I certainly found some interesting wines this week and some of them were not in the low-budget range. However, if you are looking for a special wine to stash away for a few years and open on a special occasion, I think I ran across a couple that might work. Let’s see what I found this past seven days.
1) 2011 Stephen Vincent Crimson (California)… $11.
Aromas of spicy currants, boysenberries, plums and a little smoke in the back-round. There is a touch of heat on the nose. Blackberry notes penetrate the palate with a spine of blueberries on smooth tannins. Finishes with ripe blackberries, black licorice and blueberries with lingering BBQ spices and tobacco notes. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, I have always considered Stephen Vincent wines to be a great value play. (B-)
2) 2012 Esporao Alandra Blanc (Portugal)… $8.
I’m always excited to tastes wines from this country, because they represent some of the best values that I have found in recent memory. Let’s see how this one fared.
On the nose, notes of apples, honey, peach and fir needles. The aromas really “pop” on the nose. Notes of tart apples, quince, grass and gravel hit the front of the palate into the mid-palate. Finishes very dry with a touch of bitterness. This has some interesting flavors, but is a little disjointed. (C-)
3) 2011 Esporao Monte Velho (Alentejano, Portugal)… $12.
Aromas of soft currants, black raspberry, rose petal and licorice. Very old school on the palate with BBQ spices, blackberries, tar and tobacco coming through. Minerality all over the palate finishing dry, Dry, DRY.
40% Trincadeira, 40% Arogonez and 20% Castelao. (B)
4) 2008 Esporao Reserva (Alentejo, Portugal)… $23.
Very interesting nose with notes of rose petal, blackberries, tobacco and a hint of warm spices. Ripe blackberries on the palate with underlying minerals, rusty metal and BBQ spices. Intriguing on the mid-palate with a meaty element coming through,leading into a gravel driven finish with a touch of heat. Good length on the finish. This is “old world” meets “new” in a big way and it may not appeal to everyone, but I liked it. (B+) A-
5) 2009 Amaurice Malbec (Walla Walla, WA)… $35.
Very intense purple/violet in color. Intense aromas of concentrated blackberries and dark cherries with a dash of violets and tobacco…Very perfumed. Ripe blackberries and currants up front backed by sweet tannins. There is a strong dose of spices on the mid-palate with notes of white pepper, nutmeg, tobacco and violets coming through, leading into a tarry, long finish. Well built, good structure, nicely layered and excellent balance. This baby will only improve over the next 5-8 years. (A)
6) 2010 Saumur Lieu-Dit Beauregard Cabernet Franc (Bourgueil Loire Valley, France)… $11.
Very typical Loire style Cabernet Franc. Aromas of veggies, licorice and cherries. Very herbaceous on the palate joined by veggie notes on a very light weight body. Notes of red cherries come through with a touch of roundness on the mid-palate. Finishes very dry, with notes of huckleberry, twigs and solid acidity. I like a Cab Franc with some green salad on it, but this one was just a touch thin. (C)
7) 2011 Fausse Piste “Garde Manger” Syrah (Columbia Valley, WA)… $22.
I am a lover of Syrah, and this one found a place in my heart. Aromas of bacon fat, smoke, spice, black plum, boysenberries, rose petal, tobacco, mocha and vanilla (no kidding, it had all that!). Smooth on the palate, with dense notes of boysenberries, plums and spice. This wine never goes fat on you, but shows the proper restraint. Finishes strong with notes of boysenberries, bacon fat and spices lingering for some time. This is the first time I have tasted a wine from this producer, and I am thoroughly impressed. (A-)
8) 2010 Le Corti Birillo (Maremma Toscana, Italy)… $21.
In Marremma unlike Tuscany, they use Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in their blends rather than solely Sangiovese red grapes. They are often times referred to as super tuscans. This one is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Aromas of marinated meat, cassis, currants and perfumed tobacco. Good structure on the palate with fresh tannins backing notes of currants and Cinnamon Imperials. Tobacco notes show up on the mid-palate, leading into a leather driven finish with a little “grip” on it, joined by notes of cassis and tobacco. This baby screams for a piece of grilled meat. (A-)
9) 2012 Ken Wright Cellars “Canary Hill Vineyards” Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon)… $60.
Beautiful aromas of black tea, dark cherries, a hit of stink, black licorice and Asian spices. Structured on the palate with notes of black cherries, black tea and Asian spice. This baby is deep, deep, deep. Good balance of acid and fruit, it finishes with notes of roasted meats, red flowers, black tea and dark cherries that linger for some time. This comes from a great vintage, and it is already showing signs of being very approachable, which is not the norm for a young Ken Wright Pinot Noir. This baby will only get better over the next 15-20 years. (A+)
10) 2010 Isole e Olena Chianti Classico (Tuscany, Italy)… $25.
Aromas of ripe currants, blackberries, dusty minerals, chocolate, leather and spice. Spicy and plush on the palate, with notes of blackberry, cassis and currants, backed by medium acidity and solid structure. It expands on the mid-palate finishing long with notes of blackberries, currants, leather and tobacco with a dash of blueberries. Not your typical Chianti, but a “ten” in the delicious category. (A-)
11) 2011 St. Innocent Shea Vineyards Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon)… $45.
St. Innocent, is an iconic producer of Pinot Noir out of Oregon, and Shea is an iconic vineyard site. This Pinot lives up to the reputation of both the vintner and the vineyard. Earthy, stinky, cherries, Asian spices and black tea come through on the nose. This is a youthful wine and it shows on the palate, with notes of black cherries and black tea. Nice backbone of acidity leading into a seriously grippy finish with notes of red cherries, black tea , Asian spice and a hit of celery. This is a young Pinot from a tough vintage, and it will age nicely over the next 10-15 years. (A-)
12) 2012 Selbach Riesling Qualitatswein 1 liter (Mosel, Germany)… $17.
Aromas of Golden Delicious apples with a razor’s edge, joined by citrus, grass and hints of petrol. Very steely on the palate (like licking a stainless steel tank), with delicious lemon-lime zest notes that are medium dry finishing very clean. This is a nice in between Riesling that should please many palates. It’s also a 1 liter bottle which as the sales rep. said is like getting 25% free. Whatever. It is a great value and a very good Riesling. (B+)
13) 2011 Franco Serra Barbera D’Alba Piedmont, Italy)… $10.
On the nose notes of tobacco, dust, black currants and perfumed cola. Soft tannins back notes of currants, blackberries with hits of blueberries. It has an earthy, leathery element with some brightness up front. Nice balance on the palate finishing with notes of tobacco, blackberries, blueberries and worn leather that lingers. For ten bucks, this wine rocks and delivers a nice old world feel on the palate. This is definitely a candidate for my pick of the month. (B+)
There’s my thirteen for the week…I hope you enjoyed, and have a great weekend.
Cheers! Stan The Wine Man
