BITS & BOBS

Posted on September 24, 2018 by Stan The Wine Man

Hello, I am back and I don’t intend on backing away from blogging again. I’ve said that before of course, but I feel a certain commitment that has been alluding me thus far. It takes a lot to get a blog going and to come up with ideas to keep my readers interested. I’ve come up with a few that I thought were interesting. Words of Winedom is one that I need to fire up again.

Every Wednesday, I would discuss a word or term used in the wine world or by wine people I run across regularly. One of my favorites was my definition of the word “fun” to describe wine. I’ve never embraced that descriptor for a wine, but it seems to be prevalent. From my standpoint, it seems to be a cop-out. Another words, calling a wine “fun” takes the pressure off to come up with something better to describe the wine. It reminds me of the word delicious. This is a word I do use from time to time, but I try to surround it with other descriptors to help define what I mean by delicious. This word is about as subjective as you can get. Some people think liver is delicious, something that I don’t understand at all! The only one that liked liver in my family when I was growing up was my mom and dog. My dog liked it because he got all of mine under the table that I would sneak to him while I was pretending to chew. I can’t remember if my siblings liked it, but I am sure that none of them make it for themselves for dinner. If a wine is fun, tell me why it is. To be fair, when someone says a wine is fun, the first thing that comes to my mind is a wine that you don’t have to think about, but it is good in a simple way. One of the guys who used the word fun all the time took exception to that reasoning. He tried to explain why he used it, and to some degree he made some sense. However, I will go to my grave thinking that the word fun to describe a wine is a lazy way to try to relay what the wine is about.

Susie and I are getting married in just over a week and we are both very excited! Susie loves bubbles and while we were in South Africa we discovered Graham Beck Brut sparkling wine. Both of us fell in love with this sparkler so you know that will be at the reception. As far as picking out the other wines, I fell back on some of the popular whites at my tasting events and at the store. The reds will come from my cellar, so I am picking carefully since many of the wines are not for everyone’s taste. I do have some eighty percent wines, I just have to comb my cellar to find them. What I mean by that is at least eighty percent of the folks who try them will more than likely like them. This is a formula I use at the store for my pick of the month and I have been quite successful. So far I have about eight bottles selected. As many times as I’ve helped picking wines for wedding receptions and the amounts they will need, I find myself struggling with this one. The old adage that it is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it applies. All said, we will have a great time, and I will have Susie as my wife. Does it get any better than that?

Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man

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STAN’S PICK FOR SEPTEMBER 2018

Posted on September 6, 2018 by Stan The Wine Man

Nestled just south of Beziers in the Languedoc-Roussilon region of France the Coteaux d’Enserune IGP is a small area consisting of limestone plateaus that make up the soil where wine grapes are grown. Hot summer days are tempered by the breeze that comes off the Mediterranean to the east. For wine geeks like myself, this spells excellent conditions for growing a variety of grapes for wine production. Known mostly for growing Grenache and Carignan. Consumers often dictate what is grown, so they have also planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, with the whites consisting of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. However, they also grow a very unusual hybrid of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache called Marselan. The first wine I have ever tried that is 100% Marselan immediately caught my attention and is therefore my pick for September.

SEPTEMBER PICK OF THE MONTH



2016 Les Vignobles Foncalieu Ensedune Marselan (Coteaux d’Enserune, France)… $9.

Aromas of tobacco, coffee bean, blackberries, violets and plums. Solid blackberry and mashed violet notes on the palate with a strong underscore of tobacco and coffee bean. Edgy tannins are the backbone with well-integrated acidity. The finish is fresh and savory with coffee bean and tobacco notes lingering. Good balance of tannins, fruit and acidity with a good dose of minerality. Absolutely old world in style with just enough fruit to keep most palates interested. (B/B+)

Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man

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FRIDAY’S THIRTEEN…

Posted on August 31, 2018 by Stan The Wine Man

A boatload of wine

A boatload of wine

In a weeks time, I taste a boatload of wine (seriously). I lot of my friends think 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.

2014 Gard Isidro Red Lawrence Vineyard (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.

Perfumed currants, violets, tobacco and natural licorice on the nose. Plush currant notes on the palate, backed by BBQ spices and tight tannins. Starts out open knit, than closes up. Chocolate and tobacco notes sneak in on the mid-palate into the tight Finish with a hit of BBQ spices. This baby is still in its adolescence. Give it 5-8 years to start showing itself. 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Syrah, 18% Merlot, 7% Malbec (B/B+)

2014 Paco & Lola Paco Red (Galicia, Spain)… $18.

Aromas of violets, rose petals, crushed red brick and a backdrop of cherries and blackberries. Blackberry and cherry notes on the front of the palate with a little dirt and tobacco thrown in. The tannins have a little attitude, but don’t get out of line. Chocolate notes sneak in on the mid-palate into a dirty finish. Dry, but delicious. 50% Grenache, 50% Tempranillo (B+)

2016 Alexandria Nicole Shepherd’s Mark White (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.

Apricots, mango, papaya and petrol on the nose. Mango and papaya on the palate with a slight bitter edge on the back-end. Good weight in the mouth, but fresh and packs a punch. Orange notes come through on the finish and linger. Almost orange sorbet like with a bitter edge. Great food wine. 62% Viognier, 20% Marsanne, 18% Roussanne (B)

2015 Adelsheim Chardonnay (Willamette Valley, OR)… $22.

Aromas of apples and pears with a little fan belt action coming through. Lean and mean on the palate. Bright and tight. Notes of pears and apples on a bed of minerals and a big wet kiss of citrus. Very clean on the palate with a slight rough edge underneath. Chablis-like and a great shellfish white. (B-/B)

2016 Vina Reboreda Mencia (Ribeiro, Spain)… $14.

Cherries, blended with veggies, earth and brick on the nose with a big hit of red flowers. Good texture on the palate with a touch of grip action on the finish. Notes of cherries, BBQ spice and earth are blended nicely together front to
finish where a hit of white pepper sneaks in. Nicely integrated acidity leads to a fresh finish. (B-)

2015 Macedon Tikves Cabernet Sauvignon (Povardarie, Macedonia)….$13.

Aromas of violets and crushed red brick with slight chocolate tones and a bret component that comes through. Violets and the flavor of grapefruit (without the citrus) on the palate with a splash of cherries, tobacco and a slight cinnamon component underneath. Well integrated acidity and easy structured tannins give it nice complexity. Finishes earthy and savory. (B-/B)

2016 Raphael Rosso Piceno (Marche, Italy)… $10.

Baked bread dough on the nose with hits of violets and candied blackberries. Blackberries and tobacco all day on the palate with a little dirt thrown in on the mid-palate into the finish where it meets up with notes of rust and tobacco that lingers with a dirty edge. A blend of Sangiovese and Montepulciano (C+)

2016 Poggio Vignoso Chianti (Tuscany, Italy)… $13.

Aromas of bark, Root Beer, dark cherries and currants with a kiss of tobacco. Round cherry and currant notes on the front of the palate with a good dose of tobacco and a touch of funk. Root Beer notes hit on the mid-palate into a dry, grippy finish where the tobacco notes linger. Almost new world up front and old world on the finish. 85% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo, 5% Malvasia (C+/B-)

2015 Domaine de la Meuliere Chablis (Burgundy, France)… $21.

Dried herbs, chalk, dust and Asian pear on the nose. Lemon and pears on the palate with a backdrop of dusty rocks and chalk. Fresh, bright and balanced. Gets a little fatness on the mid-palate into the finish with a lingering dusty rock and chalky finish. Balanced with good structure. (B/B+)

2016 Domaine Girard Chardonnay Pays D’Oc (Languedoc-Roussillon, France)… $12.

Dusty rocks on the nose with a touch of butter and apple. Bright acidity up front on the palate with notes of citrus, pears and apple. A dusty rock component lies underneath with a little butter sneaking in on the finish. Good balance and a great shellfish white. (C+/B-)

2014 Seven Hills Red (Walla Walla Valley, WA)… ?

Aromas of dried bark, currants, black tea and a hit of licorice. Solid tannins support notes of spicy currants, earth and red berries. There is a spine of red flower notes with licorice showing up on the long finish. Nice integration of acidity, tannins and fruit. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot (B+/A-)

2015 Double Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon (Horse Heaven Hills, WA)… $28.

Black currants, brown sugar and bacon fat on the nose. Concentrated currant notes on the palate with a good hit of acidity and spice. Good structure and almost crunchy with nice balance and integration. Vibrant, mouth-watering and delicious. Not your typical Washington State Cab. (B+)

2015 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Premier Cuvee (Willamette Valley, OR)… $50.

Aromas of bark, black tea, old twigs, Root Beer, currants and cherries with a kiss of char. Solid round cherry notes on the palate with a trace of Root Beer underneath. Oak is present, but nicely balanced with the fruit. Good texture and nicely integrated acidity. Cherry notes linger with a kiss of spice. (B+/A-)

Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man

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FRIDAY’S THIRTEEN

Posted on August 24, 2018 by Stan The Wine Man

A boatload of wine

A boatload of wine

In a weeks time, I taste a boatload of wine (seriously). I lot of my friends think 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.

2016 Bodegas Naia Las Brisas Verdejo (Rueda, Spain)… $12.

Aromas of banana nut bread, lemon, wet stone and tangerine. Fresh on the palate with notes of crushed rock, white flowers, tangerine and lemon. Nice clean finish with hits of beeswax and lemon notes lingering. (B-/B)

2015 Cantine Colosi Salina Rosso (Salina, Italy)… $24.

Aromas of earth, dark red flowers, licorice and dark cherries with the dirt notes lingering. Smooth and structured on the palate with sweet tannins and a touch of old world funk. Notes of earth, dark currants and a little chocolate with a slight background of salal leaf coming through on the back-end. White pepper notes hit on the finish, joined by minerals and currants. A little dusty on the back of the finish. 50% Nerello Mascalese, 50% Nerello Cappuccio (B+)

2016 Colosi Nero D’Avola (Terre Siciliane, Italy)… $14.

A little stink action on the nose, joined by notes of earth, subdued herbs, beets and dark red flowers. Ripe cherry notes on the front of the palate with a kiss of currants. Wet stone and dark red flower notes ride underneath with the slightest kiss of white pepper into the finish where leather notes join up and linger with a hint of earth. (B/B+)

2015 Colosi Rosso (Terre Siciliane, Italy)… $10.

Crushed red brick on the nose joined by notes of red flowers, raspberries and cherries. Red brick notes, blended with raspberries and cherries on the palate front to finish with a slight kiss of cinnamon coming through. Chocolate notes sneak in finishing with a good dose of red flowers. 85% Nero D’Avola, 15% Nerello Cappuccio (B)

2016 Colosi Salina Bianco (Sicily, Italy)… $24.

Aromas of crushed rock, fresh mushrooms, fig, salt and melons. Crushed rock, figs and melon on the palate joined by a peach/apricot component. Sweet fig notes dominate front to finish where white pepper notes join up and linger. Nice weight in the mouth yet stays fresh. 50% Inzolia, 50% Catarrato (B/B+)

2016 Colosi Grillo (Sicily, Italy)… $13.

Rosemary and tarragon on the nose, joined by hits of wet stone, melon and hits of white flowers. A solid lemon hit on the front of the palate, melding into a saline/orange flower blossom blend. Fresh on the palate with a saline element that lies underneath and shows up on a lingering finish. A very savory, earthy white that keeps it fresh at the same time. (B)

2016 Colosi Bianco (Terre Siciliane, Italy)… $10.

Wet stone, melon, melon rind and white flowers on the nose. A nice core of minerality backs notes of fig, melon and slight banana notes. Acidity keeps it fresh, but is not dominate. There is a spine of salinity, giving it some complexity. Good balance. 40% Inzolia, 40% Cataratto, 20% Grillo (C+/B-)

2015 Chateau Hauchat “LaRose” Fronsac (Bordeaux, France)… $17.

Aromas of dirt, licorice, cinnamon and a background of cherries. Smooth, fleshy tannins support solid notes of earth, cherries and tobacco. Still a little youthful but open enough to show its potential. Brooding fruit notes lie underneath leading into a long, earth driven finish. 2015 is a great vintage out of Bordeaux and this is just one of many examples of what you can get from this vintage for a prayer. 100% Merlot (A)

2015 Terres Falmet Cinsault Pays D’Oc (france)… $14.

Aromas of bark, wet stone, violets, cherry pie and hints of black raspberries. Solid structure and gritty tannins back notes of crushed rock and bark with hits of both tart and ripe cherries blended with a little earth and white pepper. Good balance with solid old world coming through. There is enough fruit to keep most palates happy. (B-/B)

2015 Trisaetum Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, OR)… $26.

Quite perfumed on the nose lifting notes of mushroom, cherries, Root Beer and red flowers, with a pinch of tea and earth. Smooth and polished on the palate with an earthy edge. Notes of cherries, Asian spices and a kiss of Root Beer come through on solid structure and nicely integrated acidity. Seductive and a little dirty with a long-ass finish. (A-/A)

2017 Eyrie Rose` of Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, OR)… $26.

Aromas of cherries and watermelon with just a hint of stink. Earth driven on the palate with notes of cherries and watermelon backed by underlying mineral and white pepper notes. Cherry notes hit big on the mid-palate into the finish with underlying watermelon and white pepper notes. (B+/A-)

Non-Vintage Col Mesian Brut Rose` Cuvee (Veneto, Italy)… $13.

Very slight stone and strawberry notes on the palate. Solid bubbles support strawberry and plum notes front to finish. Good acidity and structure with a kiss of minerals. (C+/B)

2014 Gard Vintners “Don Isidro” Lawrence Vineyards Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.

Perfumed currants, violets, tobacco and natural licorice notes on the nose. Plush currant notes on the palate with a good dose of BBQ spices. Tight tannins on this baby. It starts to open up than goes tight again. Chocolate and tobacco notes sneak in on the mid-palate into the finish where BBQ spices show themselves once again on a tight finish. Needs 5-8 years to really show itself properly. 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Syrah, 18% Merlot, 7% Malbec (B/B+)

Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man

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