A boatload of wine
2013 Borgo Del Tiglio Collio Blanco (Italy)… $27.
Aromas of diesel and wet stone with a splash of melon, oregano and walnuts. Very herbal and melon driven on the palate with an underscore of lemon and wet stone. Good acidity with a hit of mixed nuts on the expanding finish. This white has excellent balance…Think shellfish. A blend of Friulano, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling (B+/A-)
2015 Podere Ruggeri Corsini Langhe Bianco (Piedmonte, Italy)… $15.
Aromas of lemon, white flowers, melon and a touch of apple. Loads of apple notes on the palate with a backdrop of peach and a good dose of minerals. Lemon notes sneak in on the back-end joined by a little hit of apple skin. A blend of Arneis, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. (B/B+)
2015 Domaine Sainte Marie Des Crozes “L’Outsider” Cabernet Franc (Languedoc, France)… $13.
Rose petal, violets and cherries on the nose with hits of licorice and toast. Green salad all day on the palate with a big splash of tart cherry juice and a pinch of licorice. Solid acidity that is well-integrated with the fruit. Red flower notes show up on the mid-palate big time with blackberry leaves joining in on the finish. (B-)ves
2016 Chateau Val-Jonaise Rose` (Cotes Du Luberon, France)… $16.
Aromas of apple, melon, cherries and a touch of herbs. Round cherry and apple notes up front that immediately go dry on the palate into an apple, cherry, melon finish with an edge of herbs. (B-/B)
2016 Klinker Brick “Bricks and Roses” Rose` (Lodi, CA)… $15.
Watermelon, cherries and a big hit of peach on the nose. Bone dry on the palate with apple and peach notes front to finish on a strong backbone of acidity. Some wet stone and pink flower action on the finish. 38% Grenache, 30% Carignan, 24% Syrah, 8% Mourvedre (B+)
2015 Field Recordings Tommy Town Vineyard Red (Happy Canyon, CA)… $22.
Toasty cherries and plums on the nose with a little Sugar Baby action in the background. Plush notes of dark cherries and blackberries on the palate with a little hint of chocolate sneaking in. There is a nice clean edge that lifts the fruit notes, with a hit of licorice that joins up on the mid-palate into the fresh finish. Good balance and structure. 90% Carignan, 5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon (B/B+)
2015 Chateau Roc De Lefraut Bordeaux Superieur (Bordeaux, France)… $10.
Aromas of a burnt stick dipped in Smores with a splash of blackberries and currants. Currants all day on the palate with a prominent burnt stick component underneath. Currant notes expand on the mid-palate and dry out on the finish with hits of tobacco and a good dose of minerality. Burnt wood and tobacco notes linger. (B-)
2015 Chateau Roustaing Reserve Bordeaux (Bordeaux, France)… $10.
Cherries, currants, leather and tobacco on the nose. Currants, rose petal, violets and tobacco on the palate front to finish with the tobacco notes taking over. There is a nice fruit hit on the mid-palate that goes away on the crushed rock and tobacco finish with a hit of green tobacco joining in. (C+/B-)
2014 Gnarly Head Chardonnay (California)… $9.
Aroma of pineapple and pear with a hint of butter. Pear and baking spice notes on the palate with a hit of pineapple underneath. Subtle and fresh with good balance. Apple notes hit on the mid-palate into the finish where it mingles with the pear. Oak is a silent partner. (B-)
2014 Irony Small lot Reserve Pinot Noir Black (Monterey, CA)… $13.
Toasty blackberries and plums on the nose with a solid hit of currants. Currants all day on the palate with hits of chocolate and white pepper underneath. There is a nice red cherry hit on the mid-palate with licorice and tobacco notes joining up on the finish. Good balance of acidity and fruit. 10% Syrah (B-)
Non-Vintage Drappier Champagne Brut Nature (Champagne, France)…$55.
Aromas of almonds and apples with a hint of bread dough and lemon. Laser sharp and dry on the palate Lemon notes dominate front to finish with underlying notes of apples and yeast. (B+/A-)
2014 Drouhin Rose Rock Chardonnay (Eola-Amity Hills, OR)… $32.
A big splash of mint on the nose with pears and wet stone thrown in. There are hints of stainless steel and licorice. Intense licorice and sage notes on the palate, blended with notes of apple, pear and wet stone. Excellent structure and balance. A little closed, but some age will show its true colors. (B+/A-)(
2015 Tedeschi Valpolicella Classico “Lucchine” (Veneto, Italy)… $13.
Aromas of vanilla, violets, licorice and blackberries with a little spice action. Blackberries and red berries on a bed of wet stones backed by a spine of acidity that is well-integrated with the fruit. Red flower notes join on the top of the mid-palate into the finish where mineral notes linger. (B-)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
