brunellos that could not prove they were made with 100% Sangiovese (so I suppose this one is safe!).  The laws also require that the wine be aged a minimum of 2 years in oak, and 4 months in bottle before release, though most producer age their wines in oak for 3 years.

This wine has been in the bottle for considerably longer than 4 months, as most Brunellos really start coming into their own when they hit about 10 years old, so this one is just about to hit its stride.  The color on this wine is a rich garnet hue, certainly a bit lighter than your typical Napa Cab.  The nose has quite a bit of herbs, some classic spice, anise, and ripe red fruit with a hint of sweetness.  The taste was a bit tart up front but quickly transitioned into some rich ripe fruit and even a bit of prune midpalate which gave way to some interesting chocolate notes.  The tannins are somewhat subdued providing for a long, silky smooth finish that left me wanting another sip every time!

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 and perhaps even a 9 given the value.  I bought this one through Wines Till Sold Out back in 2010 for just $35, which is pretty good for a Brunello!  Tonight I am pairing this wine with a simple but delicious Italian dish, bucatini with mussels.  I simply sauteed some guanciale (this is a cured pig jowl, but you can use pancetta if you can't find guanciale) with some crushed garlic, then added some olive oil and about a pound of fresh mussels.  Once the mussels opened up, I added 2 cans of whole San Marzano tomatoes and about a cup of red wine (but not the brunello!).  Let that simmer for 20-30 minutes on low heat and then toss with some al dente bucatini (bucatini is a long pasta shaped like a drinking straw, but if you can't find it at your local store a nice linguine or spaghetti will do fine).  Top the dish with some fresh basil and some freshly shaved Parmesan and you have a lovely dinner! Tutti a tavola a mangiare!