AlaWine.com: Super Award Winning Wines

Columbia Crest Winery 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon

The Award-Winning Wine:
Columbia Crest Winery 2008 Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley

Reason for Reviewing:
Columbia Crest Winery 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon was selected as a Best of Class winner at the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
Columbia Crest Winery's 2005 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was picked as the #1 Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator in 2009.

Winery Notes:
"Aromas of vanilla bean, coffee bean, and dark cherries lead to a medium-bodied palate accented by dark chocolate covered pomegranate. The supple finish offers silky tannins with hints of dark chocolate and spice." Ray Einberger, Winemaker

AlaWine Notes:
Columbia Crest Winery 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon shows as a dark garnet color in the glass. Ripe blackberry aromas lift to the nose. A smooth opening reveals an abundance of berry flavors, black berry, blackcurrant, and thread of cherry. Flavors cascade through a long dry, light leather finish.

Bottom Line:
Columbia Crest Winery 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon is a very fruity and flavorful Cab with interesting layers of some complexity. An excellent value at a suggested retail price of $13. Overall composite score: 94 points.

Grant & Eddie 2008 Merlot

The Award-Winning Wine:
Grant & Eddie 2008 Merlot, North Yuba Ramey Vineyard

Reason for Reviewing:
Grant & Eddie 2008 Merlot earned a Best of Class award at the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

AlaWine Notes:
The Grant & Eddie 2008 Merlot stands as a dark purple color in the glass. Quite aromatic, blackberries and floral hints on the nose. Full-bodied ripe blackberry continues to the palate, along with blackcurrant and black olive flavors, and a spicy highlight. The toasty oak finish is long and very dry, framing the fruit with moderate tannins and a bacon note.

Bottom Line:
Grant & Eddie 2008 Merlot is a full-body, fruity wine with lots of interesting, layered flavors. A very good wine to serve with grilled or roasted red meats, including barbecue. An excellent value at a suggested retail price is $20. Overall composite score: 95 points.

2011 Newport Wine Competition Winners

The results are in from the Newport (OR) Seafood & Wine Festival Wine Competition, the longest continuous wine competition in the Northwest. Best of Show honors went to Eola Hills Wine Cellars for its 2006 Oregon Sauvignon Blanc, Vin d'or Late Harvest, and to Red Slagle Creek Vineyards for its 2007 Southern Oregon Claret (45% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon).

Thirty-five wines won top-honor Gold Medals, with five wineries earning two Gold Medals each:

Cliff Creek 2006 Red Blend Southern Oregon (43% CabF, 39% CabS, 18% Merlot)
Cliff Creek 2006 Syrah Southern Oregon Estate Grown

J.Scott Cellars 2010 Pinot Blanc Willamete Valley Pinot Blanc
J.Scott Cellars 2009 Syrah Rogue Valley Petite Sirah

Red Diamond 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
Red Diamond 2008 Merlot Columbia Valley

Vitis Ridge Winery 2007 Malbec Columbia Valley Malbec Wahluke Slope
Vitis Ridge Winery 2009 Pinot Gris Willamete Valley

Zerba Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley Bowlus Hills
Zerba Cellars 2006 Syrah Columbia Valley (95% Syrah, 4% Grenache, 1% Mourvedre)

For more information, and other medal-winning wines, click here.

Gracianna 2008 Bacigalupi Pinot Noir

The Award-Winning Wine:
Gracianna 2008 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Bacigalupi Vineyard

Reason for Reviewing:
Gracianna 2008 Bacigalupi Pinot Noir earned a Best of Class at the recently completed 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
"Gracianna wine is for those who have something to be grateful for. Gracianna - Grace, Graciousness, Gratitude"

Winery Notes:
This classic Burgundian-style wine is a delicate but complex wine. It is light colored, silky and crisp with a round mouth feel that has brilliant outstanding fruit forward floral notes. This wine has a hint of cherries, spice and cola. The excellent acid balance of this luscious wine ensures it will compliment any meal.

AlaWine Notes:
Gracianna 2008 Bacigalupi Pinot Noir pours as a clear, medium ruby-garnet color. On the nose, an aromatic potpourri wafts above the rim of the glass. A smooth opening cradles ripe berry and cherry flavors onto the palate, and complementary flavors unfold across a long, dry finish with a spicy highlight.

Bottom Line:
Gracianna 2008 Bacigalupi Pinot Noir is a flavorful, fruit-forward, yet elegant, Pinot that drinks very nicely on its own, but would also pair very nicely with most dinner entrees. Suggested retail price is $48. Overall composite score: 96 points.