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Reininger Winery 2007 Cima, Walla Walla Valley, $52
Named for the Italian reference to the summit of a mountain, this is a pet project of former climbing guide Chuck Reininger. The Walla Walla winemaker has been producing these tributes to super Tuscan wines for more than a decade, and he sources them from renowned Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills vineyards. As is typical, he didn’t release this until six years beyond harvest, and he followed his template by aging it in barrel for five years before more than year of bottle-aging. The final blend of Sangiovese (53%), Cabernet Sauvignon (21%), Petit Verdot (16%) and Merlot carries aromas of red currant, Rainier cherry, vanilla and malted milk balls. On the palate, its theme is cherry jam, dark plum and dried strawberry with a nice rush of acidity and tannin. The enjoyable and lengthy finish hints at blackberry.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 235 cases
Alcohol: 15.2%
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