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The summer cookout is a staple of the season, and perhaps, the ultimate item for grilling is steak. But even with such status, the right bottle of wine can still elevate a juicy cut of beef, and there are a lot of great small-production wineries making top-notch stuff. So we figure, why not enhance the tradition of the American cookout with some boutique, uniquely American wines? Here are some great options for when you’re grilling steak:
Cambiata 2012 Tannat
Grape(s): 100% Tannat
Region: Monterey County, Ca
Price: 30-35
Tasting Notes:
A bouquet of bramble fruit, black cherry, anise, and sweet floral earth rises up from a glass. The palate showcases notes of blackberries, plums, and dark cherries that meld with whispers of anise, cedar, and earth. Dark and dense with ample tannins, enjoy a bottle with a hearty rib-eye. 348 cases were made.
Rating: 90
Eberle 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
Grape(s): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Paso Robles, Ca
Price: 35-40
Tasting Notes:
Black cherries, currants, and blackberries mingle with allusions of vanilla and thyme on the nose. A sip reveals flavors of blackberry, cherry, and cassis that come together with traces of toasty oak, vanilla, and Italian herbs on the palate. A fine example of Paso Robles Cabernet, pair a glass with a grilled NY Steak. 2,656 cases produced.
Rating: 90
Cass 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
Grape(s): 89% Cabernet & 11% Petit Verdot
Region: Paso Robles, Ca
Price: 40-45
Tasting Notes:
Fragrances of cherries, blackberries, cedar, and vanilla rise up from a glass. The palate offers flavors of bing cherry, plum, and bramble fruit that flow into hints of white pepper, smoky oak, and violets. A wine with dark fruit and floral highlights, enjoy a bottle the next time you grill filet mignon. 525 cases were made.
Rating: 89
Zenaida Cellars 2012 “Fire Sign” Blend
Grape(s): 40% Cabernet, 35% Syrah, & 25% Zinfandel
Region: Paso Robles, Ca
Price: 40-45
Tasting Notes:
Aromas of cherries, cassis, and blackberries combine with notes of creamy oak and licorice on the nose. With a sip, flavors of blackberry, boysenberry, and red currant open up into suggestions of vanilla and floral earth. Lush fruit and supple tannins make this a fine wine to pair with prime rib. 171 cases produced.
Rating: 90
Vina Robles 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
Grape(s): 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, & 11% Tannat
Region: Paso Robles, Ca
Price: 35-40
Tasting Notes:
Notes of dark berries, cassis, earth, and creamy oak greet the senses. Flavors of blueberry, currant, and black plum emerge on the palate alongside accents of cedar, earth, and vanilla. Dark and concentrated, a t-bone steak would be an ideal choice for this bottle. 12, 488 cases were made.
Rating: 88
Comanche Cellars 2012 Pinot Noir
Grape(s): 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Santa Lucia, Ca
Price: 30-35
Tasting Notes:
Aromatics of black cherries, plums, and raspberries meld with hints of dark chocolate, herbs, and spice on the nose. With a sip, flavors of bing cherry, bramble fruit, and plum meet with allusions of sweet spice, thyme, and chocolate on the palate. With plush tannins and dark fruit, for fans of Pinot Noir, it’s a fine choice for when you grill steak. 200 cases produced.
Rating: 90
Midnight Cellars 2011 Estate Merlot
Grape(s): 100% Merlot
Region: Paso Robles, Ca
Price: 35-40
Tasting Notes:
The nose offers aromas of currants, blackberries, and cherries that blend with traces of toasty oak. Flavors of black cherry, currant, and plum interweave with suggestions of creamy oak and minerals on the palate. A Merlot with supple tannins and mouth-filling fruit, it will stand up to any steak you pair it with. 540 cases were made.
Rating: 89
Check out our other segments of Great Wines When You’re Grilling
