Looking Forward to the Weekend!

Well, considering the breakneck pace at which this year is screaming past us, it’s both shocking and not remotely surprising that it’s June 30. As in, the end of the second quarter. As in, the year is half over. As in, it’s been just 6 months since New Year’s, and we get to do the whole megillah again in just another 6 months.

Also, Saturday is my “little” brother’s 49th birthday, so it’s just all kinds of existential angst at Wiz Manor.

Thankfully I have a loooong weekend (I’m taking off the 3rd too) to start processing. And of course some tasty libations to sip while I do so.

Here’s a nice one I opened during the annual Father’s Day Steakening from a couple weeks ago, 2020 Bedrock Wine Companys’s “Bedrock Vineyard Heritage.” We’re back in California, in Sonoma Valley, west of Napa and home to such prestigious wineries as Ridge and Cline. According to its listing on Wine.com, it’s a red blend made up of “Zinfandel, Carignan, Mataro, and 27+ [27!?!] other varieties interplanted on the ranch.” Wow!

It’s big and bold for sure, clocking in at a hefty 14.5% alcohol. I get a lot of unripe blackberry on the nose and palate. Tannins are high but have calmed down since I’ve had this open. The perfect match for grilled strip steak. I like this, but for the money, there are other varietals I’d rather have.

It’s too hefty and dry for your 4th of July barbecue, unless you’re talking about them there fancy-schmancy hand-ground burgers from cows who were read Zane Grey as they matured. If you’re going for barbecue with smoke and sauce, the fruit in most California zinfandel will work well.

Got any other questions about how to celebrate American independence with wine? Drop me a comment below!