A boatload of wine
2013 Paxis Red (Lisboa, Portugal)… $8.
Aromas of licorice, tobacco, cherries and black raspberries with a pinch of mint and dirt. Smooth, sturdy tannins support notes of cherries and black raspberries. It intensifies a bit on the mid-palate with a little lift from the acidity, leading into the finish where a kiss of tobacco and minty acidity join up. Nice balance, and a “10” in the delicious category. (B/B+)
2016 Gnarly Head Double Black 1924 Limited Addition (Lodi, CA)… $11.
Currants, cherries and raspberries on the nose with a little brambleberry underneath. Explosive fruit on the front of the palate…Notes of currants, cherries and raspberries on sweet, easy tannins. It has a fresh backbone that keeps the fruit in check. Jammy and fresh at the same time. Another “10” in the delicious category. (B-/B)
2015 Maryhill Semillon Tudor Hills Vineyard (Columbia Valley, WA)… $13.
Aromas of lemon, cut grass, wet stone and perfumed white flowers. Very dry, with solid white pepper notes front to finish, joined by notes of melon and apple with an undertow of fresh-cut grass. (C+/B-)
2017 Thurston Wolfe Albarino Crawford Vineyard (Yakima Valley, WA)… $17.
Apricots, mango and mandarin orange on the nose. A fruit medley in the mouth… Mango, peach, apple and mandarin orange on fresh acidity. There is a nice creaminess in the mouth that doesn’t get heavy. Good balance with a fresh, clean, delicious finish. (A-)
2015 Gravel Bar Dry Riesling (Columbia Valley, WA)… $16.
Rubber boot, banana, mango and oranges on the nose. Dry on the palate with rubber boot notes backed by oranges and mango. Good balance, but thins out on the finish with notes of orange, lemon and apple on the back-end. (C/C+)
2016 Maryhill Riesling (Columbia Valley, WA)… $10.
Almost nothing on the nose. Quite challenged. Tart apple and lemon notes on the palate with slight rubber boot notes underneath. Apple notes linger a bit on the almost dry, light finish. A little boring and one-dimensional. Not bad, just not that good. (D+/C-)
2017 Sodo Cellars “Love Bird” Rose` (Washington State)… $15.
Corn Nuts, Strawberries and watermelon on the nose with a solid kiss of raspberry. Nice acidity backs solid watermelon, cherry and raspberry notes. The fruit notes are solid but the wine remains dry and fresh with a nice tangerine hit on the back-end. (B-/B)
2017 Lafage Mira Flors Rose` (Cotes Catalans, France)… $16.
Slight aromas of perfumed pink flowers with a hit of red plums. Dry on the palate with notes of strawberries and plums, backed by edgy acidity and a kiss of minerals. There is a hit of citrus on the finish. The acidity is bright and cutting on the palate yet balanced. A blend of Mourvedre and Grenache Gris. (B)
2017 Combard Figuiere Rose` Vin de Pays (Le Saint Andre, France)… $14.
Light cherry and wet stone notes on the nose. Apples, cherries and crushed rock notes on the palate with a twist of citrus. Fresh and dry on the palate with lingering dusty rock notes. Very terroir driven. 25% Syrah, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Grenache, 25% Cinsault (B/B+)
2017 La Rocaliere Rose` (Tavel, France)… $15.
Ripe cherry juice blended with watermelon on the nose. Meaty texture in the mouth with notes of cherry and a kiss of watermelon and red plums. Slight minerals lie underneath leading into a dry, lingering finish. 60% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 10% Syrah (B+/A-)
2016 La Louvetrie Muscadet (Loire Valley, France)… $18.
Aromas of slate, melon, peach and lemon with a hit of candied apricots. Bracing acidity backs notes of lemon, apricots and peach. The acidity kicks this baby into over-drive on the mid-palate with a boatload of minerals leading into the finish where apricot skins and veggie notes add to the complexity. (B-/B)
2016 Harper Voit Old Vine Riesling Maresh Vineyard (Dundee Hills, OR)… $30.
Rubber boot, apple and mango on the nose. Mixed nuts, apricot and mango up front on the palate with a kiss of rubber boot action. Solid acidity drives this Riesling on the palate giving it a linear feel in the mouth leading into a bracing, clean finish where citrus and mango lingers. (A)
2014 Idiots Grace Chardonnay White Salmon Vineyard (Columbia Gorge, WA)… $24.
A little challenged on the nose with slight apple and melon notes coming through. Creamy on the palate with a little spice action joined by ripe apple and melon notes. Nice balance of acidity and fruit with a slight butter element coming through on the back-end joined by a kiss of minerals. Good complexity and a decently long finish. (B+)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
