FRIDAY’S THIRTEEN…

2014 Sonoma Cutrer Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley, CA)… $42.

Aromas of smoked strawberries and dark cherries with a good splash of Root Beer. Smooth and delicious with good acidity that backs notes of dark cherries and slight Root Beer. It expands on the mid-palate and flows into a slightly crunchy finish with a hit of Asian spice on the back-end. Great food Pinot.
(B+/A-)

2015 Newsprint Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Mountain, WA)… $25.

Bittersweet chocolate, tobacco and currants on a challenged nose. Red berries, currants and light chocolate notes on the palate with a green element that sneaks in on the back-end. Crunchy acidity with a pinch of minerality. Bright finish with a kiss of chocolate and white pepper underneath. (C+/B-)

2014 Baer Winery “Star” Merlot Stillwater Creek Vineyard (Columbia Valley, WA)… $35.

Aromas of licorice, chocolate and currants with underlying savory herbs underneath. Ripe currants on the palate with some chocolate thrown in and a big dose of tobacco. Good balance and integration with edgy but approachable tannins. Tobacco notes dominate on the long finish. (B+/A-)

2015 Domaine Les Pins Cabernet Franc (Bourgueil, France)… $14.

Aromas of cranberries, red flowers and cherries with a little stem thrown in. Blackberries and cherries on the palate with underlying blackberry stem that is nicely integrated with the fruit. Crunchy acidity that blends in nicely. Big red flower hit on the mid-palate into the fresh finish. (C+/B-)

2015 Newsprint Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, WA)… $18.

Toasty pears and apples on the nose with a hit of corn nuts and caramel corn. Buttery pears and apples on the palate with a toasty oak edge. Stays fresh with balanced acidity. (B/B+)

2013 Pojer E Sandri Bianco Faye (Vigneti Delle Dolomiti, Italy)… $42.

Slightly challenged on the nose with notes of wet stone a touch of stainless steel and saline. Big hit of licorice on the front of the palate on wet stone notes and underlying apple and lemon. A fig component hits on the mid-palate into a clean finish with a dusty rock element coming through. Good balance and complexity. Expensive, but very interesting. A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc. (A-/A)

Non-Vintage Colin Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blanc Brut (Champagne, France)… $42.

Almonds, yeast and apples on the nose with a hit of lemon. Laser sharp on the palate with a good hit of lemon, almonds and apples that rest on chalky minerality. There is an interesting almond skin hit on the finish with citrus notes lingering. (A-)

2016 Rive Droite, Rive Gauche Cotes-du-Rhone (Rhone Valley, France)… $11.

Slightly perfumed on the nose with notes of lavender, boysenberries and plums and a hit of Twix. Sweet tannins support boysenberry and plum notes with a good dose of red flowers. A touch of blackberry stem comes through on the red flower driven, slightly crunchy finish. Bring on the food. (B-/B)

2015 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)… $10.

Boysenberries and plums on the nose with a background of tobacco, leather and hints of green. Blackberries blended with green tea and tobacco on the palate. Acidity gives the wine a lift in the mouth with plum and mineral notes joining the party on the mid-palate into the finish. (C+/B-)

2013 Soos Creek Stampede Pass Cabernet Franc (Columbia Valley, WA)… $30.

Perfumed cherries and oatmeal cookie on the nose with a splash of red flowers. Ripe red cherries on the palate wrapped in licorice and tobacco with a good spine of acidity that lifts the fruit in the mouth. Subtle chocolate notes hit on the mid-palate into the finish with tobacco and leather notes lingering. 78% Cabernet Franc, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon (B+/A-)

2013 Soos Creek “Palisades” Merlot (Columbia Valley, WA)… $30.

Boysenberries and cherries on the nose with a pinch of tobacco. Boysenberry and ripe currant notes are plush on the palate, underscored by good structure with solid, smooth tannins. Leather and tobacco notes join up on the finish with chocolate notes sneaking in as well. (B+/A-)

2013 Artist Series #13 Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $30.

Wilted rose petals, currants and plums on the nose with a hit of boysenberry. Round currant and plum notes on solid structure and well-integrated acidity. Tobacco and chocolate notes hit on the mid-palate into the finish where it all gathers together with a little worn leather action. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Cabernet Franc (B+/A-)

2013 Soos Creek “Terrible Beauty” Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, WA)… $30.

Solid currant and licorice notes on the nose with a pinch of dark cherries. Dark cherries and currants penetrate the palate front to finish with trace minerals. Chocolate and licorice notes lie underneath on solid, smooth tannins. There is a spine of red flower notes and fresh acidity that lights up the lingering finish. (B+)

Cheers!
Stan the wine Man