Prolific wine reviewer, writer, and videographer James Melendez — also known as James The Wine Guy — has produced thousands of video wine reviews over nearly two decades. A former national wine marketing manager for a large, off-premise food and wine retailer, Melendez is passionate about wine and business.
In 2024, he began producing short-format reviews for Instagram and YouTube. These video shorts introduce the producer and his thoughts on the wine’s color, nose, and palate profiles. Melendez also awards scores based on a 100-point scale.
Here’s what he had to say about the 2021 Jupiter Estate Pinot Noir:
Another fine Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon, Bells Up. This is called Jupiter. It is a Chehalem Mountains Estate Pinot Noir, ’21 vintage. Composition of the following clones: that is 113, 667, and Pommard. This wine is 13.5% ABV; 12 months in 41% new French oak. Be sure to serve in a very nice Burgundy glass.
Luxuriant notes here of Morello cherry, as well as boysenberry notation, evergreen forest, as well as a characterization of both dried and fresh red rose petals, and spice. A very well-developed Pinot Noir. A rich acidity; characterization on this would be Italian sour cherry, as well as raspberry notation, thyme, cracked pepper, and graphite. This wine is 94 points out of 100 points.
Watch the video, here:
