Once again it’s time to share some of my latest tasting notes.
Every week I have salespeople stop by my office to share samples, hoping that one of them appeals to me and I make a purchase for the store. I have to tell you that on average, only about ten percent of the wines I try end up somewhere in my department, whether it’s a shelf placement or a stack on the floor. This is my favorite time of the year because now I have time to take notes on all the wines presented to me (at least I hope so). Here are notes from five of the wines I have recently tasted.
2018 Francois Lurton Domaine De Nizas Red (Languedoc, France)… $15.
Aromas of raw meat, Iron, plums, oranges and blackberries. Boysenberries, crushed rock and orange peel on the palate, supported by meaty tannins. This has a leathery mouthfeel with plum notes sneaking in on the mid-palate with a hit of white pepper. Long finish where tobacco and earth notes sneak in. Nice balance of acidity, fruit and minerality. A lot of wine for the money. 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 5% Carignan (B/B+)
2016 Ego Bodega El Goru Red (Jumilla, Spain)… $11.
Aromas of boysenberry, smoke, char, plums and an interesting hit of grass. Big boysenberry and plum notes on the palate front to finish that rest on silky, structured tannins. Tobacco notes come out on the mid-palate into the finish where black olive notes sneak in with a hit of red fruit notes on the back-end. Good integration and balance. 61% Monastrell, 34% Syrah, 5% Petit Verdot (B/B+)
2020 Aubon Climat Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County, CA)… $23.
Pineapple, banana and butterscotch on the nose. This has a buttery mouthfeel that surrounds notes of pineapple, butterscotch and pear notes that are not dominated by oak. Good balance and integration with a fresh finish. (B)
2020 Tread Lightly Chenin Blanc (South Africa)… $12.
Nutty on the nose with notes of soap, fig, wet wool and a kiss of melon. Big fig notes on the front of the palate, balanced by notes of mixed nuts and wet wool front to finish where the wool notes linger, joined by a kiss of white pepper. Solid Chenin from a country that is well-known for this varietal. The name “Tread Lightly” refers to the winery’s goal to leave a very small carbon footprint. (B+)
2019 Domaine William Fevre Chablis (Burgundy, France)… $45.
A touch of stink action on the noes (hair perm comes to mind) with notes of popcorn kernel, pear, apple and quince. Pear and apple notes on the front of the finish with a hint of lemon sneaking in on the mid-palate into the finish. Chalk and crushed seashell notes lie underneath. The fruit notes are ripe but balanced by crisp, fresh acidity and minerality. This baby has a long finish. Unoaked Chardonnay at its best. (B+/A-)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
