A boatload of wine
2014 Terra Blanca Triple Threat Red (Red Mountain, WA)…$15.
Aromas of raw meat, tarragon, red flowers and currants. Meaty, earthy currants front to finish. Savory but ripe at the same time. Smooth with a little edge to it. A touch of tobacco and earth, mixed with ripe currants on the meaty finish. Nice integration of fruit, earth and acidity. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Syrah, 19% Merlot (B+)
2017 Dunham Cellars Rose` (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.
Slight plum and strawberry notes on the nose. Good minerality front to finish, supporting notes of under-ripe cherries and strawberries, joined by tart watermelon underneath. A slight stainless steel and honey edge in the mouth. (C+/B-)
2015 Dunham Cellars Shirley Mays Chardonnay Lewis Estate Vineyard (Columbia Valley, WA)… $25.
Slightly challenged on the nose with faint butter, pear and apple notes. Butter, apple and pear notes on the palate muscled out by prominent oak. Fruit notes try to sneak out from underneath the butter, but are punched in the face by wood. Hard to get passed the oak on this baby. (D+/C-)
2014 Dunham Cellars Riesling Lewis Estate Vineyard (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.
Diesel all over the nose with a solid splash of apple and rubber boot…Love it! Solid, cutting acidity on the palate that supports notes of diesel and sweet apples. Tangerine and apricot notes hang in the background. Citrus notes linger on the long, mouth-watering finish. (B+/A-)
2015 Disruption Wine Company Merlot (Columbia Valley, WA)… $13.
Dark cherries all day on the nose, with notes of fermenting grape skins and a pinch of tobacco. Smooth tannins with just a little attitude, support notes of dark cherries, tar and tobacco with a freshness underneath. Tobacco notes hit hard on the finish with a tar element coming through. Dark cherry notes sneak in on the back-end. (B-)
2014 Alexandria Nicole Quarry Butte Red Destiny Ridge Vineyard (Horse Heaven Hills, WA)… $25.
Aromas of currants, meat, red flowers and a pinch of licorice. Meaty, ripe currants on the palate that rest on solid tannins. Excellent structure and complexity with well-integrated acidity. Red flower notes lie underneath front to finish with tobacco notes showing up on the back-end. Acidity pops the wine in your mouth on the finish. This baby is drinking nice now, but will also benefit with a little age. (B+/A-)
2016 Airfield Estates Sauvignon Blanc (Yakima Valley, WA)… $13.
Oatmeal all day on the nose with underlying grapefruit notes. Round grapefruit notes on the palate, joined by notes of bubblegum and apple. There is an interesting hit of lettuce on the finish. A touch simple. (C+/B-)
2015 Baer Winery Shard Stillwater Creek Vineyard (Columbia Valley, WA)… $25.
Light apple and pear notes on the nose with a hint of pineapple. Round apple and pear notes on the palate that are kept in check by the fresh acidity. Solid fruit front to finish with a creaminess coming through on the mid-palate. Fresh finish that hangs around for some time. Excellent balance and structure. This is a unoaked Chardonnay… (B+/A-)
2014 Chateau Smith Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington State)… $19.
Aromas of cherries and black raspberries with hits of licorice, chocolate and strawberries. Tar and dark cherry notes come through on the palate, supported by soft, structured tannins. There is a chocolate underbelly front to finish. A touch thin on the mid-palate and finish. (C+/B-)
2013 Cavatappi Wines “San Pietro” Tuscan Style Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $18.
Sweet dark cherries on the nose with a good hit of tobacco and a pinch of violets and licorice. Round currant, cherry and tobacco notes on the palate on sweet, sturdy tannins front to finish. Spice and chocolate notes join the party on the mid-palate into the finish where tobacco notes linger. Solid structure. A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. (B+)
2014 Rotie Cellars Southern Red Blend (Washington State)… $50.
Strawberry pizza with a little burnt crust and a side of red flowers on the nose. Good intensity and structure on the palate with notes of licorice, cherries and white pepper. Strawberry and char notes try to sneak in on soft tannins and balanced acidity. Red flower notes hang out on the back of the finish. (A-/A)
2013 Purple Star Winery Syrah (Columbia Valley, WA)… $19.
Raspberries all day on the nose with underlying cherry and bacon fat and a hit of smoke. Solid structure and acidity that is balanced by juicy cherry, raspberry and blackberry notes. There is a kiss of smoke that lies underneath and a little Heath Bar action. Tannins get a little chalky on the finish with hits of white pepper. Chalky element lingers on the palate. (B/B+)
2015 Purple Star Winery Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.
Aromas of currants and plums with a hit of veggie and licorice. Nice plump cherry and currant notes on the palate with veggie trying to sneak in but getting kicked out. Tobacco notes join up on the finish. Soft, structured tannins. (B/B+)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
