A boatload of wine
2013 Chateau Recougne Bordeaux Blanc (Bordeaux, France)…$13.
Aromas of Meyers Lemon and apple, with hints of golden raisin and pears. Notes of cut grass and lemon hit up front on a bed of stainless steel. Hints of green pears come through on the mid-palate with a hit of mint underneath. Finishes clean and crisp with lemon notes hanging around. 75% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Semillon (B/B+)
2013 Chateau Saint-Florin Bordeaux Blanc (Bordeaux, France)… $10.
Grape seed, honeydew rind and watermelon on the nose. Lemon on the palate with slight cut-grass notes. Grape seed notes hit front to finish joined by slight hints of wet stone and white flowers. 60% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillon (C/C+)
2015 Portillo Sauvignon Blanc (Mendoza, Argentina)… $14.
Grape skin notes come through on the nose, joined by notes of honeydew melon, hints of cut grass and grape seeds. White pepper notes front to back on the palate with notes of honeydew melon and white flowers. There is an undertow of grapefruit pith and grape seeds that flows into the delicious finish. Very clean and fresh on the palate. I believe you can find this for closer to $10. in most wine shops. (B/B+)
2014 King Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)…$12.
Aromas of boysenberries and raspberries with underlying licorice and bittersweet chocolate with a kiss of mint. Plush on the palate, but in control, staying away from goopy. Boysenberry and currant notes in spades with an edge of raspberry. Licorice and chocolate notes join up on the mid-palate with a little tar and tobacco. Dark cherry notes hit on the finish that is clean not syrupy at all. This is a good bang for the buck and stands out in the sea of Malbecs that are in the market. (B+)
2014 La Chablisiene Saint Bris Sauvignon Blanc (Chablis-Burgundy, France)… $12.
Filberts all over the nose, joined by notes of wet slate, cut grass and melon. Herbs, chalk and crushed seashells on a mouth-watering bed of acidity that pulses throughout the palate. It gets a little steely on the mid-palate leading into a chalky lemon and grapefruit finish that leaves your mouth-watering and yearning for more. (B+/A-)
2012 Franco Mondo Di Vino Monferrato Rosso (Italy)… $14.
A little funk action on the nose with notes of leather, cherries, oatmeal cookies and violets. Solid currant notes on the palate blending with notes of leather, stone and a kiss of tobacco. Violet notes come through underneath with a backbone of acidity that cuts through on the palate in a good way, joined by a touch of funk on the finish. This is old world juice with a good dose of fruit. 70% Barbera, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon (B+)
2011 Dante Red Blend (California)… $9.
Slightly reductive on the nose with notes of roasted meats, cherries and rose petal with a little candied cherry element coming through on the back-end. Intense ripe currant notes front to finish on the palate with a touch of black raspberry. It brightens up a bit on the finish with notes of leather and a hint of make-up joining in. This is a crowd pleaser for sure and most won’t notice the make-up element. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Zinfandel, 5% Syrah (B-)
2012 Trefethen Family Vineyards Merlot Oak Knoll District (Napa, California)…$42.
Intense notes of violets and currants on the nose with a sweet edge to it, joined by hits of cinnamon. Fairly big on the palate with good structure. Grippy, sweet tannins support notes of currants, violets and cinnamon. Pretty intense oak notes finishing with hits of licorice joining the party and lingering cinnamon notes. The oak is just a bit too much for me. (B-)
2013 Corvidae Wine Co. Ravenna Riesling (Columbia Valley, WA)… $12.
Classic Riesling nose with aromas of rubber boot, pineapple and apple. Light sweetness on the palate with a good core of diesel supporting notes of pears and apples. Good balance start to finish with a fresh acid kick on the back-end. (B+)
2014 Canoe Ridge “The Expedition” Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley, WA)… $16.
A little restrained on the nose with hints of melon, apples and white flowers coming through. Creamy in the mouth with notes of apples and melons. A little wet stone action front to back and a hint of cut grass joining on the finish. (B-)
2015 Elk Cove Vineyards Rose` (Willamette Valley, Oregon)… $16.
Cherry Bubbleyum on the nose with a touch of pie crust and dried herbs. Strawberries and cherries on the front of the palate, evolving into sweet rhubarb and rose petal on the finish. Good acidity develops on the mid-palate making this rose` dry and delicious. (A-)
2014 Sawtooth Pinot Gris (Snake River Valley, Idaho)… $13.
Aromas of pears and apples with a slight peach element coming through. Creamy mouth-feel up front with pear notes dominating front to back underscored by notes of apples and peach. There is just a hint of white pepper and pear skins on the dry finish. This Pinot Gris has good balance and integration of fruit and acidity. (B/B+)
2014 Sagelands Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, WA)… $10.
Almost nutty on the nose, like a can of mixed nuts, along with slight pineapple and pear notes. Creamy in the mouth with hints of butter joining pineapple, apple and pear notes. Solid and seamless front to back with a fresh somewhat thin finish. Pretty decent Chardonnay for ten bucks. (B-/B)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
