A boatload of wine
2010 Luca Bosio Barolo (Piedmont, Italy)… ?
Classic Barolo aromas of violets, rust, cherries and crushed rock. Excellent acidity balances against the notes of rust, violets, cherries and crushed rock on the palate. Notes of coffee bean join the party on the back of the palate into a mineral driven finish where a little hit of green olive comes through with the fruit and minerals that hangs on the palate. This is what you expect from this area of the wine world… Awesome! (B+/A-)
2014 Valentin Bianchi Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)… $13.
A little stinky tar action on the nose, joined by hits of plum, boysenberries, licorice and black raspberries. This baby seems a touch closed on the palate at first then starts to show its personality. Earth notes lie underneath front to back joined by notes of red cherries and red raspberries with a backdrop of dried red flowers. Good structure and a solid backbone of acidity. I would give this a couple more years in bottle before it shows all its stuff. (B-)
2015 Ique Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)… ?
Aromas of currants, mocha and vanilla, with an undertow of tobacco, rose petal and a touch of sugar. Very boring and one-dimensional on the palate. Slight notes of currants, red raspberry and rose petal closing out with a little dirt action. (D)
2015 Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc (California)… $12.
Green apple, lemon and melon on the nose. This is everything I hate in a Sauvignon Blanc. Sugarfied on the palate with slight notes of lemon and green apple skin. Very soft, lacking the acidity that makes a sauv. blanc a sauv. blanc. Boring and one-dimensional. Save some money and grab a glass of lemon water. (D-)
2014 Domaines Barons De Rothschild White Bordeaux (Bordeaux, France)… $15.
A touch perfumed on the nose with notes of grapefruit, melon and wet stone. Lemon, lime and kiwi notes hit on the front of the palate and smack hard on the mid-palate into the finish. Wet stone and mild cut grass notes underneath leading into the finish with wet stone lingering. (B)
2014 Castillo De Monseran Garnacha (Carinena, Spain)… $9.
A little flat on the nose with slight notes of blackberries and plums coming through. Blackberry hard candy notes on the palate joined by a touch of ripe currants. Chalky tannins show up on the finish with a hit of green tobacco joining up on the finish. (C)
2014 La Gardea Garnacha (Campo De Borja, Spain)… $10
Boysenberry and tobacco on the nose joined by a hit of black raspberry. Boysenberry and tobacco notes mingle together on the palate with tobacco taking over on the finish with a hit of black raspberry sneaking in. Gets a little dirty on the finish. (C+/B-)
2013 Artazuri Garnacha (Navarra, Spain)… $10.
Blueberry pie on the nose with a touch of raspberry and cinnamon. Blueberries all day on the palate with an underbelly of black raspberries resting on soft tannins. White pepper and tobacco notes sneak in on the finish with a spicy element lingering. This baby wants to go jammy but is held in check by good structure and balance. (B)
2015 Peirano Estate Vineyards Petite Sirah The Heritage Collection (Lodi, CA)… $10.
Aromas of rose petals, violets, and currants with a hit of oatmeal cookie and black licorice. Smooth, polished tannins support intense currant notes joined by ripe blackberries. Bark and tobacco notes join the party on the mid-palate into a slightly grippy finish. (C+/B-)
2014 Peirano Estate Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon The Heritage Collection (Lodi, CA)… $10.
Ripe currants and dark cherries on the nose joined by a tiny hit of brown sugar and licorice. Plush currant and black cherry notes on the palate with enough acidity to keep it out of the flabby category. Tiny hit of brown sugar on the finish. Sort of one-dimensional but hits the delicious category. (C/C+)
2013 Echeverria Gran Reserva Syrah (Colchagua Valley, Chile)… $12.
Smoked meat on the nose, joined by rosemary, red flowers, boysenberries with hits of veggie and currants. Ripe currants and cherries front to back on the palate with smoked meat and tobacco underneath. There is a brightness on the palate that stays in harmony with the fruit. Red flower notes join up on the finish with a touch of mint. (B/B+)
2010 Sur De Los Andes Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)… $12.
Plum notes dominate on the nose with a little cherry and blackberry. Gritty, structured tannins surround notes of plums, licorice, cherries and blackberries. Solid spine of acidity front to back that is just a little out of balance with the fruit. You need food with this puppy. Pizza, burgers, BBQ ribs would do the trick. (C+/B-)
2012 Terredora Dipaolo Aglianico (Campania, Italy)… $13.
Cherries mixed with crushed red brick on the nose, joined by earth notes, rust and licorice with a whole lot of tobacco and hits of meat marinade. Cherry notes on a bed of rust and tobacco hit on the front of the palate into the finish where it is joined by hits of citrus, cherries and crushed brick. Good balance of acid, fruit and minerals. Light bodied but good intensity and a finish that lingers. Definitely for the old world wine lover. (B)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
