I just busted open a new Moleskine and have already reviewed 39 wines. Which just goes to show that when you put your head down and get serious, things can get done. Here are thirteen wines that I have recently reviewed, some good some not so good.
1) 2012 Domaine Pouillon White “Savoir-Faire” (Boushey Vineyards Yakima Valley, WA)… $30.
Starbright in color with a slight lemon-gold edge to it. You can smell the acidity on this baby, with perfumed notes of mango, peach, banana, and an edge of coconut. Apple skins, peach skins on a medium to light body in the mouth. It gets a little creamy on the mid-palate, but then goes way lean and almost bitter on the finish with notes of burnt match and minerals coming through. O.k. I know some folks out there who will like this wine, but it didn’t do it for me. 41% grenache blanc, 30% marsanne, 29% picpoul blanc (C-)
2) 2012 Domaine-Poillan Gewurztraminer (Columbia Gorge, WA)… $17.
Aromas of honey, nuts, petrol, grass and wet stones. I don’t know about you, but I loved this nose and was looking forward to trying it. Notes of wet wool, papaya and honey comes through on the palate, almost reminding me a little of a chenin blanc if it weren’t for the lychee nut notes coming through on the back of the mid-palate. Medium weight in the mouth and off-dry, it reminds me a lot of an Alsace gewurztraminer. (B)
3) 2009 Bonny Doon Vineyards Contra Old Vine Field Blend (Central Coast, CA)… $16.
This wine gives you a chance to try some of Randall Graham’s handy-work, at a very reasonable price. Aromas of Smucker’s grape jam, rose petal and beauty bark (very interesting). Full and plush on the palate, but never goes jammy. It holds itself in check with mineral, tobacco and crushed rock notes supporting the creamy black currant. Notes of blackberry and perfumed rose petal appear on the mid-palate flowing into a long finish of blueberries, black tea and minerals. Excellent balance and structure start to finish. This wine starts out with a new world feel but then goes to the old world on the finish. For sixteen bucks, this is a steal. (A-)
4) 2012 Charles & Charles Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $10.
Very deep and seductive on the nose with notes of plums and boysenberries coming through, and a touch of vanilla and tobacco. Polished tannins in the mouth with plump notes of boysenberries. Blueberry notes come through on mid-palate joined by an edge of tobacco. It’s very soft and very close to flabby, finishing with soft notes of boysenberries, tobacco and lingering white pepper. This baby missed the acid train and could use a little more structure. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah (C+)
5) 2009 Chateau Bone Grand Vin De Bordeaux (Cotes De Bourg, France)… $10.
Aromas of perfumed black currants, anise, tobacco, and an interesting oatmeal element that comes through with a touch of tomato stem. Forest floor notes come through on the palate joined by notes of blackberries and currants. Notes of leather and bark show on the mid-palate leading into a medium length finish of forest floor, leather and bark with a touch of spice with a little grip-action. This is a rustic little red that shows good balance. (B)
6) 2011 Michael Pozzan “Annabella” Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, CA)… $15.
A fifteen dollar Napa cab always gets my attention since they are few and far between. Aromas of currants and dark cherries with a hint of tomato stem and vanilla/mocha. Toasty currants front to back on the palate with a touch of spice and vanilla coming through on the back-end. Good balance, medium acidity and a decently long finish. This is a really good cab for the price. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. (B)
7) 2011 Pedroncelli Zinfandel “Mother Clone” (Sonoma County, CA)… $15.
Aromas of bramble berries, black raspberry, currants and licorice. This baby has some wood on it and the wood seems to hold back the currants and black raspberries that want to come through on the palate. Nice balance with some acidity and a white pepper driven finish with a little grip on it. I would like this zin a lot better if the fruit notes would “pop” a little more. (C+/B-)
8) Calmel &J Joseph Minervois (Languedoc, France)… n/a
Ripe blackberry & pie crust notes come through on the nose, joined by strawberries, and a splash of black tea. Real grapey on the palate, with a backdrop of blackberries and currants. There is a black tea component on the mineral chalky finish.Smooth tannins, but pretty light on the palate with a medium to short finish. (C)
9) Humble Roots Estate Wines Red Blend No. 10 (Rattlesnake Hills, WA)… $13.
Aromas of cola, twigs, black tea and black licorice. Interesting back notes of perfumed red currants, blackberries,mint and chamomile (love the nose on this baby). A little tight on the front of the palate with notes of currants, cherries, black tea and minerals.It finishes strong with spice, mint tea,root beer and currants, getting a little herbaceous on the back-end. this baby needs to be decanted! (B-)
10) 2012 Chateau de Campuget Rose (Costieres de Nimes, France)… $10.
On the nose, notes of strawberries, raspberries, melon, citrus pith and dried herbs. Citrus pith comes through on the front of the palate joined by notes of strawberries, herbs and minerals. Good balance, but a little weak on the mid-palate. It finishes dry and mineral driven with an herbal component. (B-)
11) 2011 Joseph Mellot “Sincerite” Sauvignon Blanc Vin de Pays (Loire, France)… $10.
Aromas of lemon-lime, grass, wet stone and grapefruit pith. Lemon lime zest on the palate with notes of wet gravel, grass, then finishes with chalky minerality. Medium acidity and nice balance. Not too shabby for a ten-dollar sauv. blanc. (B-)
12) 2012 Joseph Mellot “Le Montarlet” Sancere (Loire, France)… $20.
Flinty lime and lemon notes come through on the nose joined by grapefruit pith and hints of pineapple. On the palate notes of crushed rock, pineapple, tangerine, lemon-lime and minerals front to back. The tangerine and lemon pith notes linger on the finish. Nice balance of acidity and fruit, displaying the brighter acidity you would expect from a Sancere. One of the best I have tasted under $25. (A-)
13) 2012 A to Z Pinot Noir (Oregon)… $18.
The ’12 vintage out of Oregon continues to impress me and this pinot, with fruit sourced from different appellations is a good representation of the vintage. Aromas of ripe cherries, black tea, rose petal and underlying cranberry and cola. Black tea and dark cherries come through on the front of the palate and into the mid-palate. Finishes with notes of violets, rose petal, black cherry and black tea. Very feminine on the palate with balanced acidity, earth tones and a slightly thin finish. For under twenty bucks, this is a stellar pinot noir. (A-)
Happy wine hunting, and have a great weekend.
Cheers! Stan The Wine Man
