In a weeks time, I taste a boatload of wine (seriously). A 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 five wines that I have reviewed in my Moleskine (good or bad), this past week.
2017 Domaine le Clos des Lumieres Cotes-Du-Rhone (Rhone Valley, France)… $10.
Aromas of candied cherries and blackberries with a backdrop of spices and red flowers. Blackberries and cherries all day on the palate, underscored by nicely integrated acidity. Tobacco notes hit big on the mid-palate into the finish where spice notes join the party. There is a touch of grip from the tannins on the back-end with a kiss of minerality. 70% Grenache, 30% Syrah (B-/B)
2016 Lyrarakis Red (Crete, Greece)… $15.
A little smokey wood on the nose, along with cooked meat, currants and candied blackberries. Solid acidity supports a meaty texture in the mouth. Notes of currants and citrus with a spine of minerality front to a citrus driven finish. Good balance. 75% Syrah, 25% Kotsifali (C+/B-)
2017 Passi Mento White (Veneto, Italy)… $17.
Lemon, wet stone and green apple notes hit on the nose with a slight nutty element coming through. Lemon and apple notes front to finish, where a flinty minerality lingers with the apple notes. A touch on the simple side and slightly over-priced for what you get. 100% Garganega (C/C+)
2016 Domaine Jerome Gradassi Chateauneuf du Pape (Rhone, France)… $48.
Aromas of bloody meat, french toast (sans the syrup), rust, ripe strawberries, red flowers and crushed brick. Fleshy on the palate with notes of roasted meats, white and black pepper and rust. A boatload of minerality hits on the spice-driven finish, joined by dark cherry, strawberry and wilted red flower notes. This is old school CDP that is fairly priced. (B+/A-)
Roco Gravel Road Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, OR)… $26.
Aromas of strawberries, cherries and red flowers with a kiss of black tea and Root Beer. Medium to light in body with notes of Root Beer and cherries front to finish where a kiss of minerality and Asian spices join up. Nice balance of acidity, fruit and minerals. A touch Burgundian with the new world holding its own. (B-/B)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
