2018 Alamos Selección Malbec

Happy Sunday!  As another weekend comes to a rapid close, I've decided to have a nice bottle of Malbec with my Sunday dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I just picked up from my local market yesterday as it was on sale, and bargain hunter that I am, how could I resist?  The 2018 Alamos Selección Malbec made with grapes selected from vineyards in the higher elevations of the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina.  I've become a much bigger fan of Malbec over the years, so let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Malbec.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of vanilla, blackberry, green grass and modest floral undertones.  The first sip reveals a surprising shift from those sweeter aromas to a rush of tart cherry, plum and black currant that transitions easily to some notes of dusty limestone and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tight, but ideal for the long and exceptionally dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very pleasant drinking Malbec and could be an everyday wine at the value price of just $15 at my local market.  This wine practically begs to be paired by a gaucho slicing whatever great beef he has grilled, from picanha to ribeye, filet to beef ribs.  Tonight I am taking that traditional route with a rare grilled New York strip along with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and garlic mashed potatoes.  Cheers!

2018 Tenuta Gugi Valpolicella Ripasso

Happy Saturday!  It's been a rather mellow start to the weekend, with running errands and hanging out a bit with some friends, now I'm ready for a warm dinner and a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to take a bit of a spicy route to my meal, and with that I've opened a bottle of wine I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2018 Tenuta Gugi Valpolicella Ripasso, a wine that offers many of the flavors and boldness of an Amarone without the price.  This wine is a blend of  Corvina (60%), Corvinone (20%), Rondinella (15%) and Oseleta (5%) which undergoes a second fermentation with the Amarone skins (e.g. ripasso!).  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, as you might expect from a nice Amarone.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of leather, blackberry and Kirsch with undertones of hearty spice.  Take a sip and you are greeted with a rush of earthy mineral notes intermingled with ripe cherry and plum that just engages your palate before transitioning to some cherry cola an peppery spice notes midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat sweet with lively structure providing for a wonderfully velvety dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, even though it might benefit from a few more years in the cellar, it was also a solid value at just $14.  This wine would pair with many classic Italian dishes from risotto and pasta to hearty fire grilled steaks with farro.  Tonight I am taking a rather spicy route with this wine as I happened to find some very nice Hungarian hot peppers at my local market which would be great sautéed with onions and Italian sausage, served with a bit of pasta tossed with garlic and olive oil and topped with shredded Parmesan.  Cheers!

2018 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  The weather really turned cold here this weekend, with highs in the 20s and lows approaching single digits, so it's definitely time for some hearty wine and warm comfort food.  As for the wine, tonight I've opened a bottle of 2018 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington State.  So. let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with excellent clarity, perhaps a bit lighter in color than some big Cabernets.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, Bing cherry, green herbs and a bit of lilac.  Take a sip and you're greeted by a rush of cherry and plum that gives way to some earthy graphite and black pepper midpalate.  The velvety dry finish is based on some well structured tannins and features a bit of vanilla caramel right at the end that brings the wine together.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very pleasant Walla Walla Cabernet that's sure to acquire a bit more heft with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to braised short ribs or wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight I am definitely taking the comfort food route and enjoying this wine with a slow cooked bison Yankee pot roast, with potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and turnips topped with a bit of scallion and fresh parsley.  Cheers!