A boatload of wine
2008 Bunnell Family Cellars VIF Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $33.
Very intense notes of tobacco, currants, mocha, vanilla and coffee bean come through on the nose with hits of violets, blackberries and a touch of beauty bark. Plush currant notes on the palate with a solid acidic core. Smooth tannins and excellent structure with white pepper notes joining the party on the mid-palate leading into a long, tight finish of bright blueberry, cherry and red raspberries. This baby is youthful and should improve over the next 5-8 years. (B+/A-)
2009 Bunnell Family Cellars Syrah (Horse Heaven Hills, WA)… $47.
Dusty aromas of bark, currants, tobacco and cherries. Hints of vanilla and blueberries sneak in with a hit of coffee bean. Bright acidity makes up the backbone of this wine supporting notes of tobacco, currants and beauty bark. The wine deepens on the mid-palate with hits of bacon fat coming through, leading into red cherry, currant and red flower notes on the bright finish. This is high acid juice now and needs time to flesh out. Give it 5+ years. (B+/A-)
2011 Baer Winery “Ursa” (Columbia Valley, WA)… $40.
A little challenged on the nose with slight hits of blackberries and leather. Very bold on the palate, punching it with notes of spice box, white pepper, cherries and boysenberries. This wine has nice balance and a seamless flow across the palate with a little green leaf in the underbelly. This puppy has a long finish with spice notes lingering around the gums. This is a baby from a tough vintage and will only get better. 43% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and ?? (A-)
2011 Baer Winery “Arctos” (Columbia Valley, WA)… $45.
Aromas of black raspberries, cherries, licorice, red plums and a hit of green bell peppers. Dark cherries big time on the front of the palate, joined by notes of white pepper and licorice on the mid-palate with a touch of minerality. The finish shows a little black olive, tobacco, wood and black tea.Good balance, but a little young, like its sibling. Give it 5-8 years to mature and show its true colors. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot. (A-)
2010 San Felice Il Grigio Gran Selezione Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy)… $40.
Aromas of cedar, rocks, cherries and leather, with hits of licorice and rose petals. This is what Chianti is all about folks… Rustic, very rustic. Cherries, crushed rock and red flowers up front with a splash of iron. Notes of blueberries and licorice show up on the mid-palate leading to worn leather notes on the finish. This is an interesting wine, because although it has the rusticity you expect from an Italian wine, it is surprisingly smooth at the same time. 80% Sangiovese, with some Abrusco and Pugnitello thrown in. (B+)
2011 2011 Ghost Pines “Wine Maker’s Blend” Cabernet Sauvignon (70% Napa, 30% Sonoma, CA)… $19.
Black tea notes all over the nose, with underlying dark cherry and black currant notes and a hit of licorice. Solid black cherry and currant notes with a healthy dose of black tea and a hint of licorice. Sturdy, soft tannins support the fruit notes with a touch of green tea coming through on the finish. (B+)
2009 Villa Luisa Riserva Chianti (Tuscany, Italy)… $11.
This baby is a little poopy on the nose joined by notes of leather, rose petals, earth, cranberries and cherries. Notes of cranberries, leather, rust, bark and forest floor on the palate with rusty leather and mushroom notes on the finish. This is old school Italian Chianti, that is a little thin and acidic with good “old-fashioned” rusticity. This baby screams for lasagna or spaghetti. (C+)
2010 Cairnbrae Pinot Noir (Marlborough, New Zealand)… $20.
A little stinky on the nose with notes od cherries, black tea, cedar and raspberries. Nice acidity balances with notes of dark cherries and black raspberries, joined by tea notes and a hint of chocolate. Smooth tannins and good balance of acidity and fruit. This is one of the better Pinot Noirs I have tried from NZ recently, and the price is right. (B+/A-)
2012 La Merika Pinot Noir (Central Coast, CA)… $17.
Aromas of cherry pie, oak, black tea, black raspberry and blackberry leaves. Woody, toasty cherry notes on the palate with a pinch of black tea and light acidity. There is really too much oak on this baby which buries the fruit flavors. It edges towards flabby, although it doesn’t quite go there. If they would have backed off the wood, this might have been a decent Pinot Noir. (C-)
2013 Hawkes Bay Chardonnay Coopers Creek “The LimeWorks” (New Zealand)… $20.
A touch perfumed and fairly intense notes of toast, nuts, butter and pears. Nice and toasty on the palate with a backbone of acidity. Notes of pineapple and pears with a little spice action on the finish. Oak is prominent but not over-powering. Nice balance. (B)
2011 Chateau Sainte Marthe (Languedoc, France)… $10.
This little gem has a great nose of currants, dirt, BBQ spices, licorice and hints of licorice. Loads of ripe currants and dark cherries on the front of the palate. There is a backbone of minerals and forest floor notes. Mid-palate to finish highlights notes of tobacco, spice and currants, with currant notes and pepper lingering on the finish. Nice complexity with a delicious factor and old world feel on the palate. 70% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre (B+)
2013 Bodegas Riojanas Canchalas Vino Joven (Rioja, Spain)… $10.
Aromas of crushed rock, tobacco, cherries and rose petal. I love these young (Joven) Rioja reds, because they are clean and rustic…Perfect food wines. Ripe cherries blended with rust and crushed rocks on the palate. Red flowers big-time on the mid-palate and on the mineral driven finish. Balanced acidity fruit and minerality…Very clean and fresh on the finish. I’m talking pizza and burger wine my friends. (B-)
2011 Robert Ramsay Cellars “Mason’s Red” (Columbia Valley, WA)… $18.
Very earthy on the nose. Notes of cherries, currants and blueberries with a touch of smoke and bark with a hit of iron. Round and lush on the palate without going jammy. Cherry and raspberry notes with a touch of blueberry and chocolate. Good structure and balance with a nice backbone of acidity and trace minerals. (A-)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
