2013 Justin Isosceles

Happy Saturday!  I spent a good portion of the morning helping move and construct set pieces for the upcoming Elkhart Civic Theatre production of "The Music Man", but then I had the chance to relax a bit this afternoon and catch up on some errands and other projects.  After such an unremarkable day, I thought it would be good to head the other direction with a remarkable wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle of 2013 Justin Isosceles, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Cabernet Franc (16%) and Merlot (9%) from Paso Robles that I find much more pleasing that about any wine from Napa.  So, let's see how this one is shaping up!

The wine is deep, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from such a heavy Cabernet focused blend.  The nose is classic and rich, with notes of vanilla bean, smoke, leather and cedar that exudes quality.  The taste is a rush of cool fruit, black cherry, blackberry and plum that transitions effortlessly to some notes of green herb, mocha and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are chewy, supporting a long, velvety finish with a reprise of black cherry at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a wonderful wine that illustrates the quality potential from this region, yet it's eminently approachable.  This wine is begging to be paired with a big steak, or perhaps even some barbecued brisket.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime filet mignon on a bed of grilled garlic scapes, with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts (is there a better combination of flavors?)
and a big baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2016 Helix SoRho

Happy Friday!  I admit, I'm glad the week is over, but it seems lately my Friday afternoons have been chock full of physical activity.  Today, for example, I finished work just before 2:00 pm, then went to the gym, then came back and pulled weeds, then mowed the grass and by the time I was done it was nearly 7:00!  So given all that rush of activity, I need a nice glass of wine and tonight I've opened a bottle of 2016 Helix SoRho, a southern Rhone style blend from Chuck Reininger.  This wine is a blend of Mourvedre (43%), Grenache (34%) and Cinsault (23%) from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a bright ruby color in the glass with nice clarity, as you'd expect from a southern Rhone style blend.  The nose is a wonderful combination of fresh summer fruit, strawberry, black currant and raspberry, intermingled with some earthy notes of tar and gravel.  The taste is remarkable, with a rush of sweet berry fruit enveloping your palate, before shifting to some warm spice notes midpalate.  The finish is exceptionally smooth and dry, with a bit of reprise of the lovely earthy notes from the start.

I have to admit, there have been some vintages of this wine (mainly the early ones) that have definitely not been my favorite, but the last few vintages have stepped up, with this one, I think that Chuck and his team are finally hitting their stride, as this seems more like a classic Rhone than ever.  Given that preface, I'd rate this wine a solid 9, my highest rating of any vintage yet.  This wine would pair well with a lot of more game type meats that can be a challenge to pair with wine, dishes like duck, or pork tenderloin, but tonight since I'm tired, I paired this with a simple dinner of broccoli rabe and garlic scapes sauteed in olive oil and tossed with a bit of penne.  Cheers!

2018 Les Quatre Tours Classique Rosé (Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence)

Well, it finally seems like summer has arrived as it's been in the 80s and quite humid here over the past few days.  With warmer temperatures, I'm sure that rose season is in full swing, so tonight I've opened up a bottle I purchase recently from Wines Till Sold Out (also a future wine club selection for my peeps!), the 2018 Les Quatre Tours Classique Rosé (Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence).  Although the blend is proprietary, it is mainly Grenache and Syrah with a bit of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cinsault added to balance it out.  So, let's see how refreshing this wine is!

It seems like every rose this season has been particularly pale, with this wine no exception, demonstrating pale peach color in the glass.  The nose exhibits notes of fresh summer fruit, strawberries, green apple and grapefruit with a hint of honey at the edge.  The taste is very crisp and refreshing, with a big, rounded mouthfeel and a rush of green apple and citrus right up front.  The crisp fruit transitions nicely to some dusty gravel and a hint of white pepper spice midpalate.  The finish is crisp and delightfully dry, and lingering to beckon you to take another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a very pleasant summer rose at a great value for just $12.  This wine would pair with a wide variety of summer salads, seafood dishes or cold sandwiches on the patio.  Tonight, since it's Taco Tuesday, I'm enjoying this wine with some fish tacos garnished with some sriracha slaw, as the spice is just perfect with the crispness of this wine.  Cheers!