FRIDAY’S FIVE

In a weeks time, I taste a boatload of wine (seriously). I lot of my friends think I’m lucky. Well, they’re right, and I wouldn’t give this job up for the world. The only thing that makes my job hard, is my feeling of responsibility to taste the samples given to me as quickly as possible and to put my reviews either in my Moleskine, on my Youtube channel (Stan The Wine Man TV), or right here on Stanthewineman.com. Here for your reading pleasure, are five wines that I have reviewed in my Moleskine (good or bad), this past week.

2016 Goose Ridge Vineyards G3 Red Wine Blend (Columbia Valley, WA)… $15.

Candied blackberries on the nose with dark cherries thrown in the mix. Spicy on the palate with notes of blackberries and cherries on slightly grippy tannins. Tobacco notes lie underneath with nice integration. Savory on the palate, somewhat old world in style with good balance. Really needs food. (B/B+)

2014 6 Furlongs Finish Line Red (Walla Walla Valley, WA)… $21.

Aromas of red flowers, currants and cooked meat. Very meaty on the palate. Currant notes on solid tannins front to finish, where spice and white pepper notes join up with a kiss of oak. (B-/B)

Non-Vintage Townshend Cellars T3 Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $21.

Aromas of cinnamon, vanilla, currants, cedar and slight baking spices. Cedar and tobacco notes blend nicely with currants, spice and a kiss of vanilla mocha on the palate. Solid structure with sturdy yet approachable tannins. There is a slight hit of meat marinade on the mid-palate. Acidity gives it a lift on the fresh, long finish. (B/B+)

2016 Luke Syrah (Wahluke Slope, WA)… $25.

Bacon fat, boysenberries and plum on the nose with a little tobacco in the background. Bacon fat big time on the palate, with a little vanilla thrown in. A nice meaty texture in the mouth with notes of tobacco and a touch of char, blended with boysenberry notes. Nicely integrated acidity and a slight tannic grip on the back-end. (B/B+)

2017 Reverdy Sancerre Cuvee Les Coutes (Loire Valley, France)… $26.

Melon and wet stone on the nose with hits of dusty apples. On the palate there is a nice balance of acidity, fruit and minerality. Solid apple and melon notes, with nicely integrated subtle acidity. Peach notes sneak in on the mid-palate, leading into a crushed rock driven finish with apple notes lingering. (B+)

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man