2019 Woodward Canyon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 191

Happy Sunday!  I meant to do some yard work today, but by the time I went grocery shopping, went to Costco and finished all my other errands, there was just enough time left to do laundry and open up a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight's wine is a special one, the 2019 Woodward Canyon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 191.  You may be familiar with Clone 191, as it's the same one that is featured in Seven Hills' Summit View Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and it's one of the highest rated Bordeaux clones for Cabernet.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just what you'd expect from the varietal.  Take a whiff and you'll note aromas of graphite, blackberry, cassis and rich leather that offer a prelude to a special wine.  The first sip starts with a rush of tart cherry that eases into ripe blueberry, black olive and cedar notes with a velvety mouthfeel that will set your mind racing.  The balanced tannin structure offers a perfect foundation for a velvety smooth dry finish that lingers on your palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, knowing that it's still early in its development, so I'd expect this wine to improve even further with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty fall dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty pasta, beef stew to roasted lamb shank, but above all this wine wants a steak!  So, tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse, grilled leeks, blistered cherry tomatoes and grilled asparagus.  Cheers!

2020 Stolen Horse Syrah

Happy Saturday!  It's certainly starting to feel like fall, in fact we are supposed to get some frost tomorrow night!  Thankfully I made a quick call to my sprinkler guy yesterday and we got everything winterized before the first freeze.  In any case, tonight it's time for a nice dinner that might be a last hurrah of summer, along with a wine that I've enjoyed for nearly a decade (see my previous reviews of the 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 vintages).  The 2020 Stolen Horse Syrah is a Syrah (97%), co-fermented with a bit of Viognier (3%) sourced from the Loess, Flying B, Kenny Hill and LeFore Vineyards in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, ideal for a nice Syrah.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of smoked meat, blackberry jam, blueberry and hints of lavender.  Take a sip and you're treated to an evolving mix of black and blue fruit, charred oak, and a bit of tart cherry before easing into some notes of earthy tar and white pepper midpalate.  The tannins are silky smooth, a perfect base for the long dry finish that will have you contemplating the depth of flavor you just experienced.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a lovely example of the varietal with a cascade of terroirs from the Walla Walla Valley.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from cedar planked salmon to barbecue, fall pasta to risotto.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a last gasp of summer, some barbecued beef ribs, corn on the cob and sriracha slaw.  Cheers!

2021 Bledsoe Family Winery Cabernet Franc

Happy Sunday!  So the past two weekends have been raining so I haven't been able to mow and my grass desperately needs it.  But there is one small problem, this being autumn my grass was covered with leaves which need to be removed before I could mow.  So, I spent six hours on the only non-rainy day of the weekend to blow leaves and mow, making me tired and sore at this point.  What to do?  I know, I'll open up a nice bottle of wine and cook a good dinner to make me feel better!  Tonight, I've opened a recent wine club shipment from Bledsoe Family Winery, the 2021 Walla Walla Cabernet Franc.  This wine is a 100% Cabernet Franc from the McQueen, LeFore and Schafer Vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass just as you'd expect from a nice Cabernet Franc.  Take a whiff and you're greeted by aromas of tart cherry, dusty limestone and a bit of tobacco that is more reminiscent of a nice Syrah.  The first sip is a rush of black fruit, plum, cherry and currant that dance around some nice minerality midpalate.  The tannins are still developing, but the finish is pleasant and smooth, with a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine s solid 8.5, as it's a solid example of this Bordeaux varietal that will likely improve quite a bit with some time in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with hearty beef dishes, barbecue or risotto, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared Scottish black pearl salmon filet, steamed rice and some oven roasted broccolini.  Cheers!