A boatload of wine
2013 I Stefanini Soave Il Selese (Veneto, Italy)… $13.
One thing about Italian and French wines is that it almost takes longer to spell out the name of the wine than it does to describe it. This Soave is bracing on the nose with notes of citrus, herbs, wet stone and a touch of honey. This white is steely on the palate with just a slightly creamy edge. Notes of lemon-lime zest, white flowers and crushed rock. Delicious with good balance leading into a steely finish. This is no Bolla my friends, give Soave a chance. (B-)
2013 Torre Di Luna Sauvignon (Tre Venezia, Italy)… $10.
Aromas of pine needles, grapefruit rind and petrol with a little cat pee and coconut on the back-end. Jazzy citrus and mineral notes on the palate (makes you forget about the cat pee). The acidity is in balance with notes of kiwi, lime and grapefruit joined on the finish by a touch of fresh-cut grass. Kiwi, grapefruit and grass notes linger. (B/B+)
2011 Fattoria del Cerro Rosso di Montepulciano (Montepulciano, Italy) … $13.
This little Sangiovese shows aromas of red brick, red cherries, violets and a slight currant component. Rust all day on the palate, joined by notes of crushed rock, beauty bark, red cherries and cranberries (this is Old World at it’s best). Forest floor notes are the under-belly of this wine with a rusty finish. Good balance of acidity, earth notes and fruit. (B-)
2012 Damilano Barbera d’Asti (Piedmont, Italy)… $18.
Forest floor, rust, red flowers, cranberry and cherry notes on the nose. Very soft and elegant in the mouth with notes of cranberries, under-ripe raspberries and cherries with a slight rust component underneath. There is a nice hit of ripe currants and minerals on the mid-palate. Red flower notes penetrate the palate front to finish. This is an excellent expression of Barbera with enough fruit to please a lot of palates. (B+)
2010 Cantele Salice Salentino (Puglia, Italy)… $13.
Aromas of strawberries, cherries and rose petal with an edge of wet stone and black olive (love it!) Polished tannins support notes of black olives and cherries with an edge of leather and minerals. Good balance with a beam of blackberries and red currants on the long finish. (B+)
2011 Castello di Meleto Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy)… $20.
Red flowers and red currants on the nose with underlying strawberry and wet stone notes. A nicely balanced Chianti with good acidity that is well-integrated with the fruit. Notes of red currants and forest floor with a rust component underneath and an interesting chocolate element that comes through. A beam of violets and minerals front to back. This Chianti is well-built and a great price for the quality. (B+/A-)
2010 Rocca di Frassinello Pogio Alla Guardia (Merrema, Italy)… $20.
Very interesting on the nose with notes of blood, rust, red cherries and red flowers with just a hint of vanilla. Smooth tannins with a boat-load of minerals joined by notes of currants, bark and leather. A little dirt action comes through leading into a mineral driven finish with notes of leather, red flowers and cherries lingering. (A-)
2012 Argiano NC Toscana Rosso (Tuscany, Italy)… $20.
Deep red cherry and red flower notes on the nose with a little black olive and dirt coming through on the back-end. Old bark, earth and currant notes rest on polished tannins. Nicely integrated acidity with a hit of raspberry on the mid-palate into the finish, joined by a healthy dose of minerals and a touch of grip-action. Interesting rust notes front to back. For twenty bucks, this is a great value. (B+/A-)
2012 Artazuri Garnache (Navarra, Spain)… $11.
Aromas of violets, cherries and licorice. Loads of minerals on the palate backed by notes of cherries and strawberries. There is a violet component underneath with licorice and white pepper notes on the finish with just a hint of rubber boot. (B)
2011 Clos Des Fous Cabernet Sauvignon Grillos Cantores (Valle Del Cachapoal, Chile)… $21.
Green Bell Pepper all day on the nose with a bloody iron element coming through blended with dark cherry notes. This is a virtual herb farm in the mouth, joined by notes of dark cherries and hits of oak. Good structure and balance with a nice core of acidity and sturdy tannins. Cherry and currant notes expand on the mid-palate into the finish with a little green salad thrown in. This baby will age nicely over the next 5+ years. (A-)
2013 Chateau Smith Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington State)… $20.
Very grapey on the nose with a cherry pie element coming through joined by notes of licorice and a backdrop of ripe currants. Currants and dark cherries up front with a grape fruit leather edge. Soft tannins and fairly simple, this cab is a touch thin on the palate. Fresh on the finish with just a hint of spice and tobacco. The 2013 vintage in Washington has been hit and miss for me so far…The jury is still out on how it will end up. This cab isn’t bad, but should be more in the twelve to fifteen dollar range for what you get (C+/B-)
2013 Vinateria Idilico Rosado (Washington State)… $7.
A lot of distributors are trying to sell off their ’13 vintage of Rose` to make room for the 14’s. As a consumer keep an eye out for some good deals as many of the 13’s are showing well. At least most of them.
this Grenache based version has a touch of watermelon on the nose with notes of strawberries and a hint of apple. Slightly creamy notes of watermelon rind on the palate joined by notes of strawberries and finishing with hits of apple. (C+/B-)
2011 O.S. Winery 16th Street Bridge Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $12.
Aromas of plums, red bricks and green bell pepper with a back-drop of rose petals and violets. There is an intense brightness front to back on the palate. Notes of cranberries, blueberries and black licorice up front, flowing across the palate into a spicy finish joined by notes of green bell peppers and tobacco, with the fruit taking a dominate role. (B-/B)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
