2013 Anvil Columbia Valley Chardonnay

Ok wine peeps, it's Sunday, time for a wonderful classic Sunday dinner, and given my menu this evening I've decided to go rogue!  Yes, not only am I reviewing a non-red wine, I'm reviewing a Chardonnay!  Well, even though it seems that this varietal has become pretty boring over the past decade or so, tonight's wine is anything but, as it's a special wine in many ways.  First, it was produced by one of the best Chardonnay producers in Walla Walla, Marie-Eve Gilla, founder of Forgeron Cellars, and in this case it was a bottle signed by her that was available this past Christmas (how fun!).  Second, it was sourced from the French Creek Vineyard, one of Washington's oldest Chardonnay vineyards, planted in 1981.  So this should be a treat even for the non-Chardonnay lovers among us!

The wine is a light gold color in the glass, while the nose presents aromas of fresh citrus, peach, green grass and floral notes.  The taste is quite unusual for a white wine, it has some lovely citrus fruit notes on the outset, but then there is a hearty mineral quality or iron and basalt that brings strength and rounded mouthfeel midpalate.  The dry finish brings a reprise of citrus and a hint of butter and smoke that just makes you want another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a wonderfully executed example of the varietal, and one that even a red wine fan like me can enjoy!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Sunday dinner of oven roasted chicken with corn bread stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy and of course, green bean casserole!  This is a perfect wine for such a heady feast, almost makes me wish I had a bottle last Thanksgiving!  Cheers!

2005 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy Cellar Saturday!  Of course, it's the first Saturday in March, so that means it's the day that I explore the cellar, looking for something fun to try and tonight I've decided on the 2005 L'Ecole No. 41 Walla Walla Valley Merlot, a wine that's been in my cellar for about nine years!  This wine is a blend of Merlot (82%), Cabernet Sauvignon (12%) and Cabernet Franc (6%) sourced from the Seven Hills Vineyard in Walla Walla.  As with older wines, sometimes they can be unpredictable, and in this case, the cork disintegrated as I was opening the bottle, so that meant pouring into the decanter to try to limit my cork consumption this evening!

The wine is a beautiful ruby color in the glass, with a bit of opacity at the center.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, leather, cedar and cassis.  The taste is just a pleasure, with some warm fruit notes up front, blackberry, plum and cherry cola, that transition nicely to some warm spice notes midpalate.  The finish is generous, with mellow tannins supporting a reprise of ripe cherry on the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just an ideal example of a great, mature Merlot.  This wine would be ideal with a variety of hearty dishes, from roasts to stews or spicy pasta dishes.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse, along with a baked potato and some grilled white asparagus, though I'm sure I'll be sipping this one all evening, even after the food is gone!

2013 Maxwell Creek Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Hump Day!  Time for a nice bottle of wine to celebrate getting through half a week, and tonight I've decided to open a recent purchase from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2013 Maxwell Creek Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. This wine is a blend of primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (80%) along with Petit Verdot (8%), Merlot (6%), Cabernet Franc (3%) and Malbec (3%).  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is an inky purple in the glass, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, plum, leather and tar, with a hint of lilac.  The taste is quite nice, with a rush of ripe fruit and cherry cola up front, blackberry, raspberry and black currant, that transitions nicely to some notes of mocha, vanilla bean and toasted oak midpalate.  The finish is very nice, with fine grained tannins supporting a long, smooth and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.  This wine is a very nice example of a Napa Cabernet from a stellar vintage.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's drinking beautifully now but will likely improve a bit with some time in the cellar.  This wine would be great with steak, but tonight I am enjoying this wine in an unconventional pairing with some alder planked wild Alaskan Coho salmon along with some linguine tossed with garlic and olive oil and some steamed white asparagus (don't you love asparagus season?).  Cheers!