AlaWine.com: Super Award Winning Wines

Top Wines from 2011 Portland Wine Competition

The 2011 Portland Seafood & Wine Festival Wine Competition Winners have been announced and Willamette Valley Vineyards earned the Best of Show Award for its 2009 Riesling. Two other wines won Double Gold Awards; they are: the Noble Estate '09 Muscat and the Seufert Winery 09 Dolcetto.

Gold Medal winners include:
* Barking Frog Winery 08 Pinot Noir
* Crater Lake Cellars 09 Grenache
* Duck Pond Cellars 09 Syrah
* EdenVale 05 Tempranillo
* Honeywood Winery 08 Pinot Gris
* Maryhill Winery 06 Sangiovese
* Maryhill Winery 08 Chardonnay
* Methven Family Vineyards 09 Riesling
* Oak Knoll Winery NV Marionberry W
* ineSpangler Vineyards 08 Petit Verdot
* Spangler Vineyards 08 Cabernet Franc
* Terra Vina 08 La Famiglia Pinot Noir
* Troon Vineyard 06 Old Vine Meritage
* WildAire Cellars 09 Clay Court Vineyard Pinot Noir

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Jason-Stephens Winery 2007 Estate Select Merlot

The Award-Winning Wine:
Jason-Stephens Winery 2007 Estate Select Merlot

Reason for Reviewing:
The Jason-Stephens Winery 2007 Estate Select Merlot won a Best of Class Merlot award at the recently completed 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
The Jason-Stephens Winery practices California Sustainable Winegrowing... addressing three interlinked goals of environmental soundness, economic feasibility, social equity, and covering a broad range of elements in the production of grapes and wine – from the earth to the bottle.

Winery Notes:
Deep ruby black color. Aromas of sautéed peppers, plum skin, and cedar follow through on a supple entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body with tasty vanilla, dried goji berry, peppercorn, and mint notes. Finishes with a smooth, velvety tannin fade.

AlaWine Notes:
Jason-Stephens Winery 2007 Estate Select Merlot stands as a dark ruby purple color in the glass. Aromatic aromas of ripe dark berries lift to the nose. A smooth opening unveils rich blackberry, whole plum, and blackcurrant flavors which hold throughout a long dry spicy finish.

Bottom Line:
Jason-Stephens Winery 2007 Estate Select Merlot is a fruity, yet well balanced, well integrated wine, with interesting layers of tastes and a dry, yet flavorful, finish. Suggested retail price is $38. Overall composite score: 96 points.

Best of the New York Ice Wine Competition

Casa Larga's 2007 Fiori Vidal Blanc ($45) earned Best of Show and Double Gold Medal honors at the recently completed New York Ice Wine Competition.

Other super-award winners included:
Casa Larga Vineyards’ 2008 Riesling ($55, Double Gold) and
Mazza-Chautauqua Cellars 2006 Vidal ($42.95 Gold Medal).

Best of Class Syrahs, 2011 San Francisco Wine Competition

Five Syrahs earned Best of Class Awards in their respective price categories at the recently completed 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition -- the winners are:

Up to $14.99 Fetzer Vineyards 2008 Shiraz $8.99
$15 to $19.99 Castoro Cellars 2008 Reserve Syrah $19.95
$20 to $24.99 Claar Cellars 2008 Syrah Columbia Valley $21.99
$25 to $29.99 Navarro Vineyards 2009 Syrah $25
$30 to $39.99 Volante Vineyards 2006 Syrah, McCoy Vineyards $30

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Thacher Winery 2008 Triumvirate Zinfandel

The Award-Winning Wine:
Thacher Winery 2008 Triumvirate Zinfandel, Paso Robles

Reason for Reviewing:
Thacher Winery 2008 Triumvirate Zinfandel was named as Red Wine Sweepstakes Winner at the recently completed 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
The winery's Kentucky Ranch vineyard and gardens was part of a 4,000 acre Spanish Land Grant until 1869 after which it became a thriving horse breeding operation.

AlaWine Notes:
Thacher Winery 2008 Triumvirate Zinfandel pours in the glass as a ruby-garnet color. Ripe berry aromas, bramble berry, blackberry, radiate to the nose. A satin smooth opening blossoms into a spicy berry parfait of luscious layered flavors which languish through a very long fruit and vanillin oak finish.

Bottom Line:
Sourced from three different westside Paso Robles Zinfandel vineyards, Thacher Winery 2008 Triumvirate is a very well structured and balanced Zin with an array of interesting and delicious flavors and textures. While food friendly, this wine is so well done, it deserves to be enjoyed on its own. Suggested retail price is $36. Overall composite score: 98 points.

Super Award Winners, 2011 Winemaker Challenge International

Four V. Sattui wines advanced to the championship round, with its 2008 V. Sattui Pilgrim Vineyard Zinfandel ($30) besting the field of more than 700 entries, to win Winemaker Challenge Wine of the Year. Last week's Winemaker Challenge is one of the few U.S. wine competitions that utilize winemakers exclusively to evaluate its entries. Other super-award wining wines included:

Best of Show Sparkling Wine
Gloria Ferrer Brut, Sonoma County ($20)

Best of Show White Wine
Fallbrook Winery 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, California ($16)

Best of Show Dessert Wine
Lambouri 2000 Commandaria Legacy, Cyprus ($14)

Best of Class Chardonnay
Chateau Ste. Michelle Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay Horse Heaven Hills ($24)

Best of Class Pinot Noir
J. Lohr 2009 'Fog's Reach' Pinot Noir, Arroyo Seco ($25)

Best of Class Red Bordeaux Blend
J. Lohr 2007 Cuvee ST. E, Paso Robles ($50)

Best of Class Cabernet Sauvignon
V. Sattui 2008 Morisoli Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($55)

Best of Class Syrah
Rocca 2007 Grigsby Vineyard Syrah, Yountville ($45)

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