2012 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Merlot

So yesterday I was at my local supermarket, looking at the wine section for anything interesting (and yes, only I can define interesting in my wine tastes!) and I happened upon a section of Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Merlot.  Having been to the winery in Napa, I've developed an appreciation for this mega producer, but what caught my eye was one lonely bottle of the 2012 vintage in an entire display of 2014 vintage.  Naturally, knowing what a spectacular vintage 2012 was, I had to grab this bottle and bring it home.  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, classic for Merlot.  The nose is a lovely combination of blackberry, cherry and currant intermingled with dried spices, oak and leather.  It almost has an old-world sort of nose, like a nice Bordeaux or even a super-Tuscan.  The taste is a rush of black fruit up front that transitions to some notes of cherry cola, mocha and tobacco midpalate.  The tannins are still fairly tight, providing a lot of backbone for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely example of a Napa Merlot that's just starting to come into its own.  This wine would be excellent with some hearty pasta dishes, steaks and chops or even summer barbecue.  Tonight I'm enjoying it with a rare grilled porterhouse over a bed of grilled leeks and broccoli rabe.  Cheers!

2015 Dona Paula Estate Malbec

TGIF!  It's been a long week, and tonight it's supposed to get down into the 50s which means that it's perfect patio campfire weather!  So of course with a nice campfire, we need to have a nice bottle of wine and tonight it's one I recently picked up at Costco, the 2015 Dona Paula Estate Malbec from the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina.  I have been a fan of Dona Paula for a while, and they make some exceptional Malbec at ridiculously bargain prices, so let's see what this wine has to offer.

The wine is a deep purple color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, typical of the varietal.  The nose presents a lovely cascade of earthy aromas, green grass, earthy peat over ripe red fruit notes of cherry, raspberry and strawberry.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward, but somewhat subdued, with a rush of strawberry and cherry that transitions to some earthy notes of leather and tobacco intermingled with white pepper spice.  The tannins are well structured, providing a nice backbone for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderful Argentine Malbec and a terrific value for just $10.  Like the Gauchos of Mendoza, this wine needs a steak, which is a good thing as I'm enjoying this one with a rare grilled prime ribcap, along with some grilled rainbow carrots and baby bok choy.  Cheers!

2015 Colossal Reserva Red Wine

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Tonight I've decided to open a wine I bought at Costco recently that hails from Portugal.  I know I have at least one bottle of Portuguese wine in my cellar, but this one was such a bargain at $9, I couldn't resist (mental note, this could be a nice wine club selection).  The wine is a blend of Touriga Nacional (30%), Syrah (30%), Tinta Roriz (30%) and Alicante Bouschet (10%).  There are some unfamiliar names on those varietals, so let's get some education out of the way.  Touriga Nacional is known as one of the signature grapes of Portugal, characterized by small berries with high tannins, which typically adds structure to the wine.  It's been more used for port, but is becoming more common in table wine.  Tinta Roriz is the name for Tempranillo on the Portuguese side of the border.  And Alicante Bouschet is an interesting varietal (I reviewed one quite some time ago from Coppola here) that adds a lot of color and body as well as some jammy fruit.  So enough learning, time for drinking!

The wine is a lovely inky red color in the glass, a hat tip to the Alicante Bouschet in the blend.  The nose presents some delicate floral aromas intermingled with a peppery spice, but very little fruit.  The taste is just a complete 180, with a quick blast of ripe red fruit, cherry, raspberry and plum that transitions quickly to some wonderful earthy grass, basalt and tobacco notes midpalate.  The finish is exceptionally dry and smooth, with the big tannins of the Touriga Nacional providing the nice structure and big, velvety mouthfeel.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's such an interesting blend that defies the stereotypes of red blends.  It's a wonderful combination of great flavor with solid structure that make it a great steak wine, whether grilled steak, braised short rib tacos or a traditional roast, this is an ideal meat wine.  Tonight I'm enjoying this one with a rare grilled prime ribcap, big honkin' baked potato with all the fixin's and some steamed sugar snaps.  Cheers!