A boatload of wine
2015 Dunham Cellars Three-Legged Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.
Aromas of bark, tobacco, currants and dark cherries with a little rose petal, violets and leather underneath. Polished, almost ball bearing like tannins, support notes of tobacco, earth and dark cherries. Rose petal hits on the mid-palate with tobacco and spices lingering on the finish. (B/B+)
2014 Dunham Cellars Trutina (Columbia Valley, WA)… $30.
Currants and red flowers on the nose with a backdrop of chocolate and vanilla. Polished tannins with a little attitude support notes of black tea, bark, tobacco and currant notes. Violet and rose petal notes hit on the mid-palate and carry into the finish where it lingers with a little earth hanging around. Excellent structure and balance and personality. 44 % Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 89% Cabernet Franc (B+/A-)
2014 Dunham Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, WA)… $45.
Aromas of currants, red flowers, chocolate and slight tobacco. Currant and chocolate notes dominate front to finish on the palate. Seamless and polished with well-integrated acidity. Earth, tobacco and tea notes join up on the mid-palate into the finish where bark and tobacco notes linger with a slick edge. (B+/A-)
2017 Alexandria Nicole A Squared Sauvignon Blanc (Horse Heaven Hills, WA)… $17.
Apples and bananas on the nose with a hint of lemon. Tart apples on the palate with a backdrop of banana. Solid acidity with a good dose of minerality. Lemon notes hit on a bright and tight finish. (B)
2016 Alexandria Nicole Viognier (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.
Aromas of mango, peaches, apricot and Fruit Stripe gum (remember?). Mango and apricot all day on the palate. Creamy up front and on the finish, but dries up on the mid-palate. Minerals hit hard on the finish with just a touch of bitter on the back-end. Very clean with good balance. (B)
2014 Alexandria Nicole “Gravity” Merlot (Horse Heaven Hills, WA)… $25.
Notes of blackberry with a candied edge on the nose, joined by notes of red flowers, licorice, chocolate and a hint of meat marinade. Solid structure and acidity. Notes of green tobacco, bark and tobacco. Acidity is out of balance with fruit, very austere and young tasting. Tight and tart. Red flower notes hit on the mid-palate with leather notes coming through on the finish. This might come to life later. Reminded me of a young right bank Bordeaux of lower quality. (D/D+)
2013 Fall Line Exhibition Red Blend (Yakima Valley, WA)… $25.
Aromas of tobacco, herbs, currants, wood and dark red flowers. Solid fruit on the front of the palate. Currants and dark cherries with a little oak sneaking in on sweet tannins. Seamless and structured with a little tomato stem action on the mid-palate into the finish where it’s joined a white pepper hit on the back-end. Good balance. (B/B+)
2013 Avennia Justine Red Blend (Yakima Valley, WA)… $40.
Very subdued on the nose with slight boysenberry, cherry and chocolate notes with a touch of licorice and red flowers. Deep notes of boysenberries, cherry and currants on edgy tannins. Fresh underbelly where notes of chocolate, white pepper and tobacco linger. The tannins sweeten up on the clean and delicious finish. A blend of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah. (B)
2015 Kerloo Cellars “No Joke” Red Stone Tree Vineyard (Wahluke Slope, WA)… $40.
Aromas of licorice, alfalfa, red flowers, red berries and bittersweet chocolate. Nice intensity and balance on the palate. Notes of blueberries and blackberries on a bed of chocolate with a kiss of white pepper on the back-end. Violet notes join up on the mid-palate into a leather like finish where the tannins show a little grip. Serious structure, pure and smooth. 71% Malbec, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon (A-)
2014 Kerloo Cellars Syrah (Walla Walla Valley, WA)… $40.
Blueberries, blackberries, tar and tobacco on the nose. Nice weight in the mouth without being over-powering. Boysenberry and smoke notes rest on fresh acidity leading into a blueberry, raspberry, bacon fat finish that hangs around. Excellent balance and structure. (A-)
2012 Array Cellars Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, WA)… $25.
Aromas of butterscotch, pineapple, apple and hints of pears. Very lean on the palate with fresh acidity. Pineapple and green pear notes front to finish with a bitter component on the back-end. Finish lingers. This would be an excellent Chardonnay to pair with shellfish. (C)
2016 J. Bookwalter “Readers” Chardonnay (Columbia Valley,WA)… $14.
Pears all day on the nose with a pinch of apple. Starts off creamy on the palate then goes to the dry side. Pear and apple notes linger, with the apple notes winning the battle on the finish where they linger with a kiss of bitter. Good balance. (B-)
2014 J. Bookwalter “Readers” Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, WA)… $25.
Currants and wilted red flowers on the nose with a sweet edge and a hint of licorice. Powerful currant notes front to finish with a backbone of chocolate and tobacco. Smooth tannins that show a little attitude on the finish where wilted red flower notes sneak in. (B+/A-)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
