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.
2017 Raimbault Domaine Du Pre Semele Sancerre (Loire Vallley, France)… $30.
White flowers and wet stone on the nose, joined by slight apple notes. A little challenged aromatically. Lots of white pepper behind wet stone and white flower notes on the palate, with a little apple and melon thrown in. A slight hit of honey-like viscosity on the mid-palate, balanced by medium acidity. Finishes fresh and dry with a hit of grass and white pepper lingering. (B/B+)
2015 Etude “Lyric” Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County, CA)… $22.
A little petrol on the nose, joined by melon, a big hit of white flowers and a pinch of pear and apple. A little funky on the palate, with with petrol in the background of pear and apple notes. Hits of butterscotch lie underneath into the finish where pineapple notes join the palate party. (B-/B)
2016 Etude “Lyric” Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County, CA)… $22.
Major tobacco and char notes on the nose, with dark cherry notes in the backseat and a hint of Root Beer. Solid cherry notes on the palate, blended nicely with tobacco and a kiss of Root Beer. Nice flow across the palate with good balance of fruit and acidity. Spice notes sneak in on the back of the finish. (B+)
2017 Kiona Chenin Blanc (Columbia Valley, WA)… $15.
Apples and wet wool on the nose, with a backdrop of white flowers (carnations?). A little spritz on the palate with notes of sweet melon and apple. Fruit forward from the start, but finishes dry with a little tangerine action that lingers. (B-)
2017 Laroque Cabernet Franc (Cite De Carcassonne, France)… $13.
Stewed veggies on the nose with a solid backdrop of cherries and candied blackberries. Cherries and blackberries on the front of the palate, supported by edgy tannins. Red flower and citrus notes join up on the mid-palate into a solid finish where tobacco and veggie notes join in, with orange citrus notes lingering. Not smooth, but has a good edgy, rustic quality to it. (B+)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
