2006 Laurona Montsant

Happy Sunday!  Time for a homemade Sunday dinner of comfort food, but always a question on what wine to serve with it.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2006 Laurona Montsant red blend from Spain.  This is a new wine for me, as Montsant is a region in Catalonia that produces red blends with many of the traditional Spanish varietals.  This particular wine is primarily Garnacha and Carinena with a bit of Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon to balance things out.

The wine is a lovely bright ruby color in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents lovely aromas of black currant, anise and black cherry along with some Asian spice notes.  The taste is very fruit forward, with a rush of black cherry, currant and some blackberry that transitions nicely to some lovely notes of vanilla and cinnamon midpalate.  The finish is very nice, much bigger than your typical Spanish wine based on Garnacha or Tempranillo, as the tannins are robust, offering a lingering dry finish that evolves as the wine opens up.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely, well structures wine and a solid value (I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for just $19).  It's ideal for rustic dishes from the Mediterranean (think paella) or some classic American comfort food.  Tonight I'm enjoying this wine with my Sunday dinner of stuffed cabbage!  The fruit and spice notes really pair well with the richness of the meat stuffing and spice of the tomato reduction.  Cheers!

2004 Spring Valley Vineyard Uriah

Well, it's supposed to be spring, but it's been snowing here all day!  At least it doesn't seem to be sticking, so hopefully all the latest blooms will survive.  It's also the first Saturday of April, and that means Cellar Saturday!  Today I have a special treat that I recently received from Spring Valley Vineyard, the 2004 Uriah, a blend of Merlot (60%), Cabernet Franc (31%), Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) and Petit Verdot (4%).  So let's see how this wine has developed of the past dozen years!

The wine is a beautiful garnet in the glass, with a slight hint of amber along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, leather and mint, with just a bit of black pepper spice.  The taste is just lovely, with a good bit of black licorice and blackberry up front that transitions nicely to some notes of mint and black pepper midpalate.  The finish is lovely, as the still robust tannins provide nice backbone for the long, smooth dry finish that exhibits some very Bordeaux like qualities.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's mature and drinking marvelously right now (thankfully I ordered two bottles!).  This wine is a great steak wine, as it's depth of flavor and dry finish would perfectly complement a nice big hunk of beef.  Tonight I am enjoying this with an Angus Manhattan cut strip filet, with a baked potato and some steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2013 Long Meadow Ranch Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Friday!  And Happy April Fools Day!  Today a bunch of work friends and I are getting together to enjoy a Foolish Friday, where we can enjoy a variety of cheeses and a viewing of Office Space, so what could be more enjoyable?  In addition to some other wines, I've opened a magnum of 2013 Long Meadow Ranch Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, from a super Napa Valley vintage.  So let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, leather and black pepper spice.  The taste is perfect Napa Cabernet, with a rush of ripe black fruit up front that transitions effortlessly to some notes of cherry cola and spice midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured to provide a lovely foundation for the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5 with room to improve with a little time in the cellar.  Tonight we are enjoying this wine with a variety of cheeses, including some English Stilton, Camembert, Parmesano, pepperoncino Asiago and Kerrygold reserve Irish cheddar, along with a variety of olives, rustic Italian bread, truffle butter, and charcuterie, but it would also be great with a classic grilled steak!  Cheers!