Viña Gormaz Tempranillo Ribera del Duero - 2005 - 7.8 - James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

February 12, 2007

A well balanced tempranillo; a drier tempranillo with some scents of spice and some deep red fruit like plum. My only issue with this bottle is that it could be better than what I had at sampling. This wine has a synth cork and my palatte can detect a synth cork easily. To me it lends distinct notes to the wine that give that mouth feel a complete closure of satisfaction to one where you realise it could have been better.

¡Salud!

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© 2007  James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez


Casa Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Rapel Valley Syrah - 2002 - 9.2 - James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

February 5, 2007

I have forgotten about Chile for red wine. I have tried so many and have been so disappointed. I have thought of Chile as a nation-state for white white. This is a brilliant Syrah; dense, rich, silky, packed with dark Ecuador chocolate, subtle cardamom, packets of blackberry, cedar, and plum. This Syrah deserves fine artisan chocolate or hearty beef entre. This is a great value for the quality of wine presented (I believe I purchased this on sale for $18.99)

¡Salud!

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Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com

© 2007  James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez


Boekenhoutskloop Porcupine Ridge Syrah South Africa WO Coastal - 8.5 - James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

February 5, 2007

This is a reasonable priced Syrah. This Syrah exhibits a lot of pepper on initial taste and finish. This Syrah is too pepper focused and it the fruit is second fiddle here. The warm peppers are wonderful and I look forward upon each Syrah tasting but I equally value a strong fruit component; I like fruit diversity including blackberry, plum and pomegranite to make for a complete Syrah. This Syrah is technically good but it does not have all of the components I look for on tasting.

¡Salud!

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Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com

© 2007  James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez


Kaiken Ultra Mendoza Malbec - 2004 - 9.0 - James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

February 5, 2007

Kaiken Ultra Malbec is a dense rich and supple Malbec; Kaiken’s non-Ultra Malbec is good this is even more delightful. The success of any Malbec is in it’s ability to be a high pepper, herbaceous balancing equally bright pulsing fruit. This wine exhibits wondrous mild and fragrant pepper, one of my favourite components eucalyptus, and brilliant wild dark berries. A wonderful bottle of Malbec; this deserves a choice cut of beef.

¡Salud!

****

 

Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com

© 2007  James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez


Bartholomew Park Chardonnay Estate Vineyard 2002 - 9.0 - James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

February 3, 2007

A wonderful winery to visit; in fact one day looking for another winery in Sonoma I ran into the beautiful Bartholomew Park Winery. The vineyard houses the homestead’s founder’s personal home. Now a museum you can enjoy what it must have been like yesteryear. I enjoyed the tasting room as well. It showcases a historical walk-through. The staff are wonderfully friendly. I enjoyed their 2002 Estate Chardonnay with a very small production of 90 cases. Such a wonderful and delicate citrus, fuji apple, and comice pear with a slight butter caramel and finishing with nutmeg.

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Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com

© 2007  James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez