2023 Woodward Canyon Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It's been an odd weather day, starting with heat and humidity, then thunderstorms and now a return of heat, humidity and wildfire smoke from Canada.  I just hope the rain holds off as we are supposed to have our Independence Day fireworks tonight as they were postponed due to storms two weeks ago.  Whatever happens, at least there is wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of wine from one of my early wineries that I visited on my first trip to Walla Walla more than 25 years ago.  The 2023 Woodward Canyon Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (88%), Malbec (7%) and Petit Verdot (5%) from the Weinbau, Bacchus and Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyards in Washington State.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine has the classic Cabernet look, with deep indigo and bright ruby.  The nose presents an elegant expression of ripe blackberry, leather, cocoa and just a hint of graphite.  The first sip is a rush of black currant, tart cherry and a bit of earthy peat that gives way to some dried herbs and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are well structured providing for a lush mouthfeel that envelops your palate ahead of the lingering dry finish that will leave you satisfied.

I would easily rate this wine a solid 9, with claims to a 9.5 with a bit of age.  This wine represents the pinnacle of Washington Cabernet, rich character and earthiness that connects you to the soil.  As for pairings, enjoy it with a range of hard cheeses, grilled lamb or slow cooked ox tail stew.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a grilled T-bone over grilled leeks with oven roasted sweet potatoes and carrots.  Cheers!

2023 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Franc

Happy Sunday!  It was another hot one here today, with temperatures in the 90s and high humidity, so I did just a little bit of yard work, then mowed, and then went for a bike ride, so now I need some air conditioning and a nice glass of wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from Seven Hills Winery, the 2023 Walla Walla Cabernet Franc is a 100% Cabernet Franc sourced from the McClellan Estate and Summit View Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, here goes nothing!

The wine is a little lighter in body, with great clarity and a lovely ruby color in the glass.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of black currant, raspberry and tart cherry with hints of prune and white floral notes.  The first sip is fruity adventure, with a rush of ripe, jammy berry fruit that completely covers your palate with a rich velvety mouthfeel, and before you realize what's happening, you are introduced to some earthy tar and tobacco, before being slapped back with a spicy dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the most fun and inviting examples of this often overlooked varietal.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of dished, from broiled trout to steak au poivre, barbecued ribs to street tacos.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a grilled porterhouse topped with garlic scapes, with roasted baby beets and steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers! 

2019 Sequoia Grove Stagecoach Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy day of yard work, but alas I am all finished and ready for a nice dinner and glass of wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of the most recent Wines Till Sold Out mystery bottle event, which is always a fun surprise.  This time it was the 2019 Sequoia Grove Stagecoach Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) from three separate blocks in the Vineyard, along with Merlot (14%) and Petit Verdot (8%) all from the Stagecoach Vineyard in the Atlas Peak AVA of Napa Valley.  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine has the classic look of a big Napa Cabernet, with brooding darkness lined with bright ruby.  The nose is nestled with oak intermingled with sage, leather and graphite, underscoring the subtle black fruit that tries to peak through.  The first sip is a rush of ripe fruit, blueberry, blackberry and plum that dance around a balanced acidity with some black pepper spice.  The tannins are well structured for a velvety mouthfeel and a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers until you reach for your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a wonderfully classic big Napa Cabernet at a price that didn't break the bank.  This wine would pair well with much outdoor cooking this summer, from barbecued ribs to beef kabobs, cedar planked salmon to big grilled steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a prime tomahawk ribeye grilled rare and garnished with the first garlic scapes of the season, along with steamed parsley potatoes and maple bacon Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2021 Mark Ryan Winery Lonely Heart Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a very busy few weeks for me, with work, the theatre and just trying to keep up with household chores, I haven't had much time to post!  Yesterday I finally picked up my lawnmower from being repaired and today I got to mow for the first time this year as well as digging up a 5-gallon bucket of dandelions!  And now it's time to relax with a glass of wine and a nice dinner.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2021 Mark Ryan Winery Lonely Heart Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Quintessence Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black at the center with deep ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a pure Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of black cherry, leather, oak and a hint of marionberry, with undertones of vanilla and tobacco.  The first sip takes your breath away with a lush expression of ripe black fruit, boysenberry, cherry and currant, with a gravelly underbelly.  The tannins are perfectly structured providing for a velvety mouthfeel and a classically smooth dry finish with just a hint of mint at the end. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wine that would pair well with some of the biggest of dishes but keeps it's composure just sipping on the patio.  This wine would be ideal with big steaks, rack of lamb or braised short ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with an Asian barbecued ribeye served with grilled leeks, oven roasted fingerling potatoes and maple bacon Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2019 DaMa Walla Walla Cabernet Franc

Happy Sunday!  I was in full holiday mode today, watching Christmas movies while writing out cards and wrapping presents, and now it's time to wind down with a little dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of  2019 DaMa Wines Walla Walla Cabernet Franc.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Franc from the XL Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  I know some of the best Syrah I've tasted came from XL, so hopefully it does as well with Cabernet Franc!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, dark at the center, just as you'd expect. A gentle swirl reveals aromas of Italian herbs, with some spicy pepper and a hint of oregano amid rich notes of ripe black plum.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of black fruit, plum, raspberry and cherry, with an undertone of tawny port, that easily transition to some mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a velvety mouthfeel as you ease into the long, smooth dry finish with a bit of mocha at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the better examples of a pure Cabernet Franc that I've tastes.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from steak to lamb, hearty pasta to shepherds pie.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a taste of the Pacific Northwest, as my local market had fresh sockeye salmon on sale, so I've enjoying this wine with a pan seared sockeye filet along with some linguine sautéed in garlic and olive oil and tossed with asparagus and broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2013 Cobblestone Vineyards Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Well, it's the first Saturday of the new month, which makes this Cellar Saturday, that magical day when I raid the cellar to find something at least a decade in the making to taste.  Tonight I've opened another vintage of a wine I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out (in this case I bought a 5-year vertical).  The 2013 Cobblestone Vineyards Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of prune, anise and dried herbs, with a faint undertone of mint.  Take a sip and you're awash in a cascade of blackberry and currant, with notes of espresso, dark chocolate and eucalyptus that transition to some notes of dried herbs that will have you envisioning an old-school Italian grocery.  The tannins are in your face, providing for a velvety mouthfeel and a long, dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's drinking well now, but might have already reached its prime.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to baked pasta or braised lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some barbecued beef ribs, baked beans and some vinegar coleslaw.  Cheers!

2012 Cobblestone Vineyards Atlas Peak Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's the first Saturday of a new month which means it's Cellar Saturday!  It's time to raid my cellar and find something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight I've opened the first bottle in a 2012-2016 vertical I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2012 Cobblestone Vineyards Atlas Peak Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (96%) and Petit Verdot (4%) from the Atlas Peak AVA of Napa Valley.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a classic, big Napa Cabernet.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of prune, lavender, eucalyptus and a bit of ripe blackberry.  Take a sip and you are immediately in big Cabernet country, with a rush of black fruit that washes over your palate, blackberry, cherry and plum, that transition easily to some notes of anise, white pepper spice and earthy loam.  The tannins are robust, providing for a velvety mouthfeel and a long, smooth dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's really matured well over the years.  This wine would pair well with a lot of hearty dishes, but like most big Napa Cabs, it would be exceptional with steak.  Tonight I am doing just that and enjoying this wine with a big dry aged prime ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, with grilled leeks, oven roasted sweet potatoes, blistered cherry tomatoes and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2019 Woodward Canyon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 191

Happy Sunday!  I meant to do some yard work today, but by the time I went grocery shopping, went to Costco and finished all my other errands, there was just enough time left to do laundry and open up a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight's wine is a special one, the 2019 Woodward Canyon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 191.  You may be familiar with Clone 191, as it's the same one that is featured in Seven Hills' Summit View Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and it's one of the highest rated Bordeaux clones for Cabernet.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just what you'd expect from the varietal.  Take a whiff and you'll note aromas of graphite, blackberry, cassis and rich leather that offer a prelude to a special wine.  The first sip starts with a rush of tart cherry that eases into ripe blueberry, black olive and cedar notes with a velvety mouthfeel that will set your mind racing.  The balanced tannin structure offers a perfect foundation for a velvety smooth dry finish that lingers on your palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, knowing that it's still early in its development, so I'd expect this wine to improve even further with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty fall dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty pasta, beef stew to roasted lamb shank, but above all this wine wants a steak!  So, tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse, grilled leeks, blistered cherry tomatoes and grilled asparagus.  Cheers!

2020 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  I have to admit that it really doesn't matter how I plan, I never seem to get as much done during the weekend as I had hoped, and this weekend was no different.  I planned on catching up on some reading during the rain this afternoon, and that didn't happen, but at least I am now making Sunday dinner and enjoying a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Pepper Bridge Vineyard red wine, which is an annual blend that Pepper Bridge does based solely on fruit sourced from their namesake vineyard.  For 2020, this was a blend of Merlot (39%), Malbec (30%), Cabernet Sauvignon (22%) and Petit Verdot (9%).  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from the Merlot and Malbec in the blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of anise, tarragon and hints of violet amid undertones of peppery spice.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant with a velvety texture that just grabs your attention.  The fruit transitions well to some dark chocolate and herb notes midpalate, even as the fine grained tannins deliver you to the long, smooth finish that will have you clamoring for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderfully bold wine that practically begs for a grilled steak, hence a perfect wine for summer grilling season.  This wine would be ideal with the aforementioned steaks, but also with summer smoked brisket, barbecued ribs or even simple burgers and brats for Independence Day celebrations.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip topped with Béarnaise and served with grilled purple asparagus.  Cheers!

2021 Reininger CPR Reserve Chardonnay

Happy Saturday!  I spent the afternoon trimming hedges and mowing, and since it was in the upper 80s and humid, I am now sweaty and tired and ready for a nice dinner and glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a rare white wine, the 2021 Reininger CPR Reserve Chardonnay which was just released a few weeks ago.  I secured a couple bottles, and I thought it would pair well with my dinner this evening.  This wine is a 100% Chardonnay from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard in the Royal Slope AVA of Washington.  This wine was aged for nearly two years in a large French Oak barrel, so let's see how it's shaping up!

The wine is a pale golden color in the glass as you might expect.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of pear, lemongrass and oak with undertones of orange blossom.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of exotic flavors that have your mind doing summersaults with citrus, melon and mineral notes that exude refreshment and reserve.  The sur lie fermentation creates such a velvety mouthfeel you might find yourself at times thinking you were drinking a hearty red wine, before you come back to earth and enjoy the remaining moments of a buttery dry finish that lingers on your palate for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it has to be my favorite Chardonnay and perhaps my favorite white wine.  This wine is ideal for summer, but could easily extend to fall, and would pair well with light fish or seafood, summer salads or crisp and light pasta dishes.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some pan seared sea scallops on a bed of baby arugula, along with some roasted elote corn on the cob.  A taste of summer has arrived, cheers!

2016 Reininger Syrah XM

Happy Sunday!  It's been another weekend of non-spring weather, with rain an highs in the 40s, and it looks like the next four days will be between 30 and 45, so I guess the "Summer of George" will have to wait a few weeks.  I just finished a virtual tasting with the fine folks from Reininger, focusing on their white and rose wines, and since I didn't have any of those on hand, I decided to open a bottle of their red wine for dinner.  The 2016 Reininger Syrah XM is another interesting wine from Chuck Reininger, one of the most creative winemakers I know.  This wine is an "XM" which stands for extended maturation, so he reserves some of his wine (in this case the 2016 Walla Walla Syrah) and let's it age in barrel for a few extra years and releases it under the XM moniker.  This wine is a 100% Syrah from the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see what this new, old wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass that has the look of a hearty Cabernet as opposed to a Syrah.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas that bring you right back to the barrel room, with leather, toasted oak, blackberry and cassis dancing in your mind.  Take a sip and you're greeted with one of the most velvety smooth Syrahs you can imagine, a rush of blackberry, cherry and currant envelop your palate with a thick almost syrupy mouthfeel that just makes your mind explode.  The fruit is encased in earthy elements, oak, peat and basalt that evolve to some twang midpalate.  The tannins are almost perfectly integrated, providing for that velvety smoothness to extend to the long, dry finish that will have you begging for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it has to be one of the most perfect examples of Syrah I've ever tasted.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and lamb, to heaty pastas or stews.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a Sunday barbecue dinner (oh how I long for summer!), of barbecued beef baby back ribs, grilled corn on the cob, mustard baked beans and sriracha slaw.  Cheers!

2012 Molino della Suga Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Well, it's the first Saturday of a new month, which means it's Cellar Saturday!  It's that magical time when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making to see how it's developed along it's journey. Tonight I've taken a couple of cheats on my decade, first I've selected a Brunello, which by Italian law must be aged in barrel for six years, and then in bottle a further six months before release.  So, such a wine is already 65% of the way to a decade on release day!  Second, I recently bought some of this wine from Wines Till Sold Out, so I let them do a little of the aging for me!  The 2012 Molino della Suga Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a 100% Sangiovese Grosso (another requirement of Italian law), and Brunellos are usually just hitting their stride at the 10-year mark, so let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby in the glass, with nice clarity, just as you might expect from the varietal.  Take a whiff and you're greeted with aromas of dried flowers, ripe cherry and plum, with hints of vanilla and anise.  Take a sip and you're immediately transported to the Tuscan countryside, with layers of dried herbs, ripe cherry and some earthy notes of tobacco and graphite, which ease into some black pepper spice and a hint of thyme midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tight at first, but gradually open up for a velvety mouthfeel leading into a smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a very pleasant and easy drinking Brunello that is just hitting its stride. This wine would pair well with classic Tuscan dishes, such as Bistecca Alla Fiorentina, pappardelle with a traditional ragu, ribollita, or a simple platter of salami and cheeses.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some Trader Joe's Cacio e Pepe ravioli with carpaccio truffle cream sauce, the spice of this wine is a perfect foil for the richness of the truffles.  Cheers!

2014 Forgeron Cellars Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I had a busy work day, that being doing professional work which was good, since it was rainy and markedly chillier today than yesterday, so I was happy to huddle indoors.  And now that I'm done with work for the moment, I've decided to make dinner and open up a bottle of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle that's been sitting in my cellar for at least a few years, the 2014 Forgeron Cellars Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvigon.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Birch Creek, Minnick Hills and Seven Hills Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a Walla Walla Cabernet.  After letting this one breathe for a couple hours, a quick swirl in the glass reveals aromas of prune and green olive, intermingled with dark chocolate and ripe black fruit.  Take a sip and the doors open to a more old work style of wine with a rush of blackberry, cherry and currant with notes of anise, before transitioning effortlessly to some spice notes of white pepper midpalate.  The beefy tannins are still holding up well, providing for a velvety mouthfeel amid the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's really singing at this point in its life.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from a big grilled steak to pork tenderloin or mushroom risotto.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Sunday dinner of a rare grilled USDA Prime ribcap, along with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2018 Pepper Bridge Winery Seven Hills Red Wine

Happy Thursday!  It's been a busy week and it seems things are finally getting under control in my life, well at least as good as can be expected.  It was unusually mild here today, so I had the chance to go for a quick bike ride in the 45 minutes between when I finished work just after 5:00 and when it got dark, so at least I feel like I accomplished something healthy today.  And now for the remainder of my healthy efforts, I've decided to open a bottle of 2018 Pepper Bridge Vineyards Seven Hills red wine.  The blend on this wine changes with each vintage, but all the fruit is sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard to highlight what this long-standing Walla Walla Vineyard has to offer.  The 2018 vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Cabernet Franc (17%), Merlot (9%), Malbec (9%) and Petit Verdot (9%).  So let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with deep indigo at the center, a sure indication of the heavy hand of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend.  The nose is a mesmerizing combination of blackberry, cherry and cassis intermingled with hints of cedar and exotic spices and a mild undertone of citrus.  The taste is a cool rush of cherry and blackberry that washes over your palate before easing into some mineral notes of dusty limestone.  The tannins are vibrant and supportive of a velvety mouthfeel amid the long, smooth and exceptionally try finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic, high quality Bordeaux style blend from a premier Walla Walla producer.  This wine is ideal for fall, sipping on the sofa in front of the fire, but it would also pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from pasta to lamb, steaks to roast beef.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse with some grilled leeks and asparagus.  Cheers!

2016 Seven Hills Klipsun Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  The last of Washington Wine Month, so tonight I've decided to open a bottle from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers.  Of course it helped that I happened to stumble upon this wine this afternoon as I was looking for something to have with dinner, the 2016 Seven Hills Klipsun Cabernet Sauvignon, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Klipsun Vineyard in the Red Mountain AVA.  So let's see how this one is shaping up after being opened for an hour or so.

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright garnet around the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose is chock full of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant over earthy elements of leather and dusty granite.  The taste is a rush of jammy black fruit that washes over your palate as notes of blackberry and cherry dance with dried fig before pressing on to some notes of cocoa and sage.  The tannins are robust and prime for a velvety mouthfeel cascading to the smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a terrific Cabernet and a fine illustration of the Red Mountain terroir.  This wine would pair very nicely with steaks, smoked beef brisket or summer barbecue, but tonight I'm going in a completely different direction for a weeknight dinner.  I am enjoying this wine with some bucatini with andouille sausage prima vera.  Cheers!

2016 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Friday!  It's been a long week, so I am certainly happy to be putting on the brakes to slow down for a (hopefully) relaxing weekend.  The weather this afternoon was perfect, sunny, breezy and about 78 degrees, so tonight I'm ready for a good dinner.  To go with that dinner, I've decided to open a recent wine club shipment from Seven Hills Winery, the 2016 McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.  This is the fifth single vineyard vintage from the McClellan estate, which was planted rather recently, in 2003, though you could never tell based on the quality of wine it produces.  So let's see how this wine is shaping up. 

The wine is a veritable blast of aromas, as just pouring into the glass you get a strong whiff of the rich black fruit that permeates this wine.  Blackberry, plum, leather and oak dance in your nostrils, providing a hint of what's to come as your mouth starts watering.  The taste shifts completely, as you face more subdued fruit replaced by some wild, earthy notes of peat, dusty limestone and cracked pepper intermingled with more nuanced black fruit notes.  The tannins are smooth and well structured for the velvety smooth and wonderfully dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking nicely now, but will likely be much better with a few years in the cellar.  Unlike some Cabernets, this wine seems to be much more versatile that simply pairing with a big steak, as I could see myself enjoying this wine with anything from Indian curries, to barbecue, to sockeye to hearty pasta.  Of course, just because I could see it doesn't mean I'd do it, because tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a big ol' prime cowboy ribeye, grilled rare with a big baked potato and some grilled asparagus.  Cheers!

2016 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, it's the last day of Washington Wine Month, so let's go out with a bang!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of my recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (come to think of it, I'm not sure I've even opened the 2015 vintage yet!).  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), Merlot (9%), Malbec (6%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (3%) all sourced from the Seven Hills, Octave, Pepper Bridge and Yellow Jacket Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  The 2016 Vintage was interesting in that it started out very warm, with early bud break, but then shifted to cooler weather in the second half of summer, making for some classic Walla Walla wines.  So let's see how this one fares!

The wine is dark and brooding at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is somewhat cool, with faint aromas of blackberry and blueberry intermingled with subtle notes of leather.  The taste is a rush of cherry, blackberry and cola that eases into some white pepper spice notes midpalate.  The velvety mouthfeel creates a full and lingering finish, with fine tannins providing a lingering, and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a classic Walla Walla Cabernet from a somewhat cooler vintage.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from steaks and chops, to pasta and barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime petite filet mignon, with a baked potato and some bacon roasted asparagus.  The wine is such a good friend of a delicious steak, cheers!

2016 Flying B Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

So today as I was about to head out and run some errands, the UPS guy showed up with my Bledsoe Family Wines fall wine club shipment!  Woo hoo!  What a way to head into the weekend!  So I've decided to open a bottle of the 2016 Flying B Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon and see how the second vintage is tasting (I reviewed the first vintage here).  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) and Syrah (15%) from the Bob Healy, Lefore, Loess and Seven Hills Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  I had a chance to meet the winemaker, Josh McDaniels last spring and I was impressed, so let's see how he's done with this wine!

The wine is a deep inky purple at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a quality Cabernet.  The nose is chock full of blueberry, raspberry and green cedar aromas that give you a strong sense of what you're about to experience.  The taste is just a showstopper, much beyond what the aromas had me expecting.  A harmony of earthy green grass overlaid with floral hints, that reach higher to notes of dark chocolate and tobacco amid the full and velvety mouthfeel.  The tannins are silky smooth as the dry finish just marks the apex of a tasting experience that should rightfully last an entire afternoon.

It's hard to describe this wine without superlatives, so I would happily rate this wine a solid 9.5, perhaps one of the best wines I've tasted this year and such a big leap beyond the first vintage (though I really liked that one too!).  This wine practically begs to be paired with a big, rich, prime steak grilled to perfection, but I could also just see myself sipping this one on the porch tonight!  I am enjoying this wine with a marinaded tagliata steak along with a loaded baked potato and grilled Brussels sprouts, but none of that seems very important to me right now.  Cheers!

2010 Helix Stillwater Creek Merlot

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I was looking around for a bottle of wine to open with dinner, and I stumbled upon a nice Washington Merlot that I forgot I had, the 2010 Helix Stillwater Creek Merlot, a 100% Merlot from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  Helix is the second label of Reininger, which is a perennial favorite for me, so let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity, somewhat lighter than your typical Merlot.  The nose is a wonderfully subtle combination of rose petals, ripe cherry and strawberry over hints of vanilla bean.  The taste is just singing 6 years after release, with a nice bit of fruit up front, plum, black currant and a bit of blueberry that transitions wonderfully to some elegant floral notes midpalate, with a velvety mouthfeel that just completely envelops you.  The tannins are somewhat subdued giving rise to a voluptuous and dry finish that seems to linger on.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a new favorite for Columbia Valley Merlot!  This wine would pair very well with a broad range of dishes, from classic summer barbecue to salmon to steak.  Of course tonight I've chosen the latter and am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled petit Angus New York Strip with grilled leeks and asparagus and some corn on the cob!  Summer must be getting close, cheers!

2015 Doubleback Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Selection Sunday!  I'm excited as my Bucknell Bison are heading to the NCAA Basketball Tournament, and we're moments away from learning who they will play.  So to celebrate and to continue my enjoyment of Washington Wine Month, I've decided to open a bottle of a new wine club selection that I received on Friday, the 2015 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon, a work from winemaker Josh McDaniels at Drew Bledsoe's signature label.  This wine has one of the highest amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon (98%) of any previous vintage, with the balance Malbec all from the McQueen, Bob Healy, Lefore and Pepper Bridge vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  I was in Walla Walla at harvest time (you can see my first day's post here) and I recall during that trip two big events, first that harvest was incredibly early, as the warm growing season resulted in harvest starting the third week of August and the fires all around that would result in days there the smoke was almost unbearable!  So now I'm finally beginning to taste some of the results of that vintage!

This wine is a classic Cabernet, with a deep, inky color at the center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is just a wonderfully earthy experience with layers of leather, oak and a bit of smoke over dried herbs and dusty limestone.  The taste is youthful, but remarkably complex, with ripe blackberry and cassis up front that transitions smoothly to some earthy mineral and spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are youthful but remarkably well structured, providing for a velvety mouthfeel and a long, voluptuous finish with a reprise of tart cherry on the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking wonderfully now in it's youth, but has ample potential to improve with a few years in the cellar (lucky I bought a few extra!).  This wine practically begs to be paired with a big, honkin' steak, ideally a richly marbled prime tomahawk ribeye, but tonight I have to go with my second choice, a nice thick Angus New York strip grilled rare with grilled asparagus and a big baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheers!