June 2008

International Wine and Spirit Gold Best of Class

Two American wines earned top-honor Gold (Best in Class) Awards at the recently completed International Wine and Spirit Competition. They are:

Casa Larga Fiori Vidal Ice Wine 2005
from the Casa Larga Vineyards

Trinchero Folie a Deux Zinfandel 2005
from Trinchero Family Estates

2005 Volcano Vineyards Syrah

The Award-Winning Wine:
2005 Volcano Vineyards Syrah

Reason for Reviewing:
Out of thousands of wines entered from 30 states and 10 foreign nations at the second annual National Women’s Wine Competition, held recently here in Santa Rosa, Volcano Vineyards 2005 Syrah earned the Judges Choice Open award as the best wine of the competition.

Noteworthy:
The volcanic peaks of the Cascade Mountains dominate the horizon west of our home in Bend, Oregon. The landscape is volcanic, the climate dry.

Winery Notes:
Our 2005 Syrah has a distinct raspberry and blueberry on the nose, bold fruit throughout and shows a hint of the classic syrah white pepper on the finish.

AlaWine Notes:
2005 Volcano Vineyards Syrah presents as a dark purple garnet color in the glass. Ripe berries radiate to the nose in a pleasing floral context. Red berry flavors fill the palate and continue refreshing through a long, moderately peppery finish.

Bottom Line:
2005 Volcano Vineyards Syrah is a rich fruit-forward wine with lots of berry flavors. It is round and smooth, well balanced and very satisfying. Suggested retail price is $32. Overall composite score: 97 points.

Best of Class Reds, West Coast Wine Competition

These select red wines earned Best of Class honors at the recently completed West Coast Wine Competition here in Santa Rosa, California, out of 1,700 wines entered from wineries in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Baja California, British Columbia, Australia, and New Zealand. Mount Aukum, Sextant Wines, and Viansa Winery each earned two top honors.

* Vina Robles, 05 Signature (Red Blend), Paso Robles, $36
* Maryhill Winery, 05 Proprietor's Reserve Merlot, Columbia Valley, $30
* Eberle Winery, 05 Sangiovese, Paso Robles, $22
* Bianchi, 04 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, $22
* Handley Cellars, 06 Pinot Noir, Mendocino, $25
* Mount Aukum Winery, 05 Cabernet Sauvignon, Fair Play, $24
* Sextant, 06 Holystone Zinfandel, Paso Robles, $27
* Sculpterra Winery, 06 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, $32
* Sycamore Creek, 06 Malbec, Santa Clara Valley, $23.95
* Macchia, 06 Mischievous Zinfandel, Lodi, $18
* Mount Aukum Winery, 06 Mourvedre, Amador County, $26
* Viansa Winery, 06 Syrah, Sonoma County, $28
* Bogle Vineyards, 06 Petite Sirah, California, $11
* 10 Knots Cellars, 05 Atlantis Syrah, Paso Robles, $32
* Meridian, 05 Cabernet Sauvignon, California, $10
* Bin 36, 05 Merlot, California, $16
* Silver Ridge Winery, 06 Pinot Noir, California, $9.99
* Huntington Wine Cellars, 06 Cabernet Sauvignon, California, $17
* Viansa Winery, 04 Cabernet Franc, Sonoma County, $28
For a complete list of award-winning wines, click here.

Riverside Reds, Chairman's Award Winners

These 17 select red wines, out of 2,614 total wines evaluated, each earned a top-honor Chairman's Award at the recently completed 2008 Riverside International Wine Competition. Ventana Vineyards earned two Chairman's Awards, one for their Rubystone red blend and the other for their '05 Tempranillo.

* Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Pinot Noir $45
* Carol Shelton Wines 2005 Zinfandel, Maple Vineyard $33
* Halter Ranch Vineyard 2004 Ancestor $44
* Limerick Lane 2005 Zinfandel, Collins Vineyard $30
* LangeTwins Winery 2005 Midnight Reserve $35
* Paradise Ridge Winery 2003 Syrah, Santa Cruz, Garrod Ranch $28
* Ventana Vineyards 2005 Tempranillo $28
* Latcham Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Franc, Fair Play Special RSV $20
* Ventana Vineyards 2006 Rubystone $18
* Maryhill Winery 2006 Winemaker's Red $15
* Redtree 2005 Zinfandel $8
* Fetzer Valley Oaks 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon $8.99
* Delicato Family Vineyard 2005 Twisted Merlot $7.99
* Laurier Vineyards 2006 Merlot, Alexander Valley $14.99
* Lucky Star 2005 Petite Sirah, Lodi $12.99
* Navarro Vineyards 2006 Pinot Noir, Mendocino $19
* Francis Coppola 2006 Zinfandel, Director's Cut $23

For a complete list of award-winning wines from the competition, click here.

Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2006 Chardonnay

The Award-Winning Wine:
Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2006 Chardonnay (Proprietor's Reserve)

Reason for Reviewing:
Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2006 Chardonnay is one of just four wines from more than 2,350 wines, from nearly 500 wineries, spanning 39 states, and 14 different countries, that earned a Sweepstakes Award the recently completed 2008 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
Chateau Lafayette Reneau won the International Winery of the Year by Taster's Guild International in 2001.

Winery Notes:
Overtones of ripe pear and apple. Subtle butterscotch.

AlaWine Notes:
Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2006 Chardonnay pours as a pale straw yellow color. Aromas of apple appeal to the nose. Nice blend of apple, pear, and citrus flavors fill the palate and prevail through a long, rich buttery finish.

Bottom Line:
Chateau Lafayette Reneau 2006 Chardonnay is a well balanced wine with full fresh fruit and a smooth oak finish. A good value at a suggested retail price is $19.99. Overall composite score: 94 points.

West Coast Sweepstakes Winners

Out of 1,700 wines entered from wineries in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Baja California, British Columbia, Australia, and New Zealand, these four wines were selected as Sweepstakes Winners at the recently completed West Coast Wine Competition here in Santa Rosa, California.

Sweepstakes Bubbly
Mumm Napa, 01 Grand Annee, Napa Valley, $30

Sweepstakes White
Ventana Vineyards, 06 Riesling, Arroyo Seco, $16

Sweepstakes Red
Matrix Winery, 04 Syrah, Sonoma Coast, $28

Sweepstakes Fortified
Rotta Winery, 04 Black Monukka, California, $22

For a complete list of award-winning wines, click here.