AlaWine.com: Super Award Winning Wines

2008 People's Choice Wine Tasting Winners

Results are in from Texas' People's Choice Wine Tasting Classic, the largest consumer judged wine competition in the United States. The wine competition consisted of 11 sessions, with wines being judged in 10 categories. And the 1st place Winners are:
* Chardonnay: Messina Hof Winery - Private Reserve Chardonnay, 2006
* White Varietals, All others (<1.5%): Purple Possum Winery - Habeñero Mead, NV
* White Proprietary Blends: Inwood Estates Vineyards - Palomino Chardonnay, 2006
* White Varietals, Sweet (>1.5%): Maydelle Country Wines - Lemon, 2008
* Blush / Rose: Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards - Rosé the Riveter, NV
* Cabernet Sauvignon: Texas Hills Vineyard - Kick Butt Cab Hill Country, 2005
* Merlot: Haak Vineyards - Purple Porpoise, NV
* Red Varietals, All Other (<1.5%): Purple Possum Winery - Cranberry Mead, NV
* Red Proprietary Blends: Inwood Estates Vineyards - Tempranillo Cabernet, 2004
* Red Sweet Varietals, Sweet (<1.5%): LightCatcher Winery - Happy Dog Sweet Red, NV
If you'd like to view the second and third place winners in each category, click here.

Vina Robles 2005 Signature

The Award-Winning Wine:
Vina Robles 2005 Signature

Reason for Reviewing:
Vina Robles 2005 Signature earned Best of Class honors at the West Coast Wine Competition held recently here in Santa Rosa, California.

Noteworthy:
The 2005 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 2005 Signature pours as a deep garnet color. Vibrant aromas ripe raspberry and blueberry radiate from the glass in a floral context. Rich, full-fruit flavors, blueberry, raspberry and plum fill the palate in a smooth texture. The finish is long and deliciously complex with moderately firm tannins and a leather highlight.

Bottom Line:
Vina Robles 2005 Signature is a well balanced, well integrated, if unusual, red wine blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. Suggested retail price is $36. Overall composite score: 97 points.

Latcham Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Franc

The Award-Winning Wine:
Latcham Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Franc

Reason for Reviewing:
Latcham Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Franc is one of just 17 select red wines, out of thousands evaluated, that earned a top-honor Chairman's Award at the 2008 Riverside International Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
The Latcham family credits the success of their wines to the unique growing conditions, or mountain terroir, of the Fair Play viticultural area of southern El Dorado County.

Winery Notes:
An amazingly rich, complex, intensely flavorful Cabernet Franc with superb fruit, smoky French oak and great spice flavor!

AlaWine Notes:
Latcham Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Franc is a deep, dark ruby color on pouring. Dusty, ripe berry aromas lift to the nose. Rich flavors of gooseberry, black currant, and plum fill the palate in a smooth mouthfeel. Moderate tannins and smoky oak balance the fruit in a spicy finish with a savoury highlight.

Bottom Line:
Latcham Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Franc, Special Reserve, Fair Play vineyards is a well-balance, well integrated Cab Franc, a bold fruit forward wine with a lasting, satisfying finish. Suggested retail price was $20 at the time of the competition, now $25. Overall composite score: 96 points.