In a week’s time, I taste a boatload of wine (seriously). A 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.
2014 Chateau Vincens Cahors L’Instant Malbec (France) … $12.
Aromas of red flowers, licorice, candied blackberries, cherries and bark. Fresh and tight on the palate with notes of dried leaves, earth and crushed rock. Red flower and cherry notes try to sneak out, but they are stopped by the earth and mineral notes. Solid acidity with crunchy tannins. (C+/B-)
2017 Matthews Winery Red Cuvee’ (Columbia Valley, WA)… $30.
A little hair perm action on the nose, joined by notes of currants, cherries and a hit of tobacco. Ripe currant notes on the palate that are held in check by the nicely integrated acidity. Baking spice and tobacco notes lie underneath, with a little green stem action. Finishes with a hit of tobacco on the back-end. A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. (C+/B-)
2017 Tour Des Gendres Petillant Natural Brut Vin de France (Bergerac, France) … $25.
Aromas of orange creamsicle, fig and yeast. Light apple and fig notes on the palate, joined by a hit of roasted nuts and orange citrus on the back-end with apple notes lingering. Small bubbles, good intensity and nice complexity. (B+/A-)
2018 Friend & Farmer Tempranillo (Castilla LaMancha, Spain) …$14.
Aromas of red flowers, dusty stones, dried bark, strawberries and cherries. Very light in body, with notes of earth, rocks, red flowers, cherries and strawberries coming through. Red flower notes expand on the mid-palate into the fresh finish, where a little green leaf component sneaks in. A touch too thin with the minerality dominating. (C-/C)
2018 Torremoron Tempranillo (Ribera Del Duero, Spain) … $15.
Earthy and savory on the nose with notes of dried bark, char, cherries, leather and wilted red flowers. Dark cherry and boysenberry notes on the palate, surrounded by savory earth notes front to finish. Soft tannins and well-integrated acidity keep it fresh. The fruit notes expand on the mid-palate into a mineral-driven finish with a kiss of white pepper. (B/B+)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
