Stan The Wine Man

I am quite certain that each and every one of us has a different take on the year 2013. Hopefully for most of you, it was a year that you look back on with good memories. I for my part, had a lot of good things happen in 2013 and some not so good…Of course. I would like to look back for a moment on the good things, because that is what is really important (and most of us don’t like to read negative stuff anyway).

In the first part of the year, I had opportunity to interview some interesting figures in the wine world. Randall Graham (Bonny Doon Vineyards), Joe Roberts (1WineDude) and Gary Vaynerchuk (Vaynermedia). All three were intriguing personalities and I learned a lot about interviewing and the best format in which to put it on my blog. The one I am most proud of to date, is the interview I did with our local wine maker Chris Primus, wine maker at San Juan Vineyards. He loved it, I loved it, and it told his story very well. I think I’ve made great strides in interviewing, and posting them in an interesting, easy-to-read format.

In 2013, I succeeded in getting Randall Graham to come to the San Juan Islands in Washington State for one of our tasting events. It was very fun and interesting. Randall was very happy with the results. He is a very eccentric and intelligent man who also happens to make some incredible juice. I was very excited to have Barnard Griffin Winery contact me and ask if Rob Griffin could come to one of our tasting events in 2013, to celebrate thirty years as a winery in the state of Washington. I invited him to come up in August for our “Intimate Tasting With The Wine Maker” event, which he did, and the event was to say the least…AWESOME!

In August, which is Washington Wine Month, I took on a self-imposed assignment of reviewing 100 Washington wines on my blog. I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off, but I ended up reviewing more the 100 wines. It was a tough assignment, but when it was all over I was very satisfied that I had accomplished this feat. I also discovered some new treasures from this great wine-producing state. Some that really stood out for me were, Mackey Vineyards, Gifford Hirlinger, Cor Cellars, Kyra, Barons, Kevin White and Chatter Creek.

I had the privilege of going to Lake County in California to help with the crush at Steele Winery. I love Jed, and I was happy to be a part of the crew for a few days. I learned things I didn’t know about the process and the work that goes into producing a bottle of wine. The memories will stick with me for a long time.

2013 was also a year in which I focused on building my brand as Stan The Wine Man. I started a Youtube channel called Stan The Wine Man TV. On this platform, I review wines and talk about different subjects connected to the wine world. So far I have recorded and aired twelve episodes. They are un-edited and a little raw at first. I am fine tuning them and believe they are getting a little better each time. My Twitter handle @stanthewineman was also mentioned in Gary Vaynerchuk’s new book “Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook”. This was huge for me, and kicked me in the butt to work harder on my branding. My passion for wine, finding great values, and “Stan The Wine Man” are not mutually exclusive.

Most of all, I would like to thank all of you who have made this a great year for me as friends and customers. I cannot begin to mention all of you, but here are a few. First and foremost, I would like to thank my beautiful wife Bridgett for supporting me and putting up with all my wine jargon and blogging. Special thanks go to Verne & Libbey for all their support. Thanks to Alan, Ary & Patricia, Ed & Claire, Bob & Carrol, Sharon, Bryan & Dani, Dick & Susan, Dave, Jerry & Virginia, Georgia, Fred & Mary, Charlie, Steve, Fred & Carolyn, Bob, my good fiend Dionysus, Pat, Dick & Patti, Willy & Vreni, Steve & Diane, Art and Margherita, Roy & Anne, Bill & Alison, Mike & Jean, Barry & Robin, Mike, Mark & Donna, Fred & Carolyn, Sue & Jim, Bert Fert, Rick & Linda, Bud & Karen, Joan, Frank & Donna and many, many more. You have all been wonderful, and great supporters.

I am really looking forward to 2014 and all it has to offer. Thank you 2013, I will never forget you.

Cheers! Stan The Wine Man A.K.A. The Blue Collar Wine Guy

The upside to being a wine guy is the sheer quantity of wine I get to taste over a years time. I never tire of discovering new wines and wineries. Last year, I decided it would be a good idea to spotlight a winery that stood out to me as a quality producer of wines that represented a good value to the consumer. In 2012 I chose Milbrandt Vineyards as my winery of the year…This year the honor goes to Cor Cellars, owned by Luke Bradford who also happens to be the wine maker and chief bottle washer (he and his assistant Dan, do just about everything in production).

Luke Bradford,.. Understated, humble and passionate about wine. Those were the first three words that came to my mind after meeting him a few months ago. I also discovered that he makes some pretty awesome wines! When I tasted his ’09 Malbec, I was blown away, and it was the first wine I gave an A+ grade up to that time (I have given only one other wine that grade since). Luke’s style is a lot old world with a kiss of the new. He believes in wines that go with food… Wines with a nice balance of acidity and fruit ( and hopefully lower alcohol). Believe it or not, this is a trend that is gaining momentum in the United States. Where did Luke get his start?

Raised on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania, Luke developed an interest in farming. As he put it “I’m kind of a ‘Deadhead’ hippie who always wanted to get back to the land and farming.” He spent his high school years in Park City, Utah and there he developed an interest in rock climbing and skiing. He went off to Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington (where he no doubt developed Washington roots) and studied history and English. in 2000 he took a trip to Italy to visit his cousin on his mother’s side of the family who was a wine maker. it was on that trip that he got the wine bug. He fell in love with the wine world (which is hard to avoid when you go to Tuscany or anywhere in Italy for that matter). His cousin invited him to come back to Italy and help with the harvest. Luke took a semester off from college in the fall of 2000 to help with the harvest at Tenuta di Trinoro in southern Tuscany. He went back for two more harvests which also included helping at Passopisciaro winery on the north slope of Mt Etna in Sicily.

From that point on, he was helplessly sucked into the excitement of the wine world. He went back to college and changed his studies to chemistry and business management. After graduating from college in 2002 he went to Italy again to help with harvest. When he got back, he went straight to the Gorge in eastern Washington State to get started on his wine career. He worked at Wind River Cellars and then Syncline Cellars before going out on his own in 2005.

He moved the winery in 2006 into a renovated shop in Lyle WA which is very close to Oregon. His approach to wine making is straight forward. As he put it… “Use all available information from sensory and scientific analysis, follow your intuition, never cut corners and stay clean.” The winery at this time produces 3,600 cases a year with a ten-year plan to get production up to 5,000 cases. Luke realizes that it is the quality of fruit that determines the outcome of the wines, so he sources fruit from vineyards such as McKinley Springs, Alder Ridge, Elephant Hills and Hog Back Ridge (all quality sites). Luke made an interesting observation… “You can’t make good wine from horrible grapes, but you can make horrible wines from good grapes.” Thankfully, Luke does not make horrible wines. Although calling wine makers celebrated janitors, I was able to get him to admit that he has a skilled touch when it comes to blending and the finished product (most wine makers I have talked to have this underlying modesty).

As I mentioned earlier, Luke strives to make wines that are fresh, not over oaked and lower in alcohol levels. He does this by picking his fruit a little earlier, so the acid levels are there and the sugar levels are a little lower. There is a fine line to this approach since you risk having wines that can go to the “green”, veggie side of the flavor profile. Luke has done a nice job avoiding that by his astute attention to the vineyard site as it gets closer to harvest. The result… Wines with finesse, a little muscle (when needed), excellent balance and complexity.

Cor Cellars produces eight varieties, six reds and two whites. All the Cor Cellar wines are solid and the prices are quite reasonable for the quality of the juice. For instance, the Cab roles in at a very modest $32. while their red blend called Momentum goes out the door for only $19. The rest fall between those two price points. When you can get wines of this caliber for those prices, that’s a deal. Luke Bradford is making his mark on the Washington wine scene and I think you owe it to yourself (if you haven’t already) to give his wines a try… You will not be disappointed. If you can’t find them in your local store, check out their website. Or, tell your local wine shop that they are distributed in Washington State by Vinum Importing so they can order you up a couple of bottles.

Here are a few of my recent reviews on some of the Cor Cellars wines…

2009 Cor Cellars Cabernet Franc Alder Ridge Vineyard (Horse Heaven Hills, WA)… $23.

2012 Cor Cellars Riesling Underwood Mountain Vineyard (Columbia Gorge, WA)… $19.

2010 Cor Cellars Momentum Red (Horse Heaven Hills, WA)… $19.

Aromas of red flowers, currants and cassis, with a rustic edge. Notes of black olives, wood, cassis and cherries with a little leather and tobacco (a page of Bordeaux blended in…I’m sure of that). Nice balance of acidity and fruit, giving it a freshness on the palate with just a touch of green tobacco and grip on the finish. 35% Malbec, 35% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. This certainly could be drunk alone, but would benefit paired with a nice steak, stew or roast. (A-)

I am looking forward to new releases from Cor Cellars (Luke told me he is excited about the 2013 harvest), and I anticipate good things for that winery in 2014 and beyond…. Please make sure to put them on your wine radar.

Cheers! Stan The Wine Man a.k.a The Blue Collar Wine Guy

Christmas ham. It’s as traditional as any meal comes. I will be the first to admit that ham is not my favorite meal. However, there are times I crave it in a big way, and with anything I crave I think about the wine that will compliment it the best, and yes, I make a Christmas ham alongside my soon to be famous prime rib.

That being said, for most of you the wine is the last thing on your list albeit an important part of that list. You might be one of those lucky ones who have a generous supply of wine in your cellar that you can peruse the day before. Good for you, but you are few and far between. Yes, I have a lot of wine at my house, but the majority I dedicate to wine reviews and not for leisurely pleasures. Believe it or not, I would actually feel guilty if I popped a sample bottle for dinner without analyzing it and taking notes in my Moleskine (I know that sounds pathetic but it’s true). So what kind of wine should you have on your list to shop for a couple of days if not the day before Christmas dinner that will include ham?

The top two wines on my list for ham are Pinot Noir and Syrah. Both because they have a lower tannin level (unless they give it a big dose of oak). Pinot Noir, because it is lighter in style with good acidity which helps it pair nicely with food including ham. Syrah, because it has a smokey element and some bacon fat. Get it? Bacon fat, smoke. Sounds a lot like a ham if you ask me. Both work well, and I guess it just depends on what you are in the mood for. Here are a couple of suggestions in both categories.

Pinot Noir…

2012 Montinore Estate Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon)… $18.

Aromas of black cherries, and black licorice. Rich fruit on the palate with a good acid backbone and a dose of earth. There is a touch of spice that comes through on the mid-palate with black licorice and dark cherries lingering on the bark (as in wood) driven finish. For the money, this is a nice value play and would not bust the budget for your Christmas dinner. (B+)

2011 Ventisquero “Queulat” Single Vineyard Pinot Noir (Casablanca Valley, Chile)… $15.

This is another Pinot that is friendly to your budget and a go-to Pinot for me. Aromas of black tea, strawberries, veggies and minerals. Nice structure with notes of black cherries and black tea that flows nicely across the palate with a little spice and acid action on the finish. This is a lighter style Pinot that thins out a little on the mid-palate and finish, but for fifteen bucks it’s an excellent value.

2011 Sonoma Hills Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley, California)… $22.

A little burnt match component on the nose with some oak coming through, along with aromas of black tea and ripe strawberries. Smooth and delicious on the palate showing some of that California sunshine coming through. Notes of dark cherries and strawberries with a white pepper hit on the finish. This is a little heavier on the palate with lower acidity, and would be a great Pinot for those who are trying one for the first time. The price is right, and it is just simply a delicious Pinot that is ready to drink.

2011 Casas Del Bosque Pinot Noir (Casablanca Valley, Chile)… $12.

Last but certainly not least is this little gem from Chile for the stupid price of only twelve bucks. You will not cheapen the table at all by serving this wine and at the same time, you will help the budget.
Classic Pinot aromas of burnt match, earth, cherries and an interesting pie crust element. Nice fat cherry and strawberry notes on the palate with a solid acid backbone, keeping the fruit in balance. The tannins are smooth but have some attitude as the wine finishes on the rustic side with notes of baked earth and white pepper lingering. This Pinot packs a punch for a prayer.

Now let’s move on to Syrah…

2010 Waters Winery Loess Vineyards Syrah (Walla Walla, WA)… $45.

This is pushing the envelope on the big side, but it has so much to offer. Aromas of blueberries, smoke and bacon fat along with hints of boysenberries, tar and tobacco. Smooth tannins back big notes of blueberries and blackberries with a bright edge. Restrained yet powerful with a meaty element that shows on the mid-palate and finish. Drinks well now but will age nicely. Does it get better than this with a spiral ham? if you feel like splurging a little, I think you will be happy.

2010 Milbrandt Vineyards “The Estates” Syrah (Clifton Hill Vineyard…Wahluke Slope, WA)… $20.

Hopefully you can get your hands on some of this because it is going fast (I have a good supply at my store). Aromas of blueberries and sweet currants with a minty black licorice edge. Blueberries, tobacco and bacon fat come through on the palate. intense without going fruit-bomb on you. Soft tannins lead into a finish of tobacco and currants with a kiss of menthol. There is a dangerous side to this Syrah that is never allowed to rear its ugly head (if that makes any sense).

2012 oak Grove Shiraz (California)… $8.

This wine made it in my “Top 40 Wines Under Twenty Bucks…2013” (sorry Alan, it’s my list not yours). I am a huge fan of the oak Grove label because the wines deliver a quality wine for next to nothing. if you want to entertain a bunch of friends, and you are serving ham up for Christmas, this wine will deliver.
Aromas of brambleberries and hits of vanilla with boysenberries notes in the back-round. Full boysenberry and plum notes up front with an edge of vanilla and brightness. A core of blueberries seems to be there start to finish with a little black tea on the backside. This is a bad ass wine for eight bucks and with ham…A no-brainer.

There you have it boys and girls. The main thing to remember in all of this is that it is my responsibility to give you direction. it is your responsibility to buy something you will enjoy. Just remember, wine is grape juice with alcohol…Nothing mysterious, just delicious.

Cheers! Stan The Wine Man