A boatload of wine
2016 Domaine de Casteinau “Le Ronces” Chardonnay (Languedoc-Roussillon Pays d’oc, France)… $10.
Aromas of wet stone, apples and slight pear and lemon. Minerals all day on the palate with a little grass and chalk thrown in. Lemon and melon notes are the core with a nice expansion on the mid-palate. Good acidity lies underneath. Very aggressive on the palate, yet delicious at the same time. Clean, citrus driven finish.This white was hard to wrap my mind around. (B/B+)
2015 Chateau Tour de Barbereau Bordeaux (Bordeaux, France)… $10.
Red berries and cherries on the nose with a hit of red flowers, crushed red brick and earth. Slight currant notes sneak in. Cranberry, rust and cherry pit on the palate with notes of under-ripe cherries and earth. High acidity is out of balance with the fruit…Tight and tart. (D+/C-)
2015 Chateau Cap Leon Veyrin Bordeaux “Listrac-Medoc” (Bordeaux, France)… $25.
Currants and plums on the nose with hits of red flowers and tobacco. Solid cherry and currant notes on structured, approachable tannins . Red flower hit big-time on the mid-palate with some grip action on the back-end. Tobacco notes lie underneath and come out with earth and tobacco on the long finish with a kiss of mushroom. This baby will age nicely over the next 8-12 years. (B+/A-)
2016 Hahn Vineyards Chardonnay (Monterey County, CA)… $15.
Aromas of roasted nuts, oak, pears and a splash of butter. Slightly sweet and buttery up front on the palate, evolving into ripe pears and melon. Oak is present, but not over-powering. Sweet, buttery, long finish that cleans up on the back-end with pear notes sneaking in. (C/C+)
2015 Powers Winery Spectrum Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $12.
Aromas of ripe blackberries, dark cherries and licorice all mingled together. Blackberry stem, tobacco and dark cherries on sweet tannins hit the palate with candied blackberry notes hitting on the mid-palate. Candied blackberry notes lead into the finish with a hit of tobacco joining the party. 23% Cabernet Franc, 22.5% Malbec, 18.5% Malbec, 18% Syrah, 18% Merlot. (C+/B-)
2014 Milbrandt Vineyards Brother’s Blend (Columbia Valley, WA)… $13.
Ripe currants and rose petal on the nose with a pinch of chocolate and violets. Ripe currants rest on edgy tannins on the palate backed by solid, integrated acidity. Tobacco notes lie underneath with a little cola action on the mid-palate. A little green tobacco/stem hit joins up on the finish. Good balance and structure. 32% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Grenache, 17% Mourvedre, 6% Primitivo, 6% Petite Sirah (B)
2014 Hedges CMS Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $12.
Wilted red flowers on the nose, joined by notes of tobacco, cherries and blackberries. Solid tannins support notes of blackberries, cherries and tobacco on the palate with underlying white pepper notes. Solid acidity lifts the wine in the mouth and makes the finish fresh with the tannins opening up and tobacco notes lingering. Good balance. (B-/B)
2013 Clivi Brazan Friulano (Italy)… $26.
Aromas of salt, wet stone, grape seeds and melon. Dusty stones blended with grape seeds and apple on the palate. Nice freshness underneath (almost stainless steel-like) front to finish where dusty rock notes linger. (C+/B-)
2015 Emmanuel Giboulot Les Pierres Blanches Cote Du Beaune (France)… $52.
Aromas of lemon and wet stone with a hint of pineapple and dried herbs. Lemon notes and a kiss of butterscotch morph into wet stone and crushed rock on the palate. Solid acidity that is well-integrated. There is a leafy component that comes through on the back of the finish. (A-)
2014 Montenidoli Tradizionale Vernaccia Di San Gimignano DOCG (Italy)… $19.
Nuts and melon on the nose with a little slate action. Salted nuts all day on the palate backed by notes of melon and slate. There is a salted fig component that comes through on the mid-palate leading into a fresh, salty, steely finish. (A-)
2015 Domaine Emmanuel Giboulot Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits La Gregoire (Burgundy, France)…. $36.
Raspberries and strawberries on the nose with a little cranberry thrown in along with a splash of red flowers. Solid acidity backs notes of under-ripe strawberries and a dose of cranberries, red flowers and hits of licorice. Minerality front to finish where it takes over and lingers. (B/B+)
2015 Domaine Emmanuel Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits Sous Le Mont (Burgundy, France)… $33.
Aromas of violets and cherries with a hint of Asian spice, leaf and tea. Cherry, dried bark and Asian spice notes are solid on the palate backed by nicely integrated acidity. Earth elements expand on the finish with Asian spice lingering. Fresh on the back-end. (B+/A-)
2015 Kelley Fox Wines “Ahurani” Pinot Noir (McMinnville, OR)… $35.
Dark cherries, violets and a kiss of Root Beer on the nose. Dark cherries on the palate with a cranberry, citrus backbone. Earth and crushed rock notes hang in the background front to finish with crushed rock notes lingering. (B/B+)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
