2012 Forgeron Columbia Valley Zinfandel

Happy Sunday!  It finally rained today, my lawn has been in terrible need of rain, and of course that meant I couldn't do many outdoor chores today.  So instead I spend the afternoon doing laundry and picking up around the house, so mostly just relaxing!  And now it's getting to be Sunday supper time, which means it's about time to open a bottle of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2012 Forgeron Columbia Valley Zinfandel, a wine I've had in the cellar for a little while, and since Marie Eve and the folks at Forgeron do such a nice job with Zinfandel and Primativo, I can't wait to try it.

The wine is a lovely deep garnet color in the glass, classic for a nice Zinfandel.  The nose is filled with leather, smoke and an edge of earthiness.  The taste is just perfect, with a rush of ripe black fruit up front, blackberry and plum, with a hint of fig that blankets your palate.  The flavors transition nicely to some rustic mineral notes and hints of mocha and mint midpalate.  The finish is lively, with some spice at the end and wonderfully integrated tannins supporting the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's been a while since I've had a Zinfandel this nice and sophisticated, as opposed to a jammy fruit bomb.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing with Kansas City barbecued baby back ribs, grilled corn on the cob and fresh cole slaw.  Zinfandel is so yummy with barbecue and it just seems like summer has come early.  Cheers!

2013 DaMa Walla Walla Valley Merlot

Happy Saturday!  I hope it's been a pleasant one for you, I was at a conference today and now I'm home and ready to relax with a nice dinner.  For wine, I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from Walla Walla that arrived last week, the 2013 DaMa Walla Walla Valley Merlot! This wine is 100% Merlot from the Golden Ridge Vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley.  It turned cooler here recently, so perfect weather for a nice Merlot, and you know how I love me some Merlot!

The wine is a wonderful bright ruby color with great clarity, reminiscent of some great old world Merlot.  The nose is a great combination of green grass and ripe black fruit, for a perfect springtime red wine.  The taste is quite nice, with some nice blackberry and raspberry flavors up front that transitions to some lovely green spice notes of tarragon midpalate (if only I'd made some Bearnaise for my steak tonight!).  The tannins are still pretty tight, but the finish is long and very dry, with a bit of crispness at the end, an ideal spring Merlot!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a lovely and refreshingly different Merlot.  This wine would be great with a variety of meat and pasta dishes, but tonight I'm enjoying this with a rare grilled New York strip along with grilled purple carrots and leeks and a baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheers!

2016 Seven Hills Dry Rose

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Today it was unseasonably warm, 83 degrees, which felt remarkably summer like, which means it was a perfect day to chill some rose!  And tonight I've decided to open a bottle of 2016 Seven Hills Dry Rose, a bottle I got a few months ago and I've been hankering to try once the weather warmed up.  Well tonight's the night!

The wine is a lovely peach color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of peach, orange blossom and a hint of basalt.  The taste is crisp and refreshing, with some interesting Chardonnay like notes of buttery fruit, peach, grapefruit and papaya that transition nicely to some lovely mineral notes midpalate.  A rose like this, made primarily from Cabernet Franc has somewhat mellow acidity and a smooth, bone dry finish, similar to the classic dry rose wines of France.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's an ideal wine for summer, perfect for salads, lighter meals or just sipping on the deck.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a wonderful dinner of bucatini tossed with broccoli rabe sauteed in olive oil and garlic and topped with a bit of shaved parmesan.  And after dinner I'll finish enjoying this lovely rose on the deck as it should be!  Cheers!