Once again it’s time to share some of my latest tasting notes.
Every week I have salespeople stop by my office to share samples, hoping that one of them appeals to me and I make a purchase for the store. I have to tell you that on average, only about ten percent of the wines I try end up somewhere in my department, whether it’s a shelf placement or a stack on the floor. This is my favorite time of the year because now I have time to take notes on all the wines presented to me (at least I hope so). Here are notes from five of the wines I have tasted recently.
2016 Hence Cellars Cabernet Franc (Red Mountain, WA)… $35.
Aromas of tobacco and currants with a tiny hit of cranberry, dried branches and chocolate. Currant and chocolate notes on the palate with a hit of veggie in the background, front to finish where BBQ spice notes join the palate party along with a big hit of tobacco. Excellent structure and balance with a lingering finish. B+/A-
2016 Chateau Mayne-Vieil Bordeaux Rouge (Fronsac, France)… $15.
Ripe currants on the nose along with notes of tobacco, wet stone and leather. Black currants, spice, wet stone, tobacco and leather all mingle nicely together on the palate. A touch of veggie comes through on the mid=palate and disappears on the finish that is fresh with mineral notes lingering. Nicely integrated acidity with good balance and complexity, especially at this price. Let it breathe and you will be rewarded. (B+)
2018 Mas Theo Petit Gaby Red (Vin de France)… $18.
Aromas of cranberries, cherries, tobacco and red flowers. Ripe cranberries and cherries on the palate with a kiss of blueberries front to finish where the cranberry and blueberry notes linger. The solid, nicely integrated acidity, gives the wine a crunchy mouthfeel that is tense but not tart. Excellent pizza and burger wine. Made using biodynamic practices. 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 20% Carignan (B-)
2020 Gard Grand Klasse Rose’ (Royal Slope, WA)… $25.
Strawberries and raspberries on the nose with a kiss of cooked popcorn kernels. Strawberry and spice notes all day on the palate, this baby is dry with solid fruit notes front to a clean finish. It’s like biting into a ripe strawberry with a splash of acidity and a sprinkle of white pepper with good balance. (B+/A-)
2019 Domaine Ansen Edelzwicker (Alsace, France)… $23.
Lemon, orange and melon on the nose with a kiss of wet stone. Sweet orange and lemon notes on the palate with melon notes thrown in the mix. Apple notes sneak in on the mid-palate into the finish. Fresh, balanced acidity. This baby is a “10” in the delicious category! If you have a spicy noodle dish, this would be a perfect compliment. Edelzwicker means “Noble Blend”. 80% Sylvaner, 20% Muscat (B-)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
