AlaWine.com: Super Award Winning Wines

Vina Robles 2006 Suendero

The Award-Winning Wine:
Vina Robles 2006 Suendero

Reason for Reviewing:
Vina Robles 2006 Suendero earned a top-honor Gold Medal from the 2009 Grand Harvest Awards.

Noteworthy:
"Suendero" is derived from "Sueño Sendero" or the "Dream Path," celebrating the wine’s origins amid the magical terrain of Adelaida Springs Ranch in the rugged coastal mountains west of Paso Robles. According to the winery, at an elevation of 1,700 feet and just 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the ranch’s small vineyard unfolds along steep calcareous soils composed of ancient sea beds.

Winery Notes:
Dark garnet in color. This well-structured wine unfolds with notes of wild strawberry, black currant and blackberry, in addition to vanilla and coconut aromas from the oak barrels. The dark fruits re-emerge on the palate with blueberry and fresh black raspberry dominating, as well as oregano and green peppercorn supported by toasted oak tannins and a balancing acidity that provides a long finish.

AlaWine Notes:
Vina Robles 2006 Suendero displays as a as a deep garnet color. A mix of ripe berry aromas exude from the glass to the nose. Both dark berry and red berry flavors mingle on the palate in a very fruity mouth, and carry through supple tannins, in a long vanilla oak and light spice finish.

Bottom Line:
Vina Robles 2006 Suendero is an interesting Meritage bottling of Cabernet Sauvignon (53%) and Petit Verdot (47%). It is quite flavorful, well integrated, and deliciously satisfying. Suggested retail price is $49. Overall composite score: 97 points.

Best Vineyard Designate Wines, Sonoma Valley Wine Competition

Six Sonoma Valley wines, three whites, two reds and one rosé, earned Best Vineyard Designate Wine awards at the recently completed, first ever, Sonoma Valley Wine Competition. The are:

Clarbec 2007 Pinot Gris, Clarbec Vineyard & Lila Lane Vineyard, Sonoma County

Kunde Family Estate 2005 Chardonnay, Reserve, Kinneybrook Vineyard Block 24 & Estate Vineyards, Sonoma Valley

Robledo Family Winery 2006 Chardonnay, Rancho Maria Vineyard, Sonoma Carneros

Atmosphere Wines 2006 Syrah, Parmelee-Hill Vineyard, Sonoma Valley

Sojourn Cellars 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve, Mountain Terrace Vineyard, Sonoma Valley

Muscardini Cellars 2008 Rosato di Sangiovese, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Sonoma Valley

Super-Award Winners from Sonoma Valley's First Ever Wine Compettion

The results are in from the first ever Sonoma Valley Wine Competition. The “Spring Tasting” was the first in a series of quarterly wine competitions designed to showcase the quality of wines made from Sonoma Valley grapes and to promote the seasonal release of new wines.

Local wine writer and sommelier Christopher Sawyer oversaw the judging, which included 46 wineries competing for awards in categories ranging from varietal type and vineyard location to price point and selling venue.

Wineries receiving top honors at the inaugural Sonoma Valley Wine Competition include: Nicholson Ranch, Muscardini Cellars, Tin Barn Vineyards, Roche, and Audelssa Estate Winery.

Best White Wine, Sweepstakes Winner:
Nicholson Ranch 2007 Chardonnay, Estate, Sonoma Valley

Best Red Wine, Sweepstakes Winner:
Nicholson Ranch 2006 Syrah, Las Madres Vineyard, Sonoma Carneros

Best Rosé Wine, Sweepstakes Winner:
Muscardini Cellars 2008 Rosato di Sangiovese, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Sonoma Valley

Best Valley Floor Red Wine
Tin Barn Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir, Ricci Vineyards, Sonoma Carneros

Best Valley Floor White Wine
Roche Carneros Estate Winery 2007 Chardonnay, Estate, Sonoma Carneros

Best Hillside Selection
Audelssa Estate Winery 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mountain Terraces Estate, Sonoma Valley

Three Rivers 2005 Boushey Vineyard Syrah

The Award-Winning Wine:
Three Rivers 2005 Boushey Vineyard Syrah

Reason for Reviewing:
Three Rivers 2005 Boushey Vineyard Syrah was one of three Three Rivers Winery wines that earned top-honor Gold Medals at the 2009 Grand Harvest Awards. They also won Gold for their 2006 Malbec and their Three Rivers 2005 Champoux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.

Noteworthy:
The name Three Rivers represents the three most prominent rivers in the appellations from which the winery sources its grapes: the Columbia, Snake, and Walla Walla Rivers.

Winery Notes:
Single vineyard wines like this one give you the opportunity to taste a special place in time. This wine has a nice berry backdrop with layers of gamey, smoky spice that really keeps the palate enticed for more.

AlaWine Notes:
Three Rivers 2005 Boushey Vineyard Syrah shows as a dark garnet color. Floral aromas of ripe berries waft from the glass. Jammy fruit, blackberry, strawberry and blueberry flavors, fill the palate in a smooth mouthfeel and sustain through a long, light-spice finish.

Bottom Line:
Three Rivers 2005 Boushey Vineyard Syrah is a single vineyard, medium-bodied, 100% Syrah with lots of layered fruit flavors and a complementary finish framed by supple tannins. Quite food friendly, or delicious on its own. Suggested retail price is $50. Overall composite score: 96 points.

Nevada City Winery 2007 Syrah

The Award-Winning Wine:
Nevada City Winery 2007 Syrah

Reason for Reviewing:
Nevada City Winery 2007 Syrah is a "Best New World" Wine Winner from the recently completed 2009 New World International Wine Competition Competition.

Noteworthy:
From the winery: "More than a few small wineries have started in a garage, but we may be the only Winery to begin that way, move on to bigger and better quarters, and still be in a garage"

Winery Notes:
...rich, full-bodied wine, loaded with juicy blackberry flavors and smoky, chocolate aromas. Boldly flavored with medium-full tannins...

AlaWine Notes:
Nevada City Winery 2007 Syrah pours in the glass as a dark ruby color. Ripe, dark berry aromas radiate to the nose. Juicy flavors of blackberry and blackcurrant, with a black olive highlight, fill the palate. Moderate tannins frame the fruit in a long dry, pepper and oak finish.

Bottom Line:
Nevada City Winery 2007 Syrah is a flavorful, medium-bodies wine with plenty of fruit flavor and layers of interesting complexity. Food friendly and a good wine for grilling season. Suggested retail price is $25. Overall composite score: 93 points.

Hughes Family Vineyards 2006 Syrah

The Award-Winning Wine:
Hughes Family Vineyards 2006 Syrah

Reason for Reviewing:
Hughes Family Vineyards 2006 Syrah earned a top-honor Gold Medal at the 2009 Grand Harvest Awards.

Noteworthy:
Hughes Family Vineyards is a boutique winery producing premium Zinfandel and Syrah wines made exclusively from the grapes grown in their certified organic vineyards in Glen Ellen, California.

Winery Notes:
Deliciously black and opaque with dark purple hues. Sweetly seductive and alive with scents of cacao and berry. The palate has exquisite flavors of rose and a hint of smoke.

AlaWine Notes:
Hughes Family Vineyards 2006 Syrah shows as a dark garnet color in the glass. Bountiful aromas of ripe berries rise to the nose in a floral, light smoke and dark chocolate highlight. Opens with a smooth mouth, full of ripe blackberry, plum, and blackcurrant flavors. Moderate tannins support ample fruit through a long, dry, leather and oak finish.

Bottom Line:
Hughes Family Vineyards 2006 Syrah is a layered wine with interesting complexities of fruit and finish. Suggested retail price is $40. Overall composite score: 94 points.

Vina Robles 2006 Signature

The Award-Winning Wine:
Vina Robles 2006 Signature

Reason for Reviewing:
Vina Robles 2006 Signature earned top-honor a top-honor Gold Medal at the recently completed Grand Harvest Awards.

Noteworthy:
The 2006 Signature blend is made from three grape varieties that winemaker Matthias Gubler feels are the ultimate expression of Vina Robles' terroir. It is a blend of the Bordeaux varietals Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon with the Rhone varietal Syrah.

Winery Notes:
Intense aromas of black raspberry, blueberry, and violets supported by toasty oak, nutmeg and cinnamon notes. Fresh blueberry, plum and peach flavors with a hint of pine and tobacco supported by ripe, firm tannins.

AlaWine Notes:
Vina Robles 2006 Signature pours as a deep garnet color. Abundant aromas of ripe raspberry and blueberry blossom from the glass in a floral context. Rich, full-fruit flavors, blueberry, raspberry and whole plum fill the palate in a smooth texture. The finish is long and delicious with moderately firm tannins and a leather accent.

Bottom Line:
Vina Robles 2006 Signature is a well balanced, well integrated, if unusual, red wine blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. It offers full ripe fruit flavors and interesting layers of complexity. Suggested retail price is $36. Overall composite score: 96 points.