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.
2016 Catena “Vista Flores” Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)… $13.
Aromas of black plums and boysenberries, with hits of violets, tobacco and roasted meats. Ripe plum and boysenberry notes on the front of the palate blended with notes of tobacco, violets and a pinch of vanilla. Baking spice notes creep in on the mid-palate into the finish where white pepper joins the palate party. Good acidity that is well-integrated. A touch thin on the finish. (C+/B-)
2016 Ghostblock Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville, CA)… $75.
Deep dark currant notes on the nose with hints of dark flowers and blackberries. Caramel and currant notes all day on the palate, supported by edgy, soft tannins. Baking spices show up on the mid-palate leading into the long finish where tobacco notes sneak in. Good structure and nicely integrated acidity that keeps it fresh. (B-/B)
2016 Quivira Vineyards “Black Boar” Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County, CA)… $43.
Thyme and currants on the nose, with a slight hit of mint and red flowers. Fresh acidity and solid tannins support currant and herbal notes on the palate. The fruit notes expand on the mid-palate with a hit of black raspberry into the finish where the tannins have some serious grip action. Spice and white pepper notes linger on the warm finish. Not your typical jammy style Zin, this baby has good structure and great potential. I would lay it down a couple of years to let it get to know itself. (B+/A-)
2018 Cantine Europa “Sensale” Nero D’Avola ( Terra Siciliane, Italy)… $12.
Aromas of plums, rhubarb, blackberries, a kiss of meat marinade, orange peel and earth. Red plums on the palate with an underbelly of cranberries, orange peel and blueberries. The fruit notes have sweetness on the mid-palate that is held in check by mouth-watering acidity that lifts the wine in the mouth. Mineral notes sneak in on the fresh finish. This baby screams for pizza, lasagna or a blue cheeseburger. (C+/B-)
2017 Chateau Pajzos Furmint (Tokaji, Hungary)… $13.
Aromas of apple, peaches, sweet figs and orange blossom. Oranges, apples and melon on the palate with a touch of peach in the background. Solid acidity that gives it a tartness on the bone-dry, citrus-driven finish. Oysters anyone? (B-)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
