Tasting and analyzing wine is something I have done for a long time. It’s funny when people pass by my office at the store and see me tasting wines with a rep. Often times they will quip about what a tough job I have. I know it looks fun, but both my assistant Scott and I take it quite seriously. Ninety percent of the time, I’m scratching notes in my Moleskine so that later, if I decide to purchase a certain wine, I have the notes to share with the customer so that they know what to expect when they purchase it. Here for your reading pleasure are the notes from five wines I’ve tasted recently, good or bad.
2017 Brick House Vineyards Le Dijonnais Pinot Noir (Ribbon Ridge, OR)… $57.
Dark cherries and cherry skins on the nose, joined by Asian spices and rose petal with a kiss of bark and black tea. Cherries and Root Beer all day on the palate front to finish. Nicely integrated acidity comes on a bit on the finish where bark and stem notes come out as well, with a kiss of Asian spices and red raspberries. Asian spices linger with the cherry, raspberry and Root Beer notes. Excellent balance and complexity. (A)
Non-vintage Coviolo Lambrusco Biologico (Reffiano, Italy)… $12.
A touch of funk on the nose, joined by notes of dark cherries, bark and black raspberries. Black and red raspberry on the palate with a big hit of dark cherries on solid, bright acidity. The funk hits just a little on the mid-palate. This red is fresh, dry and delicious. Good balance and great food wine. Think pizza or blue cheeseburgers. (B- /B)
2015 Pieza El Coll Red (Calatayud, Spain)… $14.
Coffee bean, blackberry and a touch of raisin on the nose. Ripe currants, blackberries and a kiss of coffee bean on structured tannins with a petrol edge coming through on the palate. The petrol notes expand on the mid-palate and fade on the finish where white and black pepper notes join in the palate party with the ripe currant notes that linger. 50% Garnacha, 30% Carignan, 20% Monastrell (B)
2019 Vietti Roero Arneis (Piedmont, Italy)… $22.50
Aromas of peaches, earth, mushrooms and tangerines. Minerals all day on the palate with notes of peaches, tangerine and a kiss of lemon. Nice fruit medley in the mouth supported by balanced, nicely integrated acidity. This gem has a long finish. (A-)
2020 Villa Maria Rose‘ (Hawkes Bay, New Zealand)… $14.
Strawberries all day on the nose, joined by hits of rhubarb and watermelon. Solid acidity backs notes of strawberries and watermelon on the palate with a slight underbelly of rhubarb, front to finish. Dry and flavorful with good balance. Strawberry and a kiss of rhubarb hit hard on the bright, mouthwatering finish. 100% Merlot (B/B+)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
