Friday Walk Around Tasting at Sam's Fine Wine & Spirits, Lexington, SC 10/24/2014

This tasting is getting addictive. My car seems to head this way about 5 PM every Friday even though the traffic is the most concentrated in the western side of Columbia. This is always a low pressure, high value tasting. It is very pleasant to walk around the store with a taste of wine in hand. Also, they have a very interesting discount rack.

• 2013 Erath Pinot Gris 87 Points

  USA, Oregon

  This is pretty atypical for Oregon Pinot Gris. It is not so much the soft, elegant and subdued flavor and mouth feel we expect. The overall impression of the fruit across the lips is more of a lemon rind meets grapefruit pith with apple, pear and apricot skin. There is a consistent taste of lemon/lime underlying the orchard fruit in a unique, and not unwelcome way. Tastes very young and fresh, and kind of bold. The fruit tend to stick to the roof of the mouth. The Granny Smith apple acid is very crisp and refreshing.

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• 2012 Delas Frères Côtes du Rhône Saint-Esprit 86 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  This is a pretty typical Cote du Rhone blend at this price point. The fruit has a ripe, almost sunburned taste. As in past vintages, this is not an overly fruity wine. It has all the characteristics of a complete taste profile, if not necessarily concentrated and layered. The color is dark red, not quite purple. The nose has lanolin and vanilla with red raspberry and a ever so small hint of violets. The fruit is a little spicy with red and black berries mixed in with sappy type of flavors. Superb balance and nice tannins. Clean, moderate blackberry finish.

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• 2011 Pendulum Red Table Wine 88 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  This is a very nice tasting blend from Washington State, but to my palate, not exactly a 93 point wine. There are lots of tasty things to mention on this wine, but they are not necessarily layered and concentrated enough for an exalted score. The color moderately dark, somewhat more opaque than we would expect for this blend of grapes. The nose is a plus with an interesting array of spicy cigar box, floral, smokey, and various red and dark fruit aromas. The blend of 68% Cabernet, 25% Merlot, 4% Syrah and 3% Tempranillo brings a wider array of fruit flavors than any of the individual varietals could provide. There is plum, cherry, raspberry, red currant and blackberry in a spicy, ripe, almost jammy package. There is the kind of oak that brings out the taste of chocolate. Soft and refined, just not 93 points.

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• 2012 Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Riesling Saint M 87 Points

  Germany, Pfalz

  Like other Riesling's I have tasted from Pfalz, there is more of an Alsatian leaning aroma and flavor profile than from most anywhere else in Germany. Though just a little off dry this is not very sweet at all, and the dominant mouth flavor is big, refreshing acidity. Has a typical Riesling lifted viscosity. Nice job with a reserved style of minerality. Peach, pear, melon and citrus fruit. Already nicely integrated 2012 must have been a very good vintage. Despite big malic acid, the finish super clean and fruity.

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