AlaWine.com: Super Award Winning Wines

Gold-Medal-Winning Wines from 2011 Dallas International Wine Competition

The Dallas Morning News and TexSom Wine Competition has announced its medal-winning wines for 2011, judged from 2,768 entries from 18 countries and 30 U.S. states. 56 wine critics, distributors, importers, sommeliers, Master Sommeliers, and Masters of Wine made up the judging panels, awarding 173 Gold medals, 476 Silver, and 837 Bronze. Here's a selection of some of the top-honor Gold-Medal-winning wines; congratulations to J. Lohr, top winery, winner of five Gold medals.

* Acrobat, Oregon, Pinot Noir 2009
* Baldacci Family Vineyards, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
* Baldacci Family Vineyards, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District, Four Sons,
* Basel Cellars, Walla Walla Valley, Estate, Claret 2008
* Benziger Family, Sonoma County, Merlot 2007
* Bodegas Paso Robles, Central Coast, Pimenteiro, 67% Trousseau-33% Tempranillo 2008
* BonAnno, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
* Bonterra, Mendocino County, Made with Organic Grapes, Pinot Noir 2009
* Buena Vista, Carneros, Pinot Noir 2007
* Cakebread Cellars, Napa Valley, Chardonnay 2009
* Calcareous Vineyard, York Mountain, Pinot Noir 2008
* Calcareous, Paso Robles, Twisted Sisters, Zinfandel 2008
* Charles Krug Peter Mondavi Family, Napa Valley, Family Reserve, Generations 2008
* Charles Krug Peter Mondavi Family, Napa Valley, Merlot 2008
* Chateau Lettau, Monterey County, Rockstar 2007
* Chateau Ste Michelle, Columbia Valley, Meritage 2007
* Col Solare, Columbia Valley, Red 2006
* Cupcake Vineyards, Central Coast, Pinot Noir 2009
* Daniel Gehrs, Central Coast, Merlot 2009
* Deep Sea, Santa Rita Hills, Pinot Noir 2008
* Dutcher Crossing, Dry Creek Valley, Proprietor's Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
* Eagles Trace, Napa Valley, Estate Grown, Merlot 2007
* Earthquake, Lodi, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
* En Garde, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain District, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
* Falernia, Elqui Valley, Reserva, Syrah 2007
* Forest Glen, California, Pinot Noir 2009
* Foyt Family Wines, Sonoma County, Chalk Hill, No.72, Meritage 2007
* Frank Family Vineyards, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
* Frank Family Vineyards, Napa Valley, Zinfandel 2008
* Handley, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir 2007
* Hess Collection, Napa Valley, Mount Veeder, 19 Block Cuvee 2007
* Hook & Ladder, Russian River Valley, Estate Bottled, Zinfandel 2008
* Its A Headsnapper, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2009
* J. Lohr, Monterey County, Estates, Falcon's Perch, Pinot Noir 2009
* J. Lohr, Paso Robles, Cuvee Pau 2007
* J. Lohr, Paso Robles, Estates, Los Osos, Merlot 2008
* J. Lohr, Paso Robles, Hilltop, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
* J. Lohr, Paso Robles, Tower Road, Petite Sirah 2008
* Jarvis, Napa Valley, Will Jarvis' Science Project 2008
* Jason-Stephens, Santa Clara Valley, Estate, Merlot 2007
* Ken Wright Cellars, Willamette Valley, Pinot Noir 2009
* Kestrel, Washington State, Yakima Valley, Signature Edition, Old Vine,
* Lockwood Vineyard, Monterey, Estate Grown, Estate Bottled, Merlot 2008
* Lumos, Oregon, Five Blocks, Pinot Noir 2007
* Maryhill Winery, Columbia Valley, Zinfandel 2008
* McManis Family Vineyards, California, Pinot Noir 2009
* Mount Baker Vineyards & Winery, Yakima Valley, Proprietor's Limited Release,
* Mount Langi Ghiran, Victoria, Billi Billi, Shiraz 2007
* North by Northwest, Columbia Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
* Obsidian Ridge, Red Hills Lake County, Obsidian Ridge Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
* Parducci, Mendocino County, Sustainable Red 2007
* Parkers Estate, Sonoma County, Dillon Springs Road, Zinfandel 2009
* Perata Vineyards, Napa Valley, Yountville, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
* Picazo, California, Proprietary Red 2007
* Pollak Vineyards, Monticello, Estate Grown, Merlot 2008
* Ponzi Vineyards, Willamette Valley, Pinot Noir 2008
* Poppy, Monterey County, Pinot Noir 2009
* Quailhurst, Oregon, Chehalem Mountains, Vineyard Estate, Ferrogamo Reserve,
* Rancho de Philo, California, Cucamonga Valley, Triple Cream Sherry NV
* Redwood Creek, California, Frei Brothers Vineyards, Pinot Noir 2009
* Robert Mondavi, California, Private Selection, Meritage 2009
* Saint Laurent Winery, Washington, Wahluke Slope, Estate Vineyards, Syrah 2007
* Silkwood, Stanislaus County, Red Duet, 60% Syrah - 40% Cabernet Sauvignon NV
* St. Supery, Napa Valley, Estate Bottled, Elu 2007
* Stratton Lummis, Napa Valley, Artists' Series, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
* Stryker Sonoma, Alexander Valley, Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
* Stryker, Sonoma County, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
* Sutter Home Family Vineyards, California, Merlot 2009
* The Four Graces, Willamette Valley, Pinot Noir 2009
* Treana, Paso Robles, Red 2008
* Trecini, Sonoma County, Rockpile, Rocky Ridge Vineyard, Zinfandel 2007
* Trecini, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley, Vicini Vineyards, Pinot Noir 2009
* Van Duzer, Willamette Valley, Westside Blocks, Pinot Noir 2007
* Villa del Monte, Santa Cruz Mountains, Regan Vineyard, Reserve, Pinot Noir 2009
* Vines on the Marycrest, Paso Robles, My Generation, 58% Zinfandel-21% Syrah-
* Waterstone, Napa Valley, Study in Blue 2007
* White Oak Vineyards & Winery, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
* Whitestone Winery, Washington State, Columbia Valley, Love You to Pieces NV
* ZD Wines, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
For more information, click here.

Thacher Winery 2008 GSM

The Award-Winning Wine:
Thacher Winery 2008 GSM

Reason for Reviewing:
Thacher Winery 2008 GSM earned a Best of Class award for Rhone Other Varietals and Blends at the 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 GSM pours into the glass, a rich purple color. Aromatic, fresh wild berries on the nose. Big flavor on the palate, blackberry, juicy, fruity, a rustic earthy note, with a bit of vanillin oak character, young tannins, on the finish.

Bottom Line:
Thacher Winery 2008 GSM is comprised of 42% Grenache, 38% Syrah, and 20% Mourvedre. Quite quaffable and excellent wine for pairing with grilled meats, including pork chops and lamb. Suggested retail price is $38. Overall composite score: 96 points.

Mazzocco Winery 2008 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Brair

The Award-Winning Wine:
Mazzocco Winery 2008 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Brair

Reason for Reviewing:
Mazzocco Winery 2008 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, Brair Ranch, won a Best of Class award at the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
Mazzocco Winery: "undulating vineyard and winery sitting on a saddle between Dry Creek and Alexander Valley... The Lytton Springs vineyards provide premium quality fruit that allowed for the growth of single vineyard designate zinfandels to be created."

Winery Notes:
"Berrylicious! Aromas of ripe cherry, Boysenberry and raspberry opens to a mouth-watering pool of lush tannins infused with Sarsaparilla, vanilla bean and bitter chocolate. This wine is symbolic of Dry Creek Zinfandels possessing jammy fruit-forward notes that linger endlessly on the long, fleshy finish."

AlaWine Notes:
Mazzocco Winery 2008 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, Brair, shows as a dark ruby purple standing in the glass. Very aromatic, ripe dark berries, on the nose. Abundant black raspberry, brambleberry, blackberry flavors flood the palate, mingling with and balanced by moderately soft tannins and a long vanillin finish with spice highlight.

Bottom Line:
Mazzocco Winery 2008 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Brair is comprised of 96% Zinfandel & 4% Petite Sirah. The wine is full of ripe berry flavors and well framed with sculpted tannins. Suggested retail price is $29. Overall composite score: 97 points.