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.
2018 Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley, CA)
Aromas of cola, eucalyptus and currants, with a slight hit of tobacco. Bright currant notes on the palate with tobacco notes hiding in the background. A touch of petrol lingers with the currant notes and comes out on the fresh, tight, very dry finish. If you like a little jam with your zin, don’t go here. (C+/B-)
2019 Domaine Andre Vatan Sancerre “Les Charmes” (Loire Valley, France)… $29.
Grape seeds on the nose with a little grapefruit pith, white flowers and slate thrown in, Grapefruit on the palate, joined by notes of granite and slate with a kiss of lemon. Nice expansion on the mid-palate into the stainless steel-like finish where the minerality lingers. (B+/A-)
2017 Domaine Sangouard-Guyot Macon-Bussieres (Burgundy, France)… $20.
Aromas of butter, perfumed white flowers and nettles, with hints of orange peel and fig. Fig and butter notes on the palate, backed by solid acidity that gives it an edgy feel in the mouth. The fig and butter notes expand on the mid-palate into the finish where the acidity takes over. A touch out of sorts with itself, but not too bad. (C+/B-)
Bethel Heights Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir (Eola-Amity Hills, OR)… $31.
Dark cherries, chalk and chocolate on the nose with hints of black tea and Root Beer. Good balance of acidity and fruit on the palate with light tannins. Bright cherry notes front to finish with a slight kiss of Root Beer. Red flower and bark notes sneak out on the tense, tightly wound finish. This baby needs time in the cellar, 5-8 years and I believe you will be rewarded. (B+/A-)
2015 Domaine Le Galantin Bandol Rouge (Provence, France)… $25.
Cooked hamburger on the nose with a splash of bacon, blended with earth, cherries and red flowers with candied currants underneath. Currant and meat notes on the front of the palate with earth notes underneath. A hit of tobacco comes through on the mid-palate and expands on the finish, joined by notes of white and black pepper. Currant notes are the spine front to finish. Excellent balance and complexity, this baby will age easily 10-15 years. (A)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
