A boatload of wine
2013 Angove Family Winemakers “Family Crest” Red (McLaren Vale, Australia)… $21.
Blueberries on the nose joined by notes of plums, strawberries and a hit of tar and tobacco. Smooth and polished on the palate with loads of white pepper. Notes of blueberries come through with black plums and underlying strawberry. Tobacco and tar notes show up on the back of the mid-palate into the long (slightly hot) finish, with white pepper notes lingering. 55% Grenache, 25% Shiraz, 20% Mourvedre (B+/A-)
2013 Angove Family Wine Makers “Family Crest” Shiraz (McLaren Vale, Australia)… $21.
Dark cherries and currants on the nose with hits of wood, tobacco and licorice. Black olive notes are the core on the palate supporting generous notes of black currants and dark cherries. Oak notes come through, but they are in balance with the fruit. Seamless across the palate with nice balance. Tar, tobacco and white pepper join the party on the finish with a touch of blueberry on the back-end. This baby drinks nice now, but will age over the next ten years nicely. (B+/A-)
2012 The Hermit Crab Viognier-Marsanne (McLaren Valle, Australia)… $17.
Aromas of fresh-cut grass, melon, peaches and peach pit. There is a little nut action going on with walnuts and almonds coming through with a backdrop of honey. Nice creaminess up front on the palate and the mid-palate. Notes of melon, peach and honey ride on the cream with a fresh edge and a clean finish. White flower notes front to back with honey and peach notes dominating on the back-end with just a hint of cut grass. (A-)
2011 St. Francis Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County, CA)… $21.
Aromas of currants, tobacco and dark cherries with a hint of tarragon and grilled green peppers. Loads of licorice on the palate, joined by notes of tobacco and currants. Smooth, chalky tannins with balanced acidity. Green tobacco notes come through on the back-end with a clean, fresh finish. Currant notes linger for some time. (B+)
2011 Michael Pozzan Winery AnnaBella Red (California)… $15.
Eucalyptus comes through on the nose, joined by notes of licorice and currants with a backdrop of black cherries. The eucalyptus notes come through on the palate backed by plush currant and cherry notes. Very smooth and delicious with a good balance of fruit and acidity. Nice flow across the palate with just a touch of green veggie on the back of the finish. (B/B+)
2012 Domaine Notre Dame des Pallieres Le Pellegrin (Lirac, France)… $15.
Earth, currants, leather, rust and red flowers come through on the nose. Currant and dark cherry notes rest on smooth tannins, with rust notes lingering underneath the fruit. Seamless flow across the palate finishing with notes of mocha and chocolate with hits of spice and tobacco lingering. Excellent structure with balanced acidity. Primarily Grenache. (B+/A-)
2012 Franco Mondo Barbera d’Asti (Piedmont, Italy)… $11.
Aromas of rusty nails, currants, wet stone and earth (true, old world, Northern Italian nose). Currants come through on the palate with a good dose of rust, spice and a dash of bark. Light notes of cranberry and blueberry with a little wilted rose petal on the mid-palate. The intensity of acidity shows on the clean, puckering, grippy finish. (B-)
2013 Schreckbichl Colterenzio Lagrein (Alto Adige, Italy)… $15.
Aromas of rose petals, tobacco, cherries, bark and a backdrop of black licorice. Smooth tannins and soft mineral notes support notes of dark cherries, toast and tobacco. Licorice notes join the party on the mid-palate with a grape jam component. Toast and tobacco notes persist on the long finish. (B+)
2012 St. Francis Chardonnay (Sonoma County, CA)… $18.
Very pleasing and interesting nose of Bartlett pears, butterscotch, pineapple and a hint of oak. Creamy pears on the palate with a backdrop of butter. Nice seamless flow across the palate with a finish of pineapple and pears with a touch of lemon. Fresh and clean on the finish, this Chard strikes a nice balance of fruit, oak and acidity. (B+)
2012 Vega Tolosa 11 Pinos Old Vines Bobal (Vinos Manchuela, Spain)… $11.
Old school nose of blackberries, cherries, rose petals, leather and wet stone. Loads of minerals and crushed rock on the palate joined by notes of tobacco and leather with an undertow of blackberries. Tobacco and herb notes linger on the mineral driven finish. (B+)
2013 Foris Gewurztraminer (Rogue Valley, OR)… $13.
There is an interesting fig component on the nose joined by pears, nuts, pine needle and mandarin orange. Pine needles big time on the palate, backed by pear and fig notes. The wine is on the edge of dry with a backdrop of almonds and walnuts coming through. For those of you that think “sweet” when it comes to Gew, you need to try this nice dry style version. (B/B+)
Non-Vintage Lucien Albrecht Cremant Brut Sparkling Wine (Alsace, France)… $20.
Interesting bread dough and dusty mineral notes on the nose, joined by notes of perfumed pears and apples. Crisp and dry on the palate with larger bubbles. Lots of lemon and lime notes with hits of yeast and bread dough coming through. (B)
Non-Vintage Vandori Prosecco (Prosecco, Italy)… $10.
Light notes of apple, yeast and pears come through on the nose. A little on the sweet side, with notes of lemon and apple. Big bubbles, nice balance and good flavors. Simple, delicious and a touch on the fruit-forward side. (C+)
Cheers!
Stan the Wine Man
