July 29, 2007
I love Cabernet Sauvignon and it truly is the king of all Napa wine varietals. But I visit and drink many Napa Cabernet Sauvignons and my initial impression…. beef and Cabernet? The reason for the question mark is that you expect boldness, immediate greatness from all Napa Cabernet Sauvignons– especially those of pedigree. I view wines of pedigree (appellation, wine maker, winery reputation, barrel program, etc) as something that I should enjoy immediately. So many I find inconsequential or un-interesting or unpassionate.
Salvestrin Napa Valley Salvestrin Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is well structured, boldly balanced, finessed with muscle and a touch of a seraphim. The oak balances the fruit so that neither is ahead of the other. This wine is full of rounded dark red fruit, brilliant cedar and bramble, and hints of nutmeg, Acai, minerals in a stream, plum, chocolate and trace of fall baking spices.
****
Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com
© 2007 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez
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Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley | 
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Posted by jamesthewineguy
July 29, 2007
This Tandem Pinot Noir demonstrated excellence in a very difficult year. The fruit was elegant, silken, there was a warm wave of soft peppers, cardamom, rose petal, bramble, cedar and boysenberry.
****
Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com
© 2007 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez
No Comments » | Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast | Permalink
Posted by jamesthewineguy
July 29, 2007
Tandem has a wonderful suite of Pinot Noirs. This is a Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir and has many characteristics that mark this as a Sonoma Pinot. There is a generous pepper, slight eucalyptus, rose petal, carnation, and bounteous red ripe fruit in a structure of elegance and in a ready to drink now.
****
Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com
© 2007 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez
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Posted by jamesthewineguy
July 24, 2007
Twin Oaks a very small producer had just 75 cases in 2005. This Pinot Noir presented with fresh cedar, smoke, chocolate, ripe Turkish fig, just picked blackberry; well structured from initial taste to finish.
****
Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com
© 2007 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez
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Posted by jamesthewineguy
July 24, 2007
This Woodenhead Pinot Noir is markedly different from it’s cousin Morning Dew Ranch. This finish on this wine was far less refined and had so little focus and was lost on the finish.
****
Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com
© 2007 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez
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Posted by jamesthewineguy
July 24, 2007
Woodenhead has a nice portfolio of Pinot Noirs and have a diversity of well regarded appellations. Anderson Valley cool, cool, cool for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Both of these grapes have never had it so good. The Pinot Noir exhibited generous acid, rose petal, black pepper, Turkish fig, evergreen forest, and ground clove.
****
Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com
© 2007 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez
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Posted by jamesthewineguy
July 23, 2007
This is my favourite Pinot Noir from Woodenhead. This Pinot is bold lush and soft and silken. This Pinot has a fragrant carnation nose; bramble, worn suede, smoke, Oaxacan spices, and dark plum.
****
Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com
© 2007 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez
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Posted by jamesthewineguy
July 23, 2007
This Pinot Noir is a wonderful homage to Russian River Valley. The structure is balanced and recalls it’s heritage to Russian River Valley. This Pinot Noir has wondrous cracking wood, ground clove, dark chocolate, plout and warm black spice.
James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez
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Posted by jamesthewineguy
