A boatload of wine
2016 Vaulted Wines Sauvignon Blanc (Oregon)… $25.
Aromas of grape seed (go figure), grapefruit, melon and white flowers. Nice balance of acidity and fruit on the palate. Both white and pink grapefruit notes come through front to finish with grapefruit pith notes lingering for some time. Clean, crisp and delicious, especially if you like grapefruit. (B)
2015 Vaulted Wines Chardonnay (Oregon)… $26.
Butterscotch and pears on the nose with a nice hit of baking spices. Baking spices and butterscotch on the palate complimented by notes of apples and pears with a nice intensity and good balance beginning to end. There is a touch of sweetness on the mid-palate into the finish, but it stays in check. (B/B+)
2015 Vaulted Wines Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, OR)… $35.
Tart cranberries and cherries on the nose, joined by notes of black tea, earth and red flowers. This baby starts off on the tart side with notes of under-ripe cherries and cranberries. On the mid-palate it goes to the dark side with notes of dark cherries, earth, black tea and cola notes that linger on the finish. A tale of two pinots with the dark side winning out. Light bodied with good intensity on the finish. (B+/A-)
2013 Vaulted Wines “Elevage” Red (Oregon)… $29.
Aromas of sweet raspberries and dark cherries backed by tobacco and bark notes. Fresh on the palate with ripe currant notes dominating, joined by notes of bark, tobacco and hits of forest floor. Nice core of acidity that backs the fruit front to finish with tobacco notes lingering. This baby is drinking good now and has aging potential. A blend of Tempranillo, Grenache and Trincadiero (B/B+)
2014 Vaulted Wines Syrah (Rogue Valley, OR)… $37.
Classic Syrah aromas of blueberries and boysenberries with a touch of bacon fat and violets. Nice core of acidity melds nicely on the palate with notes of tar, currants, bacon fat and blueberries with a little smoked meat thrown in. Good balance with a tar, smoked meat and tobacco finish that lingers. Excellent structure tells me this will improve over the next 8-10 years. (B+/A-)
2014 Argiano NC Rosso Toscano (Tuscany, Italy)… $17.
Leather, earth and cherries on the nose with a slight hit of mushrooms. Balanced acidity underscores notes of leather, cherries, chocolate and forest floor. Nice intensity up front with a good flow across the palate. Earth notes lie underneath front to finish. Tannins are approachable but have an edginess to them. An old world wine that I believe new world fans will appreciate. (B+)
2015 Bieler Pere & Fils “Sabine” Rose` Coteaux d’ Aix-En-Povence (France)… $12.
Strawberries and cherries on the nose with hits of watermelon. Loads of cherries on the palate, layered on a bed of watermelon and apples with a little bubblegum action. Finishes with a nice mineral edge and a kiss of citrus. (C+/B-)
2015 Poggio La Noce Pinko Pallino Rose` (Tuscany, Italy) $23.
Watermelon and strawberries on the nose with a touch of peach and wet stone. Excellent minerality and mouth-watering acidity back notes of peach, watermelon and strawberries. There is a nice citrus zing underneath front to a mineral driven finish. I’m thinking shellfish here my friends. (B+/A-)
2015 Poggio La Noce “Baja” Falanghina (Falanghina, Italy)… $22.
A little saline action on the nose along with notes of melon, cut grass, wet stone and a touch of nuttiness. Bright on the palate with an interesting oily element that sneaks in. Citrus and mineral notes linger together with an underbelly of stainless steel and apples. Finishes earthy, bright and pithy with notes of grass, wet stone, mushroom and a touch of smoke. A bad-ass, interesting white. (B+/A-)-)
2013 Poggio La Noce “Gigino” Sangiovese (Tuscany, Italy)… $30.
Aromas of meat marinade, tobacco and strawberries with a splash of herbs and cherries. Good intensity on the palate but light on its feet. Tobacco and red cherry notes come through with a little blackberry and earth thrown in. The tannins are serious yet approachable. Bright underneath finishing with notes of leather, minerals and blackberry lingering. Nice balance of acidity, fruit and savory, of course leaning towards the savory side. A pasta with red sauce buddy. (B+/A-)
2012 Poggio La Noce “Gigio” Sangiovese-Colorino Del Valdarno (Tuscany, Italy)… $50.
Candied licorice and dark cherries on the nose with hits of BBQ spices, violets and tobacco. Solid acidity and complex structure support bright berry notes on the palate, joined by notes of red flowers, tobacco and citrus with a pinch of leather. Citrus notes linger on the finish. This is quite tight right now, but has great potential. Give it 5-10 years and watch out. (B+/A-)
2015 Sean Minor 4 Bears Sauvignon Blanc (California)… $12.
Melon, apple and citrus on the nose with hits of grapefruit. Grapefruit and melon notes combine on the palate to give it a fuller mouth-feel with good acidity keeping everything from going flabby. A touch sugary underneath but enough citrus to balance it out. Citrus notes dominate on the finish. Nice, simple porch pounder. (B-)
2015 Sean Minor 4 Bears Chardonnay (Central Coast, CA)… $12.
Oak comes through on the nose joined by notes of pears and banana. Buttery pear notes on the palate with an underscore of butterscotch and apples. Oak notes hit a little harder on the back of the mid-palate into the finish where they linger with a little butter action. There is a little make-up on this Chardonnay, but it scores in the delicious category. (C+/B-)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
