AlaWine.com: Super Award Winning Wines

Troon Vineyard 2005 Old Vine Meritage

The Award-Winning Wine:
Troon Vineyard 2005 Old Vine Meritage, Applegate Valley

Reason for Reviewing:
Troon Vineyard 2005 Old Vine Meritage earned a Double Gold medal award at the 2010 U.S. Professional Wine Buyer's Competition, held recently here in Santa Rosa, CA.

Noteworthy:
"In the vineyard, we follow organic principles and aspire to a closed loop, sustainable farming environment. No herbicides or pesticides are used, and all tending of the vines is done by hand. The goal is the perfect fruit."

Winery Notes:
Old vines give our Meritage great depth and complexity, reminding one of the wines of Bordeaux. Our 2005 has Cabernet Sauvignon as the blend leader. The 2005 Cabernet was softer and rounder than previous years.

AlaWine Notes:
Troon Vineyard 2005 Old Vine Meritage pours as a dark purple color, and features an aromatic nose of ripe, dark berries in a dusty earth context. Ripe blackberry, blackcurrant, and plum pudding flavors lead on the palate and linger gracefully through a dry finish with a leather highlight.

Bottom Line:
Troon Vineyard 2005 Old Vine Meritage is made from 55% Cabernet 30% Merlot 15% Cabernet Franc from 30-year-old Applegate Valley (OR) vines. A big red wine full of ripe fruit flavors, yet smooth and well finished. Suggested retail price is $29 (release pricing as of August 1st will be $35). Overall composite score: 96 points.

Clos LaChance 2007 Central Coast Zinfandel

The Award-Winning Wine:
Clos LaChance 2007 Central Coast Zinfandel

Reason for Reviewing:
Clos LaChance 2007 Central Coast Zinfandel earned a Double-Gold Medal Award at the 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
"In 1987, co-owners Bill and Brenda Murphy planted a few rows of Chardonnay in their Saratoga backyard for landscaping, and to realize their dreams of being vintners. A few years later, the wines produced from this small backyard vineyard were good enough to sell to the public. [Following] that Clos LaChance formed into a full fledged winery."

Winery Notes:
A dark, ruby purple throughout. Aromas of rich raspberries, cocoa, blackberries and plum fruit. A hint of anise and leafy tobacco. A soft entry with bright fruit flavors that is concurrent with the aromas--raspberries and blackberries. Mid-palate has a strong acid base, which will make this a great wine to pair with food. A hint of sour cherry and dill on the long, soft finish.

AlaWine Notes:
Clos LaChance 2007 Central Coast Zinfandel displays in the glass as a dark ruby color. On the nose, abundant aromas of mixed berries lift from the rim. A smooth opening reveals flavors of bramble berry and whole plum, with a cherry note. The finish is long, dry, and smooth with moderately spicy highlights.

Bottom Line:
Clos LaChance 2007 Central Coast Zinfandel is a well integrated, layered fruit filled Zin, quite quaffable, and delicious. Likely to satisfy a wide array of dinner guests, and a very good value at a suggested retail price of $18. Overall composite score: 94 points.

Soquel Vineyards 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The Award-Winning Wine:
Soquel Vineyards 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Reason for Reviewing:
Soquel Vineyards 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon earned a Double-Gold Medal Award at the 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
In a twist on history, co-owners and twins Peter and Paul Bargetto recently purchased land once owned by their grandfather as the site of their new winery facility.

AlaWine Notes:
Soquel Vineyards 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon stands in the glass as a very dark ruby color. Ripe berry and light violet aromas blossom on the nose. Blackberry, blackcurrant, and plum flavors flood the palate and mingle leisurely through a very long oak and light leather finish

Bottom Line:
Soquel Vineyards 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a well structured and quite quaffable and delicious Cab, likely to satisfy palates across a wide range of dinner guests. Suggested retail price is $75. Overall composite score: 94 points.

Wilson Winery 2007 Dry Creek Valley Sawyer Vineyard Zinfandel

The Award-Winning Wine:
Wilson Winery 2007 Dry Creek Valley Sawyer Vineyard Zinfandel

Reason for Reviewing:
Wilson Winery 2007 Sawyer Vineyard Zinfandel earned a Double-Gold Medal Award at the 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
Wilson Winery opened a tasting room behind their old barn. When you think "backside of the barn" you don’t picture a breathtaking panoramic view of Dry Creek Valley, but that is what you get at this new and improved tasting room and deck behind the "barn."

Winery Notes:
Alluring aromas of fresh dark spicy berries... A silky texture and zesty mouthfeel cradle perfectly ripened blackberries, with a hint of coffee and vanillin oak whispering in the background. The spicy black pepper notes frame the wine from the initial sip to the lingering finish. Beautifully balanced and lusciously layered...

AlaWine Notes:
Wilson Winery 2007 Sawyer Vineyard Zinfandel pours as a dark garnet-ruby color in the glass. It yields aromas of ripe, dark berries. On the palate, flavors of blackberry, brambleberry, and raspberry, opening in a smooth mouthfeel. Spicy pepper and moderate tannins hold the ripe fruit through a long vanilla oak finish.

Bottom Line:
Wilson Winery 2007 Sawyer Vineyard Zinfandel is a very flavorful, well balanced, well integrated and delicious Dry Creek Zin, good now and likely to improve even more with some aging. Suggested retail price is $44. Overall composite score: 96 points.

B & E Vineyard 2007 Red Rhythm

The Award-Winning Wine:
B & E Vineyard 2007 Red Rhythm

Reason for Reviewing:
B & E Vineyard 2007 Red Rhythm won Best of Class and Judges' Choice Award at the 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Noteworthy:
B & E Vineyard is a small family owned and operated winery located outside of Paso Robles, CA. A new saloon will be completed soon.

AlaWine Notes:
B & E Vineyard 2007 Red Rhythm shows as a dark purple-ruby color in the glass. It throws off an aromatic nose of a bowl of ripe blackberries in a bed of flowers. Blackberry and black currant flavors predominate on the front in a smooth mouth, and carry through in a spicy, toasty oak finish with a black pepper accent.

Bottom Line:
B & E Vineyard 2007 Red Rhythm is an interesting Bordeaux-Rhone blend: 68% Merlot, 22% Cabernet and 10% Syrah. It provides full, ripe fruit flavors, intriguing complexities across the palate, and a bright finish. Suggested retail price is $29. Overall composite score: 93 points.