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!

2010 L'Ecole No. 41 Columbia Valley Syrah

Happy Sunday!  It's been an eventful day of yard work and some mechanical work on my lawnmower (turns out you actually need to replace the air filter every so often!) but now it's time to relax a bit.  So tonight I'm out on the patio enjoying a glass or two of 2010 L'Ecole No. 41 Columbia Valley Syrah, a nice blend of Syrah (80%) and Grenache (20%).

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby color with bit of opacity.  The nose is a pleasant combination of ripe berries, smoke and some lovely spice notes, just as you'd expect from a nice quality Syrah.  The taste is so pleasant, with a blast of fresh black cherry, blackberry and raspberry up front that subsides into some nice flavors of mocha, dark chocolate and baking spice midpalate.  The fine tannins are the ideal foundation for the nicely textured, long and exceedingly dry finish.  A perfect wine for sipping on a cool summer evening!

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a really nice example of the varietal and a perfect food friendly wine.  Although I am having this with hamburgers tonight, it would be great with a steak, pizza, tacos or a variety of pasta dishes, it's just that versatile.  Of course after dinner, there will be plenty left to sip on the patio as the lightning bugs come out.  Cheers!