Taste of Mendocino 2017 Wine Review – James Melendez

Mendocino is a known wine country and wildly beautiful. I love the pristine beauty of this rugged and gorgeously beautiful wine country.

This wine country looks like no other wine country not just in California but all wine countries anywhere.

My journey began years ago when I would buy an every day sparkling wine called Scharffenberger Cellars. The founding date is 1981 and from 1998 to 2004 was called Pacific Echo. I was deeply disappointed with the name change–for me it felt inauthentic. It is all about brand management and yes consumers do take note. A name change can reflect a change in wine making philosophy or even source of grapes–a name change can simply be a name change. I was glad to see the return of the Scharffenberger Cellars name as it was a trusted brand name for me.

I was fortunate to visit Taste of Mendocino 10-June of this year (2017) to taste from familiar to newer producers. I attend as many wine tasting events in the city as possible–there are so many that I can usually attend 80% of them annually.

I wish I could have tasted more but appreciate all that I do get to taste.

Wine Reviews:

Artevino

Artevino Mendocino County Cowboy Red NV 91 Points

Artevino Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2014 93 Points

***

Barra of Mendocino/Girasole

Barra of Mendocino Mendocino Pinot Noir 2015 91 Points

Barra of Mendocino Mendocino Muscat Canelli 2016 92 Points

Girasole Vineyards Mendocino Pinot Blanc 2016 92 Points

***

Bonterra

Bonterra Mendocino County Merlot 2014 – 91 Points

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Goldeneye

****

Goldeneye Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine NV – 92 Points

Goldeneye Gowan Creek Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2014 – 93 Points

***

Greenwood Ridge Vineyards

Greenwood Ridge Mendocino Rosé of Pinot Noir 92 Points

Greenwood Ridge Anderson Valley Reserve Pinot Noir 2014 93 Points

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Handley Cellars

Handley Anderson Valley Pinot Gris 2015 – 92 Points

****

Tahto

Tatho Mendocino Rosé 2016 – 92 Points

Tatho Bauer Vineyards Mendocino Sauvignon Blanc 2016 – 92 Points

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Frey Vineyards

Frey Vineyards Biodynamic Mendocino Sauvignon Blanc 2014 90 Points

Frey Vineyards Organic Mendocino Pinot Grigio 2015 91 Points

Frey Vineyards Organic Mendocino Zinfandel 2014 92 Points

Frey Vineyards Redwood Valley Sangiovese 2014 91 Points

***

Navarro

Navarro Anderson Valley Chardonnay 2014 – 92 Points

Navarro Anderson Valley Pinot Blanc 2016 – 93 Points

****

Meyer Family Cellars

Meyer Family Yorkville Highlands Syrah 2012 93 Points

Meyer Family Yorkville Highlands Rose of Syrah 2016 92 Point

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Philo Ridge

Philo Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Nelson Ranch Viognier 2015 93 Points

Philo Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Helluva Vineyard Pinot Gris 2015 92 Points

Philo Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Haiku Ranch Chardonnay 2014 92 Points

Philo Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Firebird Vineyard Zinfandel 2012 – 93 Points

Philo Ridge Vineyards Mendocino Vittorio Vineyard Primitivo 2013 – 93 Points

Philo Ridge Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2012 – 92 Points

***

Theopolis Vineyard

Theopolis VineyardMendocino Symphony 2015 92 Points

Theopolis Vineyard MendocinoRosé of Petit Sirah 2016 91 Points

Theopolis Vineyard Mendocino Pinot Noir 2014 – 93 Points

Don’t forget to include in your Mendocino County wine in your tasting plans!

Santé,

James

James the Wine Guy

Demystifying Wine…One Bottle at a Time from all wine regions around the world.

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About James Melendez

I love wine. I am passionate about the subject as well as art, music, lyric writing and poetry, history, sciences, organization management, and making things less complex I have been a former national wine marketing manager for a large off-premise food and wine retailer (280+ retail locations in 30 US States); the love for wine taught me the good practice of using the best methodologies to right side a business which unto itself is complex. Further complexity is wine. Wine simple to enjoy and yet profoundly complex because of many factors: Many grape varieties States of wine: sparkling, still and fortified wines Vintage Blends Regions/AVAs/DOCs etc. Many producer styles Many producers Limited supply Limited and often restricted distribution My experience is still a lot of intimidation with respect to wine. Wine means many things to many people; status, fear, success, ‘you’ve arrived’, enjoyment, good times, tradition and even ceremony. I have consulted with wine producers and association. I have spoken on Wine and Social Media, Wine and Video and The Business of Wine in conferences in the United States and Europe. Beer and spirits do have the same dynamics–there are many producers but compared to wine there is no other consumer product like it. I have been writing about since November 2006 on my site and I have over 3,000 wine videos on my YouTube channel talking about general wine subject matter as well as specific educational topics on wine and reviews. I have been a wine judge and have traveled to many wine countries in the new and old world. Wine has taken me to great places. Life is tough for most of us and it is nice to celebrate life with those near and even far. What wine is really about is sitting around a table with family and friends raising your wine glass and saying—to life! I love to write about travel, food, technology and business–please subscribe! Santé, *** A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions around the world. Read more of my wine reviews:jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2022, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2010 James P. Melendez – All Rights Reserved.

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2 Responses to Taste of Mendocino 2017 Wine Review – James Melendez

Ed Donovan says:

December 31, 2017 at 3:12 PM

All 30 wines in this piece are scored from 90-93 points!

James Melendez says:

January 3, 2018 at 5:37 PM

Yes, that is true. I might have been biased and went for select wines. Unlike some reviews I rarely give anything above 95 points and have never issued a 99 or 100 Points–only once have I give a 98 Point score.