A boatload of wine
2014 Bogle Vineyards Essential Red (California)… $11.
Solid cherry and blackberry aromas, joined by notes of currants, licorice and hints of blueberries. Smooth tannins with just a slight edge of chalkiness. Notes of cherries and blueberries come through on a backbone of acidity. Tobacco notes sneak into the party on the mid-palate into the finish. This wine wants to go bright on the palate, but is toned down by the solid fruit notes. Excellent food wine…Burgers or pizza anyone? (B+)
2013 Mural Reserva Red (Douro, Portugal)… $14.
Aromas of chocolate, red clay, cherries and hits of blueberries and tobacco. Blueberries and cherries on the palate with an undertow of tobacco, chocolate and minerals. This wine shows a nice balance of fruit and acidity. Very interesting for and old world Portuguese red from the Douro. (B/B+)
2014 Pike Road Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon)… $20.
Classic Pinot aromas of Cherries, red flowers, earth and Root Beer with hits of chocolate and licorice. Smooth tannins with a touch of grip on the edges. Solid cherry fruit on the palate, joined by red flowers in spades. The acidity is solid, but in balance with the fruit. Touch of licorice hits on the mid-palate into the finish, joined by hints of bark and Root Beer. This effort by Elk Cove Winery delivers a stellar Pinot Noir for a steal. (B+)
2014 Domaine Lombard La Renome` Syrah (Livron Sur Drome, France)… $15.
Bloody citrus notes on the nose, joined by violets, a touch of stink and licorice. Citrus notes dominate on the palate joined by notes of under-ripe blueberries on a bed of minerals. Fresh violet notes join up on the finish with citrus notes lingering. 90% Syrah 10% Viognier (C/C+)
2013 Buil & Gine GineGine (Priorat, Spain)… $18.
Aromas of red flowers, crushed red brick, cherries and licorice with a little forest floor. Nicely perfumed. Close to lush on the palate with notes of cherries and currants on structured, smooth tannins. There is a core of chocolate and minerals going into a fresher finish than you might expect. Lingering red flower notes. 60% Carignan 40% Grenache (B/B+)
2013 Brick House Ribbon Ridge Chardonnay (Willamette Valley, Oregon)… $28.
Very nutty on the nose, joined by notes of pears and apples with a kiss of butterscotch. Full mouth-feel with butterscotch notes in spades and a backdrop of ripe pears. fresh acidity with a touch of lemon. Excellent balance but a touch thin on the finish. Very little oak perception. (B-)
Non-Vintage Je T’Aime Brut Rose` Cremant de Limoux (Limoux, France)… $18.
Aromas of rose petal, bread dough and almonds. Nice and fresh on the palate with notes of tangerine and lemon with hits of pink flowers and grapefruit. Acidity pops the fruit notes in the mouth. Great sparkler for your sweetheart as Je T’Aime means “I love you” in French. (B-/B)
2014 Melipal Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)… $17.
Black raspberry and black cherry on the nose with a touch of eucalyptus and licorice. Polished tannins back resonant notes of dark currants, white pepper, chocolate and black cherries. There is a kiss of tobacco and heat on the finish. Nice underlying freshness front to finish. (B-)
2014 Henri Perrusset Macon-Villages (Burgundy, France)… $17.
Lemon and apple skin on the nose joined by a touch of almond and wet stone. Light frame supports notes of wet stone, lemon, apple and white pepper. Finishes long with lemon, apple and wet stone notes lingering. Good balance. (B-/B)
2014 Disruption Wine Co. Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington State)… $15.
Aromas of candied dark cherries and currants, joined by hints of licorice and tobacco. Currant notes come through on the palate with a little dried branch action. There is a touch of chocolate that hits on the mid-palate with tobacco and bark notes joining up on the finish with a splash of licorice. Good structure with a nice spine of fresh tannins. (B)
2015 Disruption Wine Co. Chardonnay (Washington State)… $13.
Apples all day on the nose with an edge of pears and a little fruit skin action. Creamy and simple on the palate with apple and pear notes. Light on the palate with clear fruit notes and a clean finish. Warning! This baby will go down way to easy. (C+/B-)
2009 Cristom “Sommers Reserve” Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon)… $42.
Aromas of Asian spice, dark cherries with hints of Root Beer and dried bark. Good weight on the palate with dark cherry and currant notes dominating. Front to back there is a touch of leather that comes through finishing up with white pepper and Asian spices joining the party. Hits of old bark and cola sneak into the picture on the back-end of the long finish. (B+/A-)
2014 Force Of Nature Tempranillo (Paso Robles, CA)… $20.
Aromas of red and black fruits, earth and a touch of black olive. Polished almost slick tannins support notes of tobacco, cherries, and red raspberry. Steely on the finish with hits of citrus joining up with a little red flower and tobacco. Citrus notes linger. (B)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
