AlaWine.com: Super Award Winning Wines

2012 San Diego International Wine Competition Winners

The results are in from the 29th edition of the San Diego International Wine Competition, held earlier this month, March 10-11. The super-award-winning wines include:

Wine of the Year
Calcareous Vineyard 2008 Syrah, Paso Robles $34

Winery of the Year
Wollersheim Winery, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin

Best of Show Sparkling Wine
Domaine Carneros by Taittinger
2006 Le Reve Blanc de Blanc, Carneros $95 

Best of Show White Wine
Pikorua 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand $15

Best of Show Dessert Wine
Casa Larga Vineyards 2009 Fiore
Riesling Ice Wine, Finger Lakes, New York $55

Best of Show Rose Wine
Alba Vineyard 2010 Chelsea Dry Rose, Estate
Warren Hills, New Jersey $11

Best of Show Fortified Wine
Quady Winery 2010 Essensia Orange Muscat, California $25

Best of Show Fruit Wine
St. James Winery Strawberry Wine, American $9

Best of Show Distilled Grape Spirit
Korbel VSOP Gold Reserve Brandy, $15

Best of Class Bordeaux Blend
Flora Springs 2009 Trilogy, Napa Valley $65

Best of Class Cabernet Franc
Jeff Runquist Winery 2010 Cabernet Franc
Salman Vineyard, Clarksburg $20

Best of Class Cabernet Sauvignon
Cakebread Cellars 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
Dancing Bear Ranch, Howell Mountain $106

Best of Class Chardonnay
Flora Springs 2010 Chardonnay, Napa Valley $20

Best of Class Chianti
Dellatori 2008 Chianti DOCG, Italy $28

Best of Class Gruner Veltliner
Zocker 2010 Gruner Veltliner
Paragon Vineyard, Edna Valley $20

Best of Class Merlot
St. Supery 2009 Merlot, Estate, Rutherford $50

Best of Class Pinot Grigio
Cycles Gladiator 2011 Pinot Grigio, California $12

Best of Class Pinot Noir
V. Sattui Winery 2010 Pinot Noir
Henry Ranch, Los Carneros $39

Best of Class Red Rhone Blend
Hahn Winery 2010 GSM, Central Coast $12

Best of Class Riesling
Wollersheim Winery White Riesling, American $9 

Best of Class Seyval
Wollersheim Winery 2010 Prairie Fume, American $10

Best of Class Traminette
Tabor Hill Winery 2010 Traminette, Lake Michigan Shore $19

Best of Class Viognier
Robert Hall 2010 Viognier, Paso Robles $20

Best of Class Zinfandel
Chatom Vineyards 2008 Zinfandel, Calaveras County $20

For more information, click here.

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Mutt Lynch Winery 2009 "mbf" Primitivo

The Award-Winning Wine:
Mutt Lynch Winery 2009 "mbf" Primitivo

Reason for Reviewing:
Mutt Lynch Winery 2009 "mbf" Primitivo earned a "Best of Class" award at the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
A portion of proceeds from every bottle of Mutt Lynch wine is donated to support local animal rescue organizations. And, I love their tagline "Bark Less, Wag More!"

Winery Notes:
"Aromas of deep, ripe red berry fruit in the nose - there is a distinct 'grapey' quality to the wine's fresh fruit character. Chocolate, vanilla and spice notes from the Francois Freres oak barrels add some nice complexity to the nose and entry. The wine has excellent balance in flavors and mouth-feel, with nice chewy tannins in the full, rich finish."

AlaWine Notes:
Mutt Lynch Winery 2009 "mbf"(man's best friend) Primitivo shows as a dark garnet color in the glass. Lots of ripe berry aromas rise to the nose. Bramble berry and cherry flavors across the palate and a nice grip through a long fruit and oak finish.

Bottom Line:
Mutt Lynch Winery 2009 "mbf" Primitivo from Speedy Creek Vineyard in Knights Valley, Sonoma County, is balanced, layered, and interesting, a good value at a suggested retail price of $24.99. Overall composite score: 92 points.

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