2019 Reininger Sangiovese Grosso

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy day as went to the Elkhart County 4H Fair all afternoon, so now that I've gotten enough sun it's time to relax a bit with a nice bottle of wine.  It's interesting how sometimes the wine choice influences the menu, and other times like today, the menu influenced my decision to open a bottle of 2019 Reininger Sangiovese Grosso.  Crafted in the style of Brunello, this wine is a 100% Sangiovese from the Seven Hills Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a lighter bodied, bright ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from the varietal.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of strawberry, bing cherry, leather and hints of pipe tobacco.  The first sip is a rush of ripe red fruit, cherry, currant and strawberry intermingled with vanilla bean that transition easily to some smoky notes midpalate along with a bit of peppery spice.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, which is just what I rated the 2017 Vintage when I reviewed it back in 2020.  This wine would pair well with a variety of grilled steaks, but it practically begs to be enjoyed with a nice Italian dinner, which is why I picked it!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some squid ink shells tossed with some shrimp simmered in some Trader Joe's Manzanino tomatoes, garlic, basil and olive oil, finished with some fresh basil and shredded Parmesan.  Cheers!

2020 Forgeron Anvil "The Minnick" Proporietary Blend

Happy Sunday!  I spend much of the afternoon doing work (boo!), but now I am done and ready for a nice glass of wine and a wonderful Sunday dinner.  For my wine tonight, I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club selection from Forgeron Cellars, the 2020 Anvil "The Minnick" Proporietary Blend.  This wine gets its nickname from the Minnick Hills Vineyard where the grapes are sourced, in this case a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (38%), Malbec (18%), Cabernet Franc (16%), Petit Verdot (16%) and Merlot (12%).  So, let see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, a testament to the heavy Cabernet hand in the blend.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of anise, lilac, cocoa powder and dusty limestone, a perfect beginning to usher you into the presence of this Walla Walla Bordeaux style blend.  Take a sip and be greeted by a rush of blue fruit, blueberry and currant that ease into some notes of caramel and baking spice midpalate.  The fine grain tannins are a perfect welcome to the smooth, long and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I think it's quite a bit better than the past few vintages I've reviewed.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty meat dishes, from grilled lamb and veal, to hearty steaks and barbecue.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared filet mignon, with grilled pearl onions sautéed in butter and rosemary, mashed potatoes and some steamed asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2019 Woodward Canyon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  It was a lovely day here today, mostly sunny and temperatures in the low 80s, so I got the last of my hedge trimming done in the back yard!  Now that I'm done with the heavy chores, it's time to relax with a nice dinner and glass of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of wine from the first winery I ever visited in Walla Walla, Woodward Canyon!  Back at the turn of the century, Woodward Canyon and L'Ecole No. 41 were the first wineries you came to as you headed east on US 12 from the west side of the state, so that was my first stop on that first visit.  Back to today, the 2019 Woodward Canyon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (92%) and Petit Verdot (8%) all sourced from the Woodward Canyon Estate Vineyard.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges, just as you'd expect from a high-quality Cabernet.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry, black cherry and earthy tar that will have you visualizing an Ivy League library.  Take a sip and you're awash in sweet ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry and currant that ease into notes of dusty limestone and graphite midpalate.  The tannins are supple, providing for a velvety, smooth dry finish that lingers till your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a very pleasant drinking Cabernet that would stand up to some of the heartiest dishes.  This wine would pair well with many beef dishes, from steaks to braised short ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York strip topped with blistered cherry tomatoes, along with some mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus.  Cheers!