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.
2018 Dunham Cellars Three Legged Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $18.
Black tea, currants and licorice on the nose with a hit of wilted red rose petal. Ripe currants hit the front of the palate joined by a kiss of licorice and slight bark and earth elements. Nicely integrated acidity gives it good balance front to finish which is long and earthy. Currant notes linger with a little grip action on the back-end. (B)
2016 J. Bookwalter “Readers” Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.
Light currant notes on the nose with a kiss of baking spices, earth and red flowers. Solid currant notes front to finish with underlying veggie notes sneaking through. Soft tannins that have a slight edge to them. Red flower notes hit big on the mid-palate leading into a currant and red flower finish. Good balance and nicely integrated acidity that gives the wine a lift on the palate. (B/B+)
2016 J. Bookwalter “Readers” Merlot (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.
Red flowers and currants on the nose with a little beet and earth action. This baby has a creamy texture in the mouth with notes of currants and red flowers shining through and a hit of veggie that barely creeps out. Soft tannins, good balance and nice integration of all the elements. (B)
2018 J. Bookwalter “Readers” Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, WA)… $15.
Prominent pears on the nose with a slight hit of apple. Sweet creamy pear notes on the palate that expand on the mid-palate into the finish where acidity sneaks out and keeps it fresh in the mouth. Apple notes join up on the back-end. Good balance and integration, just a touch fruit-foward. (B-/B)
2017 Time & Direction Syrah (Columbia Valley, WA)… $46.
Aromas of bacon fat, earth and currants. Meaty currant notes on the palate with a splash of plums and black pepper. Violet notes are the backbone of this baby with a good dose of balanced acidity that gives the wine a lift in the mouth. A kiss of blueberries and licorice come through on the long finish. This is what Washington State Syrah is all about. (B+/A-)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
