2012 Dois Irmaos Winery Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Happy Friday!  I worked a little late tonight and just got back from the gym, so I figure I've earned a glass of wine or two, and for tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 Dois Irmaos Winery Willamette Valley Pinot Noir that I just received today from Wines Till Sold Out!  Now those who know me realize that I'm not a huge Pinot fan, even though I lived in the Raleigh Hills area of Portland in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but there are always opportunities to try a Pinot and see if I like it.  You see, I was introduced to red wine through Bordeaux rather than Burgundy, so my tastes lean much more towards Cabernet and Merlot than Pinot, but since this was billed as a Pinot for Cab lovers I figured I'd give it a shot.

The wine is a little darker in the glass than a typical Pinot, with a nice violet color and great clarity.  The nose is fairly classic Pinot, with some tart fruit notes of cherry and a hint of strawberry amid the slightest hints of green grass and tar.  The taste is rather pleasant with great fruit up front, strawberry, tart cherry and plum that transitions to some nice smoky mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins though young support a long, lovely finish with some great acidity.  Though certainly a far cry from Cabernet, this wine is really quite pleasant.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's very nicely structure and it was a great value at just $16!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with the classic pairing of cedar planked wild Alaskan sockeye filet, some wild mushroom risotto and some steamed asparagus.  The acidity in the wine really cuts through the richness of the salmon and risotto, providing the perfect foil.  Cheers!

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!

2012 Waterbrook Icon Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

I cannot even begin to describe how exhausted I am!  I started the day with a nice breakfast, an Asiago and spinach omelette with some bacon and hash browns, then I ran a whole bunch of errands, bank, store, etc. and then I finally got home around 3:00 and decided it would be a good idea to rake the leaves from my yard so I could then mow one last time before the grass stops growing for winter (if that sounds like a ridiculously stupid idea, you are correct!),  Needless to say, I made it to 15,034 steps doing this and now I definitely need a glass of wine!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 Waterbrook Icon Reserve Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass, a little lighter than I normally expect from a Cabernet.  The nose displays ample black fruit, plum, currant and cassis over a bit of toasted oak and vanilla.  The taste is very nice, with some ripe fruit up front and a bit of jammy sweetness that reminds me more of a Zinfandel than a Cabernet.  Midpalate, the takes transitions to some warm spice and floral notes, while the young, yet smooth tannins support a long, warm, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, as it's young and not quite up to the level of some other Walla Walla Cabernets, but it was an outstanding value, as I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for just $15!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a lovely grilled bone-in ribeye, baked potato and some steamed green beans, a perfect autumn dinner after raking leaves!