A boatload of wine
2014 Joseph Drouhin Macon-Villages (Burgundy, France)… $13.
A touch of fig on the nose that backs notes of pears and apples with a pinch of lemon and wet stone. Wet stone and apple notes front to finish on the palate. Lemon notes sneak in here and there with a very mineral driven backbone. Nice balance and a very dry finish. (B-/B)
2015 Leyda Pinot Noir (Leyda Valley, Chile)… $12.
A little stink action on the nose with notes of bark, worn leather, cherries and violets with a hint of wilted rose petal. Sweaty leather soaked in cherry juice on the palate with a little dill pickle juice thrown in. There is a smokey element that comes through with an underscore of red flowers and a citrus hit on the back-end. Interesting flavors and complexity for the money. Starts out a bit funky but recovers nicely. (C+/B-)
2014 La Granger de Piaugier Cotes-du-Rhone (Rhone Valley, France)… $10.
Slight aromas of tobacco, violets, earth and cherries. Very acid driven on the palate with bright cherry and cranberry notes coming through. There is a squeeze of lemon and orange that sneaks in on the mid-palate into the finish. A slightly simple Cotes-du-Rhone (C/C+)
2015 Novelty Hill Sauvignon Blanc Stillwater Creek Vineyard (Columbia Valley, WA)… $16.
Aromas of wet stone, grass, lemons and melons. Dry and bracing on the palate with notes of lemon, wet stone and steel front to finish. Melon notes hit on the mid-palate with a touch of sweetness sneaking in. Clean and fresh on the finish. Solid WA Sauv. Blanc. (B-)
2015 Januik Winery Sauvignon Blanc Sagemoor Vineyard (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.
Sweet melon notes on the nose, joined by hits of apple and banana. Round on the front of the palate with melon and apple notes joined by a touch of banana peel. There are hints of dried herbs front to back along with hits of white pepper and minerals that hang on the fairly long finish. Fairly seamless with good balance. (B/B+)
2014 Novelty Hill Chardonnay Stillwater Creek Vineyard (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.
Pears and apples all day on the nose with hits of melon and melon rind. Apples dipped in fig juice and a splash of butter on the palate. There is an underlying clean element in the mouth with a touch of oak bitterness coming through on the mid-palate into the finish. There is a steely edge to the finish with a kiss of minerality. This Chard seems a bit disjointed, but might come together in another year. (C+/B-)
2014 Novelty Hill Merlot (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.
Explosive aromas of cherries, chocolate and currants along with hints of black plums and licorice. Currant and plum notes up front with a good dose of chocolate, hits of vanilla and tobacco. Red flower notes join up on the mid-palate leading into the long finish with tobacco notes lingering. This baby is a crowd pleaser. (B)
2014 Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, WA)… $24.
Cherry pie all day on the nose with a little toast and chocolate action, joined by hits of violets and rose petal. Fairly intense cherry notes front to finish, joined by tobacco and toast on the mid-palate and a touch of red flowers. Chocolate notes hit big time on the finish with a little white pepper action. Solid structure with approachable, slightly chalky tannins. A lot of Cab for the money. (B/B+)
2014 Novelty Hill Cascadia Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $50.
Aromas of red flowers, licorice and toast with underlying chocolate notes. Round currant notes on fresh tannins backed by notes of chocolate and tobacco that carry into the tobacco, currant finish with hits of wilted rose petal on the mid-palate. Licorice notes linger on the finish. You can tell this is tightly wound up and could use some age before it shows all its glory. Give it 5-6 years. (A-)
2014 Januik Winery Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.
Chocolate, cherries and violets on the nose with a touch of candy. Nice intensity on the palate. Notes of cherries and chocolate with a pinch of white pepper. Fresh acidity lifts the flavors in the mouth. Solid, approachable tannins with a hit of tobacco coming through on the fresh finish. (B+)
2014 Andrew Januik “Stone Cairn” Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Mountain, WA)… $40.
Black currants and violets dominate the nose with a little candied licorice underneath and hits of chocolate. Dark currant notes pop on the front of the palate backed by solid chocolate and spice notes. Tobacco and licorice notes sneak in on the mid-palate into the finish. Good structure and balance. (B+)
2014 Januik Winery Malbec Champoux Vineyard (Horse Heaven Hills, WA)… $40.
Smells exactly like Ghiradelli chocolate with hits of violets and blackberries…Very expressive. Ripe blackberries all day on the palate, supported by notes of dry hay, violets and chocolate. Solid structure with a nice spine of acidity. White pepper, chocolate and tobacco notes linger on the long-ass finish. (B+/A-)
2015 M. Chapoutier “Belleruche” Cotes du Rhone Blanc (Rhone Valley, France)… $13.
Aromas of wet stone, herbs, pears and licorice. Wet stone steel and herbs on the palate with lemon notes sneaking in front to finish. It has a steel driven, clean finish with lemon lingering underneath. (B-)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
