2018 Jigar Wines Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It's been a while since I've posted because I was away on my summer vacation road trip, this time to Maine with stops in the Finger Lakes of New York (stay tuned for a future post!), Vermont and New Hampshire.  And now that I'm back, I just made a giant pot of pasta sauce from a 25-lb box of tomatoes I brought back from the Finger Lakes, which I will be canning tomorrow.  But aside from all this activity today, I've opened a bottle of wine to enjoy before heading to the theatre tonight (man, I do lead a busy life!).  Tonight's wine is a 2018 Jigar Wines Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon that I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out, a 100% Cabernet from vineyards in eastern Sonoma County.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry and dried herbs that bring images of subdued luxury to mind.  The first sip brings a rush of ripe berry flavors, blueberry, blackberry and sweet cherry that ease into some notes of dark chocolate and mocha midpalate.  The tannins are soft but well integrated, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish with a reprise of cherry at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a nicely drinking Cabernet that could be an everyday sipper at the value price of just $20.  This wine would pair with a variety of hearty dishes from steaks and roasts, pasta dishes (stay tuned for a sauce update!) or braised short ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye steak, grilled hatch chilis and leeks, along with some linguine tossed with broccoli rabe sautéed in garlic and olive oil.  Cheers!

2011 Girard Napa Valley Petit Sirah

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of a new month and that means it's time to raid the cellar and find a bottle at least a decade in waiting to open and enjoy.  Tonight I've found a bottle that I likely bought while I still lived in Michigan, before they eliminated the requirement to place price tags on all retail products, so even though I can't remember where I bought this wine, I know I paid $26.99 for it!  The 2011 Girard Napa Valley is a big bold wine, as is often the case with this varietal, so let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky black with bright ruby along the edges, still holding up well a dozen years after harvest.  The nose is rich in ripe black fruit, cherry, currant and plum intermingled with some lilac notes intertwined with some charcoal.  The first sip is a rush of black cherry, blueberry and plum that eases into some notes of basalt and mocha midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a velvety dry finish with a reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderful example of the hearty wines from this oft overlooked varietal.  This wine would pair well with a variety of steaks, rack of lamb, hearty roast beef or rich braised bison short ribs.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a seared petite prime filet mignon along with some mushroom risotto and roasted baby cauliflower.  Cheers!

2021 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Franc

Happy Saturday!  I have been trying to relax today after two busy days of volunteer work as well as some near disasters with my plumbing and A/C on Wednesday, it's been a challenging week to say the least.  And that my friends is why the Lord gave us wine to cheer our hearts.  Tonight I've opened up a wine club exclusive bottle from Seven Hills, one of my all time favorite wineries in the Walla Walla Valley.  The 2021 Seven Hills Walla Walla Cabernet Franc is a 100% Cabernet Franc sourced entirely from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass with excellent clarity.  A gentle swirl of the glass releases aromas of black cherry, vanilla bean and toffee with undertones of peppercorn and a hint of sage.  As the first sip washes over your palate, a rush of ripe cherry, black raspberry and plum tickle your senses, before evolving into some earthy notes of graphite and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are soft but well integrated, providing for a luxurious, smooth dry finish that seems to linger until you next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's an excellent example of pure bottling of what is historically a blending varietal, providing room for the grape to shine and highlight some of the wonderful characteristics of Walla Walla fruit.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from steaks and chops to pasta Bolognese, barbecued ribs to spicy chicken fajitas.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye, with grilled hatch chiles and poblano peppers, and oven roasted rainbow carrots.  Cheers!