BITS & BOBS…

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Stan The Wine Man

I hope a lot of you noticed that I missed putting Bits & Bobs up last week. Unfortunately, I am a die-hard procastinator when it comes to writing, even though I enjoy doing it. Last Monday I was off to Seattle to partake in a very special tasting event. When I woke up early that morning to get ready to catch the ferry, I realized I had no time to sit down and write the piece. Yes, I could have brought my computer with me and tried my best to write on the ferry ride, and then find a place to connect to the internet and send it off. Problem is, I need the internet to write the article, and for all of you that ride the ferry like I do, you know that can be difficult. There you go. If I put off writing this piece until Monday I’m screwed if I am going somewhere. I tell myself every week that I need to start writing these things at least a week in advance, and here I am once again pounding the keys at six a.m. on a Monday morning. Consistent content is the key to a successful blog, I know this. My apologies for missing last week, I will try harder.

The special tasting I went to in Seattle is connected to the Auction of Washington Wines held for those in the wine trade (restaurants and stores), in Woodinville on August 16th. It’s a non-profit event to benefit the WSU Viticulture and Enology Research Program. The tasting I went to last Monday was a trade and media preview of some of the wines that will be available during the private barrel auction in August. This list of wines I had a chance to taste was crazy. Long Shadows, Col Solare, Canvasback, Avennia, Baer, Betz, Buty, Leonetti, Rotie Cellars, Sleight Of Hand, Sparkman Cellars, Woodward Canyon and more. There were a couple that really stood out to me and I’m hoping to talk my boss into going down in August to bid on some of the wines. The 2014 Aquilini Red Mountain absolutely blew my mind. The fruit, structure and balance of the wine is memorable. Also, the 2014 Pedestal Merlot from Long Shadows is silky smooth, open knit, delicious and ready to drink. It was nice to get a chance to taste the hard-to-get Psychedelic Syrah from Sleight Of Hand out of Walla Walla. This is one that wine maker Trey Busch is very proud of as he should be. A classic Washington State Syrah. Floral with loads of finesse and enough structure and power to age quite nicely over the next 10-15 years. In fact, being a 2015, I personally wouldn’t pop the cork for at least three years from now. A great tasting on the shores of Lake Union.

March is the official Washington Wine Month. I say official, because a few years ago, August was added as an additional Washington Wine Month. I used to fight the August thing, believing that March was good enough. With over 900 wineries in Washington State, I have now come to appreciate that August is a necessary addition. I will be focusing a lot on Washington State wines in both my blogs and on You Tube. My first “Pick Of The Week” on my blog The Blue Collar Wine Guy, hosted by the Seattle P.I. is a Washington State wine. My last You Tube episode featured value Cabernet Sauvignon from where else…Washington State. Also, my “Pick Of The Month” featured on this blog will be a Washington State wine, stay tuned. I am giving Washington State my full support this month, which is not really hard to do since our state produces some of the most outstanding wines in the world.

Susie and I are doing our best to slow time down a bit, enjoy each day and not let our trip to South Africa consume our time. Unfortunately, my plate is full going into April. There are four wine tasting events the last three weeks of March that will be held in Friday Harbor for the trade only, along with a wine makers dinner. It is of course my obligation to attend all of these events, juggled around my tasting event this week and in April, my You Tube episodes and my blogging. I’m not looking for sympathy in any way. I am simply trying to convince myself that if Susie and I stay reasonably organized and focused, this whirlwind of events will not steal our time and before you know it, we are off on a plane to Dubai and South Africa. I don’t know about you, but I cherish each day that I have a chance to live in, and I don’t ever want to rush life, it is too precious.

Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man

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FRIDAY’S THIRTEEN…

Posted on February 23, 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 Domaine de Casteinau “Le Ronces” Chardonnay (Languedoc-Roussillon Pays d’oc, France)… $10.

Aromas of wet stone, apples and slight pear and lemon. Minerals all day on the palate with a little grass and chalk thrown in. Lemon and melon notes are the core with a nice expansion on the mid-palate. Good acidity lies underneath. Very aggressive on the palate, yet delicious at the same time. Clean, citrus driven finish.This white was hard to wrap my mind around. (B/B+)

2015 Chateau Tour de Barbereau Bordeaux (Bordeaux, France)… $10.

Red berries and cherries on the nose with a hit of red flowers, crushed red brick and earth. Slight currant notes sneak in. Cranberry, rust and cherry pit on the palate with notes of under-ripe cherries and earth. High acidity is out of balance with the fruit…Tight and tart. (D+/C-)

2015 Chateau Cap Leon Veyrin Bordeaux “Listrac-Medoc” (Bordeaux, France)… $25.

Currants and plums on the nose with hits of red flowers and tobacco. Solid cherry and currant notes on structured, approachable tannins . Red flower hit big-time on the mid-palate with some grip action on the back-end. Tobacco notes lie underneath and come out with earth and tobacco on the long finish with a kiss of mushroom. This baby will age nicely over the next 8-12 years. (B+/A-)

2016 Hahn Vineyards Chardonnay (Monterey County, CA)… $15.

Aromas of roasted nuts, oak, pears and a splash of butter. Slightly sweet and buttery up front on the palate, evolving into ripe pears and melon. Oak is present, but not over-powering. Sweet, buttery, long finish that cleans up on the back-end with pear notes sneaking in. (C/C+)

2015 Powers Winery Spectrum Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $12.

Aromas of ripe blackberries, dark cherries and licorice all mingled together. Blackberry stem, tobacco and dark cherries on sweet tannins hit the palate with candied blackberry notes hitting on the mid-palate. Candied blackberry notes lead into the finish with a hit of tobacco joining the party. 23% Cabernet Franc, 22.5% Malbec, 18.5% Malbec, 18% Syrah, 18% Merlot. (C+/B-)

2014 Milbrandt Vineyards Brother’s Blend (Columbia Valley, WA)… $13.

Ripe currants and rose petal on the nose with a pinch of chocolate and violets. Ripe currants rest on edgy tannins on the palate backed by solid, integrated acidity. Tobacco notes lie underneath with a little cola action on the mid-palate. A little green tobacco/stem hit joins up on the finish. Good balance and structure. 32% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Grenache, 17% Mourvedre, 6% Primitivo, 6% Petite Sirah (B)

2014 Hedges CMS Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $12.

Wilted red flowers on the nose, joined by notes of tobacco, cherries and blackberries. Solid tannins support notes of blackberries, cherries and tobacco on the palate with underlying white pepper notes. Solid acidity lifts the wine in the mouth and makes the finish fresh with the tannins opening up and tobacco notes lingering. Good balance. (B-/B)

2013 Clivi Brazan Friulano (Italy)… $26.

Aromas of salt, wet stone, grape seeds and melon. Dusty stones blended with grape seeds and apple on the palate. Nice freshness underneath (almost stainless steel-like) front to finish where dusty rock notes linger. (C+/B-)

2015 Emmanuel Giboulot Les Pierres Blanches Cote Du Beaune (France)… $52.

Aromas of lemon and wet stone with a hint of pineapple and dried herbs. Lemon notes and a kiss of butterscotch morph into wet stone and crushed rock on the palate. Solid acidity that is well-integrated. There is a leafy component that comes through on the back of the finish. (A-)

2014 Montenidoli Tradizionale Vernaccia Di San Gimignano DOCG (Italy)… $19.

Nuts and melon on the nose with a little slate action. Salted nuts all day on the palate backed by notes of melon and slate. There is a salted fig component that comes through on the mid-palate leading into a fresh, salty, steely finish. (A-)

2015 Domaine Emmanuel Giboulot Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits La Gregoire (Burgundy, France)…. $36.

Raspberries and strawberries on the nose with a little cranberry thrown in along with a splash of red flowers. Solid acidity backs notes of under-ripe strawberries and a dose of cranberries, red flowers and hits of licorice. Minerality front to finish where it takes over and lingers. (B/B+)

2015 Domaine Emmanuel Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits Sous Le Mont (Burgundy, France)… $33.

Aromas of violets and cherries with a hint of Asian spice, leaf and tea. Cherry, dried bark and Asian spice notes are solid on the palate backed by nicely integrated acidity. Earth elements expand on the finish with Asian spice lingering. Fresh on the back-end. (B+/A-)

2015 Kelley Fox Wines “Ahurani” Pinot Noir (McMinnville, OR)… $35.

Dark cherries, violets and a kiss of Root Beer on the nose. Dark cherries on the palate with a cranberry, citrus backbone. Earth and crushed rock notes hang in the background front to finish with crushed rock notes lingering. (B/B+)

Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man

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BITS & BOBS…

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Stan The Wine Man

I don’t know how many of you who read my blog have tried a Sangrantino. I recently shot an episode for my You Tube channel that features this varietal. It is a grape that is grown primarily in Umbria, which is a landlocked region in Italy, north of Rome. Australia is messing with this grape a bit, but it got its start in Umbria especially in the town of Montefalco in the southeast of Umbria. Sangrantino di Montefalco is now a DOCG, a status not given to any region, only those that produce top-notch juice. In this episode which I am putting out there tomorrow evening, I discover a couple Montefalco Sagrantinos that blew my socks off. The cool part is that one of them goes for a mere twenty bucks. The other was substantially more, but worth every penny of sixty-one dollars. If you haven’t tried this varietal yet, I suggest you watch episode 346 on Tuesday and see what I am talking about. I think it will peak your interest in expanding your palate horizons. A side note; the Sagrantino I was very excited about for twenty bucks closed up a bit on the second day opened. This is a good thing, because it means it has great aging potential. I’m guessing 8-10 years. I’ll try it again on the third day to see what happens. I’ll let you know.

Last week, a group my friends and I got together to taste several Mourvedre. Mourvedre is another grape that I feel a lot of you may not be familiar with. It’s used a lot in France, particularly in southern Rhone where they blend it with Grenache, Syrah and other grapes to produce Cotes-du-Rhone and Chateauneuf-du-Pape (where they allow up to thirteen grapes in the blend). Mourvedre is also used extensively in Provence, particularly in Bandol where they make some amazing reds using this grape. We had one from Bandol, Languedoc (France), Spain, California and two from Washington. We took a vote at the end of the flight and all agreed the Bandol was by far the best. Crazy Mary Mourvedre from Mark Ryan Winery garnered second place with the Kerloo Cellars and Tablas Creek close behind. For a couple of the guys there, it was their introduction to this varietal and they were impressed. It never ceases to amaze me how well Washington State does with so many different varietals. Probably one of the most diverse growing regions in the world.

Our trip to South Africa is less than two months away and Susie and I are going from nervous to excited. We are fine tuning the trip and nailing down our itinerary. We now have five wineries that we are visiting and of course Susie will excuse herself from a couple to go off exploring on her own. She is a good sport about my job, and actually very interested. I just don’t expect her to accompany me to all the wineries where I will be shooting You Tube episodes and interviewing the winery staff. Cape Town has been having water issues, but it looks like they got rained on recently which pushed back the critical water restrictions slightly. I hope they get more rain soon as I hate to see locals being put on water restrictions while the tourists like us are not. I know they do not want to discourage the tourist trade, but it still makes me feel funny.

I have been striving to keep up with all my blogging including this piece, as well as Friday’s Thirteen and my pick of the week on The Blue Collar Wine Guy P.I. blog. It isn’t easy, but I am doing a better job of it recently. I am also trying to put out a You Tube episode on Tuesdays and Fridays. Of course, I miss one now and then due to unseen events, but all in all it looks like I should be able to keep up with that schedule. I want to thank all of you who have subscribed to my You Tube channel and those of you who have watched my episodes. It makes me feel good to know that I have so many supporters out there. I hope you are enjoying my content.

Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man

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FRIDAY’S THIRTEEN…

Posted on February 16, 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 Sonoma Cutrer Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley, CA)… $42.

Aromas of smoked strawberries and dark cherries with a good splash of Root Beer. Smooth and delicious with good acidity that backs notes of dark cherries and slight Root Beer. It expands on the mid-palate and flows into a slightly crunchy finish with a hit of Asian spice on the back-end. Great food Pinot.
(B+/A-)

2015 Newsprint Cabernet Sauvignon (Red Mountain, WA)… $25.

Bittersweet chocolate, tobacco and currants on a challenged nose. Red berries, currants and light chocolate notes on the palate with a green element that sneaks in on the back-end. Crunchy acidity with a pinch of minerality. Bright finish with a kiss of chocolate and white pepper underneath. (C+/B-)

2014 Baer Winery “Star” Merlot Stillwater Creek Vineyard (Columbia Valley, WA)… $35.

Aromas of licorice, chocolate and currants with underlying savory herbs underneath. Ripe currants on the palate with some chocolate thrown in and a big dose of tobacco. Good balance and integration with edgy but approachable tannins. Tobacco notes dominate on the long finish. (B+/A-)

2015 Domaine Les Pins Cabernet Franc (Bourgueil, France)… $14.

Aromas of cranberries, red flowers and cherries with a little stem thrown in. Blackberries and cherries on the palate with underlying blackberry stem that is nicely integrated with the fruit. Crunchy acidity that blends in nicely. Big red flower hit on the mid-palate into the fresh finish. (C+/B-)

2015 Newsprint Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, WA)… $18.

Toasty pears and apples on the nose with a hit of corn nuts and caramel corn. Buttery pears and apples on the palate with a toasty oak edge. Stays fresh with balanced acidity. (B/B+)

2013 Pojer E Sandri Bianco Faye (Vigneti Delle Dolomiti, Italy)… $42.

Slightly challenged on the nose with notes of wet stone a touch of stainless steel and saline. Big hit of licorice on the front of the palate on wet stone notes and underlying apple and lemon. A fig component hits on the mid-palate into a clean finish with a dusty rock element coming through. Good balance and complexity. Expensive, but very interesting. A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc. (A-/A)

Non-Vintage Colin Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blanc Brut (Champagne, France)… $42.

Almonds, yeast and apples on the nose with a hit of lemon. Laser sharp on the palate with a good hit of lemon, almonds and apples that rest on chalky minerality. There is an interesting almond skin hit on the finish with citrus notes lingering. (A-)

2016 Rive Droite, Rive Gauche Cotes-du-Rhone (Rhone Valley, France)… $11.

Slightly perfumed on the nose with notes of lavender, boysenberries and plums and a hit of Twix. Sweet tannins support boysenberry and plum notes with a good dose of red flowers. A touch of blackberry stem comes through on the red flower driven, slightly crunchy finish. Bring on the food. (B-/B)

2015 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)… $10.

Boysenberries and plums on the nose with a background of tobacco, leather and hints of green. Blackberries blended with green tea and tobacco on the palate. Acidity gives the wine a lift in the mouth with plum and mineral notes joining the party on the mid-palate into the finish. (C+/B-)

2013 Soos Creek Stampede Pass Cabernet Franc (Columbia Valley, WA)… $30.

Perfumed cherries and oatmeal cookie on the nose with a splash of red flowers. Ripe red cherries on the palate wrapped in licorice and tobacco with a good spine of acidity that lifts the fruit in the mouth. Subtle chocolate notes hit on the mid-palate into the finish with tobacco and leather notes lingering. 78% Cabernet Franc, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon (B+/A-)

2013 Soos Creek “Palisades” Merlot (Columbia Valley, WA)… $30.

Boysenberries and cherries on the nose with a pinch of tobacco. Boysenberry and ripe currant notes are plush on the palate, underscored by good structure with solid, smooth tannins. Leather and tobacco notes join up on the finish with chocolate notes sneaking in as well. (B+/A-)

2013 Artist Series #13 Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $30.

Wilted rose petals, currants and plums on the nose with a hit of boysenberry. Round currant and plum notes on solid structure and well-integrated acidity. Tobacco and chocolate notes hit on the mid-palate into the finish where it all gathers together with a little worn leather action. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Cabernet Franc (B+/A-)

2013 Soos Creek “Terrible Beauty” Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, WA)… $30.

Solid currant and licorice notes on the nose with a pinch of dark cherries. Dark cherries and currants penetrate the palate front to finish with trace minerals. Chocolate and licorice notes lie underneath on solid, smooth tannins. There is a spine of red flower notes and fresh acidity that lights up the lingering finish. (B+)

Cheers!
Stan the wine Man

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