2014 Yao Ming Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  Let me say first that I've been working today, which is not ideal since Sunday should be for relaxing and enjoying a nice glass of wine.  Well, at least it's now time for the nice glass of wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I bought at Costco, maybe a year or more ago, the 2014 Yao Ming Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  This was a wine that Costco was only carrying for a limited time and I think I bought one of, if not the last bottle at my local warehouse.  So, let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a deep garnet color in the glass, just a bit lighter than you might expect from a big Napa cab.  The nose is a refined combination of leather, smoke, oak and vanilla, reminiscent of a classic, old-school library. The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, cherry, blackberry and plum that wash over the palate before transitioning to some wonderful mineral notes of dusty limestone and basalt midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated, providing for a wonderfully smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, it's a very nice drinking Napa Cabernet, but it doesn't strike me as a standout wine.  Like most Napa Cabernets, this wine practically begs to be paired with a big steak, but it would also do well with pasta, lamb, or roasts.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a nice rare grilled Angus T-bone served on a bed of grilled leeks and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2015 DaMa Collage

Well, it's officially the first day of autumn (yeah, don't get technical with me, I know the astronomical autumnal equinox is supposed to be Monday, but the first day of fall has always been the 21st of September).  And since it's now fall, it was of course time to bust out the leaf vacuum, as my yard was already partially covered in leaves!  Ironically enough, it was also crazy hot today, as I think we peaked at 87!  So, tonight I'm resting in the air conditioning with a glass of wine, specifically, the 2015 DaMa Wines Collage, a blend of Merlot (53%), Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) and Cabernet Franc (7%) from the Walla Walla Valley of Washington.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a bright ruby in the glass, with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, tart cherry and fig, with hints of lilac over the top.  The taste is cool and smooth, with a burst of cherry cola at the front that evolves into some vanilla bean and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are firm but well structured, layering the long, smooth and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a very pleasant sipping wine that would pair well with a variety of dishes, from pasta to steaks to wild salmon.  Since I'm tired and not in the mood for cooking anything elaborate, tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple dinner of Trader Joe's lobster ravioli topped with tomato cream sauce and shaved parmesan.  Cheers!

2015 Double Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Tuesday!  It seems like we've just started and this has already been a busy week, so it's time to take a bit of a break with a nice glass of Washington wine.  I bought this particular wine a few weeks ago from Wines Till Sold Out and it's from a producer that I'm not as familiar with, the 2015 Double Canyon Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), Merlot (14%), Malbec (6%) and Petit Verdot (3%) from the Double Canyon Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA of Washington.  So let's see how this one is shaping up!

The wine is a deep inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose is an interesting display of ripe black fruit, green grass, dried herbs and hints of lavender that portend a rather fruit forward wine.  The taste is a rather subdued affair, with a rush of ripe cherry, blackberry and plum that transitions to some notes of vanilla bean and pipe tobacco midpalate.  The fine grain tannins are a bit chewy, but provide a nice base for the long, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very drinkable Cabernet and a terrific value at just $20!  This wine would pair well with steak, and well, really it's just begging to be consumed with steak!  And it's a good thing too as tonight I am enjoying this wine with a bone-in Kansas City strip grilled rate with fire roasted hatch chiles and oven roasted root vegetables.  Cheers!