A boatload of wine
2017 Milbrandt Vineyards Rose` (Columbia Valley, WA)… $12.
Peaches all day on the nose with a backdrop of strawberries and cherries. Fresh and balanced on the palate with notes of peaches and strawberries joined by a generous dose of cherries. Solid, long fresh finish. (B-/B)
2015 Skyfall Red Blend (Columbia Valley, WA)… $16.
Slightly challenged on the nose with hits of red berries, tobacco and a candied element that comes through. Surprisingly rich on the palate with notes of currants and blackberries up front and into the finish joined by a kiss of tobacco. The tannins are slick and there is a nice bright lift on the mid-palate. White pepper notes show up on the back-end while tobacco lingers on the finish. Nice structure and balance. 48% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Syrah, 8% Cabernet Franc, 5% Sangiovese (B+)
2015 Skyfall Vineyard Merlot (Columbia Valley, WA)… $16.
Aromas of tobacco and currants with a dash of brown sugar and candied violets underneath. Cherries and currants blended together on the palate supported by slick tannins. A hit of tobacco creeps in on the finish and lingers with the currant notes. Starts off on the palate solid, but goes slightly thin on the finish. 83% Merlot, 17% Syrah (B)
2012 Dunham Cellars Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon Lewis Vineyard (Columbia Valley, WA)… $75.
Restrained aromas of currants, bark and earth with hits of chocolate and wilted red flowers. Intense and structured on the palate with notes of currants that dominate, underscored by a solid bed of acidity that lifts the wine in the mouth and stays away from the crunchy side. There is a little red raspberry component that hides underneath front to finish where it is fresh and a little dirty mingled with chocolate that lingers. (B/B+)
2013 Dunham Cellars Syrah (Columbia Valley, WA)… $35.
Aromas of black plums, currants, boysenberries and black raspberries with a hit of chocolate and vanilla mocha underneath. Smooth boysenberry and currant notes with an undertow of chocolate and tobacco. A hit of diesel on the mid-palate which is quite interesting. Tobacco and mocha notes hit on the finish with a little white pepper added. Long finish, good structure and balance with well-integrated acidity. (B+/A-)
2010 Beresan “The Buzz” Red Yellow Jacket Vineyard (Walla Walla Valley, WA)… $21.
Blackberry and licorice notes on the nose with hits of red flowers and crushed red brick. Smooth tannins with a little edge support notes of blackberries and currants with a good dose of minerality. Tobacco notes hit hard on the back-end with a little dirt action joining up. A touch grippy on the finish. Good integration of all the elements and good structure. Very old world in style. (B/B+)
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 soft, structured tannins with chocolate notes as an underbelly. A touch thin on the mid-palate and finish. (C+/B-)
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 cherry and currant notes penetrate the palate front to finish with a trace of minerals. Chocolate and licorice notes linger underneath. Solid, smooth tannins support the fruit notes with red flower notes as a spine. Nice, fresh acidity front to a long finish that tightens up a bit on the back-end. (B+)
2013 Cavatappi “Maddalena” Nebbilo (Columbia Valley, WA)… $18.
Strawberries all day on the nose with a kiss of red flowers and earth. Soft, structured tannins support strawberry and tobacco notes front to finish with mineral and leather notes joining up. Tannins get a bit grippy on the finish. Nice balance with a little kick on the mid-palate. (B+)
2013 Cavatappi “San Pietro” Tuscan Style Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $18.
Aromas of sweet dark cherries and tobacco with a hit of violets and licorice. Round cherry, currant and tobacco notes on sweet tannins front to finish where a little spice and chocolate join the palate party. Sturdy tannins and good structure. Tobacco notes linger on the finish. A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. (B+)
2014 J. Bookwalter “Readers” Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, WA)…$25.
Aromas of Currants and wilted red flowers with a sweet edge and a touch of licorice. Powerful currant notes front to finish with a backbone of chocolate and tobacco on smooth tannins that show a little attitude on the finish. Red flower notes sneak in on the back-end. (B+/A-)
2014 J. Bookwalter Conflict Red Conner Lee Vineyards (Columbia Valley, WA)… $50.
A touch muted on the nose with hits of chocolate, cherries and tobacco. Smooth and polished on the palate. Notes of currants, tobacco and chocolate front to finish. A nice cinnamon hit on the finish where tobacco and white pepper notes linger. Good structure and balance. (A-)
2013 Brian Carter Cellars “Corrida” Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $30.
Aroma of currants, red flowers and vanilla with a slight hit of chocolate, tobacco and bark. Currants and black raspberry notes hit on the front of the palate with an underscore of tobacco and minerals. Nice flow across the palate with a solid core of fruit. A dry, mineral-tobacco finish with a hint of chocolate on the back-end. 63% Tempranillo, 26% Graciano, 11% Grenache (B)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
