Bakersfield Wine Society
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Annual Tuscany at Twilight dinner Sept. 24 at Bakersfield College
Many of you may recall the fabulous winemaker dinner we had two years ago with Francesco Mazzei of Marchesi Mazzei wines in Tuscany. I’ve heard from more than a few of you that you’d like to see Mazzei winery return.
Well, your wish has come true! Francesco will return to Bakersfield to join forces with the Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club for its annual Tuscany at Twilight dinner, Friday, Sept. 24, from 6 to 10 p.m., at the Bakersfield College Arboretum. And not only is the dinner modestly priced at $75 per person, you’ll make your checks out to the BBRC Foundation, meaning you can claim a portion of your check as a tax deduction.
Marchesi Mazzei will be the exclusive provider of wines for the dinner. In addition, as prelude to the classic Tuscan dinner prepared by Chef Patrick Coyle of the Bakersfield College Culinary Arts Department, we’ll have a special tasting of 5 Mazzei (pronounced Mat-ZAY) wines. You’ll get to taste wines from three Mazzei properties: Castello di Fonterutoli and Belguardo, both in Tuscany, and Zisola, which is in Sicily, plus enjoy a special selection of the wines with your dinner.
Mazzei has been a wine producer since 1435, and is among the most highly regarded producers in Europe, so I know you’ll want to be there.
This dinner, of course, is a fundraiser for the BBRC and its designated charity, which this year is the Golden Empire Gleaners. For those who may not be familiar with the Gleaners, it’s a local private food bank. The Gleaners’ mission is to help alleviate hunger and provide food for needy people in Kern County. The Gleaners do this by collecting and distributing food and agricultural products that might otherwise go to waste. Last year the Gleaners provided food for more than 210,000 people, and distributed more than 2 million pounds of food. More than 9,000 volunteers work to help provide food and sustenance for needy Kern County families.
The 2010 Tuscany at Twilight offers a truly Tuscan experience. Attendees will dine alfresco at the Bakersfield College Arboretum, under stately oaks and twinkling lights. Chef Coyle’s traditional dinner will include Gnocchi with Sage and Italian Sausage, Chicken Marsala and Wild Mushrooms, and Fennel-crusted Pork Loin. And of course, Tiramisu will be among the dessert choices.
Additionally, each attendee will receive a souvenir commemorative wine glass, hand-painted by Bakersfield artist Jan Black.
A silent auction will feature more than three-dozen items, ranging from wines to lifestyle packages. Also, some large-format bottles from the Mazzei family will be auctioned live.
Mazzei is no stranger to Bakersfield. A few years ago, a distant relative from Bakersfield, Angelo Mazzei, visited the Mazzei winery in Tuscany and formed a fast friendship with Francesco Mazzei and other members of his family. Two years ago, Francesco came to Bakersfield for a winemaker dinner hosted by the Bakersfield Wine Society. The success of that dinner prompted his return this year.
Sponsorship packages for Tuscany at Twilight are available at a variety of levels by calling sponsorship chair Marlene Morales at (661) 747-1450.
This will be a great time for a great cause, so please come and enjoy a fabulous evening of fine dining, world-class wine and entertainment while supporting the Golden Empire Gleaners.
Tickets for Tuscany at Twilight are $75 per person, and are available from Bakersfield Breakfast Rotary Club members, or by calling ticket chair Martha Samora at (661) 703-9394. Also, as a special service to BWS members, you can order your tickets through the Society. Simply mail your check(s) payable to BBRC Foundation to 13015 Queen Palm Court, Bakersfield 93314. Questions? Call Mike at (661) 395-4840 or 342-2339. IMPORTANT: Include your mailing address so we can mail you your tickets, or let us know if you would like to pick up your tickets at will-call at check-in the night of the dinner (and save us the cost of postage). REMINDER: Make your checks payable to BBRC Foundation.
• E-MAIL: Know someone who wants to join the Bakersfield Wine Society, or need to update your e-address? Send new e-addresses to Mike at mstepanovich@bak.rr.com.
Reservation form (clip on dotted line and return with your check)
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NAME____________________________________________ PHONE _____________
E-MAIL ADDRESS (IF NEW)________________________________________________
ADDRESS ___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
NUMBER OF RESERVATIONS-TUSCANY AT TWILIGHT ($75/PERSON) ___________
PLEASE MAIL RESERVATION SLIP AND CHECK TO:
BAKERSFIELD WINE SOCIETY
13015 QUEEN PALM COURT
BAKERSFIELD, CA 93314
Menu for Winemaker dinner July 23
Here it is, as promised, the menu and wine pairings for our summer winemaker dinner with Larry and April Gomez and their Via Vega wines on Friday, July 23, 6 p.m., at Luigi’s, 725 East 19th Street. Luigi’s Gino Valpredo has outdone himself with this menu, which will be a home run with the wines. Check this out:
• We’ll open the evening with a reception featuring Via Vega’s 2005 Bullpen, a blend of cabernet franc, merlot and aglianico, and a trio of appetizers: Crustini with prosciutto, fresh mozerella and brown-butter sage; bruschetta with diced fresh summer tomatoes, basil and olive oil; and mixed game sausages.
• Our first course will be a pancetta-wrapped pork tenderloin, paired with Via Vega’s 2005 Bench Stars, a blend of zinfandel, syrah and aglianico.
• Second course will be “Roaring Forties Bleu Cheese, with truffle honey and mache, served with Via Vega’s 2005 syrah.
• Third course is braised beef short ribs with barbecue sauce, fregola sarda pasta, and fresh summer vegetables, paired with Via Vega’s 2007 Zinfandel.
• Fourth course is rack of lamb with white beans and roasted peppers, paired with with the Via Vega 2005 October Series, a blend of cabernet sauvignon and syrah.
• And the fifth course, dessert, is a molten cake, served with Via Vega’s indescribable port-style wine (if you were at the Sterling Silver Dinner, you’ll recall it was served there).
I think you’ll agree with me this is one heck of a winemaker dinner. So I hope to see you at Luigi’s on Friday, July 23, at 6 p.m. Cost for the Via Vega dinner is $80 per person, which includes all wines, food, tax and tip. Reservations must be paid in advance.
Please mail check(s) payable to Bakersfield Wine Society to 13015 Queen Palm Court, Bakersfield 93314. Questions? Call Mike at (661) 395-4840 or 342-2339. • E-MAIL: Know someone who wants to join the Bakersfield Wine Society, or need to update your e-address? Send new e-addresses to Mike at mstepanovich@bak.rr.com.
• MEA CULPA – Martin Croad, a good friend of the BWS and Bakersfield electrical contractor turned Paso Robles winemaker, alerted me that when I send out the results of the Central Coast Wine Competition, I overlooked that Croad Vineyards’ 2007 Ariki Rhone-Bordeaux blend won a gold medal. It’s a splendid wine, worth finding. Sorry about that, Martin.
Winemaker dinner July 23 to feature hot talents on the Central Coast
We’ve long eschewed summer winemaker dinners because, frankly, many of you were traveling. But perhaps with the economy still soft, enough of you are sticking around this summer, because we’ve heard from a few of you wondering if we had something planned for the summer.
So we’ve put together a terrific winemaker dinner with one of the hot talents on the Central Coast. Larry Gomez, along with his wife, April, will be on hand Friday, July 23, 6 p.m., at Luigi’s on East 19th Street, to pour some of their exciting new wines that will be paired with an exquisite menu prepared by Luigi’s own Gino Valpredo.
As some of you may know, Larry’s day job is winemaker at Lockwood Vineyard & Winery in Monterey County, but nights and weekends find him and April pouring their hearts and souls into their own winery, Via Vega, which is at 2378 Adobe Road, just off Airport Road in Paso Robles. The couple grow 11 varietals on 15 acres, and are making some of the most flavorful wines in the Paso Robles appellation.
Larry’s also a huge baseball fan – specifically my San Francisco Giants – and some of his imaginative blends bear baseball monikers, such as “Bull Pen,” a blend of cabernet franc, merlot and aglianico, an exciting Italian varietal. Then there’s “Bench Stars” - zinfandel, syrah and aglianico. “October Series” is cabernet sauvignon and syrah.
Those of you who attended this year’s Red & White Wine & Food Festival at Bakersfield College may recall Larry’s wines: his was one of the most popular stations at the fest.
And Gino Valpredo is excited about the dinner; he’s working overtime to come up with a fabulous menu. I’ll send menu details to you this weekend. And those of you who’ve been to our dinners at Luigi’s know you’re in for a treat at this iconic restaurant.
Cost for the Via Vega dinner is $80 per person, which includes all wines, food, tax and tip. Reservations must be paid in advance. Please mail check(s) payable to Bakersfield Wine Society to 13015 Queen Palm Court, Bakersfield 93314. Questions? Call Mike at (661) 395-4840 or 342-2339.
• E-MAIL: Know someone who wants to join the Bakersfield Wine Society, or need to update your e-address? Send new e-addresses to Mike at mstepanovich@bak.rr.com.
• BWS CALENDAR
• Working on a September dinners. Details soon.
• OTHER WINE NEWS
• I’ll be teaching three wine courses this fall at BC: the introductory course, “The French Connection,” and due to popular demand, an Italian wine course.
• Just back from the Central Coast Wine Competition, and will have those results to you this weekend as well.
Reservation form (clip on dotted line and return with your check)
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NAME____________________________________________
PHONE ________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS (IF NEW)_______________________________________________
NUMBER OF RESERVATIONS-VIA VEGA DINNER ($80/PERSON) _______________
PLEASE MAIL RESERVATION SLIP AND CHECK TO:
BAKERSFIELD WINE SOCIETY
13015 QUEEN PALM COURT
BAKERSFIELD, CA 93314
Just back from the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition
April 2010
Just back from the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition, and have some winners to pass along to you. But first (as usual) an observation or two:
• The market for wine remains at the lower end, and the good news for consumers, based on the results of this competition, is that there are plenty of really good affordable wines. Winemakers I spoke with at the PRIWC were unanimous in their assessment: wines retailing for $20 and under are selling; above that, not. What that means is that it’s a great time to be a wine consumer. You can get good deals on wines that heretofore you may have looked past because of price. Discounts are abundant. And the wine selling for $20 and under is good stuff. So no need to curtail your enjoyment of wine, as you shall soon see from the results.
• The bulk market has dried up. Wineries are stuck with inventory that isn’t moving, and so the bulk market is just not there. Typically, once wineries produce what they plan for their annual inventory, they sell the remainder on the bulk market. Other wineries or negociants bottle it up and sell it under value-priced labels. One Central Coast vintner told me he’s sitting on 100,000 gallons of good quality Edna Valley pinot noir, and nary a nibble. Nothing. He can’t even give it away. He’s hoping the bulk market will start stirring in the next month or two, but something has to happen before harvest, when a new vintage arrives. This is potentially good news for consumers, because if this stuff is sold and does reach market in the next few months, you’ll be able to get really wine at a really good price.
• Restaurants are also seeing a major change in eating and drinking habits. One master sommelier from San Francisco told me that restaurants there are having to redo their menus because people are not ordering full meals as much. They’re coming in and having two or three appetizers – or aps as they’ve become known – plus a glass of wine, and calling it a night. And the latest thing for wine-by-the-glass service is wine in a keg. It’s cheaper for the restaurant to buy, has significantly greater volume than a bottle, and is easier to serve. The same $5-$7 cost for a glass of wine now has a greater profit margin for the restaurant. Necessity is the mother of invention.
• Arguably the best performance of the competition was Jeff Runquist Wines from Plymouth in Amador County. Check this performance out, all golds: Jeff Runquist 2008 Amador County Barbera, $24; 2008 Dick Cooper Vineyard Barbera (best red wine of the competition), $25; 2007 Colina Poca Vineyard, Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, $25; 2008 Sisters Vineyard, Carneros Pinot Noir, $30; 2008 Silvasponns Vineyard Grenache, $20; and 2007 Paso Robles Syrah, $24. He also picked up 3 silvers and a couple of bronzes.
• And if you’re planning on coming to the May 16 winemaker potluck, you’ll get to taste Sagebrush Annie’s latest gold medal winner, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($42).
• Australian wines, reasonably priced, also did exceptionally well. How about these gold medal winners: Robert Oatley Vineyards Mudgee, Australia 2007 Cabernet-Merlot blend, $16; Black Swan 2008 Southeastern Australia Syrah, $8 (best of class); McGuigan 2008 “Shortlist” Australia Syrah, $22; McGuigan 2008 Australia “Farms” Syrah, $70 (best of class, OK, maybe this one’s a bit steep); Robert Oatley 2007 Mudgee Australia Syrah, $16 (best of class).
• Malbec from Argentina has become a hot ticket item. Here are two affordable gold medal winners: Dante Robino 2008 Mendoza Malbec, $15; and Little Chica 2009 Mendoza Malbec, $12.
• Sweepstakes winner as best wine of the competition was a rosé, the Callaway 2009 Rosé of Sangiovese, Special Selection, Temecula. An absolutely delicious wine. $18. This one came out of my panel. Other sweepstakes winners:
• Best Red Wine: the Jeff Runquist Dick Cooper Vineyard Barbera (out of my panel). • Best Sparkling Wine: Korbel Blanc de Noirs, $11 (what a deal!) • Best White Wine: Bel Lago 2007 Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan, Riesling, $15 • Best Dessert Wine: Casa Larga 2006 Finger Lakes, N.Y., Vidal Ice Wine, $45 • Best Fortified Wine: Rancho de Philo Triple Cream Sherry, Cucamonga Valley, $35 (rare and exquisite! This stuff is devine!) Here are other winners for you to track down. All wines listed are gold medal winners, and where noted best of class; prices are suggested retail. • Korbell Champagne Cellars, Blanc de Blanc, “Chardonnay Champagne,” $11 (best of class) • Gloria Ferrer Brut “Royal Cuvee,” $35 (best of class) • Korbell Brut Rosé, $11 (best of class) • Drytown Cellars 2008 Cabernet Franc, $18 (best of class) • Scott Harvey Wines 2007 Amador County Barbera, $20 • Buttonwood Farms 2007 Estate Cabernet Franc, $22
• Harlow Ridge Winery 2008 Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon, $7 • Forest Glen 2008 California Cabernet Sauvignon, $12 • Cellar No. 8 2007 California Cabernet Sauvignon, $10 • Meridian 2007 California Cabernet Sauvignon, $7 • Rodney Strong Vineyards 2007 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon, $17 • Villa San Juliette 2007 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon • Housley’s Century Oak Winery, 2007 Lodi Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, $17 (best of class) • Rutherford Vintners 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, $13 (best of class) • Concannon Vineyard 2007 Livermore Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, $25 • Napa Cellars 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, $26 • Rodney Strong 2007 Alexander Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, $22 • Christopher Creek Winery 2007 Dry Creek Valley Finlays Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, $32 (best of class)
• Meridian 2007 California Merlot, $7 • Beringer Founders Estate 2007 California Merlot, $11 (best of class) • Buttonwood Farm Winery 2007 Estate (Santa Barbara County) Merlot, $22 • Kendall-Jackson 2007 Sonoma County “Grand Reserve” Merlot, $25 (best of class) • Rosenthal-The Malibu Estate 2007 Malibu Newton Canyon Merlot, $27 (yep, Los Angeles County) • V. Sattui 2007 Napa Valley Merlot, $25 • Norman Vineyards 2007 Paso Robles Petite Sirah, $20 • Gnarley Head Cellars 2008 California Pinot Noir, $11 • Mandolin 2008 Monterey County Pinot Noir, $12 • Bogle 2008 California Pinot Noir, $11 (best of class) • Trecini Winery 2008 Vicini Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir, $35 • Jekel Vineyards 2007 Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir, $18 • David Bruce Winery 2007 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, $30 • David Bruce Winery 2007 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, $30 (best of class) • Handley Cellars 2007 Anderson Valley pinot Noir, $30 • Handley Cellars 2006 Holmes Ranch Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, $46 (best of class) • Hart Winery 2007 Huis Vineyards Temecula Sangiovese, $24
• Terra d’Oro 2007 Amador County Sangiovese, $18 (Best of class) • Eberle Winery 2007 Paso Robles Steinbeck Vineyard Syrah, $21 • Husch Vineyard 2007 Mendocino County Syrah, $28 • Baileyana Winery 2006 Grand Firepeak Reserve Syrah, $30 • Scott Harvey Wines 2006 Amador County Syrah, $20 • Gnarley Head Cellars 2008 Lodi Zinfandel, $11 • Victor Hugo 2008 Paso Robles Estate Zinfandel, $22 (best of class) • Dutcher Crossing Winery 2008 Maple Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, $32 • Villa San Juliette 2007 Paso robles Zinfandel, $30 • Jessie’s Grove Winery 2006 Vintner’s Choice Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi, $21.50 • Mosby Winery 2006 Central Coast Zinfandel, $26 • Harlow Ridge Winery 2008 Lodi Chardonnay, $7 • Navarro Vineyards 2008 Mendocino County Chardonnay, $17 • Eberle Winery 2009 Estate Muscat Canelli, $15 • Windsor Vineyards 2009 California Pinot Grigio, $16
• South Coast Winery 2008 Temecula Valley Roussane, $20 (best of class) • South Coast Winery 2009 Temecula Valley Sauvignon Blanc, $14 • Hart Winery 2009 Hart Family Vineyard, Temecula, Sauvignon Blanc, $18 (best of class) • St. Supery 2008 Virtu Napa Valley white meritage, $25 • Galleano Winery 2005 Cucamonga Valley Zinfandel Port, $22
These are by no means all the gold medal winners, so if you’re looking for a particular brand and you don’t see it here, e-mail me, and I’ll let you know how it did. In vino veritas!
Winemaker dinner March 20 to feature Bell Hill Vineyards
A new winery with Bakersfield roots will be the featured winery at the next Bakersfield Wine Society winemaker dinner on Saturday, March 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m., in the Petroleum Club.
Bell Hill Vineyards was founded in 2005 by Phillip and Julia Maxwell of Bakersfield, who will be on hand to introduce their wines. The winery is located in Kelseyville, in Lake County, just south of Clear Lake. The Maxwells, who have been growing grapes for some 30 years, produce Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Their focus is on producing ultra-premium wines from an area that, like Paso Robles, is experiencing considerable growth, as more and more vineyards are being planted there.
We’ll be the tasting the first three vintages of Bell Hill Vineyards’ wines, the 2004 and 2005 Merlot, and the just released this month 2006 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. While the Maxwells determine the style and structure of their wines, they have renowned winemaker Jed Steele as their consultant.
The Petroleum Club’s Executive Chef Robert Alimirzaie has come up with a superb menu to complement the Bell Hill wines. Here’s the lineup:
• We’ll open with a reception featuring the 2006 Bell Hill Merlot.
• First course – Beans and Lentil Medley with Smoked Pheasant Sausage, paired with the Bell Hill 2005 Merlot.
• Entrée – Cote de Porc: Snake River Farm prime rib of Kurobuta pork (the Kobe beef of pork), served over seasonal vegetable accompanied by potato pave and wild berry-cab reduction, paired with the 2006 Bell Hill Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Cheese course – Fromage Espagnol, served with country crouton and Quince paste, served with the 2004 Bell Hill Merlot.
• Dessert – Chocolate and berry Mille Feuille.
Reservation form (clip on dotted line and return with your check)
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NAME____________________________________________
PHONE ________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS (IF NEW)________________________________________
NUMBER OF RESERVATIONS-BELL HILL DINNER ($75/PERSON) _______________
PLEASE MAIL RESERVATION SLIP AND CHECK TO:
BAKERSFIELD WINE SOCIETY
13015 QUEEN PALM COURT
Bakersfield, CA 93314
Riveside International Wine Competition Results
May 9, 2009
Just back from the Riverside International Wine Competition (well, OK, it was last weekend, but I’ve been swamped), and have results to pass along to you, but first an observation or two:
The overall quality of American wines – not just California – is nothing short of astonishing. And within California, the quality from less heralded appellations is exciting.
For example, 62 wines competed in the sweepstakes round for best white, best red, best pink, best sparkling and best dessert wines. California dominated the red category with 18 of the 25 wines competing. But in the white wine category, California had 9 wines in the running for best white, while other states had 12, and 3 international entries. For best pink, 3 of the 4 competitors were from California, but a New York pink catawba took the title (a lovely grenache rosé from Ventana in Monterey County was the runner-up). Of the 7 choices for best dessert wine, 3 entries were from California, and 4 from other states.
And I’m talking states that hardly have a reputation as great grape-growing states. Of course you expect to see Washington, Oregon and New York in the mix – and they were. And Missouri has been producing excellent wines for many years. But how about Nevada, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Maryland, Virginia and South Dakota (!).
This year, of the 1,883 entries, 67 percent won a medal. Some people might say that’s a high percentage. And compared to when I first began judging wines, that’s true. Back in the late 1980s (my first competition was in 1987), you typically had 40 percent, or even less, of entries win any sort of medal. That number has been steadily climbing, and the reason, I believe, is that winemaking is getting better and better. Plus people are figuring out where are the best places to grow grapes – that’s certainly had an influence on wine quality.
I love tasting the wines from other states because those people have climate challenges we in California don’t even think about. That they persevere to produce excellent wine is a testimony to their commitment and passion.
Arguably the best performance by any winery entered in the competition was by Navarro Vineyards in Mendocino County: it entered 17 wines, and all 17 won a medal – 9 golds, 5 silvers and 3 bronzes. Two of the gold medal wines were in the sweepstakes round.
Here’s a sampler of Chairman’s Award (unanimous gold-medal vote of the panel judging the wine) winners. And many of these wines you can order and have shipped to you, particularly those from New York and Washington (all prices listed are suggested retail):
• Hunt Country Vineyards, Finger Lakes, N.Y., 2008 Pinot Grigio ($16).
• Peconic Bay Winery, North Fork Long Island, 2005 Chardonnay ($25)
• Wollersheim Winery, Wisconsin, 2008 Dry Riesling ($9)
• Thirsty Owl Wine Co., Finger Lakes, N.Y., 2008 Dry Riesling ($15)
• Prairie Berry Winery, South Dakota, 2008 Frontenac Gris ($21)
• Chateau Lafayette Reneau, Seneca Lake, N.Y., medium-dry Riesling ($15)
• Cougar Crest Estate Winery, Walla Walla, Wash., 2006 Merlot ($35
• Three Rivers Winery, Columbia Valley, Wash., 2006 Malbec ($29)
And while it’s exciting to see vintners in these other states producing excellent wine, you’re likely more interested in what’s more readily available closer to home. California wines in the sweeps round (Central Coast wines in bold):
• Goodnight 2006 Central Coast Zinfandel ($13) & California Pinot Grigio ($13)
• Christopher Creek 2007 Russian River Valley Petite Sirah ($32)
• Keyways Vineyard & Winery 2008 Temecula Valley Dry Chenin Blanc ($18)
• Bogle Winery 2007 California Sauvignon Blanc ($9)
• Cantera Cellars 2007 Lodi/Clements Hills Petite Sirah ($36)
• Sutter Home 2007 California Zinfandel ($4 – not a typo, four bucks; out of 25 wines in running for best red this finished 3rd)
• V. Sattui Winery 2007 Napa Valley Chardonnay ($21)
• Michael-David Winery 2005 Earthquake Lodi Syrah ($28)
• Raymond Vineyards 2007 Napa Valley Reserve Chardonnay ($20), & 2006 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($35)
• Ventana Vineyards 2008 Arroyo Seco Grenache Rosé ($18)
• Valley of the Moon 2007 Sonoma County Sangiovese Rosé ($16)
• Carmel Road 2006 Arroyo Seco Pinot Noir ($35)
• Meridian Vineyards 2007 California Pinot Grigio ($10)
• Laetitia Vineyard & Winery Arroyo Grande Valley dry sparkling wine ($22)
• Clos du Bois 2006 Alexander Valley Sonoma reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($22) & 2005 Alexander Valley Marlstone meritage
• Rancho Sisquoc Winery 2006 Flood Family Vineyards Santa Barbara County Zinfandel ($29)
• Dutcher Crossing 2007 Proprietor’s Reserve Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel ($29)
• Jeff Runquist Wines 2006 Paso Robles Syrah ($24)
Cherry picking the other gold-medal winners:
• Eberle Winery 2007 Sangiovese ($22), 2008 Mill Road Vineyard Viognier ($20), and 2007 Barbera ($22)
• Clayhouse 2006 Paso Robles Estate Petite Sirah
• Castoro Cellars 2006 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($15)
• Concannon 2007 Monterey County Reserve Sauvignon Blanc ($18)
• Scheid Vineyards 2007 Monterey County Estate Merlot ($22)
• Lockwood Vineyard 2006 Monterey County Block 7 Estate Pinot Noir ($19)
• Mandolin 2007 Monterey County Pinot Noire ($12)
• Surfrider (by Rosenthal, the Malibu Estate) 2007 Santa Barbara County Pinot Grigio ($19)
• Rancho Sisquoc Winery Flood Family Vineyards Santa Barbara County 2007 Pinot Noir ($30) and 2006 Malbec ($30)
• Baileyana 2006 Edna Valley Grand Firepeak Cuvee Syrah ($30)
• Michael-David Winery 2007 7 Heavenly Chards Lodi Chardonnay ($17)
• Mettler Family Vineyards 2005 Lodi Petite Sirah ($25)
• Dry Creek Valley Vineyards 2007 Heritage Zinfandel ($18)
• Gloria Ferrer Brut ($20) & Blanc de Noir ($20)
For complete results, go to www.riwcentries.com/riwc09results/welcome.php
In vino veritas!
Mike...