A boatload of wine
Non-Vintage Aromar Tempranillo Grenache 3 liter Box (Castilla La Mancha, Spain)… $15.
Bark, currants and plums on the nose. Smooth tannins support notes of currants and plums with a hit of Bing Cherries coming through. There is just a touch of green tobacco on the finish. This is a simple, easy to drink red for a prayer, and may be my first ever box wine review. Not bad for $3.75 a bottle. (C+)
2015 Conti Di Buscareto Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi (Marche, Italy)… $13.
Aromas of wet stone, orange, lemon and white flowers with a hint of honey. Minerals all day on the palate with an oily component that comes through front to finish. A touch of stainless steel hits on the mid-palate leading into a wet stone lemon driven finish. Nice, seamless flow across the palate with good complexity. (B+/A-)
2015 Brick House Vineyards Gamay Noir (Ribbon Ridge, OR)… $32.
Bright cherries on the nose with hints of roasted marshmallows, candied cranberries and raspberries. Wants to go all acidic on the palate but holds back. Raspberries and cranberries all day that are on the tart side but in control. There is a hint of minerality and a cranberry driven finish. If you like a little acidic and tart in your wine (a little Burgundy thing going on here), then you will love this baby. (B)
2014 Conti Di Buscareto Lacrima Di Morro D’Alba (Marche, Italy)… $17.
Aromas of toasty currants, bark, red flowers and carnations with a hint of roasted meats. Dirty on the palate (yes, I said dirt), with a bed of red flowers, cranberries and citrus. It starts dirty, and finishes dirty with enough side dishes to keep it interesting. Pinch of carnation sneaks in on the finish. (C+/B-)
2013 J.Scott Cellars Syrah (Rogue Valley, OR)… $22.
Smokey currants on the nose with hits of blueberries, bacon fat and violets with a very slight bubblegum element coming through. Ripe, plush tannins support notes of meaty blueberries and currants. There is a nice core of acidity that gives this a little Cote-Rotie action on the palate. Smoke lies underneath front to back. Finishes with a meaty edge and blueberries lingering. (B+/A-)
Non-Vintage Laluca Prosecco Rose` (Valdobbiadene, Italy)… $12.
Slight cherry notes on the nose. Cherries and strawberries on a clean crisp mouth-feel. Fresh fruit notes on fine bubbles. Nothing complex, just a very nice quaffer. (B-)
2015 Chateau LaCroix Du Duc Bordeaux Rouge (Bordeaux, France)… $10.
Aromas of smokey currants with underlying black raspberry, bark and tobacco. Solid, silky tannins support notes of blueberries and currants. Notes of leather and tobacco sneak in with a nice spine of fresh acidity. Tobacco notes linger. Nice complexity and structure for a wine at this price. (B)
2013 Misfit Wine Co. Cycle Buff Beauty Shiraz-Malbec (South Australia)… $17.
Black tea and currants on the nose with a backdrop of rhubarb and licorice. A solid core of acidity backs notes of cherries and red currants. Good structure with the tannins showing a little attitude. Tobacco notes sneak in and linger on the finish. This is somewhat restrained for a red from this part of Australia. A serious wine with a not-so-serious label. (B-/B)
2015 M-100 Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $15.
Aromas of currants and chocolate with a hit of tobacco. Solid currant notes on the palate with underlying dark cherries. The fruit notes are big but kept in check by the sturdy, polished tannins. Notes of tobacco and bittersweet chocolate sneak in on the back-end. A snappy little red at a great price. (B+)
2013 Latta “Latta Latta” GSM (Columbia Valley, WA)… $35.
Blueberry notes “Pop” on the nose with underlying dark cherries, black licorice and tobacco. A little heat comes through. Polished tannins support deep cherry and plum notes that surround a core of black licorice with an edge of white pepper. Just a pinch of blueberry sneaks in on the back-end. There is a liqueur component that hits on the mid-palate into the finish. This baby is light and powerful at the same time. The Pac-Man of wine. 58% Grenache, 23% Syrah, 19% Mourvedre (B-/B)
2013 Ded Reckoning “Flintlock” Merlot (Yakima Valley, WA)… $22.
Aromas of red plums and cherries with hits of chalk, leather and licorice. Loads of licorice in the mouth blended nicely with notes of currants and a kiss of white pepper. Tobacco notes show up on the mid-palate into the finish joined by notes of currants that linger. Easy tannins make this light on its feet, but packs a powerful punch to the palate. (B/B+)
2014 FontanaFredda “Briccotondo” Barbera (Piemonte, Italy)… ?
Earth, tobacco and cherries on the nose with a touch of rust and blackberries. Medium weight on the palate with chalky tannins that are on the soft side. Notes of cherries, rust and earth with a nice little red flower component coming through on the mid-palate into the finish. Solid structure and good balance with a rusty finish that lingers. True Barbera Baby! (B)
2012 Ravenswood Single Vineyard “Teldeschi” Zinfandel (Dry Creek, CA)… $54.
Aromas of ripe black currants and black licorice with dark cherries, chocolate and black raspberries joining the aroma party. Intense and smooth on the palate with notes of ripe dark cherries, black currants and an underscore of chocolate and tobacco. Fresh acidity lies under the fruit notes giving them a little lift in the mouth. Tobacco and currant notes hang around for quite a while. Awesome balance and complexity. (A/A+)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
