September 2007

Silver Stone 2004 Tempranillo

The Award-Winning Wine:
Silver Stone 2004 Tempranillo, Paso Robles

Reason for Reviewing:
Silver Stone 2004 Tempranillo earned a "Best Wine Of The Competition" and a Platinum Award at the 2007 Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition and a Double Gold award at the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
Owner and winemaker Dan Kleck has been producing premium wines for the past 29 years. He began his career in the mid-1970’s, focusing on the Long Island region in New York. Moving to California in the late 1990’s, he worked with Jess Jackson at Kendall-Jackson Winery in Monterey, managing its Monterey winery, then creating the Carmel Road Project, under K-J’s elite Artisans and Estates umbrella of wineries. There he discovered the enormous potential of the outstanding vineyards stretching from Monterey to Santa Barbara. Silver Stone Winery was born in 1997, with a mission to hand-craft wines from key coastal appellations, focused on uniquely-suited growing sites tended by astute vineyardists.

Winery Notes:
Silver Stone’s premier vintage offering of Tempranillo was sourced from south-facing vineyards in the heart of the Paso Robles appellation. The soil from this locale provides the vines with essential drainage, creating small-berry clusters of deeply pigmented fruit. Wonderful autumn weather during the vintage ensured that this fruit achieved full ripeness, complete with sweet sugars and rich, supple tannins. This lush wine delivers rich boysenberry fruit balanced with wild herb aromas and a touch of vanilla.

AlaWine Notes:
Very dark garnet in the glass, Silver Stone 2004 Tempranillo exudes moderate aromas of ripe berries and herbs in an earth-leather context. Rich fruit flavors of blackberry and boysenberry fill the palate in a smooth front end. Strong tannins hold the fruit flavors through a long, warm finish.

Bottom Line:
The premier grape of Spain, and primarily used for blending, Tempranillo is rarely bottled as a stand-alone varietal. Silver Stone 2004 Tempranillo may change all that. Dark and delicious, Silver Stone 2004 Tempranillo is a hardy red wine, with likely good agability, that will hold up well now with big cuts of red meat, lamb, sausages, and wild game, or serve with cheese for smoother sipping. Suggested retail price is $24. Overall composite score: 95 points.

Maryland Wine Festival Winners

Robert Deford, owner and manager of Boordy Vineyards and winner of Maryland’s 2007 wine competition, earned the the Governor’s Cup award for their 2006 Vidal Blanc. Best of Class Award winners from Maryland’s 2007 wine competition included:

Best Dry White: Boordy Vineyards, Chardonnay 2006
Best Dry Rosé: St. Michaels Winery, A Nice Dry Rosé 2006
Best Dry Red: Linganore Winecellars, Chambourcin 2002
Best Semi-Dry: Boordy Vineyards, Vidal Blanc 2006
Best Blush: Boordy Vineyards, Blush NV
Best Sweet: Linganore Winecellars, Traminette 2005
Best Fruit: Fiore Winery, Plum NV

For more information, click here.

2007 People’s Choice Wine Tasting Winners

The People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic, the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the nation has just concluded. More than 120 Texas wines from 37 of the state’s wineries were judged. Following 11 sessions over three days, the People’s Choice awards have been announced. First place winners in each of eight categories includes:

Chardonnay
Delaney Vineyards, Reserve Chardonnay, 2006

White Varietals, All Others
Messina Hof Winery & Resort, Gewurztraminer, 2006

White Proprietary Blends
Three Dudes Winery, Texas White, 2006

White Varietals, Sweet
Messina Hof Winery & Resort, Late Harvest Riesling (Angel), 2006

Blush/Rosé
LightCatcher Winery, Texas Kiss Merlot Rosé, 2006

Cabernet Sauvignon
Messina Hof Winery & Resort, Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005

Merlot
Messina Hof Winery & Resort, Private Reserve Merlot, 2003

Red Varietals, All Others
Purple Possum Winery, Cranberry Mead, 2007

For second and third place winners and more information, click here.

Santa Cruz Wine Competition Winners

The top award-winning wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains Commercial Wine Competition for 2007 have been announced:

Picchetti Winery, 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains Best Of Show, Best of Santa Cruz Moutains Reds
Hallcrest Vineyards, 2004 Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains, Belle Farms Vineyard
Woodside Vineyards, 2004 Zinfandel, Santa Cruz Mountains, Estate Vineyard
Savannah Chanelle Vineyard, 2004 Zinfandel, Santa Cruz Mountains, Estate Vineyard
Soquel Vineyards, 2004 Zinfandel, California Old Vine, Schmierer Vineyard
Picchetti Winery, 2004 Vino Di Vicino, Santa Cruz Mountains, Leslie’s Estate Vineyard
Soquel Vineyards, 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountain, Partner’s Reserve Vineyard
Ahlgren Vineyards, 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains, Bates Ranch Vineyard
Hallcrest Vineyards, 2003 Zinfandel, Lake County, Nova Vineyards
Martin Ranch Winery, 2004 Syrah, Santa Clara Valley
Bargetto Winery, 2003 Merlot Reserve, Santa Cruz Mountains, Regan Vineyards

For more information, click here.

Oregon State Wine Competition Winners

Results are in from the 2007 Oregon State Wine Competition. Forty-six wineries entered 207 wines; 123 medals were awarded, including the following Best of Show and Best of Class award winners, and eight Gold Medal winners:

BEST OF SHOW
2005 Pinot Gris, Oregon, Firesteed Cellars, Rickreall

BEST OF CLASSIFICATION
White Vinifera: 2005 Pinot Gris, Oregon, Firesteed Cellars, Rickreall
Red Vinifera: 2006 Syrah, Rogue Valley, Griffin Creek Winery, Medford
Specialty: Late Harvest Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Orchard Heights Winery, Salem

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
2006 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley Eco-wine, Amity Vineyards
2006 Riesling, Oregon, Eola Hills Wine Cellars, Rickreall
2005 Pinot Gris, Oregon, Firesteed Cellars, Rickreall
2004 Syrah, Rogue Valley, Griffin Creek Winery, Medford
2005 Late Harvest Dessert, Willamette Valley, Orchard Heights Winery, Salem
2006 Semi Sparkling Muscat and 2005 Pinot Noir, Tualatin Estate Vineyards
2006 Early Muscat, Willamette Valley, Vitis Ridge, Silverton

For more information, click here.