2017 Noirvana Pinot Noir

Happy Taco Tuesday (I bet you'll never guess what's for dinner tonight!) and let's have some wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of Michigan wine, and you know I'm not such a big fan of Michigan wines, but a friend of mine gave be this bottle for Christmas, and it's made by her boyfriend's family, so I had to give it a try.  The 2017 Noirvana Pinot Noir is from the Karma Vista Vineyards in Coloma, Michigan, so let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity, just a touch darker than you might expect from the varietal.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of cherry, currant, lavender and oak, with virtually none of the funk that's usually present with a Pinot Noir.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of ripe red fruit, cherry, strawberry and raspberry that transition to some classic earthy elements of tar and dusty limestone that are classically associated with the varietal.  The tannins are nicely developed and firm enough to support a supple dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's one of the better Michigan red wines I've tried, and likely would be a good comparison to many west coast Pinot Noirs.  This wine would pair well with a variety of more elegant dishes, from herb crusted rack of lamb, venison tenderloin or a classis risotto.  But, since it is Taco Tuesday, I am enjoying this wine with some steak fajita tacos, topped with cheese, sour cream and some fresh jalapeno.  Cheers!

2016 Pepper Bridge Seven Hills Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Saturday!  I have to admit, it's been a long week as I've been traveling for work and came home just in time for a nice snowstorm and subsequent shoveling of the driveway (to be fair, part of the motivation for shoveling was to clear a spot for the grill so I could make a steak tonight!) so I am all tuckered out.  But at least there is wine, and tonight I've opened a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from Pepper Bridge Winery, the 2016 Seven Hills Vineyard red wine.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (52%), Cabernet Franc (22%), Merlot (18%), Malbec (4%) and Petit Verdot (4%), all grown in the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA.  So let's see how this wine tastes!

The wine is a beautiful deep garnet color in the glass.  The nose is chock full of ripe fruit, blackberry, black currant, cherry, blueberry and plum interlaced with leather and a bit of mocha.  The taste is a wonderful expression of the vineyard, with vibrant fruit balanced by earthy flavors and spice, hints of cocoa and tobacco give way to a bit of spice at the finish.  The tannins are very well developed and ideal in providing structure to the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking quite nicely now, but should improve with a few years in the cellar.  This wine is not your typical big steak wine, as I could see this pairing very nicely with a variety of dishes, from lamb to pasta to braised short ribs.  But of course, tonight I'm enjoying this wine with steak, in fact, steak and tots!  A rare grilled New York strip, with grilled asparagus and tots, finished with a touch of horseradish.  Cheers!

2016 Stolen Horse Syrah

Happy Sunday!  I spent the afternoon reading and doing laundry after a day of yard work yesterday, so now I'm ready to relax with a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I'm opening a recent wine club selection from the Bledsoe Family Winery, the 2016 Stolen Horse Syrah.  I've been a fan of this Syrah for a while so I'm looking forward to seeing what the latest vintage has to offer.  This wine is a Syrah (93%) that was co-fermented with viognier (7%) from the Loess and Lefore Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep violet color in the glass, with a bright fuchsia along the edges.  The nose is a lovely combination of blackberry, blueberry and plum, intermingled with some wonderful dusty mineral and smoke.  The taste is a rush of fruit up front, blueberry cobbler, blackberry and plum that transitions wonderfully to some earthy notes of leather, dusty limestone and a hint of mint midpalate.  The tannins are well developed, but youthful, providing a solid base for the long, smooth dry finish which features just a bit of black pepper spice at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's drinking well now, but it will likely improve considerably with a year or two in the bottle.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steak to barbecue to tacos, but tonight I am going in a completely different direction.  I am enjoying this wine with an alder planked coho salmon filet with lemon and dill, some oven roasted candy stripe beets and a four cheese risotto.  The earthy flavors of the wine really complement the salmon, while the rich fruit and acidity are perfect foils for the richness of the risotto.  Cheers!

2015 Catena Malbec

Hooray for Taco Tuesday!  I bet you'll never guess what I'm having for dinner, so to go with that marvelous food, I've opened a bottle of 2015 Catena Malbec that I bought at Costco last weekend.  Catena is a well regarded Malbec producer in Mendoza, Argentina, and this particular wine is sourced from the family vineyard in the foothills of the Andes.  So let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges.  The nose is a wonderful combination of earthy leather, black cherry, mocha and dark chocolate with just a hint of lavender over the top.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit up front, blackberry and cherry that transition almost imperceptibly to some coarse mineral notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  There is a hint of tart cherry on the finish, as the well developed tannins provide the base for the long, smooth and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a remarkably smooth Malbec that meets my taste (I'm not a big Malbec fan so that's a big deal!) and it's a solid value at about $16.  This wine would pair with a variety of steaks, beef short ribs, or just about anything you can imagine a gaucho eating.  But given the day, I am enjoying this wine tonight with some chorizo and bean tacos with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2016 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle from a recent wine club (I think?) shipment from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers of one of my favorite varietals, the 2016 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere!  Carmenere is one of those often overlooked varietals, which is unfortunate as it's an exceptionally food friends and easy drinking wine that everyone should enjoy!  So let's see how this latest vintage stacks up!

The wine is a beautiful garnet color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of wonderfully ripe black fruit, blackberry, plum and currant over aromas of green herbs and light floral notes.  The taste us just a pleasure to behold, with a rush of ripe blackberry, plum and currant up front that transitions gracefully to notes of green herbs and a hint of white pepper midpalate.  The tannins are youthful but well developed, providing for a smooth, velvety dry finish with a reprise of tart cherry at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking wine that would be good with just about anything, or even plain!  This would pair well with Italian, steak, barbecue, tacos, tapas, literally about anything, but tonight I'm enjoying this wine with some hot Italian sausage with onions and peppers and some spaghetti with garlic and olive oil, perfect combination of fruit from the wine with the spice of the dish.  Cheers!

2014 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere

Happy Sunday!  I had a somewhat productive day, given that I went grocery shopping to restock the fridge after being gone a week, and then I cut the grass and did laundry, and then I was pooped so I decided to open a bottle of wine!  Tonight's selection is a wine club wine from one of my favorite wineries, Seven Hills out of Walla Walla.  I have a nice dinner planned, so I've decided to open the 2014 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose is a symphony of spice with notes of red pepper spice and smoky chipotle intermingled with some ripe black fruit.  The taste is warm and inviting, with some green herb notes up front that cascade into some lovely ripe fruit notes of black cherry and plum over hints of dark chocolate.  The tannins are well developed and provide a nice foundation with some acidity and a hint of bordeaux "funk" on the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Well, it seems that I only review even years of Seven Hills Carmenere, as I've blogged on the 2010 and 2012, and now the 2014 (I checked and the streak will live on since the 2015 vintage is sold out!), and this vintage is by far my favorite, so I'll rate it a solid 9, well worth however much I paid for it!  This wine would pair well with a wide variety of dishes from tacos to steaks to pasta, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic summer dinner, first course a wonderful caprese salad with farm fresh tomato, 25-year aged balsamic and basil I grew myself, and the main course of alder planked Alaskan sockeye with lemon and dill along with some fresh grilled asparagus.  The lovely acidity of this wine just cuts right through the richness of the salmon.  Cheers!

2012 RouteStock Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

So, today I put up a wreath and some evergreen garland I bought at Costco, along with some lights, doing by best impersonation of Clark W. Griswold (even to the point that I put up lights by my front porch and plugged them in and only half lit up!), the earliest I've ever put up any Christmas decorations.  No worries, the trees won't come for a couple more weeks!  At any right, I'm ready to relax with a glass of wine, and tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 RouteStock Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, so let's see what cooks!

The wine is a deep, inky color in the glass with bright ruby along the edges, the classic look of a Cabernet.  The nose is rather pleasant, with some leather, black fruit and a hint of mint.  The taste is quite nice, with some ripe black fruit up front, blackberry and plum, that transition to some notes of cherry cola and green grass midpalate.  The finish is very nice, with well developed tannins that provide some backbone to the long, velvety dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nice Cabernet that was also a good value (I think this one was under $20 at my local wine store).  It's a good wine for steak, which is a good thing since I have another bone-in ribeye to finish off tonight, along with some grilled veggies.  Cheers!

2011 Charles Krug 150th Anniversary Napa Valley Merlot

Happy Friday!  It's been a busy week at work and about 6:00 pm I was at the office and developed a splitting headache, so I figured it was time to head home and open a bottle of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle I found at my local wine store from a winery I had a chance to visit last Fall, the 2011 Charles Krug Napa Valley Merlot, which is the 150th anniversary vintage from the winery's founding in 1861.  You know I love me some good Merlot so let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep inky purple in the glass with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, boysenberry, dark chocolate and mocha, ideal for a good Merlot.  The taste is quite nice, with a rush of ripe black fruit up front, blackberry, plum and cherry that transitions gradually to some lovely notes of tobacco and some mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is lovely, with some well developed tannins supporting the long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers nicely.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a really nice example of the varietal from a less hyped, but I would argue still a quality vintage.  This is a perfect steak wine, which is ironic since I am enjoying this wine with a nice rare grilled filet mignon with grilled Brussels sprouts and a baked potato.  Here's to the weekend!

2007 Cliff Creek Cellars Syrah

Happy Sunday!  I was looking for a bottle of wine to open for dinner and was surprised to find a bottle from a producer I met at the Portland airport while there on business in April 2014 (you can see that post here: 2009 Cliff Cree Cellars Merlot).  They are an interesting small producer located in Southern Oregon, in the town of Gold Hill.  At the time I really loved the Merlot, but apparently didn't think the Syrah was too bad either, hence I'm enjoying the 2007 Cliff Creek Cellars Syrah with my Sunday dinner!

The wine is a beautiful ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents earthy aromas of leather, musty peat and oak over layers of lush berries and plum with just a hint of smoke.  The taste is quite nice, with some initial ripe black fruit that gives way to some eucalyptus and baking spice midpalate.  The finish is very smooth, with a reprise of some berries intermingled with toasted oak, as the well developed tannins support the long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, as it's very nice, but not as nice as the stellar Merlot (I really need to find that other bottle I brought back!).  This wine would be good with a variety of rustic winter dishes, but tonight I'm pairing it with a classic holiday Sunday dinner or roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and classic green bean casserole.  Cheers!

2009 RouteStock Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a pleasant week so far, so I thought why not open a nice bottle of wine to celebrate?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2009 RouteStock Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that I picked up last weekend at my local wine store.  I've seen this wine before, but never really had a chance to try it, until now!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose presents some pleasant aromas of leather, blackberry and cassis which seems right for a Napa Cabernet.  The taste was quite pleasant, with some ripe berries and plum up front that transition nicely to some warm spice and somewhat complex mineral notes midpalate.  The finish was very nice, as this wine seems to be just hitting its stride now, the well developed tannins provide for a smooth and exceptionally dry finish that seems to last the better part of a minute.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nice example of a Napa Valley Cabernet, and it was a terrific value at only $18!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus ribeye, along with some grilled peppers and green beans, a perfect midweek summer dinner.  Cheers!

2010 Spalletti Chianti Classico Riserva

Happy Monday!  I just got back from the gym and now I'm cooking dinner, and what goes better with cooking than a nice glass of wine?  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2010 Spalletti Chianti Classico Riserva that I bought recently during the Wines Till Sold Out "Cheapskate Marathon" which is always a favorite event!

The wine is a bright garnet color in the glass with great clarity as is typical with a nice Chianti.  The nose is pure Tuscan Sangiovese, with earthy aromas of leather, smoke and peat over a fruit foundation of ripe plum and blackberry.  The taste takes be back to a lunch of Tuscan Toast I had in Florence back in 1995, with some ripe blackberry and plum at the outset that transitions effortlessly to some notes of peat and nearly Bordeaux style funk midpalate.  The finish is very nice, as many mass produced Chianti have a very lackluster finish, but the tannins on this wine are well developed, providing for a long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very nice example of a quality Chianti at a value price of just $15!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some Parmesan crusted walleye with lemon garlic butter, wild rice and some haricots verts almondine!  What could be better with a nice Tuscan red than a mild fish married with butter, garlic and Parmesan?  Cheers!

2010 Helix Columbia Valley Sangiovese

Happy Saturday!  It's been raining here all day, so I decided to get some errands done since yard work is out of the question.  I went to Costco, then to Meijer, then to Martin's my local market where I get most everything, and what would you know they had fresh Morel mushrooms on sale, so how could I resist buying 3/8 of a pound (it doesn't sound like a lot, but it's a lot!).  And now I've decided to open a bottle of wine to help clear my head as I contemplate what interesting Morel recipe I should try, and what better wine than the 2010 Helix Columbia Valley Sangiovese, from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard.  Helix is the second label be Reininger, one of my favorite Washington producers of this varietal.

The wine is a lovely rich garnet color in the glass, with great clarity.  The nose exhibits beautiful aromas of leather, oak, tar and black pepper spice, just as you would expect from a great Sangiovese.  The taste is lovely, with a mild bit of fruit up front, black raspberry and cassis that melds into some earth and floral notes, edging toward some nice peppery spice midpalate amid some dark chocolate and mocha notes.  The tannins are well developed, providing a velvety mouthfeel and mild acidity supporting a long, exceptionally dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's a nice wine and drinking well now, but I really do prefer the 2009 vintage which I reviewed here.  Tonight as I ponder the coming Morel madness, I am enjoying this wine with some Monterey kabobs, with sirloin, peppers, red onion and some lovely spicy citrus seasoning, a baked potato and some grilled asparagus.  This wine is so food friendly, it's hard to think of any dish that you couldn't enjoy with it.  Cheers!

1999 I Balzini Super Tuscan - Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese

Happy New Year!  Yeah, I know I'm a few days late, but what can you expect from me?  Tonight not only will I make my first blog post of 2015, but it's also "Cellar Saturday" that first Saturday of the month where I raid the cellar and open a bottle that's had some time to mature.  Tonight, that mature bottle is the 1999 I Balzini Super Tuscan blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese that I originally bought in a vertical that included the 1997-99 and 2001 from Wines Till Sold Out.

Having let this wine breathe for a couple hours, it's a bright ruby, with some darker color toward the center, and surprising clarity given its age.  The nose is quite pleasant, with some ripe berry, prune and cherry notes up front, than transition to some toasted oak and smoky notes.  The taste is quite nice, with some ripe cherry and cola notes up front, that transition to some notes of plum and dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are very well developed, supporting a round, velvety and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very pleasant wine that would make a great accompaniment to a variety of heavier, meaty dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus New York Strip topped with some Stilton, along with a big old baked potato and some fresh steamed Brussels sprouts.  A perfect dinner for such a lovely wine!

2012 Canoe Ridge Vineyards The Expedition Cabernet Sauvignon

Well I am sure glad the world didn't end with the Mayan calendar, as there are a number of really nice 2012 vintage wines coming out now that we all would have missed!  Tonight's is one such vintage, the 2012 Canoe Ridge Vineyards "The Expedition" Cabernet Sauvignon from the Horse Heaven Hills.  I've tried a few different wines from Canoe Ridge, and they seldom disappoint, so we'll see how this one goes.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, certainly appropriate for a Cabernet from the Columbia Valley.  The nose is quite pleasant with some lovely floral notes atop some rich, ripe fruit notes of plum and red currant and just a bit of smokiness.  The taste is really quite nice, very fruit forward, with flavors of ripe raspberry, blackberry and currant that blast into your psyche.  The rich fruit transitions nicely to some smoky, mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are remarkably well developed for a wine this young, supporting a long, smooth, very dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's really drinking well and it was a terrific bargain as I found this one at G.B. Russo's in Grand Rapids for just $15!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a fall classic dinner of grilled teriyaki pork tenderloin with some cheddar bacon potato casserole and some steamed green beans.  The sweet ripe fruit in this wine is just perfect with a rich pork dish while the acidity offers a nice balance to the cheesy potato casserole, man I have to eat!  Cheers!

2004 Forgeron Cabernet Sauvignon, Champoux Vineyard Horse Heaven Hills

Well, it's been a busy week, my last week at my old job and getting ready for my first week at my new job in Indiana!  So tonight I've decided to treat myself to a nice, well aged Cabernet from one of my favorite producers in Walla Walla, Forgeron Cellars!  Tonight's treat is the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Champoux Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills.  So let's jump right in!

I opened this bottle about an hour ago to give it some fresh air, and the first glass has a lovely deep, inky purple color that just begs to be imbibed.  The nose is a wonderful combination of rich leather, cocoa powder and just a hint of ripe berries around the periphery.  The taste is surprisingly fruit forward, with a burst of berries and cassis that effortlessly transitions to some dried herbs, smoke and lovely mineral notes midpalate.  The finish is just wonderful, as rounded, lush mouthfeel and well developed tannins provide ample support for the long, exceptionally dry finish.  Simply a lovely wine to enjoy on a late summer afternoon!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a great wine that's had some time to age and bring out the best of what the Columbia Valley has to offer!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a nice Angus T-bone, some grilled corn on the cob and some steamed broccoli.  This wine stands up quite well to grilled beef, so a fine pairing and a lovely Sunday dinner.  Cheers!

2009 L'Ecole No. 41 Seven Hills Estate Syrah

It's been a busy week, and it seems like my weekends are just as busy!  This weekend I did a bunch of chores around the house, had dinner with some friends last night, did more chores today, went to the airport to tour a World War II era B-17 bomber, and now I'm ready to relax!  And what better way to relax than to open a bottle of wine from one of my all time favorite wineries, L'Ecole No. 41!  Tonight it's the 2009 Seven Hills Estate Syrah, a wine that L'Ecole has been doing exceptionally well for more than a decade, so let's see how this recent example stacks up.

The color is a bright garnet in the glass, with a bit of opacity.  The nose is a blast of ripe black fruit, blackberries, cherries, layered over leather and oak, along with a sweet twang that is very reminiscent of a nice Bordeaux.  The taste is not nearly as fruity as the nose would suggest, as you start with some mild berry and plum flavors that transition to some notes of tart cherry and dark chocolate mid-palate.  There is a nice layer of minerality here as well, with some earthy notes.  The finish is quite nice as the well developed tannins support a long, very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasure to sip, despite the recent bit of warm weather we've been having.  Tonight I am pairing it with some classic surf & turf, a nice Kansas City cut, bone-in NY Strip along with a grilled lobster tail, served with some pesto buccatini and steamed brussels sprouts, what a summer feast!  The wine really plays well against the bigger flavors of this meal, as the sweeter fruit notes play against the hearty beef, while the tannins on the finish are a nice foil to the richness of the lobster.  Cheers!

2008 Waters Interlude Columbia Valley Red Wine

How sad, I've been away for a week and suddenly Washington Wine Month is almost at an end! Fear not fellow Washington Winos, I mean Wine Fans, I have at least two more to share with you, including tonight's feature, the 2008 Waters Interlude Columbia Valley Red Wine.  Now I'll admit, I bought this a year or two ago, and I can't even remember where I bought it from, but it's from Washington, so I'm going to enjoy it tonight!

For a Columbia Valley wine, this one really throws you off, since it has a nose that is so reminiscent of the lovely Walla Walla blends, which suggests for a CV designation, this one is likely under-appreciated,  The nose is a lovely combination of leather, ripe red fruit and a bit of spice, all surrounded by a hint of musky earth.  The taste is just lovely, with some ripe berries up front, along with some tart cherry, which makes for an interesting combination, followed by some green grass and cedar midpalate.  The finish is perfectly dry, as the well developed tannins support a long, lush, dry finish.

As I mentioned earlier, I can't remember where I bought this one, so I have no idea whether it was a bargain or appropriately priced, but I can certainly have no hesitation rating this one a solid 8.5 as it's just a terrific example of a Columbia Valley blend that is at the top of its game.  Tonight I am enjoying it with a rare angus ribeye, a big baked potato and some lovely veggies (purple carrots, asparagus, zucchini, red onion and green pepper) grilled in a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper.  What a lovely pairing as this wine supports the big red meat, but also plays nicely with the rich aromatics of the grilled veggies.  So delicious!