After missing two weeks of Friday’s Thirteen, I am back in the saddle and ready to give you my thoughts on thirteen wines I have tasted recently. I would promise you that I will not miss another Friday (and that is my goal), but that would not be realistic given the demands on my time. I hope you find something good for you from this weeks reviews.
1) 2006 Conde de Valdimar Reserva Rioja (Rioja, Spain)… $16.
Do you love “old world” wines especially from Spain? This is the one for you at a very good price. Stinky leather notes come through on the nose with notes of forest floor, currants and underlying warm spices. This is a very youthful wine on the palate with notes of currants and cherries, backed by leather and tobacco notes. Fresh acidity from the front of the palate into a cranberry, leather, oak driven finish. I love this wine now, but it will only improve over the next 12-15 years. (A-)
2) 2013 Vina Tabali Viognier (Limari Valley, Chile)… $12.
I love Viognier when it is done right, and this little baby is DONE RIGHT! Very tropical on the nose with notes of mango, papaya, banana and tangerine. It’s a tropical fruit bowl in the mouth with a base of whipped papaya and mangoes. Finishes strong and dry with a trace of tangerines lingering. Well balanced, never allowing the fruit notes to go too ripe with a nice backbone of fresh acidity.
Do you want to impress your girl with a white that is delicious and well made? Well? (B+) A-
3) 2013 Domaine Sorin Rose “Terra Amata” (Provence, France)… $12.
Nothing like a little pink wine, but it has to be good, and this falls into that category (at least in my opinion). Bright aromas of melons and strawberries, with hits of ripe cherries. Very dry and delicious on the palate, with notes of cherry skins, rhubarb, apple and melon. Finishes dry, refreshing and delicious. Try this baby with some shellfish…You will be pleasantly surprised. (A-)
4) 2011 Alder Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Horse Heaven Hills, WA)… $30.
Aromas of ripe currants, oak, warm spices a hit of brown sugar and a little alcohol. Smooth and polished on the palate with currant and spice notes up front. Sweet tannins with a freshness front to back. Tobacco notes show on the mid-palate into the finish with notes of minerals and a slight grip on the palate. Watch out Napa, and this may be the wine you drink with the prime rib you order on that special day. (B+)
5) 2010 First Press Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, CA)… $22.
It’s really hard to find a good Napa cab for under thirty bucks, but this may be on of about five that I have discovered. Black currants, spice and tobacco come through on the nose with hits of blackberries and raisin. Very plush and silky notes of ripe black currants and baking spices on the front of the palate. Good balance as it never goes “jammy” in the mouth. There is a little grip and freshness with tobacco notes coming through on the lingering finish.
This wine has a lot to offer for under twenty-five bucks, so if you are with a wine connoisseur on that special day, this may impress. (B)
6) 2010 Calina Cabernet Sauvignon (Valle Central, Chile)…$11.
Now here is a value in Cab. Aromas of black currants, black tea, tobacco, petrol and hits of forest floor. Plush blackberries on the palate with notes of currants on silky, structured tannins. Tobacco notes hit on the mid-palate leading into a finish of tobacco and currants. This is a pretty good cab for the price and would pair up nicely with grilled meats. (C+/B-)
7) 2012 Rio Madre Graciano (Rioja, Spain)… $10.
Now, now, now, hear this. This may be my pick of the month in the near future, I am that enthused about it.
Aromas of blackberries, currants, tobacco and spice with a hit of tar. Smooth and polished on the palate with notes of blackberries and currants. Excellent balance with tobacco notes joined by blackberry and currants flowing across the palate into a long, delicious, spicy finish. Structured and polished, I think this may be one of the best ten dollar bottles of wine I have tasted so far this year. (A-)
8) 2012 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Cuvee (Willamette Valley, Oregon)…$30.
Do you have a serious Pinot Noir fan as a partner? This may be the perfect gift for them.
Bright aromas of cranberries, iron, cherries and black tea. Mineral notes come through on the palate backed by notes of black tea, cranberries and black cherries. There is a core of iron and acidity that gives it a bracing yet delicious mouthfeel. Black tea and cranberry notes linger for some time (A-)
9) 2013 Panther Creek Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley, Oregon)…$14.
If you want proof of the difference a vintage can make, compare this gris to the 2012 and you will totally understand. ’12 was a great vintage in Oregon and that was reflected in Panther Creek’s pinot gris with lush tropical and pitted fruit notes. 2013 however, is much different. A tougher vintage for sure with lots of rain and storms coming through right at harvest. This wine shows how that type of weather can affect a wine.
Aromas of honey and melon with a hint of peach and mango that is slightly perfumed. Bright acidity with hits of cane sugar and peach on the palate. A little thin, finishing bone dry with some mango hanging around. Nothing like it’s sibling from the year before, it isn’t bad, just not nearly as good. (C)
10) 2012 Colterenzio Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige, Italy)… $13.
As you probably know, I am not a huge fan of pinot grigio, but I do like to enjoy one now and then, so it better be good (for my palate). I was somewhat impressed with this effort. Lemons and melon come through on the nose with hints of fresh-cut grass. Creamy melon notes come through on the palate with a touch of honey. Like a lot of pinot grigio, this is somewhat one-dimensional, but it is delicious and balanced with a creamy, medium length finish. A decent price for a pg and certainly is capable of satisfying the discerning pg drinker. (B-)
11) 2010 Domaine Pouillon Cabernet Sauvignon McDuffee Vineyard (Columbia Gorge, WA)…$36.
Aromas of marinated meats, tobacco, black olive, cassis, perfumed rose soap with a hit of tomato stem and licorice. Cranberry, cassis and blueberries hit the front of the palate, charged with a huge dose of acidity. Minerals and rust hit on the mid-palate that leads into a bright, puckering, rose petal and cherry finish. You really need to be an acid freak (which I am from time to time) to enjoy this cab, and if you are, you will love this effort. (B)
12) 2011 Silk Oak Cabernet Sauvignon (Lodi, CA)… n/a
Super ripe currants on the nose with hits of brown sugar and beef jerky with a little smoked salmon coming through. Beef and salmon jerky all over the palate soaked in brown sugar and ripe currants. This is down-right nasty for a cab with a hit of spice on the smoked salmon, slightly “grippy” finish. I know what they are trying to get at with the name, but let me tell you that if you spend your money on this wine I can almost guarantee you will be disappointed, even if it were two bucks. You might be able to use this as a marinade for your salmon…That would be its only saving grace. (D-)
13) 2011 Michael Pozzan “Annabella” Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, CA)… $15.
Aromas of black currants and black cherries with a touch of tomato stem, vanilla and mocha. Toasty currants on the palate backed by a hint of spice and vanilla. Good balance with medium acidity and a decently long finish with a slight grip on it. 90% cabernet sauvignon & 10% merlot, this is a crazy value for a Napa cab, and represents what a cab should be. (B)
If this Friday’s Thirteen shows anything, it’s that price does not always mean it’s the best…Although it can at times.
Cheers! Stan The Wine Man
