Welcome to 2016 and my first Friday’s Thirteen of the year. I am looking forward to a great year and am eager to find some awesome wines for you to try. I seriously get giddy when I find a great wine at a great price. I hope you follow along with my reviews throughout the year, and find something for you palate.
A boatload of wine
Non-Vintage New Age Tinto Dolce (Mendoza, Argentina)… $10.
Light in color with a little foam on the rim. Aromas of apples and cherries, the nose is slightly challenged. A little fizzy on the palate with notes of Cherry Bubblyum on sweet tannins. Very light in body with a clean finish. Blackberry notes sneak in on the mid-palate into the finish. A simple, clean, light red that might be nice to serve chilled. (C-/C)
2013 Gnarly Head Authentic Black (Lodi, CA)… $11.
Very intense purple/black in color. Currants, graham crackers, boysenberries, licorice and bittersweet cocoa powder. A blast of ripe fruit front to back on soft tannins. Not flabby, there is enough acid to keep it lively. Notes of boysenberries, blueberries, licorice and black raspberries. Chocolate notes lurk underneath from the front of the mid-palate to the finish with violet notes in the background. This is a fruit-bomb with a touch of makeup and a little edginess. (B-/B)
2014 Tall Sage Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $10.
Oats and cherries on the nose joined by a dried herb component with hits of plums and chocolate. Structured cherry, vanilla, plum and chocolate notes on the palate. White pepper notes hit on the back of the mid-palate, leading into notes of bark, tobacco and cherry notes on the finish. Smooth tannins with medium to light acidity. Light bodied on the front and mid-palate then intensifies on the finish with a touch of grip. 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Syrah, 2% Merlot, 2% Malbec (C+/B-)
2012 Vina Peralillo “Arenal” Pinot Noir (Colchagua Valley, Chile)… $10.
Cinnamon, strawberries and cherries on the nose with hits of red licorice and a little funk. Notes of cranberries and under ripe cherries on the front of the palate with a solid hit of acidity that fades away. A tar and tobacco component front to back with a little cola coming through. A little bit of funk with cinnamon coming through on the finish. It’s slightly awkward on the palate…Acidity up front then soft on the finish. A little weird on the palate. (C+)
2012 DeLille Cellars Doyenne Aix Red (Red Mountain, WA)… $42.
This Syrah/Grenache blend displays aromas of tobacco, currants a touch of vanilla and nutmeg (slightly challenged). Chocolate, cherries, tar and smoked meat on the palate with a touch of bacon fat and spice on the back-end. Smooth and structured with interesting spice notes. Long, smokey finish. (B+/A-)
2011 Result Of A Crush Red (Walla Walla, WA)… $24.
Tar and smoked meat on the nose joined by a touch of bacon-fat, blueberries, cherries a touch of stink and tobacco. Real fleshy on the palate, with notes of blueberries, red flowers, wet stone and smoked meats. Smoked meat notes linger on the clean finish. Good structure with solid tannins, but very approachable now. (B/B+)
2012 Tabula Rasa Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $16.
Interesting apple notes on the nose, joined by notes of currants, rose petals, violets and tobacco. Chocolate and cinnamon notes on the palate joined by hits of blackberry Laffy Taffy. Leather and mineral notes lie underneath backed by mouth-watering acidity. Very clean and bright, with enough fruit to balance it out. Bittersweet chocolate notes linger on the finish. (B)
2012 Cowhorn Vineyard and Garden Syrah (Applegate Valley, OR)… $48.
Aromas of smoked meat, red flowers, boysenberries and raspberries with a touch of tobacco. Smooth blueberry, boysenberry and raspberry notes walking on a bed of minerals and acidity. Tobacco and red flower notes join up on the bright finish. Good structure and still a baby. Will be ready in 5-8 years. (B+/A-)
2014 Savage Grace Cot (Malbec) “Dineen Vineyard” (Rattlesnake Hills, WA)… $25.
Red raspberries, tobacco and licorice on the nose with a healthy splash of earth. Loads of acidity on the palate and slightly green with notes of tomato leaf, green tea and green tobacco. Red flower notes and baked earth hit on the mid-palate with notes of lilacs all day on the finish. Good balance, a touch green with a brightness that makes the mouth water. Warning, do not attempt to drink this without some form of protein. (B)
2013 Cowhorn Vineyard and Garden Viognier (Applegate Valley, OR)… $37.
Walnuts, wool, saurkruat and pears on the nose (weird but interesting). Fairly intense notes of pears, almonds and walnuts on the palate. Gets a little creamy on the mid-palate, leading into a mineral driven finish with a touch of fig coming through. Excellent balance of minerals, fruit and acidity. Not your typical Viognier from the new world. (B/B+)
2014 Cowhorn Spiral 36 White (Applegate Valley, OR)… $30.
Aromas of banana skins, apples and ripe pears with a touch of wet stone and a hit of lemon. Apple skins, pear skins and Asian Pears on the palate. Lemon notes sneak in on the mid-palate with a little wet stone action. Good balance and a clean, delicious finish. 55% Viognier, 30% Marsanne, 15% Roussanne (B/B+)
2013 Can Blau Red (Montsant, Spain)… $15.
Boysenberry, bark, tobacco, vanilla and blueberries on the nose with a hint of huckleberry. Blueberries and currants up front with just a trace of brown sugar coming through. Good structure and nice flow across the palate on sweet tannins. Tar and tobacco notes join up on the finish with notes of chocolate lingering. It is a big wine that is tamed by the old world notes on the finish. 40% Mazuelo, 40% Syrah, 20% Garnacha (B+)
2013 Shaya Verdejo (Rueda, Spain)… $15.
Verdejo is all they do in Rueda, so they are serious about this white grape. Aromas of melon, cantalope and banana. Creamy on the palate with notes of cut grass, melon, peaches, peach pit and peach skin. Hints of banana and apple sneak in on the mid-palate and it gets a little oily component on the back end. Celery notes lie underneath front to back with an apple skin, peach skin finish. By itself, this wine takes a particular palate…Let me tell you, this is made to enjoy with food. Think roasted fowl or fish tacos… It takes on a whole new meaning. (B)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
