2016 DaMa Walla Walla Cabernet Franc

Well today started out a little questionable, cloudy and in the 50s, but by the end it was in the mid-70s and sunny as all get out!  So that meant that I finally got some meaningful yard work done, pulling a wheelbarrow full of maple sprouts and weeds, I finally mowed (my yard was looking really unkempt), and then got out the trimmer and edged everything.  And now I'm ready for a glass of wine and a nice dinner!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2016 DaMa Wines Walla Walla Cabernet Franc, a 100% Cabernet Franc from the XL Vineyard on the south side of the valley (I have become a huge fan of this vineyard and believe some of the best Cab Franc from Walla Walla is grown here!).  So let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from this varietal.  The nose is an elegant affair, with aromas of tart cherry, blackberry, oak, and a hint of green grass.  The taste is classic XL Cabernet Franc, with a rush of cool black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that ease into some dark chocolate and dusty loam midpalate.  The tannins are soft but well structured, while a nice acidity makes itself known near the classically long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic example of what this lesser known varietal is capable of, and from one of my favorite vineyards.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from lamb chops to pork tenderloin, steak to hearty pasta.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a big honkin' ribeye grilled rare and served with bacon roasted rainbow carrots and Yukon gold potatoes.  Cheers!

2013 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Petit Verdot

Happy Taco Tuesday, guess what I'm having for dinner?  Well, it's been a busy day and I'm happy to have a chance to relax and enjoy some dinner and a nice glass of wine tonight.  And for this momentous mid-week excursion, I've opened a bottle that I stumbled upon in the cellar over the weekend, the 2013 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Petit Verdot.  Last week, Seven Hills founder and wine maker Casey McClellan did a virtual tasting of some of these less popular varietals, so I suppose I was inspired.  Let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center, with some bright garnet hues along the edges.  The nose is an intriguing combination of black fruit, sweet cherry, lavender and mineral notes that just make me feel like I'm enjoying a glass of wine in an old college library.  The taste is a rush of cherry cola and blackberry that transitions to notes of sweet-tarts (yes the candy!) and dusty mineral essence midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated and supportive of the wonderfully smooth, dry finish with a bit of bright acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a really pleasant drinking wine that is representative of a fabulous varietal that you don't often get to enjoy.  This wine would pair well with steaks and chops, pizza and pasta, but since it's taco Tuesday, tonight I'm enjoying this wine with steak tacos!  I had some trimmings from a whole tenderloin I bought last weekend after slicing some nice filets, so I seared those with some spices and sauteed them them with onions and peppers and created some fajita tacos.  Cheers!

2017 DaMa Walla Walla Merlot

Happy Sunday!  It's been cold and thunderstormy here today, so I've spent much of the day indoors doing some work as well as some work around the house.  So now it's time for some Sunday dinner and a glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2017 DaMa Wines Walla Walla Merlot, a 100% Merlot from the Seven Hills Vineyard.  This bottle was part of my wine club shipment last week, so let see what this wine has to offer.

The wine is a lighter color in the glass, with lots of bright ruby and great clarity.  The nose is an elegant combination of Bing cherry, smoke and a hint of dried herbs.  The taste is a rush of tart cherry, cranberry and pomegranate that gracefully evolves into notes of earthy oak and lavender midpalate.  The gripping tannins provide for an ideal base for a long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers on the palate. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant drinking wine, but a bit lighter than I would prefer in a Merlot.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from pasta and burgers to steaks and barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare filet mignon, seared rare and basted with butter, garlic and fresh thyme, along with some linguine tossed with garlic, olive oil and broccoli rabe (I confess I made way too much pasta so at least I have lunch for tomorrow).  Cheers!