A boatload of wine
2016 Reserve De Marande Rose` Pays D’OC (France)… $9.
Aromas of cherries, bubblegum, watermelon and a touch of rose petal and orange peel. Ripe cherries on the palate backed by notes of orange peel and watermelon rind. Wet stone notes lie underneath leading into a bracing, steel driven finish with mineral notes lingering. (C=/B-)
2016 Reserve De Marande Sauvignon Blanc (Cotes De Gascogne, France)… $9.
Grapefruit and wet stone on the nose. White grapefruit and grapefruit pith front to finish on the palate. Pith lingers on the finish with just a kiss of minerals. Simple and clean. (C/C+)
2015 Reserve De Marande Chardonnay Pays D’OC (France)… $10.
Aromas of dusty oak, butter, caramel and hits of butterscotch. Butterscotch and pear notes hit on the palate with somewhat fake oak notes that are very disjointed. A little apple skin and lemon sneak in on the on the funky finish. (D-)
2015 Reserve De Marande Pinot Noir Pays D’OC (France)… $10.
Cranberries, dark cherries, red flowers and tobacco on the nose. Cranberry and tobacco notes on the palate with a good dose of acidity that lies underneath but doesn’t take over the fruit notes. It dances lightly in the mouth, but it is very interesting. Tobacco notes linger on the finish. For ten bucks it’s a good play, especially with food. (C/C+)
2015 Reserve De Marande Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot Pays D’OC (France)… $9.
Intense currant and violet notes on the nose with a little vanilla/mocha thrown in. Sweet tannins support ripe currant notes up front into the mid-palate. Red flower notes join in, leading into a dry finish with citrus and tobacco notes joining the party. Mineral notes linger. This is a “10” in the delicious category and a nice intro wine for those looking to break into old world wines. (C+/B-)
2013 Cooper Mountain Vineyards Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, OR)… $17.
Aromas of dark cherries and black tea with a touch of Asian spice, bark and worn leather. A little edgy and crunchy on the palate with notes of dark cherries, tobacco and black tea on a bed of acidity and bark. Good balance and complexity with spice and white pepper notes on the finish joined by tobacco and earth notes that linger. (A-)
2014 Awning Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Apalta, Chile)… $15.
Green blackberry leaves on the nose with a hit of Nestle Quick and tobacco. Cherries and cocoa up front on the palate with tobacco notes joining up on the mid-palate into the finish where leather notes join the palate party and a little tannic grip. (C+/B-)
2014 Hazanas Vinas Viejas Rioja (Spain)… $13.
Aromas of red flowers, worn leather and a pinch of rust. Cherries and currants blended with earth and rust penetrate on the palate joined by notes of white pepper and spice. Excellent balance and complexity with earth and iron notes lingering on a clean finish. This is what Rioja is suppose to be baby! (B+)
2014 Mocali Piaggioni Rosso Toscano Sangiovese (Tuscany, Italy)… $18.
Stinky leather on the nose with hits of rust and cherries. Notes of tobacco, cherries and earth up front on the palate with a solid core of acidity that is well-integrated front to an earthy, leathery, tobacco driven finish. This is an old world wine for a new world palate. (B+/A-)
2012 Tornatoe Rosso (Etna, Italy)… $17.
Light aromas of red flowers, cola and hints of vanilla. Almost creamy in the mouth with notes of ripe plums and cherries. Good balance with notes of baking spice and marzipan joining up on the fairly long finish where there is a slight grip from the tannins. This gets big ups in the delicious category. (B+/A-)
2012 Al-Cantara Utoccu Pinot Nero (Sicily, Italy)… $28.
Earthy and rusty on the nose with underlying leather and cola. Dark cherries on the front of the palate with a kiss of cranberries. Red flower and rust notes lie underneath with a little cocoa action on the mid-palate. Red flower and rust notes expand on the clean, crunchy finish, where rust and earth notes linger. (A)
2016 Duck Pond Rose of Pinot Gris (Oregon)… $15.
Banana, peaches, watermelon and hits of rose petal on the nose. Round fruit notes on the palate, banana and peaches with underlying watermelon. It leans up and dries out on the lingering finish. (B-)
2014 Desert Wind Merlot (Wahluke Slope, WA)… $14.
Aromas of currants and violets with underlying black plums. Currant and tobacco notes hit hard on the front of the palate supported by sweet tannins. Good structure and acidity that is nicely integrated. Violet notes lie underneath with a little leather joining the palate party into the finish where tobacco notes linger. A solid Merlot with nice complexity for a prayer. (A-)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
