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 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 Saintsbury Chardonnay (Carneros, CA)… $23.
Apples and pears on the nose with a touch of butter and butterscotch. Lemon and apple notes front to finish on the palate, joined by butter and butterscotch notes and a good dose of oak. There is a nice spine of acidity that gives it a freshness and balance. It dances lightly on the palate with good flavors and a long finish. (B)
2018 Olianas Canonau Di Sardegna (Sardinia, Italy)… ?
Aromas of crushed red brick meets blackberries, plums and strawberries, with a little earth and powdered chocolate thrown in. Dry and somewhat chalky tannins on the palate that support notes of red flowers, chocolate, black olive, blackberries and strawberries. Light bodied with solid flavors and clean. Red flower notes expand on the mid-palate into the dry, long finish where a hit of raspberries comes through. Not super complex, but well made. (C+/B-)
2015 Borsao Berola (Campo De Borja, Spain)… $15.
Aromas of dark cherries, bark, red flowers with a little beet and strawberry action. Dark cherries on the palate all day with a big dose of black and white pepper. Dark red flower notes join the fruit that expands on the mid-palate into the finish where tobacco notes join the palate party. The tannins show up with a little attitude on the back-end. Good balance and complexity. The fruit tries to go big but is held in check. 70% Garnacha, 20% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (B-/B)
2018 Bonny Doon Vineyards Le Cigare Volant “Cuvee Oumuamua (Monterey County, CA)… $17.
Quite stinky on the nose with notes of burnt wood, strawberries and blackberries. Underripe strawberries and blackberries on the palate with soft tannins and balanced acidity. The underripe fruit is prominent with a hit of licorice on the mid-palate. Tobacco notes join up on the finish. 52% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 13% Syrah (C+/B-)
2019 Ponga Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough New Zealand)… $12.
Grape seeds and white grapefruit on the nose with a hit of thyme. Grapefruit and grapefruit pith on the palate, joined by kiwi and lemon backed by solid, balanced acidity. Kiwi notes hit big-time on the mid-palate into a dry finish that is almost mouth-puckering. Talk about a great white to go with Shellfish at a decent price. (B-/B)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
