2019 Forgeron Barbera

 Happy Memorial Day weekend!  I spent a good part of the afternoon getting everything ready for summer, including setting up the patio dining area, putting out the wine drinking chairs on the front porch and setting up the new fire pit on the patio.  Needless to say, with the beautiful weather today, I think I might inaugurate my patio dining for the summer!  So, with all the dining, I've decided to open a recent wine club wine from Forgeron Cellars, the 2019 Forgeron Barbera from the Sagemoor Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of cocoa, tart cherry and ripe black fruit with some earthy undertones.  Take a sip and you're first greeted with some ripe sweet cherry that transitions to some blackberry and boysenberry before easing into some earthy notes of basalt and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tightly wound, but still provide a solid base for a wonderfully long, dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a nice example of the varietal, offering a very easy going and food friendly wine.  This wine would pair well with a wide range of summer patio fare, from burgers and ribs to steaks or brats.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some classic beer brats along with sriracha slaw and some fresh corn on the cob!  Cheers!

2021 DaMa Wines Rose of Cabernet Franc

Happy Friday of a three-day weekend!  I have to admit, I've sort of eased into this weekend as I'm taking some vacation days next week, but still I'm looking forward to some wonderful meals and wines over the next few days!  To start things off, since the weather has been seasonably warm and humid, I've decided to open a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2021 Rose of Cabernet Franc from the Columbia Valley of Washington.  Well, since rose season has started, whether officially or not, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a pale peach color in the glass, a somewhat lighter rose.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of peach, honeysuckle and just a hint of citrus that suggest tasteful refreshment for a warm summer day.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a basket of summer fruit, strawberry, peach, raspberry and citrus that are just right for the season.  The finish is crisp, dry and refreshing, just the right note to keep you coming back for more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a wonderfully refreshing rose for summer, and it's a terrific value at just $20.  This wine would pair well with summer salads, caprese salad, grilled vegetables or a wonderful cedar planked salmon.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with some lobster bucatini, as the fruit and acidity in this wine are the ideal foil for the richness of the lobster cream sauce.  Cheers!

2021 DaMa Grenache Blanc

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a while since I've posted on a Wednesday given how busy my work life has been, but tonight that changes with a recent wine club selection and a wonderful spring dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from DaMa Wines, the 2021 DaMa Grenache Blanc from the Painted Hills Vineyard in the Columbia Valley of Washington.  It's rare that I review a white wine, so let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a wonderfully pale golden hue in the glass.  A gentle swirl reveals aromas of citrus, honeydew and pear with just a hint of oak underneath.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a rush of white grapefruit, melon and white peach, that transitions to some earthy notes of green grass and oak midpalate.  The finish is crisp and delightful, with a balanced acidity and classic dryness that make this wine an ideal summer sipper for the patio.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, and although white wines are not my forte, this wine was truly a pleasure to drink.  This wine would pair well with summer salads, pasta or halibut, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a special dinner.  I picked up some fresh morel mushrooms at my local market as they are now in season and decided to make some morel and asparagus risotto for dinner this evening.  The acidity of this wine is a perfect balance for the earthy richness of this risotto.  Cheers!