There are times in the wine life where for some reason tasting wines is put on hold for a bit. It seems that the first week of ’13 has been just like that. Few wines have come my way and a majority have been somewhat of a disappointment and a couple of gems popped up. I had to fall back on an old favorite for my pick of the month simply because nothing else has hit me as a great wine at a great price. Of course my old favorite is a great wine, and deserves to be the pick for January… Funny thing, I’ve never featured the wine. Kinda weird if you ask me.
That being said, I have a few reviews to share from the Moleskine for the week.
2011 Charles & Charles Red (Columbia Valley, Washington) … $9.99
This is one of those great values from Washington in the blend category. Two years ago this was one of my favorite reds. This vintage does not live up to that reputation, but it isn’t bad. The nose is a little restrained on this wine with faint notes of black currants and dark cherries with an edge of sweet fruit. Red cherries and currants in the front of the mouth followed by an edge of tobacco and cassis on the mid-palate. Smooth tannins with a brightness to it from start to finish and a dark rim (I hope that makes sense). I got a little cherry jam action and green tobacco leaf on a medium finish. I was hoping this wine would “pop”, but the flavors never did. Just a little boring for me, but I can see a lot of folks liking this for the $$. 72 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Syrah. (C+)
2008 Domaine LaCroix Chaptal LeSigilees (Languedoc, France) … $10.99
Talk about a stinky nose! The only word that came to me was poop. I think I got a little cherry and cassis action but it was hard to tell. Soft tannins with loads of minerals in the mouth. Cassis and red plum notes from front to back with a little tobacco and cassis hit in the mid-palate followed by a medium finish. It is hard to shake the barnyard from the mouth, and I found that a little distracting. 40% Carignan, 30% Grenache Noir & 30% Syrah (C)
2009 KopKe Vinho Tinto (Douro, Portugal) … $12.99
I’m really searching high and low for some of these gems from Portugal. There are a lot of average blends, but when you hit a good one, it is really good. This one fell in the average to above average category. Aromas of bread crust, dark cherries and blackberries. Smooth tannins with a nice flow across the palate. Notes of blackberries and blueberries come through with a little spice element. Well integrated but fairly simple. However, I have to give it a “Ten” in the delicious category. I can see a lot of folks digging this red. 35% Touriga Nacional, 25% Touriga Franca, 25% Tinta Rorize, 15% Tinto Cao. (B-)
2011 Saint Cosme Cotes Du Rhone (Rhone, France0… $14.99
I heard some good things about this wine so I was eager to give it a try. I now understand the good reports. On the nose it kind of reminded me of a roast-beef sub sandwich blended with a little Rhone Valley baked earth and intense dark fruits. Not a bad nose for thirteen bucks. On the palate, dark cherries and black plums jump all over the mouth. Smooth, polished tannins support the fruit and notes of baked earth, minerals and tobacco leaf. Pleasing long finish with notes of earth drenched in dark cherries and plum with lingering spice. This has to be one of the best thirteen dollar wines I’ve tasted in recent memory. 100% Syrah. (A-)
2010 Gnarly Head Authentic Red (Lodi, California) … $10.99
Very jammy on the nose with notes of dark cherries, blackberries and an edge of mint. Very fruit forward on the palate with a little sugar thrown in for good measure. Mixed berry jam notes coat the palate leading into a sugar coated, long finish. Soft and jammy would be a fair description. I’m surprised there isn’t a C&H symbol on the label. Vanilla ice cream anyone? A blend of Zin, Merlot, Cab & Petite Sirah. (c-)
2009 Urban Ribera Tinta Del Pais (Ribera Del Duero, Spain) … $14.99
Very heady on the nose, no doubt due to the 14.5% alcohol content (Probably more). Aromas of tobacco, red flowers, earth and currants. Explosive ripe fruits on the palate with ripe dark cherries and black currants with a little raisin element. It stays powerful, with big fruit across the palate. I reminds me a lot of a big jammy California Zin. It finishes with notes of ripe black currants and spice with a little grip. The alcohol shows on this wine big time making it a little awkward on the palate. This is a Tempranillo and shouldn’t taste like this. Just say’in. (c-)
2009 Ramos Pinto “Duas Quintas” Red (Douro Valley, Portugal)… $12.99
Deep dark fruits on the nose with a little stink and petrol thrown in. Don’t let that turn you off, it usually means your in for a good wine. Plus, most people don’t spend nearly enough time sniffing the juice. YOU SHOULD! Very plush mouth-feel with ripe black currants and dark cherries supported by silky tannins. Nice flow across the palate with a little spice hit in the middle. Nice lingering finish with notes of tobacco, currants and white pepper. This is one of those Portuguese red blends that I am in search of, and this is what I am talking about! A blend of Tinta Roiz, Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca. (B)
I hope you enjoy sharing my tasting notes with me. Of course, my goal is to help you find good wines for the money and to avoid wasting your money on a mediocre bottle. After looking things over, this wasn’t such a bad week after all! I am hoping that next week reaps similar good results in the tasting world (sans the stinkers). Cheers! Stan The Wine Man
