IT WASN’T A SOMM SONG.

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Stan The Wine Man

Well, I made it through level one of sommelier training and I don’t really know how well I did on the test, because they don’t tell you unless you are have the top score (that wasn’t me). However, I have my certificate and pin, and that is good enough for me.

It really was inspirational for me to go to this training course and I am truly fired up to go on to the next level which is the Certified Sommelier level. It is only after passing this stage that you can officially call yourself a sommelier on your blog or business cards. I really don’t care about the title, but I do care about the training and the knowledge that is attained by studying for these exams. The world of wine is amazing and there is so much to find out, dig out and digest.

It was especially satisfying to be instructed for over sixteen hours by four Master Sommelier. Melissa Monosoff (Coordinator), Thomas Price, Nate Reddy, and Chris Tange were top-notch teachers and I was enthralled by their passion, humility and knowledge. I had never been so tired as I was the first day, and yet was able to pay rapt attention to everything that was put before the class. Truly amazing stuff!

Day 2 of the instruction was a bit of a catch-up day so the instructors went through some of the information at a very accelerated pace. We then tasted four wines in the double-blind format, using the tasting grid that will be used at the certified level. The instructors walked us through one white and one red, than left us on our own to the other white and red. We were given 5 minutes per wine. I should have went with my gut on the first white, and I would have nailed it. The red was a little easier for me and I got that correct except for the country of origin. It was both fun and challenging at the same time.

After the instruction and blind tasting, we were given a seventy question test. It was multiple choice, so I wouldn’t put it on the super-difficult level, but you certainly had to pay attention in class if you wanted to pass. A lot of us did as eighty-two of the ninety-one in attendance passed. Awesome! There were a couple of questions where I wondered what was even being asked, so I knew I wasn’t going to ace it. However, I passed and I can move on to the next level which is what I plan to do. I have some practice ahead of me, since the certified level involves Champagne service, something I have never done since I am not in the restaurant side of things. For the next few months, I plan on lots of study and practice.

I know all of this is going to help me be better for my customers at the store level, better for my blog, and better for my Youtube channel. It will also help me to be a better wine taster, something that is most beneficial for what I do. Most importantly, the humility that a sommelier is encouraged to show is most refreshing to me, and something that attracts me to this side of the wine world.

Cheers! Stan The wine Man

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DAY ONE SOMMELIER CLASS…IN THE BOOKS, AND HOPEFULLY THE BRAIN.

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Stan The Wine Man

I was deeply impressed with the depth of knowledge that was shared with the group of hopeful sommeliers (myself included) at the Monaco hotel in downtown Portland. Not only did we cover the wine regions of France, viticulture and wine making, we also practiced deductive wine tasting. We tasted eighteen wines in the double-blind format and as a group, directed by the Master Sommeliers, we evaluated each wine piece by piece and then came to a conclusion. The amount of talent in that room amazed me as many of the individuals were able to nail the wine in the glass.

The deductive tasting method is a huge thing for a sommelier, and after day 1 I totally understood why. It really helps you to understand the basic elements in wine and things you should look for in each varietal. It trains you to have an open mind and not come to conclusions too early. It also helps you to effectively lead a customer to a wine that they will enjoy not only by itself, but properly paired with what they are going to eat. This is critical for those in the restaurant business, but also for me at the store level, on my blogs, and for my Youtube channel.

Of the four Master Sommeliers teaching the course, two are from Seattle WA., Chris Tange and Thomas Price. Melissa Monosoff who coordinated the event, hails from Texas, and one of my personal favorites Nate Reddy, at one time worked at the French Laundry in Napa, and now is in Oregon. They were all amazing, humble, and very good teachers. To reach Master Sommelier is an amazing feat, and one that only 211 have attained of which 135 are in North America. It is said to be one of the most difficult titles to achieve in the world (seriously). When you listen to the breadth of their knowledge and understanding of the wine world, you begin to understand that passion for wine is a huge thing in each of their lives.

My brain hurt after day 1, which started at 8:20 am and ended at 6:10 pm. I am really looking forward to day 2 which will cover the rest of the wine world, and the wine laws that dictate each of these wine growing regions. We will again taste wine in the blind format and use the deductive tasting method of the Court of Master Sommeliers. After the course instruction and tasting, we will take a sixty-question test based on what we learned. I hope to pass that test and move on to the next level which is Certified Sommelier. It will be the end of two tough but satisfying days of tasting, spitting and learning. I will let you know how day 2 went in my next article.

One quick note that I want to share before I sign off. The perception of a sommelier is that they are snooty, wine snobs. The one thing I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt is that the exact opposite of that is true. The sommelier is taught first and foremost to be a humble servant to the needs of others. They are instructed to use the knowledge they have in a beneficial way, not only to instruct others, but to be able to better serve the wine needs of their customers and help them to make a good selection, if that customers wants their direction. If not, they are to keep their lips sealed and get what the customer wants…It’s not about them, it’s about the customer. I like that! You CAN be a blue-collar guy and a sommelier at the same time…PERFECT!

Cheers! Stan The Wine Man

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FRIDAYS THIRTEEN…

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Stan The Wine Man

I just busted open a new Moleskine and have already reviewed 39 wines. Which just goes to show that when you put your head down and get serious, things can get done. Here are thirteen wines that I have recently reviewed, some good some not so good.

1) 2012 Domaine Pouillon White “Savoir-Faire” (Boushey Vineyards Yakima Valley, WA)… $30.

Starbright in color with a slight lemon-gold edge to it. You can smell the acidity on this baby, with perfumed notes of mango, peach, banana, and an edge of coconut. Apple skins, peach skins on a medium to light body in the mouth. It gets a little creamy on the mid-palate, but then goes way lean and almost bitter on the finish with notes of burnt match and minerals coming through. O.k. I know some folks out there who will like this wine, but it didn’t do it for me. 41% grenache blanc, 30% marsanne, 29% picpoul blanc (C-)

2) 2012 Domaine-Poillan Gewurztraminer (Columbia Gorge, WA)… $17.

Aromas of honey, nuts, petrol, grass and wet stones. I don’t know about you, but I loved this nose and was looking forward to trying it. Notes of wet wool, papaya and honey comes through on the palate, almost reminding me a little of a chenin blanc if it weren’t for the lychee nut notes coming through on the back of the mid-palate. Medium weight in the mouth and off-dry, it reminds me a lot of an Alsace gewurztraminer. (B)

3) 2009 Bonny Doon Vineyards Contra Old Vine Field Blend (Central Coast, CA)… $16.

This wine gives you a chance to try some of Randall Graham’s handy-work, at a very reasonable price. Aromas of Smucker’s grape jam, rose petal and beauty bark (very interesting). Full and plush on the palate, but never goes jammy. It holds itself in check with mineral, tobacco and crushed rock notes supporting the creamy black currant. Notes of blackberry and perfumed rose petal appear on the mid-palate flowing into a long finish of blueberries, black tea and minerals. Excellent balance and structure start to finish. This wine starts out with a new world feel but then goes to the old world on the finish. For sixteen bucks, this is a steal. (A-)

4) 2012 Charles & Charles Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $10.

Very deep and seductive on the nose with notes of plums and boysenberries coming through, and a touch of vanilla and tobacco. Polished tannins in the mouth with plump notes of boysenberries. Blueberry notes come through on mid-palate joined by an edge of tobacco. It’s very soft and very close to flabby, finishing with soft notes of boysenberries, tobacco and lingering white pepper. This baby missed the acid train and could use a little more structure. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah (C+)

5) 2009 Chateau Bone Grand Vin De Bordeaux (Cotes De Bourg, France)… $10.

Aromas of perfumed black currants, anise, tobacco, and an interesting oatmeal element that comes through with a touch of tomato stem. Forest floor notes come through on the palate joined by notes of blackberries and currants. Notes of leather and bark show on the mid-palate leading into a medium length finish of forest floor, leather and bark with a touch of spice with a little grip-action. This is a rustic little red that shows good balance. (B)

6) 2011 Michael Pozzan “Annabella” Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, CA)… $15.

A fifteen dollar Napa cab always gets my attention since they are few and far between. Aromas of currants and dark cherries with a hint of tomato stem and vanilla/mocha. Toasty currants front to back on the palate with a touch of spice and vanilla coming through on the back-end. Good balance, medium acidity and a decently long finish. This is a really good cab for the price. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. (B)

7) 2011 Pedroncelli Zinfandel “Mother Clone” (Sonoma County, CA)… $15.

Aromas of bramble berries, black raspberry, currants and licorice. This baby has some wood on it and the wood seems to hold back the currants and black raspberries that want to come through on the palate. Nice balance with some acidity and a white pepper driven finish with a little grip on it. I would like this zin a lot better if the fruit notes would “pop” a little more. (C+/B-)

8) Calmel &J Joseph Minervois (Languedoc, France)… n/a

Ripe blackberry & pie crust notes come through on the nose, joined by strawberries, and a splash of black tea. Real grapey on the palate, with a backdrop of blackberries and currants. There is a black tea component on the mineral chalky finish.Smooth tannins, but pretty light on the palate with a medium to short finish. (C)

9) Humble Roots Estate Wines Red Blend No. 10 (Rattlesnake Hills, WA)… $13.

Aromas of cola, twigs, black tea and black licorice. Interesting back notes of perfumed red currants, blackberries,mint and chamomile (love the nose on this baby). A little tight on the front of the palate with notes of currants, cherries, black tea and minerals.It finishes strong with spice, mint tea,root beer and currants, getting a little herbaceous on the back-end. this baby needs to be decanted! (B-)

10) 2012 Chateau de Campuget Rose (Costieres de Nimes, France)… $10.

On the nose, notes of strawberries, raspberries, melon, citrus pith and dried herbs. Citrus pith comes through on the front of the palate joined by notes of strawberries, herbs and minerals. Good balance, but a little weak on the mid-palate. It finishes dry and mineral driven with an herbal component. (B-)

11) 2011 Joseph Mellot “Sincerite” Sauvignon Blanc Vin de Pays (Loire, France)… $10.

Aromas of lemon-lime, grass, wet stone and grapefruit pith. Lemon lime zest on the palate with notes of wet gravel, grass, then finishes with chalky minerality. Medium acidity and nice balance. Not too shabby for a ten-dollar sauv. blanc. (B-)

12) 2012 Joseph Mellot “Le Montarlet” Sancere (Loire, France)… $20.

Flinty lime and lemon notes come through on the nose joined by grapefruit pith and hints of pineapple. On the palate notes of crushed rock, pineapple, tangerine, lemon-lime and minerals front to back. The tangerine and lemon pith notes linger on the finish. Nice balance of acidity and fruit, displaying the brighter acidity you would expect from a Sancere. One of the best I have tasted under $25. (A-)

13) 2012 A to Z Pinot Noir (Oregon)… $18.

The ’12 vintage out of Oregon continues to impress me and this pinot, with fruit sourced from different appellations is a good representation of the vintage. Aromas of ripe cherries, black tea, rose petal and underlying cranberry and cola. Black tea and dark cherries come through on the front of the palate and into the mid-palate. Finishes with notes of violets, rose petal, black cherry and black tea. Very feminine on the palate with balanced acidity, earth tones and a slightly thin finish. For under twenty bucks, this is a stellar pinot noir. (A-)

Happy wine hunting, and have a great weekend.

Cheers! Stan The Wine Man

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THE FIRST “FRIDAY’S THIRTEEN” IN FEBRUARY 2014…

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Stan The Wine Man

After missing two weeks of Friday’s Thirteen, I am back in the saddle and ready to give you my thoughts on thirteen wines I have tasted recently. I would promise you that I will not miss another Friday (and that is my goal), but that would not be realistic given the demands on my time. I hope you find something good for you from this weeks reviews.

1) 2006 Conde de Valdimar Reserva Rioja (Rioja, Spain)… $16.

Do you love “old world” wines especially from Spain? This is the one for you at a very good price. Stinky leather notes come through on the nose with notes of forest floor, currants and underlying warm spices. This is a very youthful wine on the palate with notes of currants and cherries, backed by leather and tobacco notes. Fresh acidity from the front of the palate into a cranberry, leather, oak driven finish. I love this wine now, but it will only improve over the next 12-15 years. (A-)

2) 2013 Vina Tabali Viognier (Limari Valley, Chile)… $12.

I love Viognier when it is done right, and this little baby is DONE RIGHT! Very tropical on the nose with notes of mango, papaya, banana and tangerine. It’s a tropical fruit bowl in the mouth with a base of whipped papaya and mangoes. Finishes strong and dry with a trace of tangerines lingering. Well balanced, never allowing the fruit notes to go too ripe with a nice backbone of fresh acidity.
Do you want to impress your girl with a white that is delicious and well made? Well? (B+) A-

3) 2013 Domaine Sorin Rose “Terra Amata” (Provence, France)… $12.

Nothing like a little pink wine, but it has to be good, and this falls into that category (at least in my opinion). Bright aromas of melons and strawberries, with hits of ripe cherries. Very dry and delicious on the palate, with notes of cherry skins, rhubarb, apple and melon. Finishes dry, refreshing and delicious. Try this baby with some shellfish…You will be pleasantly surprised. (A-)

4) 2011 Alder Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Horse Heaven Hills, WA)… $30.

Aromas of ripe currants, oak, warm spices a hit of brown sugar and a little alcohol. Smooth and polished on the palate with currant and spice notes up front. Sweet tannins with a freshness front to back. Tobacco notes show on the mid-palate into the finish with notes of minerals and a slight grip on the palate. Watch out Napa, and this may be the wine you drink with the prime rib you order on that special day. (B+)

5) 2010 First Press Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, CA)… $22.

It’s really hard to find a good Napa cab for under thirty bucks, but this may be on of about five that I have discovered. Black currants, spice and tobacco come through on the nose with hits of blackberries and raisin. Very plush and silky notes of ripe black currants and baking spices on the front of the palate. Good balance as it never goes “jammy” in the mouth. There is a little grip and freshness with tobacco notes coming through on the lingering finish.
This wine has a lot to offer for under twenty-five bucks, so if you are with a wine connoisseur on that special day, this may impress. (B)

6) 2010 Calina Cabernet Sauvignon (Valle Central, Chile)…$11.

Now here is a value in Cab. Aromas of black currants, black tea, tobacco, petrol and hits of forest floor. Plush blackberries on the palate with notes of currants on silky, structured tannins. Tobacco notes hit on the mid-palate leading into a finish of tobacco and currants. This is a pretty good cab for the price and would pair up nicely with grilled meats. (C+/B-)

7) 2012 Rio Madre Graciano (Rioja, Spain)… $10.

Now, now, now, hear this. This may be my pick of the month in the near future, I am that enthused about it.
Aromas of blackberries, currants, tobacco and spice with a hit of tar. Smooth and polished on the palate with notes of blackberries and currants. Excellent balance with tobacco notes joined by blackberry and currants flowing across the palate into a long, delicious, spicy finish. Structured and polished, I think this may be one of the best ten dollar bottles of wine I have tasted so far this year. (A-)

8) 2012 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Cuvee (Willamette Valley, Oregon)…$30.

Do you have a serious Pinot Noir fan as a partner? This may be the perfect gift for them.
Bright aromas of cranberries, iron, cherries and black tea. Mineral notes come through on the palate backed by notes of black tea, cranberries and black cherries. There is a core of iron and acidity that gives it a bracing yet delicious mouthfeel. Black tea and cranberry notes linger for some time (A-)

9) 2013 Panther Creek Pinot Gris (Willamette Valley, Oregon)…$14.

If you want proof of the difference a vintage can make, compare this gris to the 2012 and you will totally understand. ’12 was a great vintage in Oregon and that was reflected in Panther Creek’s pinot gris with lush tropical and pitted fruit notes. 2013 however, is much different. A tougher vintage for sure with lots of rain and storms coming through right at harvest. This wine shows how that type of weather can affect a wine.
Aromas of honey and melon with a hint of peach and mango that is slightly perfumed. Bright acidity with hits of cane sugar and peach on the palate. A little thin, finishing bone dry with some mango hanging around. Nothing like it’s sibling from the year before, it isn’t bad, just not nearly as good. (C)

10) 2012 Colterenzio Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige, Italy)… $13.

As you probably know, I am not a huge fan of pinot grigio, but I do like to enjoy one now and then, so it better be good (for my palate). I was somewhat impressed with this effort. Lemons and melon come through on the nose with hints of fresh-cut grass. Creamy melon notes come through on the palate with a touch of honey. Like a lot of pinot grigio, this is somewhat one-dimensional, but it is delicious and balanced with a creamy, medium length finish. A decent price for a pg and certainly is capable of satisfying the discerning pg drinker. (B-)

11) 2010 Domaine Pouillon Cabernet Sauvignon McDuffee Vineyard (Columbia Gorge, WA)…$36.

Aromas of marinated meats, tobacco, black olive, cassis, perfumed rose soap with a hit of tomato stem and licorice. Cranberry, cassis and blueberries hit the front of the palate, charged with a huge dose of acidity. Minerals and rust hit on the mid-palate that leads into a bright, puckering, rose petal and cherry finish. You really need to be an acid freak (which I am from time to time) to enjoy this cab, and if you are, you will love this effort. (B)

12) 2011 Silk Oak Cabernet Sauvignon (Lodi, CA)… n/a

Super ripe currants on the nose with hits of brown sugar and beef jerky with a little smoked salmon coming through. Beef and salmon jerky all over the palate soaked in brown sugar and ripe currants. This is down-right nasty for a cab with a hit of spice on the smoked salmon, slightly “grippy” finish. I know what they are trying to get at with the name, but let me tell you that if you spend your money on this wine I can almost guarantee you will be disappointed, even if it were two bucks. You might be able to use this as a marinade for your salmon…That would be its only saving grace. (D-)

13) 2011 Michael Pozzan “Annabella” Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, CA)… $15.

Aromas of black currants and black cherries with a touch of tomato stem, vanilla and mocha. Toasty currants on the palate backed by a hint of spice and vanilla. Good balance with medium acidity and a decently long finish with a slight grip on it. 90% cabernet sauvignon & 10% merlot, this is a crazy value for a Napa cab, and represents what a cab should be. (B)

If this Friday’s Thirteen shows anything, it’s that price does not always mean it’s the best…Although it can at times.

Cheers! Stan The Wine Man

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