Corvidea The Keeper Columbia Valley Cabernet Franc – 2007 – 8.9 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

This is a dense, complex wine; giving a distinct earthy characteristic while balancing with winter spices notes; braised blackberry, mushroom and delicate sweet wood.  A lovely wine from Columbia Valley–I have not had a Cab Franc from Columbia Valley and look forward to discovering more.  A perfect wine for this holiday season.  This wine would be an excellent wine for Thanksgiving.

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A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2009 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved.  James the Wine Guy also on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

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Chateau Saint-Valery Saint-Émilion – 2004 – 8.9 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

This wine is predominately Merlot and a small amount of Cabernet Franc.  Time in the bottle has suited this wine well.  A very nice wine that pairs well with the Fall seasons sensibilities.   Well balanced between acid, alcohol, and notes of fallen leaves, vibrant spice elements of ground cardamom and nutmeg sewing together notes of roasted red pear and blackberry.

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A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2009 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved.  James the Wine Guy also on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

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Le Tristan Val de Loire Cabernet Franc – 2007 – 8.9 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

This wine a component in the Bordeaux wine tradition does stand out on it’s own.  Like Malbec is not just a blending grape anymore it is also a bonafine varietal that deserves focus.

This wine from the Val de Loire is a beautiful wine and it is an expression in earth and earthiness.  This wine is bold in notes of Porcini mushroom, moisten earth after rain and subtle fruit notes of cherry and plum.  Low in alcohol –12% and high acid make for a splendid wine with food or on it’s own.

I love Cabernet Franc because it’s signature is it’s own—and cannot be mistaken for a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Pinot Noir.

I give this wine an 8.9 out of 10 points.

I found this wine at Bi-Rite Market in SF for $10.99 bottle

YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N57LNLNe9k8

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A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2009 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved.  James the Wine Guy also on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

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Glen Carlou Grand Classique Paarl Red Blend – 2006 – 8.7 – 2009 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc.   A very familiar South African signature of earth and game; this wine contains the following notes of baked black cherry, black pepper, bramble and nutmeg.

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A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: http://jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2009 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved.  James the Wine Guy also on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

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Château Perray Jouannet Anjou – 2005 – 8.8 – 2009 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

This Cabernet Franc exemplifies a very solid and earthy wine; the earthen notes are exquisetly pronounced but only loveliness is noted in each sip.  A plenitude of Crimini and Porcini mushroom, fallen leaves, ground clove and the scent of rain in a dry climate.  This wine finishes with black plum and cherry.

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A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: http://jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2009 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved.  James the Wine Guy also on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

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St. Mary Bells & Whistles Limestone Coast Red Blend – 2005 – 8.4 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

This red blend is Cabernet Sauvignon 65&, Shiraz 20%, Cabernet Franc 11% and Merlot 4%.  This wine is superbly hot at 15% alcohol.   This wine heat obscures some of the blueberry notes; and plenty of chile Poblano and chile Passilla, some sweet spice on the finish.

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A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2009 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved.  James the Wine Guy also on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

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Santa Ynez Winery Santa Ynez Valley Cabernet Franc v. Santa Ines Winery California Cabernet Franc

Santa Ynez Winery Santa Ynez Valley Cabernet Franc v. Santa Ines Winery California Cabernet Franc.  After a search of the “Santa Ines / Santa Inez” Cabernet Francs–I was more determined to find the good stuff– the Santa Ynez Winery Santa Ynez Valley Cabernet Franc–I had to keeping reaching toward the back of the shelf (at Trader Joes 9th Street, San Francisco) and found a bottle.  It would be very easy to pull the California Cabernet Franc–they look almost identical but that is where the similarities end.  I love a good Cabernet Franc–and in my constant quest for good wines determined to find other great Cabernet Francs.

A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions from around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2009 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved – James the Wine Guy also on Facebook and Twitter.

Callaghan Vineyard Sonoita Padres Red Blend – 2005 – 8.9 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

This is the first Arizona wine I have ever reviewed.  This wine has the following varietal components:  49% Tempranillo, 31% Petit Verdot, 19% Carbernet Sauvignon, and 11% Cabernet Franc.  This red blend gives a nice back structure and giving a nice complexity expressed with it many notes: violet, blackberry-blueberry, ground mace, plum orchard, sage and underbrush.  Makes me curious to want to try other wines from Arizona.

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A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2009 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved.  James the Wine Guy also on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

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Santa Ines Winery California Cabernet Franc – 2006 – 8.0 – Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

After last weeks great find, I go from a high to a disappointment.

Last week I was astounded by the value and wine that I hoped to find again this week.  Last week I found Santa Ynez Valley Winery Santa Inez Valley Cabernet Franc 2006–went to traders and I picked up the Santa Ines Winery California Cabernet Franc 2006.  I thought I had made a mis-spelling in my first entry but I was correct.  What a difference a week makes.  Same logo, new name and different juice.

This Cabernet Franc is 13.2% alcohol content compared with last weeks 13.0% alcohol content.  And yes appellation does make a difference–this California wine compared with it’s more dignified Santa Ynez Valley is markedly different.  Not focused, this is very different juice even if there is a splash of Santa Ynez Valley juice in this bottle.  Lighter, less focused, and without the pack of herbaceousnes and spice.

I am disappointed because I had recommended to so many to give it a try.  I have put a full-stop on the California version and still in favor of the Santa Ynez Valley juice.   But I suspect that few if any of the SYV is still available.

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A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2009 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved.  James the Wine Guy also on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

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Santa Ynez Winery Santa Ynez Valley Cabernet Franc 2006 V. Santa Ines California 2006 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

Last week I wrote about a wonderful Cabernet Franc by the name of “Santa Ynez Valley Winery Santa Ynez Valley Cabernet Franc 2006″ which I purchased at Trader Joes in San Francisco.  Interestingly I went back today and found “Santa Ines Winery California Cabernet Franc 2006.  I didn’t look that carefully at the label–I should have noticed the California on the label.  Keep in mind both were at the same price – $8.99.  Alcohol content is different for the Santa Ynez Valley Cabernet Franc was 13% and the California Cabernet Franc weighs in at 13.2% but beyond appellations and alcohol content these are two different wines.

I thought I had made an error in my initial entry into my blog and as it turns out I was correct and for unknown reasons these bottles have the same logo but different names.  Makes me curious and ultimately disappointed in the change in the wines and was longing for last weeks wine.

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A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2009 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved.  James the Wine Guy also on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

See James the Wine Guy channel for videos on YouTube:

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