When I review wines, I strive to be as honest as possible. I also try to describe the wine as I think people will experience it. Wine is tough because it is subjective. If you’ve never had a Kiwi, you are not going to get Kiwi notes out of a white wine, it’s that simple. However, crafting tasting notes in a way that people can relate to is what I have tried to achieve over the years. I hope you enjoy the notes I take and here for your reading pleasure are five wines I have reviewed recently.
2016 Cana’s Feast Two Rivers Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $18.
Aromas of tobacco, currants, bark and rose petals. Rust and currant notes on the palate are nicely integrated front to finish where bark and tobacco notes join in on the clean finish. Good balance of acidity and fruit with a good dose of rust and minerality. Old world style from the new world. 35% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Franc, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec (B/B+)
2019 Domaine Amido “Los Galets” Cotes du Rhone Villages (Rhone, France)… $13.
Meat and meat marinade on the nose with a big hit of red flowers with a splash of tobacco, pomegranate, cherries and plums. Pomegranate and cherry notes on meaty tannins with a kiss of plums, while red flower notes ride underneath, front to finish. The red flower notes come out large on the finish, joined by white pepper and spices that linger. (B/B+)
2017 Lapostolle Grand Selection Carmenere (Central Valley, Chile)… $16.
Tobacco and currants on the nose with a touch of wilted rose petal and dried twigs. Deep currant notes on the palate, supported by edgy, approachable tannins. There is a spine of tobacco and forest floor notes, joined by rose petal notes on the mid-palate into the long, fresh finish. (B+)
2018 Kind Stranger Alter Red (Washington State)… $15.
Aromas of blackberries and cherries, with a touch of licorice, chocolate and black plum. Blackberry notes big-time on the front of the palate, joined by cherry and black plum notes with chocolate hiding underneath. Licorice notes sneak in on the mid-palate. Acidity comes out and dominates on the finish where bark and black pepper join the palate party. The tannins are very approachable but not soft. This wine is fruit-driven on the front and earthy on the finish. Good complexity for the money. (B/B+)
2019 Domaine de la Janasse Viognier (Vaucluse Principaute’ D’Orange France)… $20.
Banana, orange, peach and melon on the nose. Creamy in the mouth with notes of banana, white peach and melon front to finish where a kiss of fig comes through joined by hints of veggie and orange citrus. Balanced acidity keeps it fresh on the palate. (B+)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
