STAN’S PICK FOR FEBRUARY 2017

Posted on February 4, 2017 by Stan The Wine Man

To start, I want to apologize for not posting my January pick. I know, excuses are like a@^h0^*s, everyone has one, but I feel mine is legit. I took my I-Pad with me on vacation and it decided to lock-up on me…No computer to work with, no article. However, I would like to mention the said juice, because it is worthy of mentioning since it made my “Pick Of The Month.” The January pick was a Kermit Lynch selection… ’14 Zabalia Languedoc Red (Languedoc, France)… $14. It was well received at the store and we sold out before the end of the month. Our distributor even ran out. I think you might be able to get your hands on some if you ask at your local wine shop. The distributor is Click Distributing out of Seattle, WA. Try and find some, it is a super good wine for the money.

For February, I went to France once again. The cool thing about this wine is the deal I got and am able to pass on to my customers. If you are not in my area, see if you can find someone who is passing along the deal we are at Kings Market. If not, shoot me an email and I might be able to ship some to you. I say this because this is a hell of a price on a Bordeaux that delivers amazing quality.

2012 Chateau Galand Bordeaux (France)… $10 (Regular price… $17.)

Aromas of currants and violets with a splash of tobacco and fairly intense worn leather notes coming through. Currants, leather and violets in spades on the palate front to back with underlying licorice notes. A little hit of dried currants hits on the mid-palate into the finish where minerals and tobacco join the party and linger. Excellent structure and good acidity. Drink it now and over the next couple of years. 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec (B+)

Imported & Distributed By Grape Expectations… Seattle, WA

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FRIDAY’S THIRTEEN…

Posted on February 3, 2017 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.

2010 Luca Bosio Barolo (Piedmont, Italy)… ?

Classic Barolo aromas of violets, rust, cherries and crushed rock. Excellent acidity balances against the notes of rust, violets, cherries and crushed rock on the palate. Notes of coffee bean join the party on the back of the palate into a mineral driven finish where a little hit of green olive comes through with the fruit and minerals that hangs on the palate. This is what you expect from this area of the wine world… Awesome! (B+/A-)

2014 Valentin Bianchi Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)… $13.

A little stinky tar action on the nose, joined by hits of plum, boysenberries, licorice and black raspberries. This baby seems a touch closed on the palate at first then starts to show its personality. Earth notes lie underneath front to back joined by notes of red cherries and red raspberries with a backdrop of dried red flowers. Good structure and a solid backbone of acidity. I would give this a couple more years in bottle before it shows all its stuff. (B-)

2015 Ique Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)… ?

Aromas of currants, mocha and vanilla, with an undertow of tobacco, rose petal and a touch of sugar. Very boring and one-dimensional on the palate. Slight notes of currants, red raspberry and rose petal closing out with a little dirt action. (D)

2015 Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc (California)… $12.

Green apple, lemon and melon on the nose. This is everything I hate in a Sauvignon Blanc. Sugarfied on the palate with slight notes of lemon and green apple skin. Very soft, lacking the acidity that makes a sauv. blanc a sauv. blanc. Boring and one-dimensional. Save some money and grab a glass of lemon water. (D-)

2014 Domaines Barons De Rothschild White Bordeaux (Bordeaux, France)… $15.

A touch perfumed on the nose with notes of grapefruit, melon and wet stone. Lemon, lime and kiwi notes hit on the front of the palate and smack hard on the mid-palate into the finish. Wet stone and mild cut grass notes underneath leading into the finish with wet stone lingering. (B)

2014 Castillo De Monseran Garnacha (Carinena, Spain)… $9.

A little flat on the nose with slight notes of blackberries and plums coming through. Blackberry hard candy notes on the palate joined by a touch of ripe currants. Chalky tannins show up on the finish with a hit of green tobacco joining up on the finish. (C)

2014 La Gardea Garnacha (Campo De Borja, Spain)… $10

Boysenberry and tobacco on the nose joined by a hit of black raspberry. Boysenberry and tobacco notes mingle together on the palate with tobacco taking over on the finish with a hit of black raspberry sneaking in. Gets a little dirty on the finish. (C+/B-)

2013 Artazuri Garnacha (Navarra, Spain)… $10.

Blueberry pie on the nose with a touch of raspberry and cinnamon. Blueberries all day on the palate with an underbelly of black raspberries resting on soft tannins. White pepper and tobacco notes sneak in on the finish with a spicy element lingering. This baby wants to go jammy but is held in check by good structure and balance. (B)

2015 Peirano Estate Vineyards Petite Sirah The Heritage Collection (Lodi, CA)… $10.

Aromas of rose petals, violets, and currants with a hit of oatmeal cookie and black licorice. Smooth, polished tannins support intense currant notes joined by ripe blackberries. Bark and tobacco notes join the party on the mid-palate into a slightly grippy finish. (C+/B-)

2014 Peirano Estate Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon The Heritage Collection (Lodi, CA)… $10.

Ripe currants and dark cherries on the nose joined by a tiny hit of brown sugar and licorice. Plush currant and black cherry notes on the palate with enough acidity to keep it out of the flabby category. Tiny hit of brown sugar on the finish. Sort of one-dimensional but hits the delicious category. (C/C+)

2013 Echeverria Gran Reserva Syrah (Colchagua Valley, Chile)… $12.

Smoked meat on the nose, joined by rosemary, red flowers, boysenberries with hits of veggie and currants. Ripe currants and cherries front to back on the palate with smoked meat and tobacco underneath. There is a brightness on the palate that stays in harmony with the fruit. Red flower notes join up on the finish with a touch of mint. (B/B+)

2010 Sur De Los Andes Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)… $12.

Plum notes dominate on the nose with a little cherry and blackberry. Gritty, structured tannins surround notes of plums, licorice, cherries and blackberries. Solid spine of acidity front to back that is just a little out of balance with the fruit. You need food with this puppy. Pizza, burgers, BBQ ribs would do the trick. (C+/B-)

2012 Terredora Dipaolo Aglianico (Campania, Italy)… $13.

Cherries mixed with crushed red brick on the nose, joined by earth notes, rust and licorice with a whole lot of tobacco and hits of meat marinade. Cherry notes on a bed of rust and tobacco hit on the front of the palate into the finish where it is joined by hits of citrus, cherries and crushed brick. Good balance of acid, fruit and minerals. Light bodied but good intensity and a finish that lingers. Definitely for the old world wine lover. (B)

Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man

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FRIDAY’S THIRTEEN…

Posted on January 27, 2017 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.

Non-Vintage Kestrel Vineyard Lady In Red (Columbia Valley, WA)… $12.

Aromas of smokey currants and boysenberries with a candied edge to it. Boysenberries and currants dominate on the palate as they rest on soft tannins and a solid acidic spine that integrates nicely with the fruit. This red is clean and balanced. It screams for pizza, burgers or pretty much anything BBQ. Don’t let the label fool you, this is serious wine. (B)

2010 Anciano Reserva Tempranillo Aged 5 years (Valdepenas, Spain)… $11.

Dried currants and dill on the nose, joined by plum and blackberry notes with an edge of tobacco. Dill, plum and blackberry notes come through on the palate with an underbelly of dried bark, tobacco and vanilla. There is an acidic edge on the front and finish where the minerals start to show themselves in spades along with bark notes and tobacco. This is a wine with a lot of character and rusticity. (B-)

2013 Lenz Moser Blaufrankisch “Trocken” (Burgenland, Austria)… ?

Aromas of smoked bark, tobacco and cherries with a little chocolate Graham Cracker action…Smoke lingers. This baby dances lightly on the palate with notes of cherry and cherry skins coming through. Notes of raspberries and blueberries hit on the mid-palate leading into the finish. Raspberry and cherry notes linger. Light tannins make this a good red for foul. (C+/B-)

2015 Browne Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley, WA)… $18.

Grape seeds and perfumed grapefruit on the nose. This sauv blanc is not high in acidity, but has a bit of a cutting edge on the finish. Notes of grape seed up front joined by slight grass notes. Grapefruit comes on strong on the finish. Clean and delicious without the cutting acidity. Some like it soft, some like it sharp…It’s your call. (B)

2015 Alexandria Nicole Pinot Gris (Horse Heaven Hills, WA)… $15.

Apples on the nose with a touch of honey and melon. Medium to light on the palate with apple notes and a touch of bitter apple skin. Honey notes join up on the mid-palate with an interesting lemon oil element. The bitter apple skin element persists front to finish. (C+/B-)

2014 Adelsheim “Breaking Ground” Pinot Noir (Chehalem Mountains, OR)… $43.

Classic aromas of Asian spice, earth, cherries and hints of sarsaparilla. Excellent structure supports notes of ripe cherries, bark, cranberries and a good dose of Asian spice. Acidity shines through on the lingering finish. A well-built wine that shows great now and most likely better in 5-10 years. (B+/A-)

2014 Nine North “Hullabaloo” Zinfandel (Napa Valley, CA)… $17.

Currants, licorice and black raspberries with underlying spice on the nose. Good acidity on the palate with raspberry and red currant notes coming through and a hit of white pepper underneath. White pepper notes linger with the currant notes that edge towards the darker side on the finish. The tannins are a touch edgy but still smooth. (B-/B)

2015 Farmlands Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, OR) certified Biodynamic … $21.

A little poopy on the nose with notes of cherries, grapes and hits of cinnamon. Fairly light but balanced with notes of cherries, apples and orange coming through. Good structure but approach this one more like a Gamay than a Pinot and I think you will be happy. (C+/B-)

2013 Bishop’s Peak Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles, CA)… $20.

Ripe currants on the nose with hits of brown sugar, tobacco and wilted rose petals. Good balance on the palate with structured tannins that are quite approachable. Ripe currant notes are balanced by earth and tobacco and an undertow of acidity. The acidity springs up on the finish giving this zin a little citrus edge that lingers with the currant notes. (B/B+)

2015 Cristom Vineyards Mount Jefferson Cuvee’ Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, OR)… $32.

Aromas of Asian spice, Cinnamon Imperial and ripe cherries in a big way with underlying Root Beer notes. Good balance of acid and fruit that plays lightly on the palate with authority. Earthy, with notes of cherries and orange peel joined by hits of Asian spice and Root Beer. Citrus and earth notes linger. (B/B+)
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2015 Cristom Pinot Gris (Eola-Amity Hills, OR)… $20.

White flowers, wet stone and melon on the nose. Very old world style with notes of wet stone, honeysuckle and melon front to finish. A slight hit of bubblegum comes through on the mid-palate and evaporates quickly. (B/B+)

2013 Handcraft Wines Petite Sirah (California)… $11.

Caramel and dried cardboard on the nose. Blueberries front to back on the palate with an underscore of red raspberries. Fairly simple but a “7” in the delicious category. (C)

2013 Olianas Cannonau (Cannonau Di Sardegna, Italy)… $16.

Very tight on the nose with hints of violets, rose petals minerals and bittersweet chocolate. Plums, rocks, and red raspberries on the front of the palate with the minerals taking over. Loads of red flower notes front to finish with the acidity gaining strength on the finish. Red flower notes linger. (B)

Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man

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FRIDAY’S THIRTEEN…

Posted on January 20, 2017 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.

2015 Bodegas Atalaya Laya Red (Almansa, Spain)… $10.

Aromas of blackberries and cherries all day with a little perfume and char action underneath. Dark cherries on the palate with a little blackberry action on soft, chalky tannins. Red flower notes and licorice lie underneath into a clean mineral finish. A blend of Garnacha Tintorera and Monastrell. (B+)

2010 The Bolney Blanc de Blanc Brut (Sussex, England)… $50.

Roasted almonds and crispy bread dough on the nose with a saline element coming through. Hints of minerals come through on the palate along with notes of yeast, bread dough, lime and kiwi. This baby sparkles in the mouth, with lime and kiwi notes lingering. Proof as to why the French are seeking land to plant vineyards in this part of England. Watch out Champagne here they come. (B+/A-)

Non-Vintage Digby English Brut (England)… $50.

Apples and almonds on the nose with a solid background of bread dough. Excellent, cutting acidity on the palate with notes of almonds and bread dough resting on a bed of tart lemon. Apple notes join up on the bracing finish as the lemon notes linger. Excellent balance of acidity and fruit. (A-)

2014 Gerard Fiou Terroir Silex Sancerre (Loire, France)… $20.

There is just a touch of stink action on the nose, joined by notes of cut grass, kiwi, grape seed and melon. Notes of lemon, lime and kiwi with just a touch of a bitter element, rests on backbone of slate and crushed rock in the mouth. There is a little steel element on the finish with notes of kiwi hanging out with its crushed rock buddies. A bargain for such a true to the varietal and terroir Sancerre. (A-)

2013 La Chablisienny La Pierrelee Chablis (Burgundy, France)… $20.

Very interesting on the nose with notes of stinky seashells, banana nut bread, minerals and hints of lemon. Dry and bright on the palate. Nicely integrated acidity backs notes of lemon, lime and kiwi on a bed of crushed seashells, chalk and slate. This juice smacks the palate, wakes it up and leaves with minerals, kiwi and lemon waving a long goodbye. Chardonnay at its best. (A/A-)

2012 Valle Las Nencias Reserve Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)… $12.

This baby gets a touch stinky on the nose with notes of black olive, boysenberry, old wood, violets and rose petals with hits of tobacco. Very interesting aromas for a $12 wine. Sweet tannins support notes of blackberries and plums, with a lace of white pepper and tobacco. Seamless front to finish with brooding fruit notes lingering, joined by wilted violets and worn leather with a splash of BBQ spices. (B+)

2013 Tuga Rosso (Douro, Portugal)… $8.

Aromas of meat marinade, dirt, spice, tobacco, smokey blueberries and dark cherries with a hint of vanilla. Deep cherry notes front to back on the palate with an undertow of tobacco and blueberries. Chocolate notes sneak in on the back of the mid-palate into the finish. Meat marinade notes lie underneath front to finish with powdered chocolate and leather notes lingering. Not true-to-Douro style but a lot of wine for the money. A blend of Tina Roriz, Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional (B/B+)

2010 Tor Del Colle Riserva Rosso (Molise, Italy)… $12.

Slight bark notes come through on the nose, joined by currants, blackberries, a kiss of tobacco, black raspberry and smokey vanilla. Leather all day on the palate with a little bark action joining the party, along with notes of currants, black raspberry and a hint of black pepper on sturdy tannins. Black raspberry and tobacco notes on a decently long finish. This juice has rusticity and deliciousness at the same time. 100% Montepulciano (B/B+)

2014 Fefriani Laffite Syrah (Valencia, Spain)… $10.

A little smoke action on the nose joined by solid blackberry and plum notes. Hits of cherries, vanilla and tobacco come through. Solid yet smooth tannins with a meaty texture, support plum and tobacco notes with a backdrop of black and white pepper. A touch of leather and cherries sneak in on a finish that has a little tannic attitude. (B-)

2015 Illahe Estate Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, OR)… $23.

Aromas of Asian spice, black tea, red flowers, cherries, strawberries with a touch of bark and caramel. Nice balance on the palate, showing notes of cherry skins, bark and hits of cola. Acidity lies beneath, but stays in balance and doesn’t take over. Cherry skins linger on the finish joined by notes of cola and dried bark. light on its feet and delicious. (A-)

2012 Luke Cabernet Sauvignon (Wahluke Slope, WA)… $18.

Aromas of bark, tobacco, dried cardboard, currants and perfumed rose petals. Nice and spicy on the palate with notes of chocolate and currants on polished tannins. Tobacco notes on the finish joined by bark and spice. Fairly complex cab for the money starting off fruit driven and finishing on a savory note with spice action front to finish. (B+/A-)

2013 The Inconceivable Wine Co. “After The Floods” Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley, WA)… $20.

Intense currant and baking spice notes on the nose, with hits of coffee bean and bark. Currant and chocolate notes on the palate with a bright edge. Seamless, with a little “grit” action on the back-end. Coffee bean and bark notes join up on the finish. This is smooth cab with the tannins showing a little attitude on the tail end. (B/B+)

2015 Cline Cashmere Black Magic (California)… $16.

Aromas of violets, currants and chocolate with hits of tobacco. Deep currant notes on the palate that is balanced by interesting citrus notes. The tannins have a little attitude, but stay in balance with the citrus and currant. A lot of wineries are coming out with these “black” wines, and this is one of the better ones. A blend of Petite Sirah, Mourvedre, Syrah and Grenache. (B)

Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man

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