2019 Stags Leap Rancho Chimiles Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  I had planned to get a lot more done than I accomplished today, but I guess I'll get over it.  At least I managed to get groceries and go to the farmers market, so I'll take the little wins.  To celebrate, tonight I am opening a bottle from a recent mystery selection from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2019 Stags Leap Wine Cellars Rancho Chimiles Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from this esteemed vineyard in Napa Valley.  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep indigo at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose presents subdued aromas of black currant, lavender and blueberries, intermingled with some hints of cedar and earthy graphite.  The first sip a rush of ripe fruit, black currant, blueberries and blackberries, that ease into some notes of dark chocolate intermingled with earthy minerality midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, adding just the right support for the voluptuous dry finish that seems to linger just the right amount.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic big, muscular Napa Valley Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from steaks to barbecue, grilled octopus to wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a very well marbled bone-in ribeye along with an assortment of grilled vegetables - leeks, asparagus, garlic scapes and peppers.  Cheers!

2010 Tiedmann Signature Series Napa Valley Red Wine

Well happy Saturday, and since this is the first Saturday of the month it's also Cellar Saturday, that magical day when I raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle that although it was harvested 14 years ago, has been in my cellar for less than two weeks!  The 2010 Tiedmann Signature Series Napa Valley Red Wine is a new one for me, as after doing some sleuthing on the web, I learned that this wine was made by or for a local resident who would source wines from Napa and either blend them himself or have them made and bottled.  Unfortunately, I also learned that this person passed away in 2022, but somehow I managed to find a few bottles of the 2010 vintage at my local wine store, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

Although a blend, this wine has the classic look of a Napa Valley Cabernet, inky black at the center and bright garnet along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry and cassis, reminiscent of a university library.  The first sip is a wonderful blend of blueberry, blackberry and currant with undertones of sweetness that transition easily to some earthy notes of basalt and black tea midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, providing for a lengthy and very dry finish that lingers until you take another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking blend from a local guy in Elkhart, Indiana with a passion for making great wine.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from barbecue and fajitas, to roast lamb or grilled steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare, pan seared prime filet topped with béarnaise and served with oven roasted purple potatoes and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2016 Cobblestone Vineyards Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Happy Sunday!  Today was an adventurous afternoon as I harvested the first of my tomatoes and then proceeded to immediately use the tomatoes and basil I grew myself to make 3 quarts of sauce, my first sauce of the year and a special one since it is the product of my own agricultural urges!  And though I used some wine in making the sauce, I've decided to open up something completely different to enjoy while the jars of sauce are processing.  The 2016 Cobblestone Vineyards Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a wine I bought last year from Wines Till Sold Out, and is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot from the best of the fruit from the 2016 vintage. So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is an inky black at the center with garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry and toasted oak with undertones of plum and cassis.  The first sip is not at all what I was expecting, a rush of tart cherry envelops your palate, easing into some dusty limestone and tawny port notes midpalate.  The fruit continues to cascade in your mouth as you get to the white pepper spice near the finish, which is supported by velvety smooth tannins for a classic long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's drinking well now, but would likely improve even more with some time in the cellar.  This wine was also a good value at just $27 when I bought it.  This wine would pair well with meat, especially red meat!  This would do well with hearty steaks, rack of lamb, grilled pork tenderloin or even barbecued ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled T-bone steak, grilled broccolini and hatch chiles, and mushroom pasta.  Cheers!

2020 Raymond Mountain District Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It's been a while since I've posted, and I blame that on a despicable work schedule along with a dreaded summer cold I've been battling (so my sense of smell might not be as accurate this evening!).  In any case, I'm ready for a relaxing Sunday dinner following a weekend of work (see above) and given my planned meal, I couldn't think of a better wine to open than the 2020 Raymond Mountain District Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  I think I bought this one several months back from Wines Till Sold Out, so let's see how this fire tainted vintage is tasting.

The wine is a brooding ruby color in the glass, with a dark center as you'd expect on a nice Napa Cabernet.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of earthy leather, green grass and hints of blackberry amid undertones of minerality.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry, blackberry and currant that awash your palate before transitioning to some notes of dark chocolate and espresso midpalate.  The tannins are velvety and provide an ideal base for the long, classically Napa dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic big honkin' Napa Valley Cabernet that I bought for a solid value price at just $40.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from hearty pasta and braised short ribs, to barbecue and lamb.  Of course, for me a big honkin' Cabernet calls for a big honkin' steak, so tonight I am enjoying this wine with a tomahawk grilled Pittsburgh rare, served with roasted hatch chiles and fresh sweet corn I picked up at the farmer's market yesterday.  Cheers!

2021 Mark Ryan Winery Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I'm glad to report that the weather finally broke here, as yesterday it was incredibly hot and humid, but a cold front came through and today we are enjoying highs in the low 70s and expected lows in the upper 40s tonight.  This was good news as I have been waiting for a cool day to don my long sleeves, jeans and gloves to remove some of the poison ivy that's grown up this spring (the price you pay for living in a personal forest!), but now it's time for a special dinner!  Tonight is the last Sunday of the month, which means it's time for Dinner in the Diner, where I craft dinner from a recipe served in the dinning cars of some of the great long-distance trains of the 20th Century.  But before we get to that, we have to open the wine! Tonight's selection is from Mark Ryan Winery, a personal favorite harkening back to my grunge years, the 2021 Mark Ryan Winery Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (95%) and Merlot (5%) from some of the oldest vines in the Quintessence, Red Willow, Ciel du Cheval Vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how these old vines are producing!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity, much different than some of the big Cabernets you commonly see.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of black cherry, strawberry and red currant intermingled with dried herbs and a hint of green cedar.  The first sip is a rush of fresh green herbs that transition easily to ripe red fruit notes of cherry, currant and marionberry, before easing into some notes of black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth and expertly integrated, providing for such a pleasing, long, dry finish that you'll be immediately reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9 as it's just a wonderful example of the great quality of Cabernet being produced in Washington.  This wine would pair well with just about any red meat, from steaks and chops, to braised short ribs or classic burgers for the 4th of July.  Tonight, I am pairing this wine with a classic recipe from the Northern Pacific Railroad, the sirloin of beef with mushroom sauce.  I took the chef's prerogative and adjusted this slightly to grilled T-bone instead of baked sirloin, but the roasted vegetables and mushroom sauce stayed true to the recipe.  Cheers!

2020 Forgeron Cellars Syrah

Happy Saturday!  It's been a half relaxing, but busy day, with shopping, errands and then a trip to the gym, and now I am making dinner before heading out to a new event in town that a friend of mine is putting on.  At least there is wine!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2020 Forgeron Cellars Syrah.  This wine is composed of Syrah (94%) co-fermented with Viognier (6%) from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, perhaps somewhat heavier than you might expect from a Syrah.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of plum, blackberry, black cherry and peppery spice with floral undertones of violet.  The first sip is a rush of wild flavors, black cherry and plum up front, intermingled with toffee, cocoa powder and oak, before heading back to some black pepper spice at the finish.  The tannins are velvety smooth, making a fine foundation for the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a very pleasant drinking Syrah and certainly not priced out of the range of most consumers.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from braised short ribs to rack of lamb, pork tenderloin to mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some crispy skin salmon, mushroom pasta and asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2019 DaMa Wines Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I finished my leaves today (and this may actually be the finish as there are scant few leaves left up in the trees!) then since the weather was nice I decided to go for a bike ride. And now I'm back home ready to make my Sunday dinner and enjoy a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of the fall wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2019 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Heather Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine has the classic look of a big Cabernet, with an inky black center and bright garnet along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, ripe blackberry and cherry, intermingled with some dried herbs and a hint of hibiscus that will have you intrigued.  The first sip is a carnival ride of flavor, with a rush of tart cherry that eases into some ripe blackberry and plum with a bit of vanilla, before heading off into some earthy minerals and a hint of tarragon midpalate.  The tannins are velvety, providing for some wonderful texture as you ease into the wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just everything you could ask for a pleasant sipping Cabernet.  This wine would pair well with steaks, prime rib, barbecue or classic pasta dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime rib cap, oven roasted purple potatoes and some maple bacon Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2020 Bledsoe Family Winery Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It was another cold and rainy day here in the Midwest, sometimes I forget how we apparently skip spring and go right from winter to summer.  In any case, this is a good time to open up a nice bottle of wine to enjoy with my Sunday dinner, and this time it's a selection from a recent wine club shipment from the Bledsoe Family Winery, the 2020 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon!  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), Merlot (9%), Malbec (7%) and Petit Verdot (6%) from six different vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a big Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of lavender, blackberry and currant with just some hints of minerality.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of ripe dark fruit, blackberry, currant and plum that transition easily to some earthy notes of graphite and basalt midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, providing for a luxuriously long dry finish that lingers effortlessly for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I think this is the best vintage yet from the Bledsoe Family Winery (even better than the Flying B wines of 2015, 2016 and 2017 or the Bledsoe Family Vintages of 2018 or 2019!).  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from grilled steaks and chops, to Yankee pot roast and Sunday lasagna!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared ribeye basted with butter and rosemary, along with some asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2021 Mark Ryan "The Dissident" Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  Our crazy weather has continued this week, going from snow and the 30s to the 80s and back to rain and the upper 30s this weekend.  Needless to say, I did  not get all of the yard work done that I'd hoped this weekend, but at least there is good food and wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Mark Ryan Winery, the 2021 "The Dissident" Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (83%), Merlot (10%), Cabernet Franc (3%), Malbec (2%) and Petit Verdot (2%) from some of the premier vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this big wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with the look of a big bold Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of  blackberry, cherry, leather and oak, a bit more subdued that some of the current range of big Cabs.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of ripe black fruit with a range from blackberry and cherry to currant and plum, that transition easily to some notes of vanilla bean and cocoa powder midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth providing for a long, lush finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a solid Cabernet that is very approachable in its youth.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from hard cheeses and charcuterie to grilled steaks and chops.  Tonight I am pairing this wine with a rare grilled prime New York strip that I picked up at my local market, topped with Béarnaise along with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers! 

2015 Seven Hills Vineyard Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It seems like the weekend just flew by and now it's time for Sunday dinner, where did the time go?  Well, at least it's time for opening a nice bottle of wine, and despite my extensive cellar of Seven Hills Wines, this wine was a recent buy from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2015 Seven Hills Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet sourced from the original wines planted by wine maker Casey McClellan and his father in 1980.  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 might expect from a high-quality Cabernet.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of blackberry, cherry and cassis with bits of herb and tobacco.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of ripe black fruit flavors that wash over your palate, black cherry, currant, mulberry and plum that transition to some notes of dusty limestone and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth a beautifully structured for an elegant dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just exactly what a nice Walla Walla Cabernet should be, and this wine is just reaching its stride at age 7.  This wine would pair well with steaks, chops, or even barbecue and burgers if summer ever arrives!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip, along with some steamed asparagus with hollandaise and some porcini mushroom farro.  Cheers!

2018 Nelms Road Cabernet Sauvignon

Thank heavens it's Friday!  It's been a long week and I am surely ready for a break.  Between work and rehearsals for an upcoming community theatre production I'm in, it seems like I was up at 5:30 each morning and then running non-stop until 11 pm!  But, no rehearsal tonight so I get to enjoy a bottle of wine and a dinner that does not consist of quickly reheated leftovers.  So, with that in mind, I've opened a bottle of 2018 Nelms Road Cabernet Sauvignon, a second label Columbia Valley Cabernet produced by Woodward Canyon Winery, a winery that I first visited over 20 years ago!  Let's see how this wine is shaping up.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you might expect from a mellow Columbia Valley Cabernet.  A gentle swirl releases aromas of ripe black plum, currant and cherry, intermingled with notes of black pepper spice and a bit of green cedar.  A first sip reveals a rush of black fruit, dried herbs and a hint of leather, that just has a wonderfully velvety mouthfeel.  Midpalate provides a bit of vanilla bean wrapping up with some black pepper spice on the finish.  The tannins are well structured and approachable, for a lovely dry finish that will have you soon reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a solid everyday Cabernet at a value price of just $25.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty, winter comfort dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty pasta, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a mid-rare grilled bison New York strip along with some oven roasted potatoes and beets, and asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2018 Mark Ryan Monkey Wrench

Happy Easter!  It's been a wonderful day, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the low 70s, flowers and birds singing, what more could you ask for?  How about a nice bottle of wine to go with your Easter dinner?  Tonight I've opened a bottle I recently bought from Mark Ryan Winery, the 2018 Monkey Wrench!  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (68%), Merlot (18%), Cabernet Franc (13%) and Petit Verdot (1%) from the Red Willow, Phinny Hill, Ciel Du Cheval, Klipsun and Quintessence Vineyards in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with plenty of bright ruby along the edges, a testament to the heavy hand of Cabernet and Merlot in the blend.  After breathing for a couple hours, a quick swirl in the glass reveals aromas of leather, green grass and blackberry compote and a hint of violet to round things out.  The taste is a real treat, with a rush of tart cherry to greet you before transitioning to some notes of toffee, blackberry and blueberry, before easing into some lovely spice notes of white pepper midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth providing for the perfect background for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish that just lingers before giving way to a hint of candied cherry.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a wonderfully pleasant drinking wine that lends itself to a variety of cuisines.  I could enjoy this wine with grilled steaks to hearty pasta, to spicy chili.  But for tonight's Easter dinner, I am enjoying this wine with a roasted rack of lamb provencal, with potato puree, and oven roasted root vegetables.  Cheers!

2018 Banknote Wine Company "Revenue" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, I freely admit when I saw a note about this wine on Wines Till Sold Out, I immediately knew this wine was money!  Ok, enough of the cheesy puns today, but since the FedEx guy was kind enough to deliver this wine this afternoon, I felt a near obligation to open a bottle with dinner.  The 2018 Banknote Wine Company 'Revenue' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the a Atlas Peak AVA in Napa.  With a great label and wine from a great region, let's have a taste!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  Raise the glass and your are greeted with aromas of blackberry, currant and cassis with savory undertones of balsamic and white pepper.  At your first sip, you immediately recognize the quality that went into the bottle, with a rush of black fruit washing over your palate, blackberry, currant and cherry, that eases into some mineral notes along with some cedar and hint of anise midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, providing for a great backbone on the long, dry finish that lingers as you contemplate another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a great example of a big, bold Napa Cabernet at an incredible bargain of just $30.  This wine naturally begs to be paired with a big steak dinner, though it would also find a nice home among rack of lamb, braised short ribs or even a hearty pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bit of surf and turf, with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye, topped with a skewer of Cajun spiced grilled shrimp, mashed potatoes and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2011 Clarendon Hills Brookman Vineyard Merlot

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of the month and a perfect opportunity to raid the cellar for something at least a decade in the making.  Though I often have to dig deep for Cellar Saturday wines, this one I didn't have to dig at all since it's only been in my cellar a few weeks thanks to an opportune buy from Wines Till Sold Out!  The 2011 Clarendon Hills Brookman Vineyard Merlot is a 100% Merlot from the Brookman Vineyard in the McLaren Vale in South Australia.  It's been a while since I've enjoyed an Australian wine that wasn't Syrah, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  As you lift the glass, you catch aromas of black cherry, currant and hints of mocha with undertones of leather and earthy spice.  On your first sip you are greeted with a rush of black plum, cherry and currant that dance with notes of vanilla, before transitioning to wonderful fresh herb notes of thyme and white pepper midpalate.  The tannins are well structured and velvety, providing for a wonderfully dry finish that lingers amid a reprise of herb notes.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a pleasant drinking Merlot and a terrific value at just $22!  This wine would pair well with many hearty dishes, from lamb to steak, or a warm shepherd's pie as the temperature dips near zero here this evening.  But tonight, I'm taking the road less traveled and enjoying this wine with a homemade risotto Milanese topped with pan seared sea scallops.  Cheers!

2012 Doubleback Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Well this weekend just flew by!  The weather was near perfect for early spring, so I had a chance to do a little yard work and a few projects around the hours and now it's time to wind down before starting the work week tomorrow.  And tonight I've decided to go big as we near the end of Walla Walla Valley Wine Month, and open up a bottle of 2012 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine has really become a favorite for the more old-world style of Washington Cabernet, produced by Drew  and Maura Bledsoe and their chief winemaker Josh McDaniels, which I had the chance to taste on a trip to Walla Walla back in 2015 (see Tasting at Doubleback) before they moved their tasting room out to their new and fancier digs.  So let's see how this stellar vintage has evolved over the five years since I first tasted it.

The wine is a brooding, inky black affair at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, suggestive of a bigger wine.  The nose is classically old world, with aromas of blackberry, prune, leather, lavender and just a hint of Bordeaux-style funk.  The taste is just magical, with a rush of ripe black fruit dancing with hints of floral, before transitioning to some notes of dark chocolate and sage midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, supporting a long and luxurious dry finish with a reprise of sweet cherry at the back end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's probably one of the finest examples of this stellar vintage of Walla Walla Cabernet that I could imagine.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, but let's be serious, this wine screams to be sipped with a big steak!  And as luck would have it, I have one available!  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a prime New York strip grilled rare, along with grilled asparagus and cipollini onions (man those are a pain to peel!) and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2017 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Tuesday!  It's sure been strange living in pandemic times, but at least there are always brighter sides to the circumstances, like this morning when I filled my gas tank for just $1.54 a gallon!  Unfortunately, there are a lot of people hurting right now, whether from this horrible virus or just because of the turmoil it's caused in the economy.  Although I may not be able to help them directly, I am still trying to live as normally as possible, supporting local businesses and the Washington wine industry.  So in that spirit, tonight I've opened a bottle from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, Chuck Reininger!  The 2017 Reininger Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) and Merlot (15%) from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry and black cherry, with just a hint of blueberry.  The taste is a dance party of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry, plum and currant all playfully enmeshed on a floor of velvety tannins that escort you gently to penultimate hints of anise and peppery spice ahead of the elegant and smooth, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic Cabernet that really highlight's Chuck's wine-making style and the wonderful quality of Walla Walla's old-world style.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of hearty dishes, from steak and lamb to Italian sausage and cedar planked salmon, but tonight is Taco Tuesday, so I am enjoying this wine with some classic beef tacos, with fresh jalapenos on wonderful corn tortillas.  Cheers!

2017 Mark Ryan Crazy Mary Mourvèdre

Happy Saturday!  I have to admit I have been looking forward to some virtual wine tasting this weekend in conjunction with Sean Sullivan of the Washington Wine Report who is conducting a virtual tasting and tours of wineries that were a part of Taste Washington that was scheduled for this weekend but unfortunately was cancelled with all the pandemic issues affecting all of us.  So I encourage you to visit Sean's site (see Virtual Taste Washington) and participate in the fun!  I am doing my part by opening a bottle of 2017 Mark Ryan Crazy Mary Mourvedre.  This wine was a recent wine club release and it's a 100% Mourvèdre from the Ciel du Cheval and Force Majeure Vineyards in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with a dark center, somewhat reminiscent of a nice Merlot.  The nose is an intriguing mixture of chewy blackberry and blueberry intermingled with leather and a hint of vanilla with a bit of smoke over the top.  The taste is a real departure from what your nose was expecting, with a rush of black cherry cola up front that transitions nicely to some notes of tobacco, peppery spice and a bit of mint midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth in support of the luxuriously dry and long finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a fantastic example of new world style in an old world varietal.  This wine would pair well with a range of Mediterranean dishes, from classic bouillabaisse, to roast lamb to fresh pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with an oven baked Cajun spiced wild Alaskan pollock filet with some oven roasted asparagus.  The fruit and spice of this wine really pair well with a mild white fish like this.  Cheers!

2015 Helix Columbia Valley Merlot

Ahh, what a pleasant Sunday spent relaxing and slow cooking, all in preparation for a classic comfort food Sunday dinner.  And of course we'll need some wine to go with that, so I've opened up a bottle of Washington Merlot, so I could satisfy my Merlot Challenge early this month!  The 2015 Helix Columbia Valley Merlot is produced from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard, from one of the hottest vintages on record (I was visiting Walla Walla in August 2015, and I recall the harvest was in full swing by the time I left!).  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, classic for a 100% Merlot.  The nose is a real treat, with layers of sweet ripe fruit, cherry, strawberry and plum, with just a hint of prune.  The taste is a rush of black cherry, blueberry and boysenberry up front that transitions to some earthy notes of grass and cedar midpalate, with just a hint of mint and dark chocolate on the finish.  The tannins are velvety smooth, with bright acidity providing for a wonderfully smooth and dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as Helix Merlot is a perennial favorite for the varietal and this is a wonderful vintage.  This wine would pair well with a variety of casual, weeknight dinners, from steaks to pizza, tacos to barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a slow roasted barbecued pork shoulder, scalloped potatoes, green beans and cornbread.  Cheers!

2014 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  Last night we got about five inches of snow but by this morning, the temperature warmed up such that it was raining and by the time the rain stopped, I was left to shovel before it all freezes again tomorrow, as this high is only supposed to be in the teens.  So basically I spent the afternoon pushing water around the driveway with a snow shovel.  Needless to say, I could use a nice glass of wine, and tonight it's one that's been in the cellar for a few years, the 2014 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Napa Cabernet.  The nose is a interesting combination of leather, green grass, vanilla and mint that suggests a rather full Napa palate.  The taste is a rush of black cherry, currant and plum with an overlay of anise and vanilla bean, that transitions to notes of cedar and spice midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, providing for a lush, luxurious and very dry finish that lingers on the palate for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic big Napa Cabernet with a luxurious balance that makes this wine great for special occasions.  Like most big Cabs, this wine would pair well with big steaks, lamb or hearty roasts, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a big honkin' New York strip grilled Pittsburgh rare with some grilled broccoli rabe and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2016 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Syrah

So yesterday was Black Friday and I have to admit, I didn't partake in all the shopping mania, though I did get in to the Christmas spirit.  I slept in, did some yard work and did my best Clark W. Griswold impersonation in putting up the garland and lights on the fence and by the front window.  And today, building on the spirit, I went up to Owosso, Michigan to ride on the North Pole Express, behind the Pere Marquette 1225 locomotive that was the locomotive behind the "Polar Express" movie.  So now that I'm fully immersed in holiday joy, I thought it was appropriate to open up a bottle of a recent wine club selection from L'Ecole No. 41, the 2016 Walla Walla Syrah, from the Seven Hills Vineyard.  So, let's have a taste!

The wine s a deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose is an interesting combination of earthy notes along with some rich fruit notes, olive, black pepper and violets intermingle with notes of ripe blackberry and currant.  The taste is more classic old world syrah, with a rush of blackberry, cherry and smoky oak that eases into some notes of dark chocolate and classic peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are velvety smooth, providing nice balance for the long, dry finish.  This syrah seems more the classic variety, and less avant guard than some of the heavy mineral examples coming from the Rocks district of late, and for me that's a good thing, as I think it makes this wine more approachable and food friendly.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as this is an easy drinking wine that I could enjoy with a broad range of dishes, from pizza and tacos, to seared tuna or hearty steak.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple dinner of grilled Zahtar seasoned Angus chuck eye steak with some grilled asparagus and oven roasted purple potatoes.  Cheers!