2022 Stag's Leap Artemis

Happy Sunday!  It's been very hot here today, though I did make it out for a bike ride for about an hour and just got cooled off.  In any case, now it's time to make dinner and open a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of wine that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out in one of their recent Mystery Selections which have featured two wines from this outstanding producer, this time it's the 2022 Stag's Leap Artemis.  I've been a fan of this wine for well over a decade having reviewed the 2010 vintage and the fabulous 2012 vintage previously.  Let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with a brooding black center, just as you'd expect from a big Napa Cabernet.  A gentle swirl and your nose is treated to aromas of caramel, tar and lavender with undertones of leather and ripe black fruit.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit having a throw down with tart cherry before easing up to notes of warm baking spice, earthy minerality and mocha midpalate.  The tannins are still a bit sharp, but ease right into the warm dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking nicely now, but will likely improve handsomely with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair with a variety of hearty dishes from braised short ribs to rack of lamb, but more than anything, this wine begs for steak.  And it's a good thing my local market had a good variety yesterday, so tonight I can enjoy this wine with a rare grilled tomahawk ribeye topped with grilled garlic scapes and served with grilled asparagus and broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2023 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere

Happy Saturday!  I spent the afternoon in the yard, pulling a lot of weed and inadvertently transplanting some irises that I pulled up with some of the weeds.  But now it's time to relax in the air conditioning and maybe stop sweating for a while, and of course enjoy dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2023 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere, a wine made from the "lost" Bordeaux varietal that's made a come back over the past few decades.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass and the nose presents aromas of ripe berries, raspberries, blackberries and currant, that give way to notes of leather, dark chocolate and tobacco.  The first sip is an interesting combination of ripe red fruit with hints of mint, that transitions to some notes of earthy peat and dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and supple providing just the right base for a lovely warm, dry finish. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it strikes me as easy drinking and food friendly.  And speaking of food, I have a pronounced habit of enjoying a nice Carmenere with tacos, as this strikes me as a perfect taco wine.  To be sure, it would also pair well with pasta, steaks, barbecue or pizza, but tonight it's steak fajita tacos with all the trimmings!  Cheers!

2022 Mark Ryan 216 Miles to Go Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I spent the afternoon working in the yard and enjoying the sunny, cool weather, and now it's time for dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of the inaugural vintage of a new Cabernet from Mark Ryan that was just delivered to me last week.  The 2022 Mark Ryan 216 Miles to Go Cabernet Sauvignon tells the story of the humble beginnings of Mark Ryan Winery and the 216 mile trip between Woodinville and the vineyards in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Merlot (10%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (1%) from the Phinney Hill and Quintessence Vineyards of Washington.  So, let's see how this first vintage is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a solid Washington Cabernet.  The nose reveals aromas of tart cherry, green grass and dusty loam.  The first sip is an adventure, with a rush of tart cherry, raspberry and currant that easily transitions to some notes of dark chocolate and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are well structured to provide for a warm dry finish that will have you imagining an afternoon at a wonderful Red Mountain vineyard at harvest time.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a very pleasant Cabernet at a price under $40.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from barbecue to tacos, hearty pasta to braised lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic Sunday dinner of a rare grilled T-bone, baked potato and bacon roasted broccolini.  Cheers!

2021 Doubleback Merlot

Well, it's been a long week, and I think I can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel as we heard toward the weekend.  And one bright spot is a virtual wine tasting tonight with Drew Bledsoe and Josh McDaniels of Doubleback Winery, so what better way to celebrate than opening a bottle of their first vintage of Merlot!  The 2021 Doubleback Merlot is a blend of Merlot (94%) and Cabernet Franc (6%) from Shafer Vineyard which is on the north side of the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington, adjacent to the Leonetti Upland Vineyard, which is known for quality Merlot.  So, let's get a taste with the virtual tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, as you might expect from a high-quality Merlot.  A gentle swirl releases aromas of vanilla bean, ripe red fruit and a hint of oak.  The first sip is a rush of ripe red fruit, plum, raspberry and currant that transitions to some dark chocolate and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are soft, and well suited for the warm dry finish.  During the tasting, Drew mentioned a story about a Merlot symposium they held at Doubleback before they even started making a Merlot, and the screenwriter from Sideways showed up.  He mentioned how he noted that he had a lot of guts showing up to a Merlot symposium after he singlehandedly killed Merlot, but he responded that he didn't kill Merlot, he saved it.  There were a lot of mass-produced, low-quality Merlots at the time, and the movie served as a catalyst to the good producers to elevate the quality of the varietal.  I thought that was an interesting perspective!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a pleasant drinking Merlot that really shows the earthy texture of the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from barbecue to steak, spicy tacos to soft cheeses.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic comfort dish of stuffed cabbage!  I made this batch a bit spicy, but this wine stands up well to it.  Cheers!

2016 Timber Point Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Friday!  It's been a busy week and I'm glad to open up a nice bottle of wine to start the weekend!  Tonight I've opened a bottle I recently ordered from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2016 Timber Point Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine from a very solid Napa vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (82%), Merlot (8%), Petit Verdot (6%) and Malbec (4%) from vineyards in Rutherford and Oakville.  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 big Napa Cabernet.  The nose is a rounded, earthy affaire, with aromas of leather, charcoal and cedar intermingled with bing cherry and red currant notes.  One sip and you're greeted with a mesmerizing collision of new world and old world, as some Bordeaux-esque herbs and funk intermingle with new world ripe black fruit and sharp acidity.  Ripe cherry, currant and some pomegranate combine with some dried herbs and acidic sharpness before transitioning to a wonderfully warm, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as this wine is a somewhat more subdued version of a classic Napa Cabernet, at a price (just $18) that makes this into an easy everyday red wine.  This wine would pair well with classic steaks, chops and hearty stews, in addition to some wonderful Italian pasta dishes.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some sun dried tomato and goat cheese ravioli with a spicy red sauce topped with shaved parmesan.  Cheers! 

2018 Stolen Horse Syrah

Happy Sunday!  It's been cold and rainy here today, so I've been holed up in my house doing some laundry and preparing for the class I'm teaching starting on Tuesday.  So this past week, I received a couple of wine club shipments, including one from the Bledsoe Family Winery, which had some 2018 Stolen Horse Syrah.  I am a fan of Syrah generally since it's such a versatile, food friendly wine, which comes in handy when you have an eclectic taste in cuisine like I do!  This particular wine is primarily Syrah (96%) co-fermented with Viognier (4%) from the Lefore, Kenny Hill and Loess Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, ideal for a Syrah.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry and kirsch with a good bit of smoky, earthy goodness.  The taste is a rush of blueberry, blackberry and cherry, that transition easily to some notes of smoked meat and just a hint of menthol midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and well integrated, providing for a warm dry finish that hits you with a reprise of black fruit and mint.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as this is a classic Walla Walla Syrah that seems to get better with each passing vintage.  This wine would pair well with a broad range of dishes, from lamb to sausage, barbecue to wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight I am once again taking things off the beaten path and enjoying this wine with a classic chili con carne, with cornbread and all the trimmings, an ideal dinner to take the chill from a cold rainy fall day.  Cheers!

2013 Cadaretta Springboard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I've decided to have a special treat, since it's been somewhat cloudy and rainy all day, I figured I should open a nice bottle of wine to make up for the dreary weather.  So I've opened a bottle that I brought back from my vacation to Walla Walla in August, the 2013 Cadaretta Springboard Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (71%), Malbec (23%), Petit Verdot (5%) and Merlot (1%) from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  I tasted this wine at the Cadaretta tasting room in Walla Walla and I liked it, so now I have a chance to share it with you.

The wine is a classic looking Cabernet in the glass, deep inky purple with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, cassis and white pepper spice, a tribute to the heavy blend of Malbec.  The taste is a rush of black cherry and blueberry that transitions to some lovely mineral notes of dusty limestone, white pepper and hints of vanilla bean midpalate.  The finish is warm and voluptuous as the beautifully integrated tannins provide the necessary backbone for the long, dry and seamless finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a wonderful example of the great quality of Washington varietals and how an inspired blending can further elevate a wine.  With the heavy Malbec presence in the blend, this is a perfect big steak wine, which is a good thing, since tonight I am enjoying this wine with a big Angus porterhouse grilled rare with some grilled asparagus.  Cheers!

2015 DaMa Columbia Valley Tempranillo

Happy Friday!  In a holiday shortened week, it's such a pleasure to get to the weekend so much sooner than normal!  To kick things off, I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines in Walla Walla, the 2015 DaMa Columbia Valley Tempranillo.  This wine is a 100% Tempranillo from the Chene de Mille vineyard in the Columbia Valley.  So let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a lighter ruby color with great clarity, which is classic for the varietal.  The nose is chock full of spice, cardamom, nutmeg and lavender over lovely ripe fruit notes of strawberry and raspberry.  The taste is warm and inviting, with a vapor of fruit flavor at the outset that transitions to some lovely earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and well structured, though young, providing for a lovely, warm and dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it really reminds me of some of the best Tempranillos of Spain, smooth fruit with a bit of a spicy edge.  This wine would pair well with a variety of summer dishes, from caprese salad to grilled salmon, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with some barbecued baby back ribs, corn on the cob and potato salad, it doesn't get more summery than that!  Cheers!

2012 DaMa Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy Hump Day!  I know last month was a bit of a bust for my wine blog, as I was traveling a lot for work, but now I have some time at home for a little while so expect more blog posts in August!  Tonight I've decided to open a wine club selection that's been waiting around for a few months, the 2012 DaMa Walla Walla Valley Merlot,  You know I love me some Merlot and what could be better on Wine Wednesday?

The wine is a lovely, deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, currant, leather and smoke, a very inviting combination.  The taste is really quite interesting, with a blast of ripe red fruit up front, cherry, raspberry and currant intermingled with red licorice that transitions nicely to some mineral notes of dusty limestone and a bit of green cedar midpalate.  The description of this wine on the DaMa website notes, "This lovely new wine is like that treasured sweater: classic, comforting and warm from the inside out," and that is especially true for this wine, it has a particularly warm presence.  The finish is quite pleasant, with moderately chewy tannins supporting the smooth, warm dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's just such a pleasant wine to sip and a classic expression of Merlot, which is so seldom seen today.  This would be a great wine for grilled meats, barbecue or rustic Italian dishes, but tonight I am enjoying this with a lovely mid-week dinner of a rare grilled prime petit filet mignon along with a baked potato and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2010 Reininger Walla Walla Merlot

Happy Friday!  Have I mentioned lately that I'm an idiot?  So yesterday two cases of wine arrive at my office from Reininger Winery in Walla Walla.  Now I knew I ordered one case last week and they were shipping it 2 day air, so I thought maybe they sent half in each box,  But I opened the first case and it was my complete order, so I called the friendly folks at Reininger and explained that I had an extra case of wine so we opened it and there were 3 bottles of 2010 Helix Merlot, 3 bottles of 2011 Reininger Merlot and 6 bottles of 2010 Reininger Merlot, one of which I opened tonight.  So apparently I ordered this wine last July and was supposed to pick up the case when I went to Walla Walla on vacation, but I didn't, and ironically I have no memory of any of this!  So dumb me gets a surprise when something he orders finally arrives!  Senility can be fun on days like this I guess!  Anyway, on to the wine.

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, cherry leather and hint of violet floral notes.  The taste is classic Merlot, a rush of ripe berries, cherry and warm spice with the lovely Walla Walla hints of dark chocolate that come to play midpalate.  The tannins are firm but very nicely integrated into the long, warm and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

All the great wine that I received yesterday!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's the ideal representation of a great Walla Walla Merlot.  I can't speak to value, as I have no memory of ordering this wine much less what I paid for it, but I'm guessing since I ordered a half case it must have been a deal!  This wine would be perfect for steak, or big hearty Italian dishes and tonight I am enjoying this one with a nice rare grilled sirloin tri-tip steak, baked potato with all the fixins and some grilled Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2012 Clos du Val Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well it's Saturday and ever so close to springtime, after all, we "spring forward" tonight!  So after working in the yard all afternoon, I've decided to relax a bit before having dinner and heading to the theater tonight.  So I've opened a bottle that I just picked up from my supermarket this morning, as they were having a 15% off wine sale and I bought a couple bottles of 2012 Clos Du Val Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

The wine is a deep inky purple at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Napa cab.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry and a hint of lilac.  The taste is just wonderful, with a blast of fresh black fruit up front, blackberry, cherry and plum that transition nicely to some mineral notes of basalt and limestone midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat tight, but very supportive of the warm, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a lovely example of a Napa Cabernet from the stellar 2012 vintage.  It was also a good value as I picked this one up for less than $25 today!  It would pair well with a big steak or a variety of hearty beef dishes, but tonight I am opting for a little surf and turf, with a petit filet mignon grilled rare along with a grilled lobster tail, baked potato and some grilled white asparagus.  Cheers!

2013 Wayne Gretzky Estate Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I know I've been slacking on my wine blog, but I've been busy with a visit from my Uncle Ron, so we went to some World War II battle reenactments and a dinner and USO dance with some nice big band music from the 40s, so I've had a hard time making room for the blog!  But tonight I've made time with a bottle of 2013 Wayne Gretzky Estate Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon,

The wine is a beautiful deep ruby in the glass, a classic Cabernet color.  The nose is a pleasant combination of oak, black licorice and baking spice.  The taste is a nice burst of jammy fruit, blackberry, plum and cassis that transitions nicely to some oak and floral notes midpalate.  The tannins are young but nicely structured for a nice warm, dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's a nice wine to drink young and it was a good value as I think this one came from Wines Till Sold Out for about $13.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a nice rare grilled Angus T-bone with a baked potato with butter and sour cream and some grilled asparagus fresh from Michigan.  Yum!