AlaWine.com: Super Award Winning Wines

More Platinum from 2009 Sommelier Challenge International Wine Competition

These select 20 wines earned top-honor Platinum Awards at the at the recently completed 2009 Sommelier Challenge International Wine Competition:
* Ad Lib 2008 Chardonnay, Hen and Chicken Pemberton $17
* Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards 2006 Pinot Noir, La Encantada Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills $43
* Balletto Vineyards 2007 Chardonnay, Estate Russian River Valley $18
* Cadaretta 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley $40
* Concannon Vineyard 2007 Petite Sirah, Conservancy Livermore Valley $15
* Domaine Carneros 2007 Pinot Noir, The Famous Gate Carneros $68
* Eagles Trace 2004 Latitude 38, Estate Grown Napa Valley $95
* Erath Winery 2006 Pinot Noir, Prince Hill Vineyard Dundee Hills $40
* Etude Winery 2007 Pinot Noir, Estate Carneros $42
* Flora Springs Winery 2006 Trilogy Napa Valley $65
* Freemark Abbey 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bosche Vineyard Napa Valley $65
* Irish Monkey Cellars 2007 Syrbec California $22
* J. Lohr 2007 Pinot Noir, Fog's Reach Vineyard Arroyo Seco $25
* Mount Aukum Winery 2006 Petite Sirah, Reserve El Dorado $35
* Ortman Family Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir, Fiddlestix Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills $45
* Parallel Wines 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $55
* Tandem 2007 Chardonnay, Sangiacomo Vineyard Sonoma Coast $32
* Thomas George Estates 2007 Chardonnay Russian River Valley $32
* Trefethen Vineyards 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll District $50
* Vina Robles 2006 Signature Paso Robles $39
For more information, click here.

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Cameron Hughes Lot 128 2007 Garnacha

The Award-Winning Wine:
Cameron Hughes Lot 128 2007 Garnacha

Reason for Reviewing:
Cameron Hughes Lot 128 2007 Garnacha earned a top-honor Gold Medal and Best Grenache at the 2009 Denver International Wine Festival.

Noteworthy:
The "Lot" series of wines preserves the ultra-premium quality of the original Lot by bottling it unadulterated and never "backblended". Each Lot is numbered to maintain the integrity of the original wine.

Winery Notes:
"Bold, with spicy, peppery fruit, big structure, and meaty, leathery notes, this wine has fantastic personality and outstanding cellar potential. Winemaker Sam was noted to have said this wine was as good as, if not better, than most $60 Chateauneuf du Pape’s he has tasted."

AlaWine Notes:
Standing in the glass as a very dark purple color, Cameron Hughes Lot 128 2007 Garnacha radiates rich aromas of dark ripe berries, brightened by a light menthol note. Blackberry and blackcurrant flavors predominate in a fruity flourish, and persist on the palate through a very long light pepper and leather finish.

Bottom Line:
Cameron Hughes Lot 128 2007 Garnacha is a big wine with loads of satisfying dark fruit flavors and a full and layered complementary finish. A robust and delicious wine to be served with hearty fare. Suggested retail price is $20. Overall composite score: 94 points.

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Top Wineries/Wines Sommelier Challenge International Wine Competition

Seven wineries earned two Platinum Awards each at the recently completed first Sommelier Challenge International Wine Competition. The top wineries and their Platinum-Award winning wines are:

Osborne
Fino Pale Dry Sherry Jerez $11
Pedro Ximenez Sherry 1827 Jerez (and best of Show, Fortified) $20.00

Beringer Private Reserve
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Private Reserve Napa Valley $115
2007 Chardonnay Napa Valley $35

Clayhouse Vineyard
2006 Petite Sirah Paso Robles $25
2006 Syrah Paso Robles $15

Fanucchi Vineyards
2005 Old Vine Zinfandel, Wood Road Vineyard Russian River Valley $50
2006 Trousseau Gris Russian River Valley $24

Gallo Family Vineyards Twin Valley
White Zinfandel California $4.99
Merlot California $4.99

Plantagenet
2008 Pinot Noir, Omrah Western Australia $17
2008 Riesling Great Southern $18

Steele Wines
2005 Zinfandel, DuPratt Vineyard Mendocino Ridge $24
2007 Viognier Lake County $16

For more information, click here.

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R & B Cellars Serenade in Blanc 2007 Sauvignon Blanc

The Award-Winning Wine:
R & B Cellars Serenade in Blanc 2007 Sauvignon Blanc

Reason for Reviewing:
R & B Cellars Serenade in Blanc 2007 Sauvignon Blanc earned a top-honor Gold Medal and Best Sauvignon Blanc at the 2009 Denver International Wine Festival.

Noteworthy:
Beyond crafting high quality wines, the Brown family of R&B enjoys making "Wines that Swing." The musical motif that runs throughout the entire brand, from product titles to innovative labels, originates from the fact that each member of the Brown family is musically inclined.

Winery Notes:
"The vibrant, crisp Ruby Grapefruit from the Russian River combines with the exotic citrus tones of Mandarin and Blood Oranges from the Napa Valley fruit. The resulting wine is complex yet elegant. The marriage of flavors is like a tropical fruit tart with good acidity and fleshy citrus flavors all over a layer of "creme patissiere." The combination of vineyards and appellations also brings out a wonderful mineral character typical of Sancerre from France."

AlaWine Notes:
R & B Cellars Serenade in Blanc 2007 Sauvignon Blanc displays in the glass as a straw yellow color. A medley of grass, tropical and citrus aromas lift to the nose. Grapefruit and banana flavors fill the palate, and citrus flavors carry through a long, bright finish.

Bottom Line:
R & B Cellars Serenade in Blanc 2007 Sauvignon Blanc is a fresh fruit-filled wine, well balanced with a crisp acidity. A delightful wine and a very good value at a suggested retail price of $12.99. Overall composite score: 92 points.

Best of Show, '09 Sommelier Challenge Awards

The results are in from the recently completed first Sommelier Challenge Awards, and the Best of Show wines include:

WINE OF THE YEAR (and presumably BEST OF SHOW WHITE)
Pacific Rim Winemakers 2007 Dry Riesling Columbia Valley $10.99

BEST OF SHOW RED
Chateau Laroque 2005 St. Emilion Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux $54.99

BEST OF SHOW SPARKLING
Rodriguez 2004 Blanc de Blancs Carneros $24

BEST OF SHOW ROSE
Maysara Winery 2008 Roseena Pinot Noir Rose McMinnville $16

BEST OF SHOW FORTIFIED
Osborne NV Pedro Ximenez Sherry 1827 Jerez $20

Ventana Vineyards 2006 Rubystone

The Award-Winning Wine:
Ventana Vineyards 2006 Rubystone

Reason for Reviewing:
Ventana Vineyards 2006 Rubystone is the Red Wine Sweepstakes Winner at the 2009 Monterey Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
According to the winery's website, Ventana Vineyards is the “Most Award Winning Single Vineyard in America”. For more than thirty years, Ventana has essentially been a research vineyard.

Winemaker Notes:
"The beautiful deep ruby color of this robust, Rhone–style blend of Grenache and Syrah grown in our rocky soil gave rise to the name “Rubystone”. This wine is a blend of Syrah resting upon a foundation of Grenache Noir – the primary grape of the Cote du Rhone. When grown and experienced with elegance rather than power in mind, this combination is sublime at table. We love the “candy apple” and “cherry” of the Grenache carried by Syrah when in the company of just about every red meat, particularly lamb."

AlaWine Notes:
Sporting a newly designed label, Ventana Vineyards Winery 2006 Rubystone pours as a clear, deep ruby color. Smooth aromas of ripe dark cherry and blackberry rise from the glass. Ripe cherry and berry flavors fill the palate, with black currant, in a rich fruity mouth. Light spice and moderate black pepper notes carry the fruit through a long, lingering, satisfying finish.

Bottom Line:
Ventana Vineyards 2006 Rubystone is a rich Rhone-style red wine blend of 62% Grenache and 38% Syrah. Full fruit flavors are well integrated in a smooth mouth, and balanced, complementary finish. An excellent value at a suggested retail price of $18. Overall composite score: 94 points.