In a weeks time, I taste a boatload of wine (seriously). I lot of my friends think that I’m lucky. Well, they’re right, and I wouldn’t give this job up for the world. The only thing that makes my job hard, is my feeling of responsibility to taste the samples given to me as quickly as possible and to put my reviews either in my Moleskine, on my Youtube channel (Stan The Wine Man TV), or right here on Stanthewineman.com. Here for your reading pleasure, are thirteen wines that I have reviewed in my Moleskine (good or bad), this past week.
2013 Don Rodolfo Tannat (Mendoza, Argentina)… $10.
Whoever said you can’t get a good and interesting wine for under fifteen bucks has really not tasted much wine, because this is proof that they do exist. Aromas of currants, violets, rose petal, vanilla and a little bloody meat (a good thing really). Tomato leaf hides under notes of currants and spice, with a little stewed meat and leather sneaking in on the mid-palate. Blackberries and blue fruit notes come through on the finish with black licorice lingering. Tannat is the grape, and one that you more than likely have not tried. This would be a good one to cut your teeth on, especially for the price. (B)
2010 Dante Red Blend (California)… $10.
Aromas of raspberries, red licorice, violets, rose petals and a touch of rust. Not a bad nose for a ten-dollar wine. A little bit of red and black fruit comes through on the palate with notes of black raspberries and currants up front joined by spices and red flowers. There is a little tomato leaf and blackberry stem notes that show up on the mid-palate into the medium finish of spice, dark fruit notes and underlying red flowers. For ten bucks, this is a very interesting and delicious wine. (B)
2013 Don Rodolfo Pinot Noir (Mendoza, Argentina)… $10.
This was a week where unexpectedly, three ten-dollar wines were put in front of me that I was very impressed with…This was the third.
Aromas of cherries and black licorice with just a hint of earth. Cherries and cherry pits all over the palate. It gets a little smokey on the mid-palate leading into a finish of licorice, black tea and dark cherries with a little grip action in the mouth. A pinot noir that brings it home like this for ten bucks is worth seeking out. (B)
2012 Michael Pozzan Chardonnay (Russian River Valley, CA)…$13.
Very clean on the nose with notes of pears and spice with a little fig and pineapple thrown in. There is a nice core of acidity on the palate featuring notes of pears, fig and spice. There is a little lumber on this chardonnay but doesn’t throw it out of balance. This chard has a good balance of acid/wood/fruit with a touch of creaminess on the finish. (B)
2011 Alessandro Veglio Barbera D’Alba (Piedmont, Italy)…$20.
Old world all over the nose with notes of red brick, violets, earthy bark, red cherries and cranberries. The palate holds true to the nose with notes of red brick, bark, cherries and rust with a hit of cranberries and violets on the back-end. There is a nice backbone of acidity start to finish. It’s a barbera from Italy and that is what it tastes like… Sweet, and only twenty bucks. (B+)
2012 Alessandro Veglio Dolcetto D’Alba (Piedmont, Italy)…$16.
Aromas of violets, cassis, crushed rocks and bark. Cranberry meets blackberry on the palate with a good dose of acidity. Crushed rocks and violets come through in spades with an undertow of cedar bark. If you love the old world in wine then this is for you. I know that I liked it a lot.
2009 Crane Prairie Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington State)…$10.
Aromas of currants, black olive, dark cherries and rose petal. Black olives and tea on the front of the palate with medium concentration and good balance. Currants and black olives linger on a medium to long finish. This is a ten-dollar cab that delivers a nice bonus of balance and concentration. A very good option for an everyday red. (B-)
2013 Hahn Winery Meritage (Central Coast, CA)…$15.
There’s a little savory on the nose joined by notes of violets, cherries and currants. Ripe fruit notes on the front of the palate…Cassis, cherries, spice and currants. There is a nice violet hit on the mid-palate followed by a touch of tobacco and leather joining the fruit party on the finish. This wine falls into the delicious category big-time. (B+)
2010 Castello Banfi Belnero Super Tuscan Red (Montalcino, Italy)… $28.
Currants, rose petals leather and wet gravel notes come through on the nose (you gotta love old world aromas). Crushed rock notes all over the palate joined by notes of currants, cassis, tobacco and leather. This baby is mineral driven start to finish with enough stuff joining the party to make it a very interesting red. Great balance and good structure. Predominately Sangiovese with a splash of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. (A-)
2012 Hahn Estate Chardonnay (Santa Lucia Highlands, California)… $12.
What I really like about Hahn Estates is the quality that they deliver at killer prices. This chard is no exception. Aromas of melons, pears, pineapple and oak come through with a hint of dusty rocks. Creamy on the palate with delicious notes of pineapple, fig, butterscotch and ripe pears. There is a little lemon hit on the mid-palate leading into a clean finish of figs and butterscotch with a kiss of oak. This chard never gets heavy or weighed down, but stays fresh and lively. (B)
2013 Kestrel Rose` (Columbia Valley, WA)… $14.
A blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Syrah. Aromas of watermelon, red cherries and a hit of peach. Cherry soaked on the palate, backed by notes of watermelon. Nice and dry on the palate, staying in the delicious category and finishing with interesting hits of cherry pit and crushed rock notes. Tis the season for rose` (although I drink it year-round), and this little gem is perfect for a warm summer day while you’re barbecuing out in the back yard. (B+)
2012 Kestrel Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley, WA)… $17.
I really hate this price point with Sauvignon Blanc, especially when you can get some superb examples from New Zealand for about five bucks less. Now I know a lot of you get tired of the grapefruit driven Sauvignon Blancs from the Kiwi’s, but they are not all like that.
Anyway, back to the wine at hand (wait, while I get off my soap-box).
Aromas of bubblegum, lemon curd, melon and a touch of hand soap. Fruit forward on the palate with notes of lemon-lime pith, cut grass, melon and crushed rock. Starts on the fruit forward side, but finishes dry and minerally. It’s a well made sauv. blanc, but I think it is a little over-priced. (B)
2012 Tomero Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)… $14.
Malbecs are a dime a dozen these days, so I am always on the look-out for some interesting examples. This falls into that category. Aromas of blackberries, tar and currants with a hit of blueberries and dark cherries. It’s black plums and blueberries on steroids in the mouth. Round and polished with an edge of chalky tannins. There is underlying tobacco and tar notes that come through on the mid-palate leading into a medium to long finish. This is a complex Malbec taking it out of the vanilla ice cream category that so many fall into. For a few bucks more, you get a lot more wine. (B+)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
