The 2010 TAPAS (Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society) Grand Tasting San Francisco James Meléndez / James the Wine Guy

This year’s TAPAS Grand Tasting moved from a small conference room at Ft. Mason to it’s rightful spot in one of the wine halls.  Attendance seemed to have doubled from last year.  Not only doubling but a continue showing of Iberian varietals from California, Oregon and Arizona.  California dominated the winery showing at TAPAS.  The wines poured at TAPAS continue to develop—it was nice to see not only Tempranillo there but a whole host of other Iberian varietals—and how these varietals have a signature that is also an homage to Spain and Portugal but also honors it’s current home.

I look forward to more Tapas and TAPAS—and as always I am working on writing up each wine I tasted:

Forlorn Hope Suspiro del Moro Amador County Alvarelhão– 2008 – 9.2

D’Afonso-Curran Santa Ynez Valley Tempranillo – 9.1

Bodegas Paso Robles Paso Robles Iberia Red Blend – 2003 – 9.1

Bodegas Paso Robles Paso Robles Viva Yo Red Blend– 2005 – 9.1

Bodegas Paso Robles Paso Robles Graciano 2006 – 9.1

St. Amant Amador County Touriga – 2008 – 9.1

Forlorn Hope Mil Amores Amador County Red Blend – 2009 – 9.1

Dos Cabezas Sonoita – 2008 – 9.1

Twisted Oak River of Skulls Calaveras County Monastrell – 2007 – 9.1

Abacela Estate Southern Oregon Tempranillo – 2006 – 9.1

Parador Napa Valley Reserva Red Blend – 2003 – 9.0

Forlorn Hope Amador County Que Saudade Vedelho – 2009 – 9.0

Pierce Ranch San Antonio Valley Tempranillo – 2006 – 9.0

Pierce Ranch San Antonio Valley Cosechiero Red Blend – 2007 – 9.0

Quinta Cruz Bokish Vineyard Lodi Graciano – 2007 – 9.0

Quinta Cruz San Antonio Valley Touriga – 2007 – 9.0

Ripken Old Spanish Red – 2005 – 9.0

St. Amant Amador County Verdelho – 2009 – 9.0

Twisted Oak Calaveras County Parcel 17 Red Blend – 2007 – 9.0

Valley View Applegate Valley Tempranillo – 2006 – 9.0

Abacela Umpqua Cuvee Tempranillo – 2007 – 9.0

Abacela Reserve Southern Oregon Tempranillo – 2005 – 9.0

Abacela Southern Oregon Estate Port – 2007 – 9.0

Barreto Paso Robles Tempranillo – 2007 – 9.0

Bodega del Sur Calaveras County Tempranillo – 2007 – 9.0

Callaghan Padres Sonoita Red Blend – 2008 – 9.0

Callaghan Padres Sonoita Red Blend – 2007 – 9.0

Bodege del Sur Calaveras County Carmesi Red Blend – 2007 – 9.0

Bodegas Paso Robles Paso Robles Dona Blanca – 2008 – 9.0

Bray Shenandoah Valley Vinho Tinto – 2006 – 9.0

Dos Cabezas Cochise County Red Blend – 2008 – 9.0

Coral Mustang Paso Robles Tempranillo – 2006 – 9.0

Core Santa Barbara County C3 Tempranillo – 2007 – 9.0

Viña Castellana Sierra Foothills Abuelita Red Blend – 2006 – 8.9

Fenestra Tourvanillo Red Blend – 2006 – 8.9

Forlorn Hope Napa Valley La Gitana Torrontes – 2009 – 8.9

Berryessa Gap Rocky Ridge Yolo County Tempranillo – 2007 – 8.9

Bodega del Sur Albarino – 2009 – 8.9

Bokisch Terra Alta Vineyard Lodi Albariño – 2008 – 8.9

Abacela Southern Oregon Estate Albarino – 2009 – 8.9

Barreto Paso Robles Touriga Nacional – 2007 – 8.9

Barreto California Vinho Tinto – 8.9

Barreto Lodi Port – 2005 – 8.9

Bokisch Liberty Oaks Vineyard Lodi Tempranillo 2005 – 8.9

Bray Shenandoah Valley Tempranillo – 2006 – 8.9

Callaghan Ann’s Selection Cochise County Red Blend – 2009 – 8.9

Callaghan Padres Sonoita Red Blend – 2005 – 8.9

Core Santa Barbara County Grenache Blanc – 2007 – 8.9

Core Santa Barbara County Grenache – 2007 – 8.9 -

A Cellar full of Noise Paso Robles Tempranillo – 2006 – 8.9

Coral Mustang Paso Robles Tempranillo – 2005 – 8.9

Core Santa Barbara County Mister Mourved – 2006 – 8.9

D’Afonso-Curran Santa Ynez Valley Grenache Blanc – 2009 – 8.9

D’Afonso-Curran Santa Ynez Valley Grenache Gris – 2009 – 8.9

Murrieta’s Well Livermore Tempranillo – 2007 – 8.9

Parador Napa Valley Red Table Wine – 2005 – 8.9

Pierce Ranch San Antonio Valley Albarino – 2009 – 8.9

Quinta Cruz Silvaspoons Vineyard Lodi Verdelho – 2009 – 8.9

Quinta Cruz San Antonio Valley Tempranillo – 2007 – 8.9

Ripken Tempranillo – 2005 – 8.9

Truchard Carneros Tempranillo – 2002 – 8.9

Fenestra Lodi Verdelho  – 2009 – 8.9

Murrieta’s Well Livermore Zarzuela Red Blend – 2007 – 8.8

Ripken Vintage Port – 2005 – 8.8

Valley View Applegate Valley Tempranillo – 2007 – 8.8

Viña Castellana Sierra Foothills Monastrell – 2009 – 8.8

Viña Castellana Sierra Foothills Garnacha – 2005 – 8.8

Viña Castellana Sierra Foothills Tempranillo – 2005 – 8.8

Parador Napa Valley Tempranillo – 2006 – 8.8

Berryessa Gap Yolo County Tempranillo – 2007 – 8.8

Bodega del Sur Verdelho – 2008 – 8.8

Bokisch Lodi Garnacha – 2007 – 8.8

Bokisch Lodi Graciano – 2006 – 8.8

Bonny Doon Vinho Grinho – 2009 – 8.8

Bonny Doon Clos de Gilroy – 2009 – 8.8

Bray Shenandoah Valley Verdelho – 2008 – 8.8

Core Santa Barbara County Elevation Sensaton 2006 – 8.8

Fenestra Lodi Touriga  – 2006 – 8.8

Fenestra Lodi Tempranillo – 2007 – 8.8

Bonny Doon Albarino – 2009 – 8.7

Valley View Port – 2008 – 8.7

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¡Salud!

James Meléndez

James the Wine Guy

http://jamesthewineguy.com/

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A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions around the world.

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¡Que Rico!—Wondrous Wines at Second Annual Tempranillo Advocates Producers and Amigos Society (TAPAS) Grand Tasting – Sunday, June 14, 2009 – Ft. Mason, San Francisco – James Meléndez / James the Wine Guy

The second annual Tempranillo Advocates Producers and Amigos Society Grand Tasting took place Sunday, June 14, 2009 at Ft. Mason, San Francisco.  TAPAS’s focus is American grown Iberian varietals and the 40 producers pouring wines from California, Arizona and Oregon.  The Ft. Mason Conference Center is much smaller than the exhibition halls and I would expect that this event will grow to a bigger space next year.  The center was packed with many people who appreciate Iberian wines produced in the United States.  I was not sure what to expect at this tasting other than an Iberian homage and I can tell you that wines that were presented were much better than expected—fantastic quality, wondrous artistry.  I do think TAPAS Grand Tasting highlighting how Iberian varietals can be grown in the U.S. and have both an homage to the Iberian peninsula and also infused with characteristics from the respective U.S. appellations.

U.S. wines and in particular California the land where nearly all varietals are not only possible but come with great promise and often with great delivery.  The interest in Spanish and Portuguese wines (and in addition to other worldly varietals) has made California in particular diversify vineyards to accommodate the more experiential and more demanding palate.  The interest in Spanish and Portuguese wines begged for a U.S. translation.  Meeting some of the winemakers at this Grand Tasting was to show what their grapes could do and how some old world and new world techniques could produce complex wines that speak an Iberian dialect and fluidity promise wines of originality, promise and excitement.  I walked away pleased and my imagination soared on what was possible in Iberian varietals and their rightful place being grown across the pond.  The question for future vintages in the next TAPAS showcase kept repeating—‘what exciting wines are yet to come?’

Stay tuned for my wine reviews from this TAPAS Grand Tasting.

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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:

www.youtube.com/user/jamesthewineguy