A boatload of wine
And it’s really cool when it falls on Friday The 13th…
2014 Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca Valley, Chile)… $8.
Aromas of mangoes and coconut meat with a little grass, wet stone, peach and bubblegum thrown in. A touch of peach and mango with a splash of lemon, minerals and dried grass. It lacks pizzazz on the palate. It has acidity, but not enough to drive the fruit. It’s not flabby, just boring. Finishes with notes of grapefruit pith and lemon. (C+)
2013 Gustave Lorentz Pinot Blanc (Vin D’Alsace, France)… $19.
Melon, pears, and apples on the nose with hits of white flowers and wet stone. Peaches and mangoes on the palate with a little wet stone thrown in. The fruit and mineral notes are spiked by the solid acidity, giving the wine vibrancy in the mouth. (B+/A-)
2014 Dark Horse Sauvignon Blanc (California)… $9.
Aromas of lime, kiwi and grapefruit pith. Good acidity on the palate supporting notes of grapefruit and lime with just a hint of grass. There is trace mineral notes, but the wine is very clean and citrus driven on the finish. A lot of Sauvignon Blanc for nine bucks. (B/B+)
2013 1749 Sauvignon Blanc (Vin de France)… $10.
There’s a little slate action on the nose, supported by notes of white flowers and lemon with a touch of honey. A touch on the sour side (not a bad thing), with notes of under-ripe lemon and slate. Lemon and lime notes on the bright finish supported by a backbone of wet slate. (B+/A-)
2014 Canoe Ridge Vineyard “The Expedition” Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley, WA)… $14.
Slightly challenged on the nose with slight melon, apple and bubblegum notes coming through. Round melon notes on the palate with touches of apple, honey and minerals. Peach and wet stone notes hit on the mid-palate into the thin finish. It’s a little too light and flabby for me. (C-)
2013 Columbia Winery Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, WA)… $13.
Aromas of pears, butter, butterscotch and oak. Excellent balance of fruit and acidity on the palate with a seamless flow front to back. Notes of pears and apples with an underscore of butterscotch front to finish. Good structure and intensity with a long finish. (A-)
2013 Gustave Lorentz Gewurztraminer (Vin de Alsace, France)… $25.
Slightly perfumed on the nose with aromas of mixed nuts and peaches all day, with just a trace of oatmeal cookie. Nuts, spice and peaches hit in a big way on the front of the palate. Round, delicious and well-integrated with notes of fig and apricot joining the party on the mid-palate into the finish. This baby is fruit forward but not cloying leaving the palate fresh on the finish. (A)
2013 S. Moulinier Cotes-du-Rhone (Rhone, France)… $15.
Aromas of crushed red brick, earth and currants, with a backdrop of cherries and bark. Sour cherries and cranberries supported by a solid core of acidity. Well integrated with bright fruit notes and a ton of red flowers on the finish. This is a well-built Cotes-du-Rhone that will not appeal to every palate…Just the eclectic ones. 70% Grenache & 30% Syrah (B)
2011 19 Crimes Red wine (Southeastern Australia)… $13.
Currants and marshmallows on the nose with a touch of brown sugar, cinnamon and rose petal. Spicy dark fruits on the palate with a solid core of acidity front to back. Feels like it wants to go fruit bomb on you, but the acidity keeps everything in check. The tannins are there, but very approachable giving the wine good structure. A blend of Shiraz and Durif (Petite Sirah) (B+)
2013 19 Crimes Cabernet Sauvignon (Southeastern Australia)… $13.
Aromas of rose petal, currants and eucalyptus with a hit of tobacco. Red currants, white pepper and violets on the palate, supported by a solid bed of acidity, giving it a liveliness front to back. Black licorice notes join up on the finish. (B+)
2012 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County, CA)… $22.
Toasty currants and brown sugar on the nose. Ripe currants on the palate joined by notes of licorice. It has a freshness from the acidity. There is not a lot that goes on with this cab. Kind of boring front to back. Good flavors make up for its lack of complexity. The tannins are soft and the finish is medium in length. (C+)
2012 Regis Minet Pouilly-Fume “Vielles Vignes” (Loire, France)… $23.
Aromas of wet slate, lemon and green apple with just a hint of stink action. Wet stone and gravel notes hit right on the front of the palate joined by notes of green apples, white flowers and lemons with a hint of smoke. The finish is bone dry with notes of gravel and lemon lingering. This Sauvignon Blanc has excellent balance between minerals, acidity and fruit. Classic Pouilly-Fume. (A-)
2012 Domaine D’Aupilhac Lou Maset Red (Languedoc, France)… $18.
Aromas of violets, wet stone, tobacco, cherries and hits of crushed red brick. Nice acidity supports notes of cranberries, under ripe cherries and violets with a core of minerality underneath. Blueberry notes hit on the mid-palate joined by notes of tobacco on the finish. Good balance and gritty tannins. 30% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 20% Syrah, 10% Alicante Bouschet and 10% Aramon. (B+/A-)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
