2020 Mark Ryan Winery "Lonely Heart" Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I got a lot of yard work done today, vacuumed up the leaves from the storm, mowed and planted a bunch of begonias, so now I'm ready for a little relaxation before dinner.  And what better way to relax than opening a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Mark Ryan Winery "Lonely Heart" Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Red Mountain AVA of Washington sourced from a single vineyard, Quintessence from two blocks planted with clone 191 (a personal favorite as this is the same clone that Seven Hills uses for their Summit View Cabernet) and clone 337.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, as you might expect from a solid Cabernet.  The wine presents aromas of blackberry, earthy peat, leather and baking spice.  Take a sip and your palate is awash in blackberry and currant, with a hint of tawny port, before transitioning to some warm peppery spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are nicely structured, allowing this wine to really showcase the complexity of the fruit ahead of the velvety smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's just a pleasant drinking Cabernet that highlights the beauty of Washington wine and the Red Mountain AVA.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, robust cheeses and charcuterie, grilled steaks, rack of lamb, or even smoked brisket.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribeye eye, beautifully marbled, along with some fire roasted hatch chiles, oven roasted beets and corn on the cob.  Cheers!

2019 Napa Underground Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  I had the chance to go to the farmers market today to pick up some interesting produce items to enjoy with my dinner and I also happened to meet up with the "Basil Brothers" who are two young people (I can never judge age, but my guess is they are between 10 and 12) and they produce some marvelous smoked herb salt which I will include in my meal prep this evening (also bought a bottle of chive blossom vinegar that I'm anxious to try!).  In any case, tonight I've opened a bottle of wine from I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2019 Napa Underground Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (87%), Merlot (7%), Cabernet Franc (4%), Petit Verdot (3%) and Malbec (1%).  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a beautiful bright ruby color in the glass, a bit lighter than your typical big Napa Cabernet.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of blackberry, currant and cassis, intermingled with hints of espresso and cocoa powder.  Take a sip and you're awash in ripe black fruit with herb influences throughout that ease into some notes of vanilla and peppery spice.  The tannins are somewhat subdued providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers till your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a solid Napa Cabernet and a good value at just $23.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from weeknight pizza or tacos, to steaks, braised short ribs or barbecue.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled New York Strip along with some mashed potatoes and grilled orange cauliflower and hatch chiles (they are finally here!).  Cheers!

2022 Perle du Sud Rosé

Well, it's Thursday evening and the work week is coming to a close.  It's also been a week of crazy weather, yesterday we had 5.7" of rain in a 12-hour period and now it's unbelievably hot and humid with highs expected in the mid-90s tomorrow!  So, it must be time for rosé!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out, the 2022 Perle du Sud Rosé.  This wine is a wonderful blend of Grenache (60%) and Syrah (40%) from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of the south of France.  So let's see if this wine can provide a cool break in the hot weather!

The wine is a lovely pale peach color in the glass, with aromas of pear, strawberry and melon with undertones of tarragon.  Take a sip and you're treated to a rush of tart cherry, strawberry and honeydew, that transitions to some notes of green grass and mineral notes midpalate.  The acidity is well balanced for a wonderfully crisp dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a wonderfully refreshing summer rosé with the French craft that will have you feeling Mediterranean breezes as you sip.  This wine would pair well with summer salads, particularly caprese salad, light fish dishes or fresh poke bowls.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a cedar planked coho salmon filet topped with lemon and dill, farro and steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers!