April 2007

Lynfred Winery 2005 Malbec

The Award-Winning Wine:
Lynfred Winery 2005 American Malbec

The Reason for Reviewing:
Lynfred Winery 2005 Malbec was one of just 23 Double Gold medal winners, including nine red wines (from among 1700 medal winners), at the recently completed 2007 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
Lynfred Winery is the oldest and largest, and most-awarded, continually-operating, winery in the state of Illinois.

AlaWine Notes:
The Lynfred Winery 2005 Malbec pours as a bright, dark ruby color, with soft aromas of ripe red fruit. It opens with plum and plum skin flavors, followed by broad, jammy layers of cherry, blackberry, and raspberry across the palate. The full fruit flavors are integrated with modest tannins which lead to a balanced finish of some pleasurable complexity.

Bottom Line:
The Lynfred Winery 2005 Malbec is a supple, medium bodied, fruit filled wine. Smooth across the palate, with balanced tannins, lush flavors linger into a drier finish to make a very agreeable wine experience, suitable for a wide range of red wine dinner guests. Pair with beef stews or red-sauce pastas, or sausages. A very good value at a suggested retail price of $18. Overall composite score: 96 points.

Quady Winery 2005 Elysium Black Muscat

The Award-Winning Wine:
Quady Winery 2005 Elysium Black Muscat

The Reason for Reviewing:
Quady Winery 2005 Elysium Black Muscat earned top honors as a "Best of Varietal" winner in the recently completed 2007 New World International Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
From the winery: Andrew and Laurel Quady left crowded southern California and their jobs in pyrotechnics and merchandising to pursue their dream: a non-urban way of life making wine. Andrew graduated with a Masters in Food Science-Enology from UC Davis.

Winery Notes:
Black Muscat, another under appreciated muscat variety, is known in Europe as a table grape variety, Muscat Hamburg, one of the very few black skinned muscats. If ripened to about 25 brix, it attains a rose-like aroma and litchi like flavor. This rose-like aroma led us to name the wine Elysium, Greek for heaven. Drinking this, you can almost feel you have fallen into a rose garden and been transported to heaven.

AlaWine Notes:
Ruby on the eye and rose on the nose, the Quady 2005 Elysium Black Muscat fills the mouth with sweet ripe fruit, including plum, prune, and ripe dark cherry. Drying some across the palate, it brings some tang into a lingering nutty, walnut, caramel finish.

The Bottom Line:
The Quady Winery 2005 Elysium Black Muscat is a rich, sweet and exotic tasting, and ultimately very satisfying dessert wine. Stands up well as dessert on its own, or pair with chocolate, or as an alternative, with similar fresh red fruits. Quady says it's popular served with vanilla ice cream as an Elysium Sundae; Sounds good to me. Suggested retail price is $15.99 (375ml). Overall composite score: 96 points.

Sweepstakes Gold from the 2007 San Diego International Wine Competition

This weekend's wine shopping list features 29 super-award-winning wines. All of these wines won both Gold Medal and Sweepstakes awards at the recently completed 2007 San Diego International Wine Competition.

The Martin & Weyrich Winery led all wineries with two Gold Medal and Sweepstakes award-winning wines. Twenty winners are from California, two from New York, one each from Texas, Missouri, Nevada, and four from overseas (France, Italy, Portugal, and New Zealand). Leading varietals include five Chardonnays, three Cabernet Sauvignons, and two each of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Here's the complete list of all Gold Medal and Sweepstakes winners:

Central California Wine Competition Gold

The results are in from the third annual Central California Wine Competition sponsored by the The Central California Winegrowers Organization. This competition is believed to be the only "critical evaluatory exercise on warm-weather wines in California."

As shown below, four wines earned both Gold Medal and Best of Show awards, and 13 others earned Gold Medals. Silkwood Wines topped all wineries, winning three Gold Medals. Bray Vineyards earned both a Gold Medal / Best of Show and a Gold Medal. Both Cedar View Winery and Quady Winery won two Gold Medals each. Three Petite Sirahs and three Syrahs earned Gold. Here's the complete list of top medal winners:

Gold Medal and Best of Show: Red - Bianchi Winery 2004 Petite Sirah $24
Gold Medal and Best of Show: Rose - Bray Vineyards 2006 Barbera Rosato
Gold Medal and Best of Show: White - McManis Family Vineyards 2006 Pinot Grigio $9.99
Gold Medal and Best of Show: Dessert - Birdstone Winery 1997 Port $24.99

Rappahannock Cellars 2006 Virginia Viognier

The Award-Winning Wine:
Rappahannock Cellars 2006 Virginia Viognier

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Rappahannock Cellars 2006 Virginia Viognier was one of just 23 Double Gold medal winners (from among 1700 medal winners) at the 2007 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, and one of just six super-award-winning white wines.

Noteworthy:
From the winery: As many of you know we first started our winery over 15 years ago in California in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We had the privilege of tending vines whose planting dated back to 1910, and cut our wine making teeth, so to speak, on making many of the same varietals we now produce in Virginia. ...15 years after opening our first winery in California; 8 years after moving to Virginia and planting our first Virginia Vineyard; 7 years after crafting our first Virginia wines; and almost 6 years with the doors open to the public at Rappahannock Cellars! [Read more about the family's interesting story at their winery web site.]

Winery Notes:
This 100% Viognier wine is stainless steel fermented and bottled early to preserve its fresh aromas of orange blossom, lemon peel, cherry, and peach. This fruit is revealed on the palate as crisp, clean, and austere. Enjoy this wine with green salads and appetizers.

AlaWine Notes:
A very pale straw-yellow color on pouring, the Rappahannock Cellars 2006 Virginia Viognier lifts spirits with a heady aroma of citrus blossom, apricot and some alcohol. Pear, apple, strawberry, and peach flavors fill the mouth, balanced by medium-crisp acidity, followed by a clean, refreshing finish.

Bottom Line:
Dry and medium-bodied, Rappahannock Cellars 2006 Virginia Viognier is crisp and clean, full of bright aromas and fruit flavors, with a satisfying creamy, if warm, finish. Pair with appetizers, fish and other seafood. Suggested retail price is $19.50. Overall composite score: 94 points.

Wollersheim Winery 2006 Prairie Fume

The Award-Winning Wine:
Wollersheim Winery 2006 Prairie Fume

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Wollersheim Winery 2006 Prairie Fume earned Gold Medal, "Best of Class," and "Best of Varietal" at the 2007 New World International Wine Competition. It also won top-honor Gold at the recently completed 2007 Dallas Morning News International Wine Competition, and "Best White Hybrid" at the 2007 Best of the East Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
The Wollersheim Winery sits on a scenic hillside overlooking the Wisconsin River, just across from Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. This national historic site was selected by European vintners over 150 years ago and is one of America's oldest winery properties. Established as the Wollersheim Winery in 1972, today the vineyards are comprised of 25 acres of French-American and American hybrid grapes.

The Varietal:
Seyval Blanc is a cold-weather and hardy grape, a cross between French and native American grapes.

Winery Tasting Notes:
A crisp fresh semi-dry white bursting with citrus and tropical fruit aromas reminiscent of orange and grapefruit with a hint of sweetness.

AlaWine Notes:
The Wollersheim Winery 2006 Prairie Fume barely tints the glass with a pale straw-yellow color. It is lightly aromatic on the nose as well, with scent of pear and green apple, with a lemon highlight, all in an ethereal floral setting. Round, juicy, sweet fruit flavors of pear and apple continue on the palate, along with mango and pineapple, partial offset with a mild, medium-to-long, citrusy finish.

Bottom Line:
Wollersheim Winery 2006 Prairie Fume is an easy drinking, off-dry, fruit flavorful, medium-bodied wine with a general flavor character similar to a semi-dry Chenin Blanc. It would serve well as a good cross-over wine to dinner guests with a wide range of palates. At 10% alcohol, and with medium intensity of flavors, it is a food friendly wine, suitable, if well chilled, for summer picnics. Pair with appetizers, mild cheeses, poultry or seafood entrees, especially with light sauces. A good value at a suggested retail price of $8. Overall composite score: 94 points.

Pacific Oasis 2005 Merlot

The Award-Winning Wine:
Pacific Oasis 2005 Merlot Santa Barbara County

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Pacific Oasis 2005 Merlot earned top honors as one of just 13 "Best of Show" winners in the recently completed 2007 New World International Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
Past vintages of this brand were blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, however, the winery has bottled this vintage, 2005, as a 100% Merlot varietal for the first time. Winemaker Daniel Gehrs said that the grapes in this wine ripened so ideally that blending could only have changed, not improved this wine.

Winery Notes:
This dark, rich, smooth Oasis wine was classically produced and aged in French oak barrels, accenting the ripe black cherry, leather and black tea essences of the grape.

AlaWine Notes:
The Pacific Oasis 2005 Merlot presents as a striking dark red-purple color with an earthy, mushroom, smoky wood aroma over ripe dark fruit. Rich fruit flavors of dark cherry, plum and black currant, along with a bell pepper highlight, fill the palate and lead to a fresh, spicy, yet smooth, and longish finish.

The Bottom Line:
Providing a complexity of aromas and flavors, the Pacific Oasis 2005 Merlot is smooth and relatively well balanced from start to finish. It is easy to drink and very food friendly. This wine would pair well with a wide range of meats, beef, lamb, or wild game. Suggested retail price is $12.99. Overall composite score: 94 points.

Dry Creek Vineyard 2006 Dry Chenin Blanc

The Award-Winning Wine:
Dry Creek Vineyard 2006 Dry Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg

The Reason for Reviewing:
Dry Creek Vineyard 2006 Dry Chenin Blanc earned top honors as a "Best of Varietal" winner in the recently completed 2007 New World International Wine Competition

Noteworthy:
Dry Creek Vineyard was the first to initiate appellation status for Dry Creek Valley in 1983 and the first to subsequently label a wine with the Dry Creek Valley appellation. Dry Creek Vineyard is the only American winery to win the “Grandes Expressions de Chenin” award at the Loire Valley Wine Competition in France. Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc has achieved some cult status among wine lovers, and is internationally recognized as one of the best examples of the varietal as exemplified by this NWIWC award.

Winery Tasting Notes:
Vibrant aromas of orange blossom, lemon zest, ripe pear and pineapple burst out of the glass. Flavors of green apple, candied citrus, lemon, lime and grapefruit dance across the palate as nearly all the citrus fruits are delivered in a single sip. Balanced acidity is the key to this wine. Served chilled, it’s excellent as both an aperitif or food wine, notably with oysters, summer salad, or Asian inspired cuisine.

AlaWine Notes:
Dry Creek Vineyard 2006 Dry Chenin Blanc pours as a pale yellow color and exudes a pleasant aromatic nose of tropical fruit, grapefruit, and pear, with a honeysuckle and citrus blossom fragrance. Citrus carries over to the palate, along with layered flavors of pear and apple, and pineapple and melon, even peach. Crisp acidity balances the full fruit flavors and leads to a lingering, flavorful, mouthwatering finish.

Bottom Line:
Dry Creek Vineyard 2006 Dry Chenin Blanc is a fresh and refreshing, very pleasant medley of full fruit flavors, in a creamy medium-bodied mouthfeel, with a crisp, well balanced and satisfying finish. It's a very food-friendly wine, and I would agree with the winery's suggested parings (above) of summer fare and Asian dishes. As far as oysters, I'll have to try it, but who can argue with their track record -- they have won the top 10 Best West Coast Wines for Oysters seven out of 12 times, and the last five years in a row. Suggested retail price is $11.50. Overall composite score: 96 points.

Fresno State Winery 2004 Syrah

The Award-Winning Wine:
Fresno State Winery 2004 Syrah Saviez Vineyards

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Fresno State Winery 2004 Syrah, Saviez Vineyards, was one of just 21 Double Gold Medal winning wines, out of more than 1,500 entries, at the recently completed 2007 Florida International Wine Competition

Noteworthy:
The Fresno State Winery at California State University, Fresno, is the first and only commercial winery on a university campus in the United States. Since the winery became bonded in 1997, Fresno State has won 87 awards including 27 "super awards." The 1998 California Syrah won the "Best Syrah of California" at the 1999 California State Fair.

Winery Tasting Notes:
In the classic style of southern Rhone reds, Fresno State’s 2004 Saviez Vineyard Syrah features a veil of roasted plum and dark fruit against a subtle background of vanilla and coconut, arising from aging in seasoned American oak barrels.

AlaWine Notes:
The Fresno State Winery 2004 Syrah Saviez Vineyards presents as a dark purple glass with a bright ruby rim in the light. Sweet aromas of blackberry, plum, currant, and a hint of bay leaf fill the nose. On the palate, lush black fruit flavors fill the mouth, especially blackberry, plum, and a touch of dark cherry. Soft tannins balance the fruit flavors and allow a long smooth finish, with plum skin complementing the plum fruit and lingering creamy vanilla, sweet oak.

The Bottom Line:
The Fresno State Winery 2004 Syrah Saviez Vineyards opens with a very attractive nose and satisfies with smooth rich flavors and a creamy finish. Very smooth and quaffable, the wine is well balanced and especially food friendly. This Fresno State Syrah could easily be paired well chicken, turkey, even pork dishes, especially pork chops, and beef stew or chili. Suggested retail price is $14.95. Overall composite score: 97 points.

Honeywood Winery 2006 Gewurztraminer

The Award-Winning Wine:
Honeywood Winery 2006 Gewurztraminer, Columbia Valley

The Reason for Reviewing:
Honeywood Winery 2006 Gewurztraminer earned a top-honor Gold Medal at the recently completed Newport Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
Oregon's oldest winery, Honeywood Winery was founded in 1933 by Ron Honeyman and John Wood. However, contrary to the obvious, the winery's name is not a contraction of the founders names. An advertising consultant provided the rationale with a line from Oliver Goldsmith's play "The Good Natured Man", wherein the products of fermentation were referred to as "smooth as HONEY... aged in WOOD... the drink of the good natured man."

Winery Tasting Notes:
Honeywood Winery 2006 Gewurztraminer is a ...pale yellow white wine with aromas of spice and grapefruit... Well balanced acidity of flavor to fruit.

AlaWine Notes:
The Honeywood Winery 2006 Gewurztraminer pours as a clear, very pale yellow glass, with an aromatic floral honeysuckle, rose petal bouquet, and a hint of cloves. On the tongue, creamy layers of pineapple, peach and mango fill the mouth with fruit flavors and lead to a broad and long, light citrusy finish.

The Bottom Line:
The Honeywood Winery 2006 Gewurztraminer, Columbia Valley, is an off dry, fruit forward, medium-bodied, mouth pleaser. It provides some complexity and is well balanced, with intense fruit flavors, offset by crisp acidity, that linger into a refreshing finish. Pair with foul dishes (chicken, turkey, duck), pork or ham, spicy Asian dishes, or with lighter cheeses and fruits. Suggested retail price is $12. Overall composite score: 94 points.

Double Gold Wineries, Gold Medal Wines

This weekend's wine shopping list focuses on award-winning wineries as well as award-winning wines. Whereas Double Gold usually means unanimous gold from all judges, referring to wine awards, I'm using the term here to spotlight the 11 wineries that won two Gold Medals each at the recent 2007 Dallas Morning News Wine Competition. The double-gold-medal-winning wineries include eight from California, one from Washington, one from Oregon, and one from Idaho.

The Gold Medal is the top honor in this competition, and wines from these multi-award-winning wineries include 12 different kinds of wine from among 17 red wines and five white wines. There are plenty from which to choose, including six Cabernet Sauvignons, three Syrahs, two each of Chardonnay, Petite Sirah, and Pinot Gris, along with six other varietals and one red blend. Seventeen of the 22 are priced $30 and under, eight are $20 or less.

Louis M. Martini 2004 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The Award-Winning Wine:
Louis M. Martini 2004 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Louis M. Martini 2004 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon earned Double Gold at the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Bottle Tasting Notes:
This wine exhibits aromas of ripe plum, berries, and black cherry with undertones of anise and leather. Distinctive flavors of berry and rich black cherry unfold around firm tannins that ensure aging.

AlaWine Notes:
The Louis M. Martini 2004 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon shows as a deep, rich dark ruby color. Aromatic aromas of ripe fruits, dark cherry, blackberry, and black currant with a hint of ripe raspberry, fill the nose. Enters softly on the tongue, full of anticipated berry flavors and some plum, all of which stand up well to firm tannins, and lead to a longish fruit and toasty oak finish.

The Bottom Line:
The Louis M. Martini 2004 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is as smooth as purple velvet on the very first taste, and opens into a big fruit-filled wine. Nearly 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (with just 2% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot), it is full-bodied, dry, fairly well balanced, and satisfying. I would agree with the bottle notes that it could benefit from some aging. Pairs well with red meats, and even lamb, as well as Italian dishes, even including calzone and pizza. It's a very good Cab at its price point, suggested retail is $35. Overall composite score: 96 points.

Honeymoon Trail 2006 Pink Catawba

The Award-Winning Wine:
Honeymoon Trail Winery 2006 Lake Erie Pink Catawba

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Honeymoon Trail 2006 Pink Catawba was one of just 23 Double Gold medal winners (from among 1700 medal winners) at the recently completed 2007 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.

The Varietal:
The Catawba is a light red grape native to North America, and was one of the first Native American grapes used in wine making. Originally found along Catawba River in North Carolina, the grape has found homes throughout the Midwestern and Northeastern United States. Catawba wine was wildly popular in the early 1800's and it popularity continues in the Northeast, particularly in the state of New York where this wine is produced. The passion for Catawba wine in the 1800's was captured in this poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 150 years ago.

Winery Tasting Notes:
Sweet delicate pink wine.

AlaWine Notes:
The Honeymoon Trail 2006 Pink Catawba pours as a light orangy-pink color, and throws off a an unexpected musky aroma that belies the delicate color and subsequent delightful taste. On the tongue is a mouthful of creamy sweet strawberry that blends into an apple, then citrusy, lingering finish.

The Bottom Line:
Although some wine critics may deride Catawba wines in general, this wine is fun, flavorful, and mouthwatering. The Honeymoon Trail 2006 Pink Catawba is a medium-bodied, semi-sweet (r.s. 2.5), light and bright wine. Tasted both chilled and at room temperature, chilled is preferred. This would make a great picnic wine. Suggested retail price is $8.95. Overall composite score: 88 points.

Three Wineries Earn Three Gold Medals

Yesterday, the Dallas Morning News released the results of their 2007 Dallas Morning News Wine Competition. One-hundred-ninety-eight wines earned the top honor of Gold Medal. From among all competing wineries, just three, two from Northern California and one from Missouri, as shown below respectively, earned three Gold Medals each. The list of all nine of these gold-medal-winning wines includes three sparkling wines, three red wines, two white wines, and one fortified wine.

Gloria Ferrer 2004 Chardonnay $18
Gloria Ferrer 2003 Blanc de Blancs $24
Gloria Ferrer NV Sonoma Brut $20
Mazzocco 2004 Chardonnay $28
Mazzocco 2005 Merlot $16
Mazzocco 2004 Zinfandel $24
Stone Hill Winery 2004 Norton $18.99
Stone Hill Winery NV Cream Sherry $15.99
Stone Hill Winery 2002 Blanc de Blancs, Brut $16.99

Ventana 2005 Gewurztraminer

The Award-Winning Wine:
Ventana Vineyards 2005 Gewurztraminer

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Ventana 2005 Gewurztraminer earned top honors as a "Best of Varietal" winner in the recently completed 2007 New World International Wine Competition

Noteworthy:
Ventana Vineyards bills itself as "The Most Award-Winning Single Vineyard in America." The Ventana Vineyard is planted on alluvial soil deposited by the Arroyo Seco River in Monterey County, California. This provides full drainage, low nutritional characteristics, sun reflecting stones -- all combining to create very difficult farming conditions which aid in the development of more intense flavors in the fruit, and in the wine.

Winery Tasting Notes:
Ventana models its Gewurztraminer in the off-dry Alsacian Style. With flavor characteristics of litchis, orange blossoms, cinnamon and nutmeg spice, it exudes a lively bouquet. The wine is medium bodied with a lingering crisp spice finish. The off-dry style matches beautifully with food. Try Gewurztraminer with mild creamy cheeses, spicy Asian cuisine, pork dishes and poultry, especially turkey.

AlaWine Notes:
The Ventana 2005 Gewurztraminer pours as a pale straw yellow with a big floral air of orange blossom, apple-pear, and lychee nut. It affords a soft, creamy mouthfeel, citrusy flavors of orange and ruby grapefruit, with a very long, fruit-filled finish including overtones of tropical fruit, pineapple and guava.

The Bottom Line:
The Ventana Vineyards 2005 Gewurztraminer is a very pleasant, and especially well balanced, Gewurz, with luscious layers of fruit. Crisp acidity sparkles within a creamy background, and beautifully balances the lightly sweet fruit flavors. Enjoy with lighter fare, pale cheeses, salads, or with spicy foods for contrast. Suggested retail price is $16. Overall composite score: 96 points.

Heron Hill 2004 Late Harvest Riesling

The Award-Winning Wine:
Heron Hill Finger lakes, 2004 Late Harvest Riesling

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Heron Hill 2004 Late Harvest Riesling earned Sweepstakes and Gold Medal honors at the recently completed 2007 Monterey Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
For 30 years Heron Hill Winery has grown cold-climate Riesling and Chardonnay grapes, and made high quality wines, on a slate hill overlooking scenic Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes region of western New York.

Winery Tasting Notes:
Our classic Riesling is elegant and complex with a bouquet of honey and orange peel immersed in a velvet texture, lively acidity and seamless finish. R.S. 11%

AlaWine Notes:
The Heron Hill 2004 Late Harvest Riesling shows as an elegant medium gold color in the glass. It exudes an aromatic bouquet of honeysuckle and orange blossom, with a hint of pear. Sweet and smooth, flavors of pineapple, orange, apricot and mango, spread across the tongue, sliding into a long, lingering tangy-sweet finish.

The Bottom Line:
The Heron Hill 2004 Late Harvest Riesling is a medium sweet, medium-bodied late harvest wine. Although less intense and rich than some dessert wines, its sweetness and acidity are well balanced, and lead to a smooth, mouthwatering, flavorful experience. Since you generally want your wine sweeter than your food, I would pair this wine with mild danish, with almonds. And, while it would be generally served at room temperature, it tastes like it might also be good slightly chilled, and enjoyed a hot summer day. Suggested retail price is $35.99 per 375 ml bottle. Overall composite score: 90 points.

Peña Ridge 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon

The Award-Winning Wine:
Peña Ridge 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley, Piccetti Vineyard

The Reason for Reviewing:
Peña Ridge 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon earned Double Gold at the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
Exclusively estate grown, Peña Ridge grapes are hand-cultivated for low yield and high quality. All of their wines are hand-cultivated, harvested and crafted in small lots. This Cabernet Sauvignon is a limited production vintage from a single vineyard. All four Pena Ridge wines won a medal in this year's San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, including a Gold medal and two Silver Medals, in addition to the Double Gold for this wine.

Winery Tasting Notes:
Full-bodied and opulent with ripe black cherry and smoky cedar with a soft round finish. Barrel aged in 80% New French Oak for 21 months.

AlaWine Notes:
The Peña Ridge 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon pours as a dark garnet color and offers a very pleasant aromatic nose featuring black cherry, blackberry, currant and toasty oak. It delivers a big flavor of sweet ripe fruit, primarily dark cherry, which stands up well to firm tannins, and leads to a long and lingering, creamy vanilla finish.

The Bottom Line:
The Peña Ridge 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold and full-bodied, but well balanced wine. It tastes great today, and will likely taste spectacular if laid down for five-ten years of aging in the bottle. Suggested retail price is $44, but this wine is comparable to, or better than, several Northern California Cabs priced at $100 and higher. Pairing with blue cheese or big cuts of beef will soften the tannins and satisfy a broader range of dinner guests. Overall composite score: 98 points.

Bianchi Winery 2004 Cabernet Franc

The Award-Winning Wine:
Bianchi Winery 2004 Cabernet Franc, Paso Robles

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Bianchi Winery 2004 Cabernet Franc earned top honor as a "Best of Varietal" winner in the recently completed 2007 New World International Wine Competition

The Varietal:
Cabernet Franc is a genetic ancestor of Cabernet Sauvignon, though generally of lighter color and smoother tannins, and often fruiter and spicier. More often, than as a single varietal such as this wine, Cab Franc is used as contributing element for these characteristics in making other red wine blends.

Winery Tasting Notes:
Earthy cherry flavors and balanced tannins.

AlaWine Notes:
Both the color and aroma of the Bianchi Winery 2004 Cabernet Franc suggest dark plums. There are also hints on the nose of ripe fruit, sweet oak, and a modest earthy air of mushroom. On the tongue, there's a mouthful of dark cherry, as well as complementary flavors of raspberry, blackberry and plum. Some firm tannins, while drying, but not biting, lead to a very long and flavorful finish.

The Bottom Line:
The Bianchi Winery 2004 Cabernet Franc is a big, dry, full-bodied wine with a mouthful of well layered fruit flavors. It is easily drinkable now, and will likely benefit from three to five years of aging. This wine has the character of similar wines selling at twice its suggested price of $25. Overall composite score: 96 points.

Orfila 2004 Estate Syrah "Val De La Mer

The Award-Winning Wine:
Orfila Vineyards & Winery 2004 Estate Syrah "Val De La Mer"

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Orfila 2004 Estate Syrah "Val De La Mer" earned a Double Gold medal at the recently completed 2007 Florida International Wine Competition. It was one of just 21 wines, overall, from more than 1500 entries in the competition to win Double Gold.

Noteworthy:
Since its opening in 1994, Orfila Vineyards has been the recipient of more than 1,000 medals in major national and international competitions. The 1999 vintage San Diego Syrah "Val de la Mer" was named "Best U.S. Red Wine" by the 2002 Atlanta International Wine Summit. Winemaker Leon Santoro was named Winemaker of the Year by the California Travel Industry Association in 2003. The winery's owner, Alejandro Orfila is the former Argentine Ambassador to the United States and Japan, and is an internationally known statesman who also served as the Secretary General of the Organization of American States.

Winery Notes:
The Orfila 2004 Estate Syrah "Val De La Mer" is produced from grapes grown on the winery's own hillside vineyards in San Diego County. The Syrah brings forth a richness of plum, blackberry, and raspberry to the bouquet followed by a hint of bitter-sweet cocoa with a pinch of pepper in the taste.

AlaWine Tasting Notes:
The Orfila 2004 Estate Syrah "Val De La Mer" pours as a deep, rich, dark red glass. It offers abundant aromas of dark fruits, dark cherry, black and red berries, and a hint of rose petal. Plum flavors join the suggested cherry-berry flavors on the tongue, as well as some fresh oak. On drinking, hints of licorice and pepper add highlights to the full fruit flavor. A smooth mouthfeel and semi-firm tannins lead to a long, stimulating finish.

The Bottom Line:
The medium-bodied Orfila 2004 Estate Syrah "Val De La Mer" is smooth and well-balanced, all the way through, and affords a very nice overall quality. It also delivers a nice acid balance and is very quaffable, although, it will mellow more with some aging. Pairing with stronger cheeses and red meats will balance the firmer tannins now. Overall composite score: 97 points.

Casa Larga 2005 Fiori Ice Wine

The Award-Winning Wine:
Casa Larga 2005 Fiori Delle Stelle Ice Wine

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Casa Larga 2005 Fiori Delle Stelle Ice Wine was one of just four wines, out of 1578 entries, that won Best of Show accolades at the 2007 Florida International Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
Earlier vintages of the Casa Larga Fiori Delle Stelle Ice Wine were super-award-winners. It won the 2005 Governor's Cup for the Best Wine in NY State and Double Gold for Best of Class and Best in Category, at the New York State Wine and Food Classic 2005, 2004 and 2003.

Casa Larga"s "liquid gold" Vidal ice wine is produced using the authentic German "Eiswein" technique: the grapes are harvested and pressed while still frozen, producing a highly concentrated nectar of juice which is fermented into a rich and beautiful dessert wine.

Winery Tasting Notes:
Tasty sweet Vidal Ice Wine has orange, maple and pineapple flavors and a brilliant yellow-gold hue.

AlaWine Notes:
The Casa Larga 2005 Fiori Delle Stelle Ice Wine is a lovely, clear amber color with a strong aromatic nose of honey, peach, and green apple, with a hint of mandarin orange. On the tongue, it has a bright, smooth sweetness, with full flavors of apricot, honey, pineapple, and mango, with an orange citrus highlight, and a long and satisfying finish.

The Bottom Line:
This 2005 vintage of the Casa Larga 2005 Fiori Delle Stelle Ice Wine extends the award-winning reputation of this excellent dessert wine. Full bodied, with lively acid, full fruit flavors, this is a well balanced satisfying sweet wine without being cloying or heavy on the palate. It satisfies as dessert on its own. Overall composite score: 97 points.

EOS 2004 Reserve Petite Syrah

The Award-Winning Wine:
EOS Estate Winery 2004 Reserve Petite Syrah

The Reason for Reviewing:
The EOS 2004 Reserve Petite Syrah was one of just 39 wines, out of 1578 entries, to earn Double Gold at the recently completed 2007 Florida International Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
The EOS Estate Winery was established in 1996 and is named after “Eos,” the “Goddess of the Dawn” in Greek Mythology. Eos was the inspiration for the winery's harvesting of its Estate winegrapes before, or right after the sunrise, to keep the fruit cool and help retain fresh varietal character.

The EOS Estate Winery was one just four wineries with two Double Gold winners at the 2007 Florida International Wine Competition. In addition to the Double Gold for this wine, EOS also took home Double Gold for their 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate wine.

Winery Tasting Notes:
This wine opens with intense, jammy aromas of blackberry, raspberry, and black cherry with hints of earth and smoke. Intense, dark flavors of blackberry and cherry are luscious and complex on the palate, and lead to a long and lingering finish.

AlaWine Notes:
A deep, clear garnet color, the EOS 2004 Reserve Petite Syrah displays beautifully in the light, and presents a very aromatic and pleasing nose of ripe raspberry, with a note of plum, and a hint of smoking tobacco. The raspberry carries over into the mouth, joined by other dark berry flavors, including blackberry, layering smoothly across the tongue into a long delta finish.

The Bottom Line:
The EOS 2004 Reserve Petite Syrah is an exquisite and rich wine with smooth acid, medium-full-bodied mouthfeel and soft tannins. It satisfies with full fruit flavors all across the mouth. With a varietal composition of 96% Petite Sirah, 2.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 0.5% Zinfandel, 0.5% Merlot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc, it will complement strong meat flavors such as lamb or bar-b-que ribs, or even wild game. Suggested retail price is $25. Overall composite score: 98 points.

Cliff Creek 2004 Syrah

The Award-Winning Wine:
Cliff Creek 2004 Syrah

The Reason for Reviewing:
The 2004 Cliff Creek Syrah earned a top-honor Gold Medal at the recently completed Newport Wine Festival and Competition.

Winery Tasting Notes:
A nose of dark chocolate and black cherry, this well-balanced wine presents itself with a smooth mouth with black raspberry flavors and a hint of smokiness. This wine is rich and has a full body. Very drinkable now and will be better in time.

AlaWine Notes:
Deep purple-red in color, and with a slight haze, the 2004 Cliff Creek Syrah, offers a sweet, smoky, aromatic nose. It tastes full of dark fruit flavors of blackberry, blueberry, and dark cherry, with a maple syrup note. On the tongue, it is fairly smooth with a medium, and very flavorful finish.

The Bottom Line:
The 2004 Cliff Creek Syrah is medium-bodied, dry, and tart, with medium tannins. Although drinking well now, if relatively young, it provides interesting layers of complexity and would benefit from some aging. This wine will pair well with strong cheeses, and meats, such as pepper-rubbed steak or bar-b-que, and chocolate. Suggested retail price is $35. Overall composite score: 95 points.

Gold Medal Wines, Cincinnati Competition

This weekend's wine shopping list is golden. Nineteen domestic wineries earned top-honor Gold Medals at the recently completed 2007 Cincinnati International Wine Festival. These 19 wines were judged to be the very best U.S. wines in the competition, since there were no "super awards" such as Best of Show, Double Gold, etc.

A quick glance reveals that the list is dominated by California wines, especially Northern California wines. There are six Cabernet Sauvignons, five Syrahs, and three Chardonnays, as well as five other different wines from which to choose. Looks like a pretty good wine shopping list to me. The winning wineries and their Gold Medal wines include:

Meola Vineyards 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon

The Award-Winning Wine:
Meola Vineyards 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Meola Vineyards 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, was one of just four Cabernet Sauvignons that won a Double Gold medal, out of 74 medal winners in its class ($45.00 & over), at the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Noteworthy:
Mario Meola, winegrower and winemaker, was born in Salerno, Italy, and by the age of ten he was growing grapes and making wine with his father in their small Italian winery “producing the best wines in town,” says Mario. Nena Meola, his eldest daughter, wanting to continue his passion of making fine wine, is following in her father's footsteps.

Winery Tasting Notes:
This rich and complex Cabernet offers chocolate truffles, raspberry and forest floor notes in the nose. It traverses the mid-palate with thick concentrated ripe balanced tannins ending with flavors of blackberry, spice and caramelized walnuts with a dash of vanilla.

AlaWine Tasting Notes:
The unfiltered Meola Vineyards 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, presents as a dark garnet color with a moderate level of aromas of black currant, with a hint of pepper, in an oaky context. Light-bodied, medium-dry, with smooth acids, the wine benefits from decanting, opening up, sweetening, becoming more pleasant and introducing more red fruit flavor and a hint of strawberry. Moderate tannins lead to a long finish.

The Bottom Line:
The Meola Vineyards 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, is an excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, well balanced, rich tasting, with intriguing complexity, and likely to age very well. In fact, Meola's recommended cellaring time is 10 to 15 years. Suggested retail price is $50. Overall composite score: 97 points.

Unionville Vineyards 2005 Chardonnay

The Award-Winning Wine:
Unionville Vineyards 2005 Chardonnay

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Unionville Vineyards 2005 Chardonnay was one of just six wines that earned Double Gold at the first-ever National Women's Wine Competition held here in Santa Rosa last month.

Noteworthy:
Billing itself as "New Jersey's Finest Winery," and citing the fact that it has won more than 500 medals since its first vintage in 1992, the winery introduction says, "Wines produced by Unionville Vineyards are considered by many to be the best east of the Mississippi." More about the winery from their web site: "Using the theme of fox hunting, a sport practiced in the Amwell Valley, Kris Nielsen and Pat Galloway, owners of Unionville Vineyards, constructed the main winery building in 1992 by renovating the historic former peach, apple and then dairy barn. The barn had been built in 1858 and expanded in 1900 and 1947. The original pegged, mortise and tendon joints connect the hand-hewed, post and beam structure and have been maintained throughout the winery building. All field stone used in the winery is from original foundations. The wishing well at the entrance is the original cistern used for livestock in the barn."

The AlaWine Tasting Notes:
The Unionville Vineyards 2005 Chardonnay pours as a clear, medium yellow color with a light musty floral aroma. On the tongue it has a creamy lemon mouthfeel and taste, with hints of lime and pear, and a toasty, but not overwhelming oak flavor. On the finish, it falls off the tongue leaving a clean refreshed palate. (Notes prepared with special thanks to guest panelists, Megan K. and Matt K.)

The Bottom Line:
While the Unionville Vineyards 2005 Chardonnay (made from 100% New Jersey grapes) has a unique taste, in my experience, for a Chardonnay, it is quite pleasing. The wine is dry, yet smooth, with full fruit flavors. It is well balanced and food friendly, and likely, a dinner guest pleaser. Pair it with chicken and fresh herbs. Overall composite score: 92 points.

Gold Medal, Sweepstakes Winning Red Wines

Only 12 red varietals and one red blend, out of nearly 700 medal winners, earned both Gold Medal and Sweepstakes honors at the recently completed 2007 Monterey Wine Competition (MWC). Wattle Creek Winery was the only winery to win twice, once for its Cabernet Sauvignon and again for its Triple Play blend.

Cincinnati Gold for Foreign Wineries

Eight overseas wineries earned top-honor Gold Medals at the recently completed 2007 Cincinnati International Wine Festival, now in its 16th year. The winning wineries and their Gold medal wines include:

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Pinot Gris

The Award-Winning Wine:
Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Pinot Gris

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Pinot Gris earned a top-honor Gold Medal at the recently completed Newport Wine Festival and Competition.

Noteworthy:
The winery and underground cellar are carved into the top of an ancient volcanic flow, the soil red from its oxidized iron content and well-drained. This unique terroir is similar to the red clay soil found in the Grand Cru Pinot noir vineyards of Romaneé-st-Vivant in Burgundy. The wines have been served at The White House, the James Beard House and are recommended by national food and wine experts including Andrea Immer, Caprial and John Pence and Rachael Ray of the Food Network.

Winery Tasting Notes:
Bright, fruity, creamy style. Overt and pretty aromas of melon, honey, cream, pear, nutmeg, almond and flower. Soft and rich mouthfeel with generous flavors of pear, mineral, melon, cream and spice interwoven with well balanced acidity. The finish is vivid and long, with lingering cream, mineral and pear flavors.

AlaWine Tasting Notes:
A near-clear, pale yellow, the Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Pinot Gris is bright and fresh with apple-pear introductions and layered flavors of melon and peach. Honey lemon lingers in a slow, smooth finish.

The Bottom Line:
The Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Pinot Gris is a wonderful dry, clean, and refreshing wine. It satisfies with a creamy-rich, medium-bodied mouthfeel and light, crisp, and well balanced, mouthwatering fruit flavors. The overall unique warm, rich taste and feel of the wine can be traced to the winery's technique of fermenting in stainless with Auxerrois in 1 year old French oak. Jim Bernau, Founder and President, said, "Our secret was to add a touch of Auxerrois to the blend for that kiss of toast and a small percentage of Pinot Blanc for viscosity, while still focusing on the quintessential profile of the Pinot Gris grape." At $15, the Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Pinot Gris is an excellent value, and a great wine to keep in mind for your upcoming summer outings. Overall composite score: 97 points.

100 Top Wine Blogs List Updated

This morning, I updated the 100 Top Wine Blogs list. Please welcome the writers of the following seven wine blogs which are appearing on the Top 100 list for the first time:

Cycles Gladiator 2005 Pinot Grigio

The Award-Winning Wine:
Cycles Gladiator 2005 Pinot Grigio

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Cycles Gladiator 2005 Pinot Grigio earned Double Gold from the 2007 Grand Harvest Awards held here in Santa Rosa earlier this year. It also earned a Gold Medal in this year's San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
Cycles Gladiator is a "boutique" brand of Hahn Estates which is, in turn, a subsidiary of the Wimbledon Wine Company. Cycles Gladiator's labels reflect vintage European poster art. The company says the image "is a celebration of the freedom and happiness that pervaded the late 19th century following the invention of the bicycle. The golden age of cycling reached its pinnacle in 1895 – that same year French painter G. Massias created one of the great Parisian art posters advertising a fashionable new bicycle or 'le bicycle velocipede'." The Cycles Gladiator 2005 Pinot Grigio is 94% Pinot Grigio, with 6% White Reisling, both fermented and aged only in stainless steel.

Winery Tasting Notes:
Cycles Gladiator 2005 Pinot Grigio exhibits a wonderful array of fruit and floral characteristics. Melon and fresh citrus are underscored with a delicate honeysuckle perfume. The flavors are a blend of sweet grapefruit and lemon zest with a hint of honeydew. The acid lends structure to the wine and sustains the finish but is not so tart that it overpowers the fruit.

The AlaWine Review:
The Cycles Gladiator 2005 Pinot Grigio presents as a pale golden-color glass with soft floral fragrance and a hint of pear. Sweet apple flavors merge with honeydew and the aroma and taste of pear and in the mouth, and give way to a soft and slow, mixed citrus finish.

The Bottom Line:
The Cycles Gladiator 2005 Pinot Grigio is light and bright, fresh and smooth, round and balanced with nothing to not like. An overall pleasant experience, the wine is very refreshing and highly quaffable, a go-to wine for brunches, picnics, and light lunches. And, it's reasonably priced at $10.99. Overall composite score: 96 points.

Gold Medal, Sweepstakes Winning White Wines

Only five white wines, of nearly 700 overall medal winners, earned both Gold Medal and Sweepstakes honors at 2007 Monterey Wine Competition (MWC):

St. Supery 2006 Sauvignon Blanc

The Award-Winning Wine:
St. Supery 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley

The Reason for Reviewing:
The St. Supery 2006 Sauvignon Blanc is one of only 13 wines that earned a "Best of Show" trophy at the recently completed New World International Wine Competition (NWIWC) in the category of Best Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc. It was also one of just 33 wines that earned top honors as "Best of Varietal," also at the NWIWC.

Noteworthy:
St. Supery owns more than 200 acres of Sauvignon Blanc vineyards in Napa Valley and more than 40% of its overall production is dedicated to Sauvignon Blanc.

Winery Tasting Notes:
Wonderful aromas of ruby grapefruit, lime juice and honeysuckle join with a vibrant core of grapefruit, hints of pineapple, nectarine and lemon grass. The texture is inviting and supple with enough racy acid to keep it all focused.

The AlaWine Review:
The St. Supery 2006 Sauvignon Blanc is clear and light golden in color. On the nose, it is citrusy with hints of melon. On the tongue, it opens with lime and hints of tropical fruit, then blends into grapefruit and lemon flavors. The finish is longish, clean, with lingering lemon.

The Bottom Line:
St. Supery 2006 Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and creamy. Although light in appearance, it has a medium-bodied mouthfeel and full fruit flavors. A very pleasant, enjoyable wine, and food-friendly, probably best served with lunch or appetizers, and lighter fish, milder cheeses, and fruits. Suggested retail price is $20. Overall composite score: 95 points.

"Best of Show" and Gold from the 2007 MWC

Just five select wines, out of nearly 700 medal winners, were the only ones that earned both Gold Medals and "Best of Show" honors at the recently completed 2007 Monterey Wine Competition (MWC). And, the winners are (by category, with suggested retail price):

EOS Estate Winery 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

The Award-Winning Wine:
EOS Estate Winery 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

The Reason for Reviewing:
The EOS Estate Winery 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon was one of just 39 wines, of 1578 entries, to earn Double Gold at the recently completed 2007 Florida International Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
The EOS Estate Winery was established in 1996 and is named after “Eos,” the “Goddess of the Dawn” in Greek Mythology. Eos was the inspiration for the winery's harvesting of its Estate winegrapes before, or right after the sunrise, to keep the fruit cool and help retain fresh varietal character.

The EOS Estate Winery was one just four wineries with two Double Gold winners at the 2007 Florida International Wine Competition. In addition to the Double Gold for this wine, EOS also took home Double Gold for their EOS Estate Winery 2004 Reserve Petite Syrah which we'll also review here at AlaWine.com at a later date.

From Winemaker Notes:
The EOS 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon is comprised of 83.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.5% Petite Sirah, 5.5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec, and 0.5% Petite Verdot. Barrel Regime included 15 months in 3% new French oak, 24% new American oak, 12% one-year old, 35% two year old, 26% neutral oak. Finished alcohol is 14%.

Winery Tasting Notes:
Intriguing aromas of cassis, black cherry, boysenberry and toasty oak compliment the rich, dark ruby color of our 2004 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Luscious flavors of ripe plum and blackberry lead to an incredibly long finish with notes of dark chocolate.

The AlaWine Review:
The EOS Estate Winery 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon pours as a dark, rich black cherry color with with a bright ruby red rim in the light, and medium legs. Light aroma of dark berries which carries over into the taste along with plum and green peppers, and hints of spice, in a toasty oak context. Firm tannins and longish, tart finish.

The Bottom Line:
The EOS Estate Winery 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon is a hardy, full-bodied, mainly characteristic cab, with green pepper notes. It might benefit from some aging, but is eminently drinkable now. The firmer tannins and higher levels of alcohol are well integrated with the full fruit flavors, leading to a balanced, satisfying experience. The wine remains food friendly with mainly evening meals, including red meats, lamb, stronger cheeses, and chocolate. At $18 a bottle, this is a good value and a good wine to serve with, or take to, a dinner party. Overall composite score: 94 points.

Best of Varietal Winners, 2007 NWIWC

If you like freedom of choice, you'll love this weekend's wine shopping list which has more flavors than Baskin-Robbins. These 33 wines all earned top honors as "Best of Varietal" winners in the recently completed 2007 New World International Wine Competition (NWIWC).

Chateau Ste. Michelle 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley

The Award-Winning Wine:
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Chateau Ste. Michelle 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon was one of just 16 Washington and Oregon wines that earned a Gold Medal, which was the top honor, at the recently completed Newport Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
Chateau Ste. Michelle is Washington state's founding winery. The Chateau, was built in 1976 in Woodinville, outside of Seattle, on the 1912 estate owned by Seattle lumber baron Frederick Stimson. The original Stimson family residence still stands on the winery grounds and is on the National Register of Historical Places. Chateau Ste. Michelle is recognized for pioneering the vinifera grape growing in the Columbia Valley and as a leader in modern day viticultural research. The winery has received some of the highest accolades in the industry, including “American Winery of the Year 2004” from Wine Enthusiast Magazine and “2005 Winery of the Year” by Restaurant Wine Magazine.

Winery Tasting Notes:
The 2003 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon highlights concentrated Washington red fruit in an accessible style. The 2003 Cab offers expressive blackberry and black fruit characteristics and is a touch floral.

The AlaWine Review:
The Chateau Ste. Michelle 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon pours as a beautiful, rich, deep black plum color with medium viscosity. It presents a great sherry nose and overall pleasing aroma. On tasting, the wine offers full fruit flavors of blackberries and black cherry, mild tannins, and a smooth and lingering finish.

Winemaking Notes:
Chateau Ste. Michelle brought in Bob Bertheau to "...produce a softer mouthfeel and enhanced complexity..." and this wine is his first vintage. I have to say that he has succeed with this wine. It is full-bodied, but well balanced, and gracefully layered in the finish. And, Mr. Bertheau has taken an interesting approach to accomplish this by including two non-Bordeaux wines, Syrah (a Rhone) and Sangiovese (Italian) in the blend which consists of Cabernet Sauvignon (82%), Syrah (7%), Sangiovese (5%), Merlot (3%), and Cabernet Franc (3%). In addition, the wine is aged 16 months in French and American oak (34% new), which imparts a nice toasty, not smoky, characteristic.

The Bottom Line:
The Chateau Ste. Michelle 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley is a very pleasant, quaffable Cabernet Sauvignon, very likely to please your guests. It is smooth, but not soft, and well balanced across the palate. It would pair well with a wide variety of meats, strong cheeses, and even chocolate dessert dishes. At a suggested retail price of $16.99, the Chateau Ste. Michelle 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon is a terrific value. Overall composite score: 97 points.

Heron Hill 2004 Ingle Vineyard Johannisberg Riesling

The Award-Winning Wine:
Heron Hill 2004 Ingle Vineyard Johannisberg Riesling

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Heron Hill 2004 Ingle Vineyard Johannisberg Riesling earned Sweepstakes and Gold Medal honors at the recently completed 2007 Monterey Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
For 30 years Heron Hill Winery has grown cold-climate Riesling and Chardonnay grapes, and made high quality wines, on a slate hill overlooking scenic Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes region of western New York.

Winery Tasting Notes:
This crisp wine presents flavors of apple and lemon, with hints of melon. Enjoy this Riesling for lunch and dinner, paired with cheese, pasta and fish.

The AlaWine Review:
The Heron Hill 2004 Ingle Vineyard Johannisberg Riesling pours as a very pale straw color with light aromas of lemon and green apple. Presenting a very smooth mouthfeel, fruit flavors of lemon, kiwi, and lime fill the palate, and resolve into a crisp, dry finish. Not too sweet, this Riesling offers a crisp acidity that is very clean and refreshing.

The Bottom Line:
The Heron Hill 2004 Ingle Vineyard Johannisberg Riesling is an invigorating wine, well balanced enough to be satisfying on its own as an aperitif, or served with appetizers before dinner. It would pair well with lighter meals, and those featuring seafood, especially oysters and shrimp. Suggested retail price is $24.99. Overall composite score: 94 points.

FLIWC Double Gold Medal Reds and Whites

The results are in for the 2007 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and there were 23 Double Gold medal winners (from among 1700 medal winners), including the nine red wines and six white wines featured here. Hahn Estates Winery, from California's Monterey Coast, has the distinction of being the only winery to earn two Double Gold medals in the competition. Wild Wood 2003 Syrah (Gina's Vineyard) is a repeat Double Gold medal winner, having earned Double Gold and Best of Class honors earlier this year at the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The reds list is dominated by Syrah and Shiraz which account for four of the nine Double Golds. The white wine list features two Viogniers and recognizes two rare varietals, Traminette and Catawba. Here are the Double Gold red and white wine winners:

Coeur d'Alene Cellars 2003 Syrah

The Award-Winning Wine:
Coeur d'Alene Cellars 2003 Syrah

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Coeur d'Alene Cellars 2003 Syrah was one of just 10 wines that received a coveted double gold medal from the 2007 Grand Harvest Awards held recently here in Santa Rosa. And, it was the only Syrah to receive this accolade.

Wine Making Notes:
The 2003 Syrah is produced and bottled at Coeur d'Alene Cellars in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, but made from 100% Columbia Valley (Washington) AVA grapes. 100% malolactic fermentation. Aged 19 months (75% French Oak, 46% New Oak, 54% Neutral/Stainless). Alcohol: 15.0%

Winery Tasting Notes:
The nose is smoky and alluring, it features vibrant tastes of berry fruit, bittersweet chocolate and spice, with soft, smoky undertones, and a smooth, long finish.

The AlaWine Review:
The Coeur d'Alene Cellars 2003 Syrah presents as an intensely dark purple, indigo color. Tasting starts with flavors of dark cherries and blackberry, with hints of chocolate. There's a toasty oak characteristic coming from some sweet oak barrel aging. This wine tastes relatively young and benefited from a gentle decanting which softened the tannins and permitted the fruit flavors and tasty oak to shine. The wine had a very creamy, satisfying vanilla finish, and a warm throat.

The Bottom Line:
The Coeur d'Alene Cellars 2003 Syrah is a bold and bright, full-bodied, fruit forward and very enjoyable wine. The winery said, "Good structure and firm tannins promise great aging potential," and I believe the wine would benefit from, up to several years, of aging. The wine is hardy enough to pair well with meats, grilled and bar-b-qued. Suggested retail price is $28 per bottle. Overall composite score: 96 points.

HaGafen 2006 Lake County White Riesling, Profile and Review

The Award-Winning Wine:
HaGafen Cellars 2006 Lake County White Riesling, Devoto Vineyards

The Reason for Reviewing:
HaGafen Cellars 2006 Lake County White Riesling has just recently won Best Riesling, Best of Varietal, Best of Class Gold, and was one of just 13 wines which earned a "Best of Show" trophy at the New World International Wine Competition (NWIWC). It is also one of just ten wines which earned Double Gold from the 2007 Grand Harvest Awards held earlier this year here in Santa Rosa.

Noteworthy:
HaGafen Cellars is well known for having its wines served at White House state dinners on more than a dozen occasions for the last four presidents and visiting dignitaries. In addition, all of its wines are kosher, produced according to Jewish dietary laws. Since its founding in 1979, the winery has earned more than 200 double-gold, gold, and silver medals in a wide array of major wine competitions.

Winery Tasting Notes:
Lake County White Riesling presents aromas of citrus, peach, cherry, and honeysuckle. This gorgeous effervescent wine fills the mouth with a fusion of candied pineapple, mango, Satsuma, and a hint of honey. With a long finish, this well-integrated White Riesling works well with a wide variety of foods, including any meal needing an aperitif or a bit of sweetness to balance the use of chiles or soy sauce.

The AlaWine Review:
The 2006 Lake County White Riesling is a light, lemon-blush color, with lemon blossom, peach and floral hints of honeysuckle. A smooth entry opens into a mouthful of tangy-sweet layered and balance fruit flavors of peach, mango, and melon, and leads to lingering finish of honey lemon, with a pleasant and abiding aftertaste.

The Bottom Line:
The HaGafen Cellars 2006 Lake County White Riesling, Devoto Vineyards, is a delicious medium-bodied, off-dry, good example of what a well-done white Riesling should be, modestly sweet, with full fruit flavors, offset with subtle tartness. At $16 a bottle, this wine represents an outstanding value. Overall composite score: 95 points.

2007 NWIWC "Best of Show" Winners

The New World International Wine Competition (NWIWC) has awarded trophies to recognize 13 wines as "Best of Show"

Grand Champion and Best Red Wine
R By Jeff Runquist Wines 2005 Barbera Dick Cooper Vineyard Amador County California

Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Rutherford Ranch 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley California Reserve

Best Chardonnay
Firestone Vineyard 2005 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County Santa Ynez Valley California Reserve

Best Merlot
Pacific Oasis Winery 2005 Merlot Santa Barbara County California

Best Pinot Noir
Navarro Vineyards 2005 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley Mendocino California Deep-End Blend

Best Port
Robert Hall Winery 2004 Port Paso Robles California Vintage Port

Best Riesling, Best of Varietal, Best of Class Gold
Hagafen Cellars 2006 White Riesling Devoto Vineyards Lake County California

Best Sauvignon/Fumé Blanc
St. Supery Vineyards 2006 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley California Estate Bottled

Best Sparkling Wine
Lucas Vineyards NV Extra Dry Finger Lakes New York

Best Spirit
Paul Masson NV Brandy New York Grande Amber VSOP

Best Syrah/Shiraz
Renwood Winery 2004 Syrah/Shiraz Sierra Foothills California

Best White Wine
South Coast Winery & Resort 2006 Pinot Grigio Temecula Valley California

Best Zinfandel
Robert Rue Vineyard 2005 Zinfandel California Wood Road Reserve

For more information on any of these wines, just copy and paste any listing into the Google search box below:

Hamilton Oaks Vineyard 2002 Port, Profile and Review

The Award-Winning Wine:
Hamilton Oaks Vineyard 2002 Port

The Reason for Reviewing:
The Hamilton Oaks Vineyard 2002 Port was one of just ten wines earning Double Gold from the 2007 Grand Harvest Awards held recently here in Santa Rosa.

Noteworthy:
Hamilton Oaks is recognized as the first commercial winery licensed in Southern California's Orange County in almost 150 years, and is producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Syrah, Barbera, Merlot, Port, and Melange de Sud (the vineyard's current signature wine, made from exotic varietals). "People tell me that we're going to go down in Orange County history for reviving its wine industry", says owner, Ron Hamilton. "But I never thought of it that way. I was just following a dream." For more background information on Hamilton Oaks Vineyard, see Amanda Anderson's feature article in Coast Magazine.

Winery Tasting Notes:
This Zinfandel Port has a nice, smooth, nutty flavor and drinks like a 20-year-old tawny port. Try with a favorite chocolate truffle.

The AlaWine Review:
Although not mentioned on the bottle, this is a Zinfandel Port, as noted in the winery tasting note. It shows as a beautiful ambery, golden brown color. Tasting starts with a smooth, velvety mouthfeel, medium sweetness, and flavors of caramel, honey, vanilla, flan, and smoked nuts. On the palate, the wine brightens with a citrusy subtle tartness that blends and balances its initial sweetness, without overwhelming it, and leads to a long, layered, fully satisfying finish.

The Bottom Line:
Hamilton Oaks Vineyard 2002 Port is a medium sweet, elegant and balanced dessert wine. Although port wines are traditionally served with blue cheeses, nuts or fruits (or chocolate as suggested by the winery), this wine satisfies completely without food. If pushed, I'd prefer to pair it with a light Danish. Dangerously delicious, with an 18% alcohol level, and priced at $26 per 375 ml bottle, this is a smooth and mellow, very pleasurable and satisfying wine. Overall composite score: 96 points.