AlaWine.com: Super Award Winning Wines

Muscardini Cellars 2008 Rosato di Sangiovese

The Award-Winning Wine:
Muscardini Cellars 2008 Rosato di Sangiovese, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Sonoma Valley

Reason for Reviewing:
Muscardini Cellars 2008 Rosato di Sangiovese is a Gold, Best of Class & Sweepstakes Winner, and earned a Best Vineyard Designate Wine Award at the recently completed, first ever, Sonoma Valley Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
Starting in Italy in 1892, Muscardini Cellars has a long, storied, and interesting history which you can read about here.

Winery Notes:
Floral bouquet of strawberry, melon and roses, with a hint of passion fruit. Refreshing grapefruit finish.

AlaWine Notes:
Muscardini Cellars 2008 Rosato di Sangiovese shows a beautiful, elusive color, a light orange coral peach color. A medley of fresh fruit aromas lift to the nose in a floral context. Red berries, light melon, and other fresh fruit flavors fill the mouth and persist through a citrusy finish with crisp acidity.

Bottom Line:
Muscardini Cellars 2008 Rosato di Sangiovese is a beautiful looking, light and bright rose full of fresh fruit flavors. Well integrated and well balanced; quite refreshing and enjoyable. Suggested retail price is $22. Overall composite score: 96 points.

2009 Riverside International Wine Competition Sweepstakes

A Canadian Pinot Blanc, a Monterey County red wine blend, and a Washington sparkling wine were the big winners at the 28th Riverside International Wine Competition. Here are all of the Sweepstakes Awards winners:

Sparkling Wine
Domaine Ste Michelle Extra Dry Sparkling Wine

Rose Wine
Torrey Ridge Winery Pink Catawba

White Wine
2008 Peller Estates Pinot Blanc, Family Series

Red Wine
2007 Ventana Rubystone, Rhone Blend, Estate Grown

Dessert Wine
2007 Longboard Vineyards Late Harvest Semillon

More info: here.

2009 Critics Challenge Competition Winners

Here are the super-award winning wines from the recently completed 2009 Critics Challenge International Wine Competition.

Wine of the Year
2006 Clayhouse Petite Sirah, Paso Robles $25

Best of Show Sparkling
2000 Perrier-Jouet Fleur de Champagne, France $139

Best of Show White
2008 La Cereza Viognier, Temecula $25

Best of Show Rose
2008 Navarro Rose, Mendocino $16.50

Best of Show Red
2006 Clayhouse Petite Sirah, Paso Robles $25

Best of Show Dessert
2007 Navarro Late Harvest Riesling, Cluster Select $59 More info here.