2019 Famiglia Castellani Chianti

Well it's Sunday and I am ready to turn my attention to cooking and sipping a nice glass of wine.  As I've had in mind what I am making for dinner, since it has an Italian flair, I thought it appropriate to open a nice bottle of Chianti.  Tonight, I've selected a bottle of 2019 Famiglia Castellani Chianti that I recently picked up from Wines Till Sold Out and their case sale, so you know it was a good value.  This wine is made to the more historical blending standards for Chianti, including the addition of some white grapes, and is a blend of Sangiovese (85%), Canaiolo (10%) and Ciliegiolo (5%).  So, let's see how this classic from Tuscany is tasting!

The wine is a lighter ruby color in the glass with great clarity, as you might expect from a Sangiovese heavy blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, light floral notes of violet, tar and a bit of sweet cherry.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry that eases a bit as it transitions to some notes of dried herbs and earthy peat midpalate.  The fine grain tannins are still a bit tightly wound, providing for a rather brief dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant example of a nice, easy drinking Chianti, which was also a solid value at just $12.50!  This wine would pair well with a wide range of Italian dishes, from hearty pasta and risotto to baked Branzino.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some Italian herb crusted chicken breast along with some fusilli primavera.  Cheers!

2019 Forgeron Barbera

 Happy Memorial Day weekend!  I spent a good part of the afternoon getting everything ready for summer, including setting up the patio dining area, putting out the wine drinking chairs on the front porch and setting up the new fire pit on the patio.  Needless to say, with the beautiful weather today, I think I might inaugurate my patio dining for the summer!  So, with all the dining, I've decided to open a recent wine club wine from Forgeron Cellars, the 2019 Forgeron Barbera from the Sagemoor Vineyard 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 reveals aromas of cocoa, tart cherry and ripe black fruit with some earthy undertones.  Take a sip and you're first greeted with some ripe sweet cherry that transitions to some blackberry and boysenberry before easing into some earthy notes of basalt and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tightly wound, but still provide a solid base for a wonderfully long, dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a nice example of the varietal, offering a very easy going and food friendly wine.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of summer patio fare, from burgers and ribs to steaks or brats.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some classic beer brats along with sriracha slaw and some fresh corn on the cob!  Cheers!

2017 Pure Bred Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out during their case sale (this one included all wines for $10 each, or $120 per case).  The 2017 Pure Bred Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendocino County California.  I had the chance to go to Costco today and pick up some prime New York strips, so I needed to open a nice Cabernet this evening, so let's see how this one is shaping up!

The wine is a deep, inky, brooding affair at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a California Cabernet.  The nose is a rush or ripe, red fruit, cherry, currant and raspberry, dancing with aromas of green grass and cardamom.  The taste is a bit different from the heavy hand of Napa, with a rush of tart cherry at the outset that transitions to earthy notes of tar and dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are still a bit tightly wound, but a nice backbone to the long dry finish with a kick of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a bit young still but has all the makings of a nice quality Cabernet that's priced for everyday drinking.  This wine would pair well with steaks, chops, barbecue or hearty fall dishes like stews of chili.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with the aforementioned prime New York strip grilled rare, along with some grilled leeks, oven roasted Yukon gold potatoes and steamed asparagus with Hollandaise.  Cheers!

2018 Bledsoe Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon

Well this wine almost went past the boards as I received eight bottles with my wine club shipments and I was down to three bottles (now two!) before I had a chance to review this wine.  The 2018 Bledsoe Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), Merlot (11%) and Syrah (11%) from the Bob Healy, Loess, Seven Hills and Golden Ridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is shaping up before I head out to the theater this evening!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with great clarity, as you might expect from a nice Walla Walla Cabernet.  The nose is a rather subdued affaire, with a bit of green grass and mint under black cherry and fig aromas.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit, cherry, plum and mulberry that transitions nicely to some dusty limestone and cocoa midpalate.  The tannins are still a bit tightly wound, but well integrated for a lingering dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it seems to have taken a step back in this vintage (formerly, under the "Flying B" label, this wine peaked with the 2016 vintage in my opinion).  This wine would be a very good steak wine, and would pair well with a variety of hearty fall and winter dishes, from beef stew to hearty pasta dishes.  Tonight I'm trying something new, as I bought some pre-marinated Korean beef bulgogi at Costco, so I've prepared that with some jasmine rice.  Cheers!

2015 Heitz Cellar Napa Valley Zinfandel

Happy Friday!  It's been a busy week, so I am definitely looking forward to some relaxation this weekend (though I have a bunch of things happening so this may be my only post for the weekend!).  In any case, it's time to open a nice bottle of wine, and pairing with my dinner was a bit of a challenge, but I decided upon a nice Zinfandel, the food friendly wine!  Tonight, I'm enjoying a 2015 Heitz Cellar Napa Valley Zinfandel that I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out, so let's see how this one is shaping up!

The wine is a lovely ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose presents aromas of earthy mineral notes under some jammy fruit notes of cherry, plum and strawberry.  The taste is somewhat Bordeaux-esque with a bit of funk hanging around, but the fruit is quite vibrant with flavors of cherry and strawberry up front that transitions to some notes of tar and basalt midpalate. The finish features a bit of tart cherry over some tightly wound tannins providing for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nice Zinfandel, but in my view not quite to the level of a Lodi Zin.  As always, this varietal is exceptionally food friendly and would pair well with anything from pizza to ribs, tacos to steak.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bit more challenging dinner of grilled Spanish octopus with some grilled asparagus and white truffle butter orzo with shaved Parmesan.  I"m not sure I could have packed any more flavors on that plate!  Cheers!

2016 Tall Dark Stranger Malbec

Well, this afternoon I was at the supermarket and I happened upon this wine, the 2016 Tall Dark Stranger Malbec, and it had such an interesting bottle, and it was on sale for $10, so I figured why not bring home a tall dark stranger for dinner?  I figured even though I'm probably not the exact demographic these wines are targeting, how could you really go wrong with a Malbec from Mendoza Argentina?  In any case, let's see how this wine tastes.

The wine is a bit lighter in color than many of the Argentine Malbecs I'm used to, not the dark brooding color that's so typical (perhaps this should have been a tall light stranger?).  The nose presents aromas of green grass, black cherry and violets, with just a hint of white pepper.  The taste is very fruit forward, with tart cherry, blackberry and blueberry that transitions to a bit of roast meat and green olive midpalate.  The tannins are young and tightly wound, providing for a sharp but very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, as it's a decent drinking Malbec and not overpriced at $10.  This wine would pair well with just about anything a gaucho would eat in Mendoza, and tonight I am enjoying this wine with a new cut of steak I recently discovered from my butcher, the chuck eye steak.  This cut is from the area right between the ribeye and the chuck, making it what many call, "the poor man's ribeye."  The nice part is that it typically well marbled and very flavorful for a steak that routinely sells for $5-7 a pound.  Tonight, I've grilled the Angus chuck eye rare on a bed of grilled leeks along with grilled broccoli rabe and a baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2016 Les Vieilles Pierres Costieres de Nimes

Happy Independence Day eve!  Advanced warning: I will not be posting tomorrow since I will be busy much of the day getting ready for 4th of July rib fest at my house!  So, in honor of my last evening of relaxation, I've opened a bottle of wine that was a gift from a former boss who has very similar taste in wine to me, the 2016 Les Vieilles Pierres Costieres de Nimes.  Now this AOC was once part of the Languedoc region, but given they seem to have more in common with the Rhone Valley, they shifted to the Rhone region.  Which makes some sense with this blend of Syrah (80%) and Grenache (20%) from a region that's been making wine since before the Romans arrived in France.  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, as you'd expect from such a Syrah dominant blend.  The nose is a wonderful cascade of ripe red fruit, raspberry, cherry, strawberry and cassis overlaid with lovely floral notes.  The taste is a rush of tart cherry at the outset that transitions to some notes of green grass and olive notes midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tightly wound, resulting in a somewhat sharp, but very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, as it's a pleasant blend but still a bit young.  With a few years in the cellar this wine will no doubt improve.  As for pairings, this wine would go well with some nice chevre or perhaps with some steak or seafood.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bit of an unorthodox pairing, with a big cold water lobster tail, mashed potatoes and chives and some steamed green beans.  The tart cherry in the wine is a nice foil to the richness of the lobster.  Cheers!

2014 Napa Underground Oakville Red Wine

Well, today I received a shipment of wine from Wines Till Sold Out, by far my favorite online wine seller.  I saw this wine on offer for $20 and figured it was worth a try, the 2014 Napa Underground Oakville Red Wine.  Although my view is that Washington does the best Bordeaux style blends, Napa has done some nice ones in the past so why not give this one a try.  This wine is a blend of Merlot (59%), Cabernet Sauvignon (32%), Cabernet Franc (4%), Petit Verdot (3%) and Malbec (2%), so this one should have a bit more of a right bank feel to it.  So let's see if this was worth the investment of s double sawbuck!

The wine is a lovely garnet color in the glass, expressing the dominance of Merlot in the blend.  The nose presents aromas of black raspberry, plum overlaid with hints of dried herbs.  The taste is somewhat surprising with a rush of rather sweet fruit up front that transitions to some notes of mocha and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are still fairly tight but provide some nice backbone for the long, smooth dry finish.

Yeah I may have been a little too aggressive on the Brussels sprouts!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8 as this would make a very nice, solid quality everyday red wine.  This would pair well with a broad array of hearty dishes, as nothing delicate would stand up to this wine, given the big, bold Napa character.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled boneless ribeye, grilled Brussels sprouts and a baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheers!

2015 Seven Hills Merlot

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a busy week so far, but at least there's wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a recent wine club selection from one of my favorite wineries, Seven Hills out of Walla Walla.  And much to the dismay of "Sideways" fans everywhere, I am a bit fan of Merlot, and tonight I'm enjoying the 2015 Seven Hills Walla Walla Merlot, so let's see who's right!

The wine is a lovely deep, inky purple in the glass with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a subdued affair, with notes of leather, blackberry, cherry and cassis with just the slightest hint of green grass.  The taste is not nearly as fruit forward as some past vintages, but still nice black cherry at the outset that evolves into some lovely white pepper notes before diving into dark chocolate and mocha midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with somewhat tightly wound tannins with a reprise of tart cherry before the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking quite nicely now, but has the potential to improve quite a bit with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of roasts and stews, classic chill in the air autumnal fare, but tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a prime eye of ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare with some steamed baby red potatoes with butter and parsley and some steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2014 Helix Cabernet Franc

Happy Sunday!  I've spent the afternoon raking and blowing leaves and trying to get my leaf vac to run, but without luck today (more on that in another installment of "I'm not a mechanic, nor do I play one on TV").  At least the day is done and it's time for some dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open another bottle of the recent wine club shipment from Reininger, the 2014 Helix Cabernet Franc from the Weinbau Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  Unfortunately I lost my tech sheet on this wine, but I'm confident that it's mainly Cabernet Franc, with a bit of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to bring some added complexity, so let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, somewhat lighter in color than a Merlot.  The nose a fabulous array of aromas, from candied plums to fresh herbs to hints of violet.  The taste is a rush of black cherry, raspberry and plum that transitions nicely to some notes of cocoa and green herbs midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tightly wound, providing a bit of a snap on the finish, which is long and extraordinarily dry, with just a hint of funk at the very end.  This is a wine that reminds me of some of the best right bank Bordeaux, with lovely fruit, earthy undertones and a great finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's only the third vintage since 1997 and this one has the potential to develop nicely over time.  This wine would pair well with a wide array of dishes, from lamb to grilled pork tenderloin, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a alder planked wild Alaskan salmon filet over a bed of baby arugula and topped with fresh pineapple jalapeno salsa with some steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2013 Helix Bacchus Vineyard Merlot

Happy Tuesday!  It's been a while since I've posted because last week I was actually in Houston all week helping with the relief efforts down there.  It was quite a bit of hot, sweaty, backbreaking work, but it was really worth it to see the appreciation of the folks down there that were in such desperate need of a helping hand.  In any case, I'm back now and ready for some wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a recent wine club wine from Reininger's Helix brand, the 2013 Helix Columbia Valley Merlot from the Bacchus Vineyard.  So let's see what this one has to offer.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, the ideal representation of the varietal.  The nose presents lovely aromas of strawberry, red currant, leather and oak that just make you want to dive right into the glass.  The taste is as smooth as can be, with lovely flavors of ripe red fruit, cherry, currant, marionberry that transitions to some lovely earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is quite smooth, despite the tightly wound tannins, which provide a bit of tartness right at the end of the smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's drinking nicely now, but will likely improve with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with hearty fall dishes from stew to chili to lovely Italian pasta, but as always I am going against the herd.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with seared sesame crusted Ahi tuna on a bed of baby arugula with some wild rice.  I know red wine and fish may not make sense to some, but after all, Tuna is the steak of the sea!  Cheers!

2015 Ste. Michelle Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

This has been a somewhat lazy Saturday for me, but at least I made it to Costco to do a little shopping!  And while I was there, of course I had to check out the wine selection to see if there was anything new or interesting, and I happened upon a bottle of 2015 Ste. Michelle Vineyards Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  Apparently this was a tribute wine for the 50th anniversary of the founding of Chateau Ste. Michelle in Washington, and since it's Washington wine month, I figured why not try a bottle?  Besides, I really liked the classic, Bordeaux style of the label on this bottle.

The wine is a bit lighter in color than I might have expected, of course it could also be because a wine this old really should still be in a barrel, but I digress...  The nose is a bit odd, as when the glass is still you get a good whiff of spice and kirsch, but then with a little air, the notes of leather and black cherry really come out.  The taste is actually quite nice, with a rush of blackberry and cherry that transition to some nice black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are still rather tightly wound, but the finish is long, smooth and very dry despite the rather bright acidity.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nice everyday Cabernet, and a terrific value as this wine was just $12 at Costco.  This is a good meat and potatoes sort of wine, which is a good thing as I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye with a big baked potato and some haricots verts almondine.  Cheers!

2013 Napa Bridge Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I had a rather relaxing Sunday afternoon, pulling dandelions (they are my nemesis!) fertilizing, taking down some dead branches, feeding the ducks, and now it's time to relax with a bit of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of Napa Cabernet that I bought in the recent Wines Till Sold Out Napa Valley Marathon, the 2013 Napa Bridge Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, so let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a pleasant combination of rich leather, graphite and blackberry, sort of a welcome party in anticipation of the lovely wine you're about to taste.  And the taste, it's a rich combination of ripe black fruit, blackberries, plum and cherries, that linger on the tongue before transitioning to some flavors of baking spice, dark chocolate and tobacco midpalate.  The finish is classic, big bold Cabernet, with still rather tightly wound tannins providing the punchy backdrop for the long, and exceptionally dry finish, that seems to linger for several minutes.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just starting to come into its own.  The wine was a pretty good value for this vintage of Napa Valley Cabernets at just $27.  This wine is destined to be a good steak wine, which is a good thing since my Sunday dinner is a rare grilled Prime Ribcap with some grilled asparagus and broccoli rabe along with a baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  What a delicious wine with the dry acidity really complementing the richness of the steak.  Cheers!

2012 Concha y Toro Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

Ok, I confess, I've been on a weekend run on wines from Chile, from last night's edition from the Maipo Valley, I've decided to open another Costco bottle tonight, the 2012 Concha y Toro Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon from the Marchigue region of Chile.  So let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a somewhat lighter color, with some deep purple transitioning to bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is somewhat of an old world sort of blend of blackberry, cassis, intermingled with dried herbs and spice. The taste is a dichotomy of rich black fruit married against some fairly tart acidity, so that based on the aromas, you expect some dark fruit but are quickly flipped around by the acidity, before relaxing into some dark chocolate notes.  The tannins are tightly wound, leading to a more modest but very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a very pleasant Cabernet, and a good value, as I think I recall paying something around $15 for this one.  This wine would be great with steaks, roasts or lamb, but tonight I'm enjoying this with a little bucatini with spicy red sauce.  Cheers!

2012 Bodega Norton Privada

Happy Friday evening!  I must admit it's seemed like a very short week since I've been on the road for much of it, but alas it's time to relax for the weekend!  And to get things started I've decided to open a bottle of surplus wine that my boss gave me, the 2012 Bodega Norton Privada, a blend of Malbec (40%), Merlot (30%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) from Mendoza Argentina.  So let's see it this is as good as it looks!

The wine is a deep purple color in the glass, classic for an Argentine Malbec.  The nose presents aromas of leather, green grass, dried herbs and black fruit.  The taste is really quite nice, with some lovely black fruit notes of plum and blackberry up front, intermingled with some vanilla bean notes.  Midpalate we have mineral notes of dusty limestone that fit will with the young, tightly wound tannins.  The finish brings a reprise of sweet blackberry amid the long, smooth and very dry finish that you want to keep going and going.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant drinking wine and a good value in the $25 price range.  This is a classic steak wine, which is a good thing since tonight I am pairing this one with a rare grilled New York strip, baked potato and haricots vert almondine.  Cheers!

2010 Chateau Brun Saint-Emilion

Wow, it's been a while since I've had a nice Bordeaux that was actually from Bordeaux!  Tonight I've opened a wine that I bought recently from Wines Till Sold Out, a Saint-Emilion from a small, 25-acre vineyard that's been planted with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and owned by the same family since 1571.  Fortunately for me, the 2010 vintage was such a nice one that shortly after release the Chateau achieved Grand Cru status, which is kind of a big deal!  This particular wine is a classic Saint-Emilion blend of Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Saugivnon (20%).

The wine is a perfect deep ruby color in the glass, with very nice clarity and just a hind of blackness at the heart.  The nose evokes springtime in Paris, lovely bright berry aromas of black currant and cherry over some earthy notes of anise and cedar.  The taste is just divine, everything a nice Bordeaux should be, with some lovely ripe black fruit up front that transitions nicely to mineral elements of basalt and green cedar midpalate.  The finish brings out the still rather tightly wound tannins supporting a long, smooth and very dry finish that's so classic.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's drinking quite nicely now but will certainly improve over the next decade.  It was also a terrific value at just $20!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare bacon-wrapped filet with some sweet potato mash and haricots verts almondine, an ideal wine for steak, but it would also pair nicely with a variety of hearty autumn dishes like cassolet or wild mushroom risotto.  Bon appetit!

2013 Mockingbird Hill Reserve Petit Verdot

Well, the leaves are all done, with the exception of those still up on the trees, but it seems like fall is quickly coming to a conclusion, which means that winter can't be too far behind!  And with cooler weather and shorter days, it's the perfect time for some big, bold red wines.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2013 Mockingbird Hill Reserve Petit Verdot from Napa Valley.  Now it used to be that the Bordeaux blending grapes like Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, were relegated to behind the scenes work of giving structure to the great Bordeaux blends, but in recent years more wineries have been experimenting with bottling these varietals on their own.  Lucky for us!

This wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, reminiscent of a strong Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, tart cherry, dried red flowers and oak.  The tastes offers some lovely fruit notes up front, with blackberry and cherry cola that transitions to some earthy notes of oak and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are very tightly wound, but still offer a solid foundation for the exceptionally long and very dry finish.  This wine is still young and will probably improve further with some time in the cellar, but in my view it's drinking quite nicely now.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, most likely due to how well the varietal holds up, as well as the terrific value of this wine - I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for just $17!  Again, this is a perfect fall wine, ideal for sipping by the fire on a chilly evening.  It's also a good steak wine and tonight I am enjoying this one with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye, with a baked potato and some steamed green beans.  Happy Sunday Dinner!

2009 Chateau Grand Tayac Margaux

Well, it's Saturday night, time for a nice bottle of Bordeaux, and tonight its the king of Bordeaux, a Margaux from the stellar 2009 vintage, the 2009 Chateau Grand Tayac Margaux.  I recently bought a few bottles of this wine from Wines Till Sold Out, so why not try it?  This Margaux is a blend of classic Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (27%) and Petit Verdot (3%).

The wine is a lovely deep garnet color in the glass, with an almost inky black center.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, cassis and mint with just a hint of earthy overtones.  The taste is a lovely fruit forward blast of ripe cherry and plum that transitions effortlessly to some earthy flavors of oak and limestone midpalate.  The tannins are still a bit tightly wound, but the finish is just lovely, earthy, long and dry, just as a nice Margaux should be!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's drinking well now, but could use a few more years in the cellar.  It was also an excellent value at about $30!  Tonight I am enjoying this classic French wine with a quintessential American meal of a rare grilled Angus ribeye, baked potato and steamed broccoli, yum!  A nice Bordeaux is always a pleasure to drink with steak, but this one would also pair well with some aged cheeses or charcuterie.  Sante!

2010 Chateau de Cantenac Brown Brio Margaux

Happy Mother's Day to all you fine mothers out there!  In honor of my mother who passed away in 2010, I've been planting flowers like crazy, first at the cemetery last Friday and today four flats of impatiens along the side of my house (four flats is officially 192 individual plants!).   Needless to say, I am tired now, a perfect time to open up a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight it's the 2010 Chateau de Cantenac Brown Brio Margaux, which is still young for a Margaux, but just old enough to open!

The wine is a deep inky purple in the glass, with some bright garnet along the edges.  The nose is a lush array of ripe black fruit, cherries, plum, blackberries, all over just the faintest hint of Bordeaux funk.  The taste offers some fruit at the outset which quickly subsides to some earthy notes of leather, anise and oak.  The finish is somewhat refined, but the young tannins are still tightly wound, though they don't inhibit the long, dry finish that lasts for 30 seconds or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it'd drinking nicely now, but will likely improved quite a bit over the next few years.  This wine was also a nice value from Wines Till Sold Out that I bought for just $25.  Tonight I am enjoying this first glass with my appetizer of fresh mussels sauteed in garlic and olive oil, which will be followed by a rare grilled Angus New York strip, baked potato and some grilled Brussels sprouts.  This is the perfect wine for a big steak, cheers!

2013 Barricas Malbec

If you've known me a while, you know I tend to have a love hate relationship with Malbec, there are some I enjoy and others that leave me really turned off.  Let's hope tonight's wine isn't the latter!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2013 Barricas Malbec from Mendoza Argentina, and if there's at least one thing the Argentinians do well it's Malbec.

The wine is a bright ruby in the glass, with very nice clarity.  The nose is chock full of ripe red fruit, mulberry, black cherry and plum with some floral notes of violets.  The taste is actually quite nice (see we did get the love kind tonight!), with some ripe fruit up front, wild berries and tart cherry that quickly transition to some baking spice and mocha notes midpalate.  The tannins are fine but still a little tightly wound given their youth, but they still provide a nice foundation for a long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's easy drinking, an ideal everyday wine at a terrific value as I found this at G.B. Russo's in Grand Rapids for less than $8!  The wine does come with an artificial cork, which I'm not a big fan of, but it doesn't detract from the overall wine.  This wine would pair well with red meats or a variety of Latin foods, but tonight I'm enjoying it with some Italian sausage ravioli with some Alfredo sauce with red and green peppers and grape tomatoes, for a fresh pasta meal, as the ripe fruit and tight tannins really pair well with the rich cream of this sauce.  Cheers!