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.
2010 Luna Vineyards Lunatic Red (California) … $18.
Powerful on the nose (a little alcohol comes through) with notes of violets, smoke, currants, boysenberries and a hint of oak. Interesting black olive notes come through on the palate, backed by currants and boysenberries with a touch of violets. Silky tannins carry the wine into a dark cherries, currants and violet finish. There is a worn leather backbone to this juice that gives it a nice, interesting mouth-feel. This is a big, smooth red with good structure. (B+)
2013 Charles & Charles Rose` (Columbia Valley, WA)… $10.
This Rose` from Charles & Charles is comprised mostly from Syrah with a little Cinsault and a splash of a couple other grapes. Nice aromas of ripe cherries with a backdrop of strawberries and rhubarb. Strawberries dominate the palate backed by notes of cherries, herbs and a nice minerality. The fruit notes expand on the mid-palate, but this baby finishes nice and dry like a good rose` should. Very nice effort for ten bucks and should hit the spot for most Rose` fans. (B)
2012 Charles & Charles “Eve” Chardonnay (Washington State)… $10.
Aromas of pineapple, pear, apples and an undertone of interesting baking spices. Good acidity on this puppy (not for the malo fans) backing notes of pineapple and apple (more green apple than red) with a splash of lemon. This Chardonnay is clean and refreshing on the palate, which will lend it well with shellfish. However, it has enough weight to go with roasted chicken or crab. I nice alternative if you are tired of oaky chards. (B-)
2011 Corvidae Wine Co. “Lenore” Syrah (Columbia Valley, WA)… $15.
Aromas of smoked meat, baked earth, cherries and red currants with a backdrop of red flowers. Polished on the palate (meaning very smooth) with notes of red currants, bacon fat, vanilla and red flowers. Baked earth notes come through on the finish joined by red currants, red flowers and tobacco that lingers. This is classic, old world style Syrah with a little new world love. (B)
2012 Soter Vineyards Planet Oregon Pinot Noir (Oregon)… $20.
This has a very expressive nose with notes of red flowers, cherries and raspberries with a little red plum and root beer sneaking in. Ripe cherries, raspberries and plums with a Root beer back on the palate. Solid acidity backs the fruit notes with hints of black tea, red flowers and licorice sneaking in. Raspberry notes dominate on the finish. For twenty bucks, you get a Pinot that represents Oregon nicely. (A-)
2012 Hiedler Gruner Veltliner (Osterreich-Austria)… $19.
Hits of fig, lemon, wet stone, cut grass and melon rind come through on the nose. Gravel and wet stone all over the palate (a good thing for you wine geeks out there), with notes of melon rind, white flowers and lemon-lime pith joining the party. Crushed rock dominates on the finish with a touch of cut grass. If you want to get a good feel for what old world Gruner is all about, this is a classic example. (A)
2010 Tempus Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, WA)… $32.
A little alcohol sneaks in on the nose with notes of currants, cherries and baking spices. Structured, sweet tannins support intense currant and dark cherry notes. Leather and earth notes join the fruit on the mid-palate (which thins out slightly), leading into an earth and currant finish that lingers for some time. Classic Cab from Washington. (B+)
2010 Tempus Cellars Merlot seven Hills Vineyard (Walla Walla Valley, WA)… $28.
Aromas of currants, dust and rust come through on the nose with underlying dark cherries. Polished and intense notes of black currants and dark cherries with underlying bark and earth notes. White pepper sneaks in on the mid-palate leading into an intense finish with some nutmeg notes lingering around the palate. Excellent balance and structure, this is what Washington State Merlot is all about. (A-)
2012 Hanna Sauvignon Blanc (Russian River Valley, CA)… $16.
Aromas of grapefruit pith, ripe lemons and a touch of crushed rock with a little sweat thrown in the mix (not off-putting at all). Nice and dry on the palate with notes of crushed rock, grapefruit pith, bubble gum, and grass. Citrus notes dominate the palate with that nice minerality coming through. This is a great sauv blanc from an area that is not necessarily known for this varietal. (B+)
2013 Carlos Basso “Dos Fincas” (Mendoza, Argentina)… $13.
Fairly intense and perfumed on the nose with notes of black licorice, blackberries, black plums and charred oak. Black plums and blackberries on the front of the palate with interesting black and green olive notes. Oak comes through big time on the mid-palate and finish making it bitter and astringent. This is a fairly young wine and the char/oak notes could calm down with time. (C+)
2013 La Clotiere Rose D’Anjou (France)… $10.
Aromas of wet stone, rose petal, watermelon, herbs and cherries. Crushed rock, earth and cherries all day on the palate. Riper fruit up front and on the mid-palate, and then it dries up on the finish with notes of cherries, red flowers and crushed rock lingering. (B+)
2012 Husch Gewurztraminer (Anderson Valley, CA)… $15.
Aromas of Lychee nut, honey, peaches and apricots. Honey and almonds up front joined by notes of peaches and apricots. Lychee notes come through on the back-end finishing with almond and walnut skins, with notes of citrus and apricots lingering. This is a very dry style Gew. (B)
2013 Henri Bourgeois Petit Bourgeois Pinot Noir Rose (Loire Valley, France)… $13.
Somewhat challenged on the nose with trace notes of strawberries and watermelon with a little bubblegum action. Fresh, clean and lively on the palate with notes of crushed rock, watermelon and strawberries. There is a little Granny Smith apple presence on the mid-palate leading into a crushed rock citrus finish. This is a warm summer day Rose’ (or anytime for that matter) and would match up nicely with shellfish. (B)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
