Stan The Wine Man

In a weeks time, I taste a boatload of wine (seriously). I lot of my friends think that 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 right here on Stanthewineman.com. Here for your reading pleasure, are thirteen wines that I have reviewed in my Moleskine (good or bad), this past week.

2013 Rio Madre Graciano (Rioja, Spain)… $10.

Fairly intense on the nose with notes of grape jam, black cherries, red flowers, blackberries and a tiny hit of black tea. Red and black cherry notes up front leading into earth and tobacco notes on the mid-palate. Black tea and mineral notes show up on the finish. This red is smooth and sturdy at the same time with enough acidity to stand up to stew, roast or grilled meats. (B)

2012 Vina Gormaz Tempranillo (Ribera Del Duero, Spain)… $12.

Very interesting aromas of smoked meat, licorice, cherries and crushed red flowers. Dark cherries, tobacco and red flower notes drench the palate front to back. There is a smoked meat component that hits on the mid-palate flowing into the finish of cherries with a rusty component lingering. This is exactly what I look for in a Spanish Tempranillo from this appellation. (B+)

2010 Lorinon Crianza (Rioja, Spain)… $12.

Interesting aromas of coffee bean, currants, tobacco and a light hit of wood and licorice. Red and black currants are layered with notes of tobacco and coffee. Mineral notes join the party on the mid-palate with some tannins showing up and an under-belly of worn leather. This is “old world” juice with just enough fruit to keep a lot of palates interested. 100% Tempranillo (B+)

2012 Xiloca Garnacha Vino De La Tierra (Ribera Del Jiloca)… $10.

Aromas of blackberries, black plums, strawberries and licorice. Strawberries and notes of red currants on the palate front to back with a tiny hit of spice on the back-end, joined by a touch of licorice. This is a fairly light and simple wine that has good flavor. (C+)

2012 Westerly Red (Happy Canyon, CA)… $32.

This is a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. Aromas of red flowers, bittersweet chocolate, dark cherries, blackberries and an interesting whiff of bacon fat. Round and bright on the palate with notes of cherries and currants dominating joined by a hit of blackberry. This is a nicely structured wine with excellent balance across the palate and a long-ass finish of violets, a pinch of chocolate and tobacco with a little earth joining the fruit and bacon-fat notes lingering. This is a big red with enough acidity to keep it in check. (A-)

2010 Bonair Cabernet Sauvignon (Yakima Valley, WA)… $10.

This is a ’10, so it has some age on it especially for a ten-dollar cab. My first impression was… Wow! Intense currant and cherry notes with a touch of red flowers and meat marinade on the back-end. Very structured on the palate, showing just a little reduction on the finish. Notes of cherries and currants on the front end with a compliment of rose petal. Tobacco notes show on the mid-palate leading into a charcoal driven finish with hits of currants and cherries. Good balance of acid, fruit and tannins with a dose of reduction. (C+/B-)

2012 Shenandoah Vineyards Zinfandel (Amador County, CA)… $9.

Very light on the nose with notes of ripe cherries, raspberries and a touch of raisin coming through. The palate exhibits a blend of cherries and raisins with a bright edge. Blueberry notes show up on the finish that is very fresh. This was a hard zin to get a bead on…Light and simple with a lot of raisin elements, but in no way off-putting. (C/C+)

2011 Dow Vale Do Bomfim (Douro, Portugal)… $11.

Toasty cherries on the nose joined by notes of red plums, black olive and rose petal with a back-drop of herbs. Black tea, cherries and tar show up on the palate joined by a touch of blueberry on the mid-palate. It gets a little grippy and bright on the finish with white pepper notes lingering. Good intensity, balance and structure, but just a little youthful…Give it three to five years. (B+)

2012 Chateau Costis Bordeaux… $7.99

Aromas of rose petal, lavender. earth, balsamic vinegar and tarragon. Super tight on the palate…Imagine the string on a kite on a windy April day. Notes of under-ripe cherries, green tobacco and white pepper on the front of the palate, into the finish. High in acidity and minerals with underlying rusty metal notes . I’m not sure how this one will flesh out in the next ten years, but it has potential. (C+)

2012 Bonair Chardonnay (Yakima Valley, WA)…$10.

A ten-dollar chardonnay always peaks my interest and the nose on this baby kept the interest alive. Aromas of butter, caramel, pineapple and pears. Nice and fresh on the palate with notes of pineapple and pears coming through, joined by a healthy dose of oak. Good balance and structure with a little lemon coming through on the finish. The oak is a little too much for me, but I know a lot of folks will like this chard. (C+)

2013 Husch Gewurztraminer (Anderson Valley, CA)…$15.

If you want to know how dry a Gew can get, you need to get your hands on this baby. Aromas of apples, grapefruit pith and pineapple. This is bone-dry on the palate with notes of pineapple, lemon, cut grass and green apple. Laser sharp front to back, finishing with notes of grapefruit pith, lemon-lime and green apple. It’s been awhile since I thought shellfish when drinking a Gewurztraminer. This one screams for oysters, clams or mussels. (B+)

2010 Domaine D’Aupilhac “Montperoux” (Coteaux de Languedoc, France)…$25.

Pretty intense old world nose of red and black currants, dark cherries, rust and forest floor with a little perfumed red flowers and black licorice. Solid fruit on the palate, with notes of dark cherries, cherry pit and a little blackberry leaf underneath. Minerals join the party with a little worn leather on the mid-palate finishing with fresh acidity. Very, very old world on the palate with a good core of fruit. 30% Mourvedre, 25% Syrah, 25% Carignan, 16% Grenache, 4% Cinsault. (B+/A-)

2011 Fantino “Cascina Dardi” Barbera D’Alba (Piedmont, Italy)…$25.

A little stinky leather on the nose, joined by notes of red cherries, currants, red bricks, red flowers and a pinch of rusty metal. Cherries, currants and cranberries up front on the palate, balanced by red earth, crushed rock and rust. Good structure and balance across the palate finishing with notes of worn leather, red cherries and cranberries with a touch of orange peel. This is classic old world Barbera. (A-)

Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man

In a weeks time, I taste a boatload of wine (seriously). I lot of my friends think that 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 right here on Stanthewineman.com. Here for your reading pleasure, are thirteen wines that I have reviewed in my Moleskine (good or bad), this past week.

2008 Bunnell Family Cellars VIF Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $33.

Very intense notes of tobacco, currants, mocha, vanilla and coffee bean come through on the nose with hits of violets, blackberries and a touch of beauty bark. Plush currant notes on the palate with a solid acidic core. Smooth tannins and excellent structure with white pepper notes joining the party on the mid-palate leading into a long, tight finish of bright blueberry, cherry and red raspberries. This baby is youthful and should improve over the next 5-8 years. (B+/A-)

2009 Bunnell Family Cellars Syrah (Horse Heaven Hills, WA)… $47.

Dusty aromas of bark, currants, tobacco and cherries. Hints of vanilla and blueberries sneak in with a hit of coffee bean. Bright acidity makes up the backbone of this wine supporting notes of tobacco, currants and beauty bark. The wine deepens on the mid-palate with hits of bacon fat coming through, leading into red cherry, currant and red flower notes on the bright finish. This is high acid juice now and needs time to flesh out. Give it 5+ years. (B+/A-)

2011 Baer Winery “Ursa” (Columbia Valley, WA)… $40.

A little challenged on the nose with slight hits of blackberries and leather. Very bold on the palate, punching it with notes of spice box, white pepper, cherries and boysenberries. This wine has nice balance and a seamless flow across the palate with a little green leaf in the underbelly. This puppy has a long finish with spice notes lingering around the gums. This is a baby from a tough vintage and will only get better. 43% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and ?? (A-)

2011 Baer Winery “Arctos” (Columbia Valley, WA)… $45.

Aromas of black raspberries, cherries, licorice, red plums and a hit of green bell peppers. Dark cherries big time on the front of the palate, joined by notes of white pepper and licorice on the mid-palate with a touch of minerality. The finish shows a little black olive, tobacco, wood and black tea.Good balance, but a little young, like its sibling. Give it 5-8 years to mature and show its true colors. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot. (A-)

2010 San Felice Il Grigio Gran Selezione Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy)… $40.

Aromas of cedar, rocks, cherries and leather, with hits of licorice and rose petals. This is what Chianti is all about folks… Rustic, very rustic. Cherries, crushed rock and red flowers up front with a splash of iron. Notes of blueberries and licorice show up on the mid-palate leading to worn leather notes on the finish. This is an interesting wine, because although it has the rusticity you expect from an Italian wine, it is surprisingly smooth at the same time. 80% Sangiovese, with some Abrusco and Pugnitello thrown in. (B+)

2011 2011 Ghost Pines “Wine Maker’s Blend” Cabernet Sauvignon (70% Napa, 30% Sonoma, CA)… $19.

Black tea notes all over the nose, with underlying dark cherry and black currant notes and a hit of licorice. Solid black cherry and currant notes with a healthy dose of black tea and a hint of licorice. Sturdy, soft tannins support the fruit notes with a touch of green tea coming through on the finish. (B+)

2009 Villa Luisa Riserva Chianti (Tuscany, Italy)… $11.

This baby is a little poopy on the nose joined by notes of leather, rose petals, earth, cranberries and cherries. Notes of cranberries, leather, rust, bark and forest floor on the palate with rusty leather and mushroom notes on the finish. This is old school Italian Chianti, that is a little thin and acidic with good “old-fashioned” rusticity. This baby screams for lasagna or spaghetti. (C+)

2010 Cairnbrae Pinot Noir (Marlborough, New Zealand)… $20.

A little stinky on the nose with notes od cherries, black tea, cedar and raspberries. Nice acidity balances with notes of dark cherries and black raspberries, joined by tea notes and a hint of chocolate. Smooth tannins and good balance of acidity and fruit. This is one of the better Pinot Noirs I have tried from NZ recently, and the price is right. (B+/A-)

2012 La Merika Pinot Noir (Central Coast, CA)… $17.

Aromas of cherry pie, oak, black tea, black raspberry and blackberry leaves. Woody, toasty cherry notes on the palate with a pinch of black tea and light acidity. There is really too much oak on this baby which buries the fruit flavors. It edges towards flabby, although it doesn’t quite go there. If they would have backed off the wood, this might have been a decent Pinot Noir. (C-)

2013 Hawkes Bay Chardonnay Coopers Creek “The LimeWorks” (New Zealand)… $20.

A touch perfumed and fairly intense notes of toast, nuts, butter and pears. Nice and toasty on the palate with a backbone of acidity. Notes of pineapple and pears with a little spice action on the finish. Oak is prominent but not over-powering. Nice balance. (B)

2011 Chateau Sainte Marthe (Languedoc, France)… $10.

This little gem has a great nose of currants, dirt, BBQ spices, licorice and hints of licorice. Loads of ripe currants and dark cherries on the front of the palate. There is a backbone of minerals and forest floor notes. Mid-palate to finish highlights notes of tobacco, spice and currants, with currant notes and pepper lingering on the finish. Nice complexity with a delicious factor and old world feel on the palate. 70% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre (B+)

2013 Bodegas Riojanas Canchalas Vino Joven (Rioja, Spain)… $10.

Aromas of crushed rock, tobacco, cherries and rose petal. I love these young (Joven) Rioja reds, because they are clean and rustic…Perfect food wines. Ripe cherries blended with rust and crushed rocks on the palate. Red flowers big-time on the mid-palate and on the mineral driven finish. Balanced acidity fruit and minerality…Very clean and fresh on the finish. I’m talking pizza and burger wine my friends. (B-)

2011 Robert Ramsay Cellars “Mason’s Red” (Columbia Valley, WA)… $18.

Very earthy on the nose. Notes of cherries, currants and blueberries with a touch of smoke and bark with a hit of iron. Round and lush on the palate without going jammy. Cherry and raspberry notes with a touch of blueberry and chocolate. Good structure and balance with a nice backbone of acidity and trace minerals. (A-)

Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man