Bogle California Sauvignon Blanc – 2008 – 8.4 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

A decent but not a thrilling Sauvignon Blanc–Sauvignon Blancs can be exciting and work deliciously with seafood.  This wine contains notes of dried lemon peel, blood orange zest and fennel.

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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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Turley Old Vines California Zinfandel – 2007 – 8.8 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

This Zinfandel exhibits lovely notes of rose petal, nutmeg, cardamom, Crimini mushroom and wood.

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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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Tesouro Port Cellars California Dessert Wine – 2005 – 8.7 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

This wine exhibits notes of toasted hazelnut, caramel and mid-dark chocolate.

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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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Bray Vineyard California Tempranillo – 2006 – 8.8 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

An 8.8 for a non-specific appellation Tempranillo—that is surprising. This Tempranillo exhibits a bold acid structure encapsulating a medium body wine; scented with cinnamon and ground clove, field mushroom and chocolate dust.

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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.

Barretto Cellars California Vinho Tinto – 2005 – 8.6 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

This wine is 39% Tempranillo, 30% Touriga Nacional, 28% Tannat, and 3% Touriga Franca. This wine has a nice weight with its tannin, alcohol and acid structure. The wine exhibits the following notes: Simmered red plum and red pear; a dash of winter baking spices and a hint of earth and wood.

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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

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.

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Kenwood Vintage California Red Wine – 2003 – 6.8 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

I knew this was not going to be the best of wine experiences when I saw the synth cork. I knew my experience was going to be un-exciting at best. The tannic structure was weak and each subsequent note equally so. Oddly enough the near absence of any tannins focused the pepper notes too heavily. In the end, I had to say this wine was so weak that I pondered whether it was wine.

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A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions from around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2007 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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Two Tone Farm California Chardonnay – 2004 – 8.5 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

I get frightened when I see just “California” as the source of juice in any wine bottle. For me it is watered convenience for the maker; I always think of this as a profit motive only; and when I think of that I think quality too is watered down. I am hard on California-designate wines. I want a specific appellation and I think it matters as much as breathing. I have time and again picked up a California Pinot and each time I am wounded. The taste like vinegar. This chardonnay is a nice every day drinking wine. I was not offended as I expected to be. The screw cap and art work certainly are appealing. One thinks that the contents will be good; and in this case that is not a bad assumption. This is a good chardonnay but will not keep you up late at night. Evened oak; simmered green apple, scented Eastern sweet spice.

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A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions from around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2007 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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Mark West California Pinot Noir – 2005 – 8.3 – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

I would buy Mark West Pinot and I used to buy it when the grapes were sourced from Russian River; now the bottle says the grapes are sourced California coastal regions. For me the Russian River bottle was quite superior to this bottle. This wine gave to much heat both in alcohol and pepper.  Pinot Noir can be quite good as long as that is not the majority of flavors your palette senses is not singular.  I like my Pinot Noirs balanced with pepper, cranberry, dark ripe berries, rose petal, Eucalyptus and a dusting of chocolate.

¡Salud!

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A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions from around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2006 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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