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.
2019 Fat Bastard Les Freres Bastards Rose’ (France)… $11.
Aromas of dried herbs, strawberries, watermelon and a kiss of cherries. Very light strawberry and watermelon notes on a bed of crisp, acidity. Quite watered down on the palate, especially on the finish where it is almost like flavored water. Very simple and lacks flavor. Grenache, Syrah Merlot (D+)
2017 Leyda Pinot Noir (Valle De Leyda, Chile)… $14.
Smoked strawberries and cherries on the nose with a little bit of diesel underneath. Smoked cherries come through on the palate, backed by solid acidity and a hit of rubber boot. Spice notes come through on the back-end with a good shot of black pepper and rubber boot. Quite thin in the mouth front to finish. (D+/C-)
2016 Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Carmenere Apalta Vineyard (Valle De Colchcagua Apalta, Chile)… $20.
Aromas of tomato stem, twigs, perfumed cherries and rhubarb with a little hit of red flowers. Tobacco and earth surround notes of dark cherries and bittersweet chocolate on the palate supported by chalky tannins. A little veggie action joins up on the mid-palate into the finish where white pepper joins the party, lingering with the tobacco and earth notes. There is just a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon. (B+)
2014 Duorum Colheita Tinto (Douro, Portugal)… $19.
Sweet beets on the nose joined by dirt and candied cherries with a small hit of rose petal. Solid currant notes on the palate that rest on a bed of earth and dried bark. The tannins are tight and soft. Rose petal notes sneak in on the back of the mid-palate into a dirty, currant driven finish where black and white pepper notes sneak in and linger. Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (B+)
2019 Aveleda Vinho Verde (Portugal)
Melon and minerality on the nose with a kiss of white flowers and apples. Granny Smith apples on the palate with a kiss of lime and lemon. Good balance and very clean. Vibrant on the finish where notes of Jolly Rancher green apple and melon sneak in with a touch of fizz. Fresh, clean and delicious. (C+/B-)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
