Stan The Wine Man

2013 Corvidae Wine Co. Rook Red (Columbia Valley, WA)…$12

Aromas of canned beets (not pickled), dark cherries and blackberries with hits of wilted rose petals. Dark cherries, ripe blackberries and tobacco notes on the palate front to back. Nice balance with good acidity giving it a fresh finish. There is a white pepper hit on the back-end and the tobacco notes linger. Good wine, just a little boring. (B)

2014 Cavatappi Sangiovese (Columbia Valley, WA)… $12.

Very toasty on the nose with notes of strawberries and cherries with a touch of tobacco and caramel. Spicy oak notes on the palate…I mean lots of oak. Notes of cherries and strawberries try to sneak in with a little white pepper and tobacco. Very grippy on the finish with a good acid hit. WAY TOO MUCH OAK BABY! Yep, if you are an oak hound this would fit the bill. (C-)

2012 Domaine Pierre Guillemot Bourgogne (Burgundy, France)… $28

Strawberry jam all day on the nose with a touch of wet stone, rose petal and a hint of perfumed soap. This is an acid driven wine for sure which isn’t surprising for a Pinot Noir from this region. Notes of baked earth and crushed red brick supported by an underbelly of under ripe strawberries and herbs. There are hints of sarsaparilla and black tea on the finish. This Pinot is pretty wound up and acidic, it will be interesting to see how it develops over the next 5-8 years. (C-)

2009 Reserva Vina Eguia Rioja (100% Tempranillo)… $16.

Classic Rioja nose of crushed rock, baked earth, dill, red flowers, cassis and tobacco. Violets and cassis on the front of the palate with a good dose of crushed rock. There is a nice backbone of acidity with a little black olive coming through on the mid-palate with dill notes joining on the finish. This baby is old world with a nice kiss of cassis and currants. (B)

2013 Elsa Bianchi Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)… $12.

Red flowers, cherries, tobacco and a touch of crushed red brick and licorice on the nose. The fruit on the palate is very close to rich, with notes of ripe currants and black plums, backed by notes of licorice and tobacco. Notes of wilted violets (you like that one?) and cured meats hit on the mid-palate and continue into the finish Silky tannins, with good structure and balance. (B+)

2013 Gustave Lorentz Reserve Pinot Blanc (Vin d’Alsace, France)… ?

Aromas of wet stone, lemon, white flowers and Honeydew melon rind. Nice round Honeydew melon notes on the front of the palate, backed by notes of white flowers and a touch of lemon and wet stone. The flavors linger on the finish with a steely edge to it. This is a lively little Pinot Blanc with a lot of flavor. Sorry about the price, I forgot to write it in my Moleskine. (B+)
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2010 Soos Creek Winery “Commander Comet” Syrah (Washington State)… $30.

Aromas of boysenberries and plums with a hit of smoke and iron and a splash of red dirt. Licorice and boysenberry all day on the palate with a hit of tar coming through on the mid-palate and finish. Smooth and structured with a nice flow across the palate into a long boysenberry driven finish joined by hits of violets. (B/B+)

2013 College Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Clarke Vineyard (Walla Walla, Washington)… $12.

Notes of Meyers Lemon, apple Jolly Ranchers, white flowers and a touch of cut grass on the nose. Dried herbs all over the palate with an undertow of lemon and honey. It has a dry, white flower finish with a touch of honey and lemon. (C+)

2012 Airfield Estates “Dauntless” Red (Yakima Valley, WA)… $15.

Very deep and aromatic on the nose with notes of wilted rose petal, currants and a touch of rust and licorice coming through. Solid fruit and good structure on the palate. Notes of currants, rose petal and licorice on structured, approachable tannins. Nice flow across the palate with a touch of bark and earth on the grippy finish with minerals and veggies lingering. 72% Merlot, 13% Malbec, 11% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. (B)

2013 Forge Cellars Riesling (Finger Lakes, New York)… $24.

Aromas of rubber beach ball, sweet apples and a touch of wet stone and orange blossom. Mouth-watering acidity with a ton of crushed rock, white flowers and ripe apples on the palate. Cold steel all day, feels like your licking refrigerated stainless steel. Bazooka notes hit on the mid-palate leading into a bone-dry finish. I don’t get to try very many Finger Lakes Riesling, and this one really impressed me. I get the hype. (B/B+)

2012 Vindicated Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, CA)… $25.

Aromas of currants, cherries and tea with a little lavender and wet stone thrown in. Good fruit and smooth tannins with nice structure. Notes of currants, licorice and red flowers with a hint of bark on the back-end. (B+)

2012 Descendants Liegeois Dupont Syrah (Red Mountain, WA)… $25.

Smokey and a touch stinky on the nose with notes of boysenberries, plums earth and bark. This baby is as close to old world you might get from the new world. Boysenberries and roasted meats on the palate with a healthy dose of crushed rock and a pinch of bacon fat on the back-end. Notes of red flowers and minerals linger on the finish. Are you sure this isn’t from the Rhone Valley? Nope…Red Mountain WA. (B+/A-)

2010 Bouchaine Pinot Noir (Carneros, CA)… $25.

Aromas of root beer, black tea and toast with a backdrop of currants and ripe strawberries. Dark cherries and black tea on the palate with underlying root beer notes. Nice balance of acid and fruit with good structure and a long finish. (B+)

Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man

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