A boatload of wine
2013 Monte Delle Vigne Lambrusco (Italy)… $15.
A little challenged on the nose with faint hits of black olive, strawberries and currants. Nice intensity on the palate with notes of dark cherries, currants and an edge of bark. A hit of tobacco comes through on the mid-palate leading into a clean, dry finish. Very smooth and structured with a nice balance of acidity and fruit. (B+/A-)
2013 Domaine Tabordet Pouilly-Fume (Loire Valley, France)… $21.
Aromas of wet stone, lemon, a touch of smoke and lanolin. Crushed rock all over the palate backed by notes of lemon-lime, lemon skin and lime pith. Very slate driven front to back with a touch of honey on the mid-palate, finishing long and laser sharp. (A-)
2012 Rigis Minet Pouilly-Fume (Loire Valley, France)… $25.
Aromas of slate, lemon, cut grass and melon. Crushed rock on the palate backed by notes of lemon, lemon pith and a hint of grapefruit. Minerals are the backbone of this white that strikes a nice balance of acid and fruit. Mineral and grapefruit notes linger with a hint of lemon pith. (A-)
2011 Fantino “Cascina Dardi” Barbera d’Alba (Piedmont, Italy)… $25.
Aromas of crushed red brick, stinky leather, red cherries, currants and red flowers with a splash of rusty metal. Cherries, currants and cranberries on the palate joined by notes of red earth, crushed rock and rust. Finishes with notes of worn leather, red cherries, cranberries and a backdrop of orange peel. There is nothing like a solid Barbera to bring the old world to your palate. (A-)
2013 Neyers Chardonnay 304 “Unoaked” (Sonoma County, CA)… $25.
Aromas of white flowers, pears, honey and a touch of lemon. On the palate it reminds me of ripe pears dipped in honey, with a dash of white flowers and orange rind. Good balance with a clean finish with honey notes lingering. This chard has a little more acidity then I expected, but it stays in check. (B+/A-)
2013 Neyers Zinfandel Vista Luna (Borden Ranch, CA)… $22.
Yes, Borden Ranch is an AVA in Cali which I didn’t realize until I tried this wine. They’re popping up all over the place.
Ripe black cherries on the nose, joined by notes of currants and an edge of black raspberries. Excellent acidity backs notes of ripe cherries and currants. Raspberries join on the mid-palate, leading into a finish with a cocoa powder edge. Nice, jammy zin that is held in check by fresh acidity. (A-)
Non-vintage De Chanceny Cremant de Loire (Loire, France)… $15.
Aromas of wool and slate with slight lemon and melon. Cutting acidity on the palate with notes of lemon, minerals, lime and slate. Very bright, citrus driven finish. Clean and delicious. (B+)
2013 Westerly Sauvignon Blanc (Santa Ynez Valley, CA)…$32.
Grapefruit, grapefruit rind and gooseberry on the nose with hits of wet stone and cut grass. Cutting acidity on the palate drives notes of what tastes like a ripe chunk of grapefruit dipped in honey. There is a backdrop of cut grass and lemon leading into a long finish. This is a lot of money for a Sauvignon Blanc and I had my doubts when I tried it. It came through with flying colors. (A-)
2012 J. Scott Cellars Grace Hill Vineyards Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon)… $20.
Aromas of roasted cherries, currants, black tea and root beer. Red flowers all day on the palate, joined by notes of beauty bark, red cherries and violets. Very high in acidity with cranberry notes as the backbone of this pinot with hints of root beer and minerals coming through. This puppy is youthful and needs time to flesh out…Probably five to ten years. (B-)
H. Henriques Cotes du Roussillon ( Rhone Valley,France)… $8.
Very old world on the nose with notes of leather, iron and stewed meat, with hits of licorice, cherries, currants and a little cranberry and earth. Very dirty forest floor notes on the palate with hits of currants and minerals thrown in the mix. A rust element (kind of like licking a wrecking bar) comes through on the mid-palate. leading into an earthy, currant and tobacco driven finish. It’s about as old world as you can get…I liked it, but you need to like this style if you want to fork out the cash. 50% Carignan, 35% Grenache, 15% Syrah (B)
2012 Bodega Calle Alberta Reserva La Mano Derecha Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina)… $17.
Aromas of smoked ham, currants, violets and hits of vanilla. Nice plush cherries and currants on soft tannins with a little smoke sneaking in the picture, but stays at bay. Intense fruit front to back with a with a leathery grip on the palate and good acidity that “pops” the fruit notes into a long finish. (A-)
2000 Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real Gran Reserva (Rioja, Spain)… $50.
A touch stinky on the nose (which you might expect with Rioja) with notes of leather, tobacco, earth and herbs with a little currants and wet stone thrown in. Firm tannins support notes of leather, tobacco, earth and minerals. Orange peel and red flowers join the party with a finish featuring leather, tobacco and minerals. Tight but approachable, I would give it another fifteen years, and it will be a beauty. (A)
2013 Domaine De Coujan Cepage Rolle VDP (Coteaux De Murviel, France)… $12.
Apples, honey, peaches, melon and wet stone on the nose. Notes of crushed rock hit the palate up front, joined by notes of apple and peach skin supported by a lemon backbone. Good acidity with nice balance across the palate and a fresh, clean, citrus driven finish. 100% Vermentino (B-)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
