I learned something tonight. First sips can be deceiving. My first impression was that I didn't like it. It seemed intense, almost concentrated, sharp. JPH tried it and said the prophetic words "I bet it'll open up." I was leery, and commented, "I may not review it. We'll see after we've aerated it". (Lately, I have been thinking that life is too short to review bad wine) I needed reassurance, and JPH said, "just let it sit in the glass for five minutes."
WOW. I really have to learn that good things come to those who are willing to wait. (I have impulse control issues...) After five minutes, it became a totally different wine; it brightened and there was a highlight of the faint, fruity sweetness of cassis, but also a nice basic dried cherry/raspberry heaviness. This has a big mouthful of taste and a short finish, with very slight tannins; making it easy to drink and good with our dinner of grilled skirt steak, cherry tomatoes, fried potatoes and Al Funghetto (sauteed eggplant cubes) from Marcella Hazan's Essentials of Italian Cooking
.I was wishing that S. were home. She is my tasting partner in the "Aerator Death Matches". But as it was, we didn't need to have an aerator "taste off". A run through the Nuance didn't do anything more than the first ten minutes of being open; the wine was breathing just fine on its own. Give it some space. For an `07 on the rack for four years, I think that it is at its peak with just a few swirls around a glass.
This is a good blend, that highlights all three varietals very well: Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. From Reninger Winery, in Walla Walla, Washington (home of some great modern Vineyards, and the Walla, Walla Sweet Onion Festival). I don't know why the vineyard doesn't list this line of wine on their website. I'm curious, why the omission?
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