2023 Reininger Syrah

Happy Sunday!  It was a bit cloudy today, so I didn't get much done in the yard, but at least I finished the laundry, so it wasn't a complete waste.  And now I am ready for a nice Sunday dinner, which of course means that I need to pick an appropriate wine.  Tonight, I've settled on a perennial favorite, but a new vintage with the 2023 Reininger Syrah.  This wine is a 100% Syrah harvested from the Seven Hills and Pepper Bridge Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's have a taste, shall we?

The nose is a rush of roasted game and fruit, with aromas of cherry, blackberry and currant intermingled with dried herbs, leather and beefy notes, amid charred oak.  The first sip is a rush of tart cherry, boysenberry and currant amid dried herbs, earthy peat and dusty limestone that transition easily to some notes of tawny port bank black olive notes midpalate.  The tannins are well structured providing an ideal base for the long, smooth dry finish with a reprise of spice. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a consistent high-quality Syrah that pairs well with food.  This wine would pair well with a range of summer dishes, from summer salads to alder planked salmon, barbecued ribs to grilled brats.  Tonight, I am taking a classic approach and am enjoying this wine with a herb crusted rack of lamb over potato puree and steamed snow peas.  Cheers!

2017 True Grit Reserve Petite Sirah

Well, anyone that knows me is well aware that I am a big fan of the Duke, John Wayne, which of course means that I could never pass up a wine with "True Grit" on the label.  So as I was browsing the wines at Costco this weekend I had to pick up a bottle of 2017 True Grit Reserve Petite Sirah from Parducci Wines.  This Mendocino County California wine represents what is truly interesting to me of the California wine scene outside of Napa - interesting varietals with interesting terroir!  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, characteristic of a nice Petite Sirah (which as I always say, seems to be neither petite nor Syrah).  The nose presents a cascade of aromas, blackberry, cherry amid wild game notes that exude a sense of pioneering wonder.  The taste is an absolute rush of cool black fruit, blackberry, blueberry and plum that envelop the palate before transitioning to some notes of dark chocolate and while pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are very chewy, providing nice backbone for the long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasure to sip and would give any big Cabernet a run for it's money when it comes to food pairing.  This wine was also a terrific value at just under $14 at Costco (I think I might need to get some more!).  As for pairing, this wine practically begs for steak, but would also do well with hearty pastas, braised short ribs of hearty chili on a cold fall evening.  Tonight I can oblige with a rare grille petit Angus porterhouse with grilled leeks and asparagus.  Cheers!

2011 Tikveš Vranec Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  It was exceedingly hot today, so I spent much of the day indoors, doing some chores and some online work, including a wine blog post!  As for the wine, tonight I'm enjoying a bottle that's been in the cellar for a number of years, the 2011 Tikveš Vranec red wine.  Vranec is one of the most popular varietals in Macedonia, where this wine was produced, and interestingly, the name means "strong, black and powerful horse (black stallion)" which I found interesting as the glass I poured certainly did this imagery justice.  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is really a black stallion in the glass, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of prune, blackberry, peppery spice and wild game, very stallion-esque.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit, blackberry, currant and plum that transition nicely to some notes of cocoa powder and green grass midpalate.  The tannins are robust, providing for a very dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a very interesting wine that was also fairly inexpensive if I recall.  This wine would pair marvelously with venison or duck, with the fruit and earthy character accenting the game character.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a plain Jane Sunday dinner of grilled ribeye, along with some mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2012 Hedges Family Estate Red Mountain

Happy black Friday, I mean red Friday!  After all, I'm drinking red!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 Hedges Family Estate Red Mountain wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%),  Merlot (26%), Syrah (8%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Malbec (2%) all from the Red Mountain AVA in Washington State.  So let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep inky indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, oak, blackberry and mint, somewhat of an old school Bordeaux vibe.  The taste is much less intimidating than the nose might suggest, with a rush of cherry cola, licorice and dried herbs that transition nicely to some earthy notes of wild game and smoke midpalate.  The finish is somewhat subdued but very dry.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's actually a very nice Washington red blend and a fairly decent value in the $30 range.  Tonight I am enjoying this with another big dinner for Thanksgiving week, a shrimp cocktail appetizer, then a big bone-in ribeye grilled rare with some grilled leeks, rainbow carrots and asparagus and a baked potato.  Cheers!

2007 Bodegas Arrayan Syrah

Happy Sunday!  The end of the weekend but the beginning of the week, how does that work anyway?  Tonight I've decided to open a recent purchase from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2007 Bodegas Arrayan Syrah, a 100% Syrah from Mentrida, Spain.  So let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of tart cherry, violets and wild game with mint.  The taste is surprising it its complexity, with a rush of ripe fruit up front, cherry, blueberry and cassis that transitions to some lovely floral and spice notes midpalate.  The peppery spice subsides to reveal some wonderfully structured tannins supporting the velvety, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely Syrah that's in it's prime for drinking and it was a terrific bargain at just $17.  Tonight I am paring this with my own twist on Indian food, a chicken Tikka Masala with a broad array of vegetables served over basmati rice.  The black fruit and spice are perfect with Indian food, cheers!