AlaWine.com: Super Award Winning Wines

Trefethen 2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The Award-Winning Wine:
Trefethen 2006 Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District, Cabernet Sauvignon

Reason for Reviewing:
Trefethen 2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon earned a Double-Gold Medal Award at the 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
As one of Napa Valley’s few remaining family wine estates, Trefethen Vineyards has never purchased a single outside grape. Located in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, their estate vineyard is nestled in a verdant landscape of vines at the cooler, southern end of Napa Valley.

Winery Notes:
Aromas of coffee and black cherry with hints of bay leaf carry through onto the palate, lengthening the flavor profile. Firm tannins build alongside flavors of ripe plum fruit and walnut.

AlaWine Notes:
On pouring, Trefethen 2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon presents as a dark purple-garnet color. Abundant aromas of ripe berries rise from the glass. Opening flavors of wild blackberries and dark cherries flood the palate, and carry through a long, dry toasty oak finish of fruit and light leather.

Bottom Line:
Trefethen 2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is more than 90% Estate Cab, and less than 10% Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot combined. The wine is well integrated with interesting layers of complexity. Just in time for Summer grilling. Suggested retail price is $50. Overall composite score: 96 points.

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Hagafen Cellars 2008 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

The Award-Winning Wine:
Hagafen Cellars 2008 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

Reason for Reviewing:
Hagafen Cellars 2008 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc earned a Platinum Medal award at the 2010 Monterey Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
HaGafen Cellars is located in Northern California's Napa Valley, less than one mile south of the famed Stags Leap District and just twenty yards from the Oak Knoll District, considered to be Napa's newest and most exciting of American Viticultural Areas.

Winery Notes:
This Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc is made on the edges of the Sonoma Coast, where the mountain meets the sea, creating the perfect conditions for this rarely produced release. This tropically sweet wine is a prefect end-of-the-meal match for a wide range of cuisines.

AlaWine Notes:
Hagafen Cellars 2008 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc shows as a medium yellow, almost honey color in the glass. Rich aromas of banana and grapefruit arise to the nose in a light grassy context. Ripe tropical fruit flavors on the palate, smooth and sweet, but with a complementary bright acidity through a very long finish.

Bottom Line:
Hagafen Cellars 2008 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc is a delightful dessert wine that can be very well enjoyed on its own, or with a fresh rock fruit and cheese plate or with Danish. Suggested retail price is $30 per 375 mL. Overall composite score: 94 points.

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Double Gold Medal Winners from 2010 Tasters Guild International Wine Judging

Tasters Guild International has announced the results of its 2010 International Wine Judging. Thirty experienced judges from around the country completed more than 2,200 evaluations of wine from 10 countries and 32 states/provinces. Forty-five wines earned Double Gold Medal awards, including the following selections. California wineries Callaway, Dutcher Crossing, and Montpelleer each had two Double Gold Medal winning wines, as did Washington wineries, Kiona and Tagaris.

* Callaway Winery 2009 Rose' of Sangiovese
* Callaway Winery 2009 Muscat Canelli Special Select
* David Girard Vineyards 2007 Syrah El Dorado
* Deguello Wine 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Vyd
* Dr. Konstantin Frank 2008 Riesling L.H. Bunch Select
* Dutcher Crossing Winery 2006 Port-style
* Dutcher Crossing Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Resv
* Forchini Winery 2007 Papa Nonno
* Gloria Ferrer 2009 Carneros Cuvee
* Keuka Spring Winery 2008 Riesling Semi Sweet
* Kiona Vineyards 2008 Chenin Blanc IW
* Kiona Vineyards 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Red MT
* Lake Chelan Winery 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Vly
* Montpelleer Vineyards 2008 Viognier
* Montpelleer Vineyards 2007 Syrah
* Rideau Vineyard 2007 Grenache Noir
* Tagaris Winery 2007 Mourvedre Wahluke Slope
* Tagaris Winery 2006 Petite Verdot Wahluke Slope
* V. Sattui Winery 2007 Cabernet Franc Alexander Vly
For more information click here.

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Renwood Winery 2007 Barbera

The Award-Winning Wine:
Renwood Winery 2007 Barbera

Reason for Reviewing:
Renwood Winery 2007 Barbera earned a Platinum Medal Award at the recently completed 2010 San Diego International Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
The winery's flagship wine, Renwood Grandpère® Zinfandel comes from the oldest clone of Zinfandel in America dating back to the 1860’s. This variety, Barbera, has emerged as the noble Italian varietal of Amador County, and this wine has won more medals than any other Sierra Foothill wine.

AlaWine Notes:
On pouring, Renwood Winery 2007 Barbera, shows as a dark ruby color in the glass. Significant aromas of red fruit rise to the nose in a smoky context. Fruit forward, ripe berry flavors and whole plum flood the palate and persist through a long and toasty finish with modest tannins.

Bottom Line:
Renwood Winery 2007 Barbera is full bodied wine, rich in flavor, yet well balanced and well finished. Likely to pair well with a wide range of dinner menus. Suggested retail price is $23. Overall composite score: 93 points.

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2010 Pacific Rim Grand Champion Wines

The results are in from the 2010 Pacific Rim International Wine Competition, and the Grand Champion award winning wines are:

Overall Grand Champion
Callaway Vineyard Rose of Sangiovese 2009 Special Selection Temecula

Best Sparkling Wine
Korbel Blanc de Noirs California

Best Red Wine
Jeff Runquist Barbera 2008 Dick Cooper Vineyard Amador County

Best Rose Wine
Callaway Vineyard Rose of Sangiovese 2009 Special Selection Temecula

Best White Wine
Bel Lago Riesling 2007 Leelanau Peninsula

Best Dessert Wine
Casa Larga Vidal Blanc Ice Wine Limited Release Fiori Delle Stelle 2006 Finger Lakes

Best Fortified Wine
Rancho de Philo Triple Cream Sherry Cucamonga Valley California

Ahnfeldt Wines 2005 Napa Valley Quid Pro Quo

The Award-Winning Wine:
Ahnfeldt Wines 2005 Napa Valley Quid Pro Quo

Reason for Reviewing:
Ahnfeldt Wines 2005 Napa Valley Quid Pro Quo earned the Double-Gold Medal Award at the 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition in the category of Bordeaux Blends.

Noteworthy:
The symbol for Ahnfeldt Wines is a stone carving of their first Friesian horse "Dutch," who was imported from Holland.

Winery Notes:
This Merlot-based wine showcases the three vineyards that comprise the blend. Merlot is the foundation for the blend with cherry and black olive aromas, silky tannins, leading to a long finish. The two Cabernet Sauvignons add structure and classic Cabernet aromas of black current and licorice. The Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot add complexity...

AlaWine Notes:
Ahnfeldt Wines 2005 Napa Valley Quid Pro Quo pours into the glass as a dark garnet color. Lovely ripe berry aromas arise to the nose. Opens smoothly with abundant fruit flavors, cherry and blackberry, along with blackcurrant and an olive rider. Flavors show excellent hang-time through a long, dry, complementary finish.

Bottom Line:
Ahnfeldt Wines 2005 Napa Valley Quid Pro Quo is beautifully aromatic, full of fruit, well balanced, nicely layered, with abiding interest. Suggested retail price is $49. Overall composite score: 96 points.

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