Bakersfield Wine Society
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June 2011
Just back from the Central Coast Wine Competition in Paso Robles, and have winners to report to you. I am excited about the results because the best red wine, the best white wine and the best wine of the competition all came out of my panel. And as noted by panel colleague Joe Hart, with whom I’ve judged for more than 20 years, “Paso Robles and the Central Coast have reached a new plateau.”
The results of this competition, as noted by Hart, a Temecula winemaker, bear that out. Skeptics will point to the fact that the competition is only open to the Central Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA), comprised of Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, and Ventura County (not part of the Central Coast AVA but eligible for the CCWC).
But the judging panel was among the most experienced I’ve seen anywhere, people I’ve judged with over the past two decades. They know good wine when they taste it. In fact the CCWC bucked the trend of the past couple years by actually having an increased number of entries. Chief judge Bob Foster of San Diego said some winery principals told him that they entered because of the quality of the judging. So you can take these results with you to your favorite wine shop.
Bakersfield-connected wineries had a great showing at the competition:
• Martin and Patty Croad, owners of Croad Electric on Union Avenue and of Croad Vineyards on Paso Robles’ west side, had the best zinfandel of the competition, their 2008. This tasty wine was also in the running for best red wine of the competition. They also won a gold medal for their 2008 Aroha, a blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon and 40% syrah. They also earned a couple of bronze medals, meaning that all four wines they entered in the competition won a medal.
• Graveyard Vineyards, owned by Rob and Paula Campbell-Taylor, won a gold for its Paso Tombstone Pink rosé. They also picked up a silver and a couple bronzes.
• Still Waters Vineyards, owned by Paul and Patty Hoover, picked up two golds, for their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2009 Zinfandel. They added a bronze medal to their haul as well.
The best red and best white wines also offered insights into what’s happening on the Central Coast:
• The best white wine was the 2009 Pierce Ranch Albarino, a Spanish varietal, that was crisp, clean and refreshingly light. A delightful wine. It also was named best wine of the competition. It came from a new appellation, the San Antonio Valley in southern Monterey County near Bradley and Lockwood, about 25 miles northwest of Paso Robles. This appellation, or AVA, was only recognized in 2007. Pierce’s win at the CCWC reflects the continued growth on the Central Coast and also the potential of this new AVA.
• Ken Volk continues to show what an exceptional winemaker he his. Volk founded Wild Horse Winery near Templeton back in the early 1980s, and after he sold it some years back, he founded Kenneth Volk Vineyards, and continued producing a wide array of varietals for which he’d become known at Wild Horse. His 2008 Touriga, a Portuguese varietal, won best red wine honors at CCWC. He won additional golds for his 2008 Cabernet Pfeffer, 2010 Malvasia Bianca and 2010 Chardonnay. His Blaufrankisch, Negrette, Mourvedre and Verdelho all won silver medals.
Cherry picking the other gold medal winners:
• Alapay Cellars, a small winery in Avila Beach, 2009 Zinfandel, 2009 Lagrein, 2009 Grenache
• Bianchi Winery 2010 Sauvignon Blanc
• Castoro Cellars 2008 Primitivo, 2008 Syrah, 2008 Zinfandel (Castoro always has excellent zin, and always reasonably priced)
• Clavo Cellars 2009 Viognier, 2007 Collusion proprietary red blend
• Clayhouse 2010 Adobe White proprietary white blend, 2007 Petite Sirah
• Concannon Vineyard 2010 Pinot Grigio
• Costa de Oro Winery 2009 Chardonnay, 2009 Pinot Noir
• Halter Ranch Vineyard 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010 GSM
• Hearst Ranch Winery 2009 Three Sisters Cuvee, Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 Chardonnay (keep and eye on this winery; an up and comer)
• J. Lohr 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009 Zinfandel (continuing J. Lohr’s impressive performance this year)
• Le Vigne Winery 2007 Cabernet Franc
• Les Deux Chats Cellars 2009 Zinfandel
• Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards 2009 Chenin Blanc, 2008 Pinot Noir
• Midnight Cellars 2007 Zinfandel
• Mosby Winery & Vineyards 2007 Sangiovese, 2006 Lagrein (Santa Barbara County winery specializes in Italian varietals)
• Oso Libre Winery 2008 Zinfandel
• Per Cazo Cellars 2010 Tres Blanc white Rhone blend
• Pianetta Winery 2008 Barbera
• Phantom Rivers Winery 2009 Grenache (Nipomo area)
• RN Estate Vineyard & Winery 2008 Pinot Noir
• Ranchita Canyon Vineyard 2008 Zinfandel
• Rancho Sisquoc 2010 Sylvaner, 2009 Sisquoc River Red
• Ran Franscioni Wines 2009 Late Harvest Riesling
• Red Soles Winery 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
• Rio Seco Vineyard & Winery 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
• Robert Hall Winery 2008 Syrah
• Rotta Winery 2006 Cabernet Franc
• Sculpterra winery 2010 Viognier
• Silver Horse Winery 2010 Albarino
• Tangent 2010 Sauvignon Blanc
• Thacher Winery 2008 Paso Robles Syrah, 2008 Coast View Vineyard Syrah (Paso west side)
• Tres Hermanas Vineyard & Winery 2008 Sangiovese
• Via Vega Vineyard 2007 Aglianico
• Villa San Juliette 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
• Vina Robles 2010 White 4, 2007 Syree
• Wild Horse Winery & Vineyard 2007 Pinot Noir
• Zocker 2010 Gruner Veltliner (Austrian white grape; delicious!)
May 2011
Pacific Rim International Wine Competition results & more
Recently returned from the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition, San Diego International Wine Competition and Monterey Wine Competition, and have results to share with you.
My apologies for not getting these to you sooner, but I had knee-replacement surgery last week and have been focused on that. Now that I’m convalescing (the prognosis is very good: my left knee works again!), I have some time to get caught up and get you these results.
First, as usual, an observation or two...
Some years back, I was talking with Gary Eberle about why he enters wine competitions. He told me: “Only 5 percent of the people who come into our tasting room have ever heard of Robert Parker. Only 20 percent have ever heard of the Wine Spectator. But everyone understands a gold medal.”
In this recessionary era, how else to explain the influx of top-end Napa Valley wineries into the competitions. Used to be that a sure-fire way to be successful in the wine business was have “Napa” on your label, you could charge just about whatever you wanted for it, and people would buy it. Not true today.
First off, many other wine regions are excelling, offering great wines, a good experience and better prices, witness Paso Robles, Monterey County, Santa Barbara County, Temecula, Lake County. You don’t have to go to Napa any more to find good wine.
Second, wine is a discretionary buy. Despite the fact that we all may say we need wine, the vast majority of consumers don’t, and it showed. Across the state, tasting room sales were off 30 percent or more in 2009 (a grim year on many fronts), and vintners told me that while people still visited the tasting rooms, instead of walking out with 6-pack carriers or cases, they’d leave with one or two bottles – if that. Common wisdom became if you were listing wine for $25 or less, you were still selling; above that, likely not. Merchants stuck with expensive inventories found that they couldn’t move it, and dumped high-priced, high-pedigree wines for a song: I got several notifications of such fire-sales.
A recent Los Angeles Times piece said the price point has dipped further, to the $15-$20 range, but the good news is that wines in that range and lower are beginning to enjoy increased sales.
This poses a conundrum for high-end wines. They can’t really lower their prices much without sacrificing brand perception, but to justify their prices they need verification that their wines are worth it. How do you do that? Enter a wine competition and win some gold medals. Are all doing it? Not at all, but interesting to see some are.
To be sure, the wine competitions are suffering the recession’s effects as well: entries are down across the board. After all, it costs money – entry fees, typically $75 to $100 per entry – to enter competitions. You send it five entries at a hundred bucks a pop, that adds up. The first to pull out or drastically reduce the number of entries to competitions were the large corporate wineries. The wineries consistently entering are the smaller wineries where the results are essentially their annual marketing budget (if you don’t win anything, no one is the wiser: you’re just out your entry fees; win a gold medal, and everybody knows about it, and your sales reflect it).
And as you would expect – or at least hope – the top-end wineries did do well. Napa Valley scion Cakebread Cellars earned gold medals for its classic Napa Valley 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($61 suggested retail, though I’ll be willing to bet you can find it for less than that), and 2008 Napa Valley Merlot ($54; all prices listed are suggested retail) at the Pacific Rim competition. The Merlot also was named Best Merlot at San Diego, earning a platinum medal.
Likewise, St. Supery Vineyard & Winery in Napa Valley has done well at the 2011 wine competitions. At Pacific Rim, it won four golds, for its 2006 Dollarhide Ranch Limited Edition Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($85); it also scored platinum at Monterey; 2007 Elú Napa Valley Meritage ($65), 2009 Estate Sauvignon Blanc ($35), and 2009 Virtú White Meritage ($25). The 2007 Estate Cabernet won gold at Monterey. In fairness, St. Supery has been a long-time competition entrant, so it’s good to see them continue in bad times.
Charles Krug won golds for its 2008 Napa Valley Vintage Selection Cabernet ($69) and 2008 Napa Valley Merlot ($23) at San Diego.
Frank Family Vineyards earned golds for their 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet ($45) at Pacific Rim and Monterey, 2007 Rutherford Reserve Cabernet ($85) at Pacific Rim and San Diego, 2009 Carneros Pinot Noir ($57.50, Pacific Rim and Monterey), and 2008 Napa Valley Zinfandel ($36, San Diego).
Value-priced wines proved once again you don’t sacrifice quality for price. How about some of these gold-medal winners:
- Barefoot Cellars non-vintage California Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and dry Riesling, all selling for $7.
- Beringer’s Founders Estate 2008 Merlot ($10)
- Bonterra 2009 Mendocino County Chardonnay ($14)
- Charles Shaw (yes, THAT Charles Shaw) 2009 Pinot Grigio ($3)
- Cupcake 2010 Asti Spumante, 2010 Malbec (Argentina), 2008 Central Coast Petite Sirah, 2009 Central Coast Chardonnay, and 2010 Columbia Valley dry Riesling, all $14.
- Fetzer 2009 Merlot ($9)
- Glen Ellen 2008 California Zinfandel ($10)
- flipflop (one of the Cupcake family of wines) 2009 Merlot, 2010 Pinot Noir, 2010 Muscat, 2010 Pinot Grigio, and 2009 dry Riesling, all $7.
- Napa Creek 2009 Sauvignon Blanc ($10)
Local wineries also did well. Rutherford Ranch and Round Hill in Napa Valley, owned by the Marco Zaninovich family, had a good haul of medals. Their 2008 Cabernet ($19) and Merlot ($18), both won gold medals at San Diego, and 2009 Cardonnay ($16) and Sauvignon Blanc ($15) won silver medals at Pacific Rim and San Diego. The 2010 Round Hill “Oak Free” Chardonnay ($12) won gold at Pacific Rim. These wines are consistent medal winners. And little Sagebrush Annie’s over in Ventucopa won silver medals for its 2007 Santa Barbara County Cabernet ($48) at Pacific Rim, and for its 2008 Cabernet/Merlot blend ($32) at San Diego.
Closer to home, Central Coast wineries continued to dazzle as did those in Lodi and the South Coast. Cherry-picking from among the winners (competitions designated by PR=Pacific Rim; SD=San Diego; M=Monterey):
- Baileyana Winery 2008 Grand Firepeak Cuvee Chardonnay, best of class ($28, PR)
- Benziger Family Winery (SD winery of the year) 2007 Sonoma County Cabernet ($20, SD), 2007 Sonoma County Merlot ($19, SD), 2008 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($28, SD), 2008 Sangiacomo Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay ($20, SD)
- Smith-Madrone 2009 Spring Mountain Chardonnay ($30, PR) gold and best of class
- Brookside Winery 2009 Temecula Valley Viognier ($22, PR)
- Christopher Creek Winery 2009 Russian River Valley Petite Sirah ($32, PR), 2009 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel ($27, PR)
- Claudia Springs Winery 2008 Redwood Valley Petite Sirah ($22, PR), 2007 Mendocino County Zinfandel ($22, PR)
- Concannon Vineyard 2008 Livermore Valley Reserve Merlot ($25, PR), 2009 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ($30, PR), 2008 Livermore Valley Reserve Syrah ($25 SD)
- Daniel Gehrs 2009 Edna Valley Pinot Noir ($30, PR), 2010 Santa Barbara County Gewurztraminer ($19 SD)
- David Bruce 2008 Anderson Valley Reserve Pinot Noir ($55, PR), 2005 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($55, PR)
- Dutcher Crossing Winery (cool little place next to Ferrari-Carano) 2007 Dry Creek Valley Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($29, PR), 2007 Cooney Vineyard Alexander Valley Cabernet ($43, PR), 2009 Saralee’s Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($30, PR)
- Eagle Castle Winery 2005 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($20, PR)
- Eberle Winery 2008 Paso Robles Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon ($19 SD, PR), 2008 Stienbeck Vineyard Zinfandel ($21, PR), 2010 Muscat Canelli ($14, PR), 2008 Filipponi & Thompson Vineyards Paso Robles Sangiovese ($22 SD), 2008 Cote du Robles Blanc ($21 M)
- Galleano Winery Ancient Angelica ($33, PR)
- Gloria Ferrer 2006 Blanc de Noirs Carneros ($20, Best of show sparkling SD, PR, M), 2006 Carneros Pinot Noir ($22, PR)
- Harlow Ridge Winery 2009 Lodi Petite Sirah ($7, PR)
- Hart Winery 2009 Cruz Way Vineyard Temecula Mourvedre ($28, PR)
- J. Lohr 2007 Hilltop Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($35 SD, PR, M), 2007 Carol’s Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet ($40 SD, PR), 2009 Seven Oaks Cabernet Paso Robles ($17, PR), 2008 Los Osos Merlot ($15 PR, M), 2009 South Ridge Syrah ($15 PR, M), 2009 Fog’s Reach Arroyo Seco Pinot Noir ($25 SD), 2008 Tower Road Petite Sirah ($35 M)
- Quady Winery 2009 Essensia ($25 PR), 2009 Elysium ($25 PR, SD, M), Starboard Batch 88 port ($24 PR)
- B.R. Cohn 2008 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($40 SD), 2009 Sonoma County Chardonnay ($24 SD)
- Bogle 2008 California Cabernet Sauvignon ($11 SD)
- Bonterra 2008 Mendocino County Merlot ($16 SD)
- Buttonwood Farm Winery 2009 Grenache Blanc Santa Ynez Valley ($22 SD), 2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($18)
- Hahn Estate 2009 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir ($35 SD)
- Robert Hall Winery 2009 Paso Robles Sauvignon Blanc ($14 SD), 2009 Paso Robles Viognier ($20 SD)
- Rodney Strong Vineyards 2008 Sonoma County Cabernet ($17 SD), 2008 Alexander Valley Estate Vineyards Cabernet ($25 SD), 2009 Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards Chardonnay ($20 SD)
- San Simeon 2007 Paso Robles Syrah ($22 SD)
- Saucelito Canyon 2009 Arroyo Grande Valley Tempranillo ($26 SD)
- Villa San Juliette Winery 2009 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($17 SD), 2009 Paso Robles Petite Sirah ($17), 2009 Paso Robles Zinfandel ($17, best zin at SD)
- Vina Robles 2009 White 4 Paso Robles ($16 SD), 2008 Huerhuero Estate Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($22 M)
- Santa Barbara Winery 2007 Stolpman Vineyard Sangiovese Santa Ynez Valley ($24 M), 2009 Sauvignon Blanc ($15 M)
- Tangent 2009 Albarino Paragon Vineyard Edna Valley ($17 M)
- Wild Horse Winery & Vineyard 2008 Central Coast Pinot Noir ($20 M)
- ZD Wines 2009 Carneros Pinot Noir ($45 SD), 2009 Carneros Reserve Chardonnay ($55 SD)
There’s a good start for your shopping list. Didn’t see something you’re interested in? Let me know and I’ll see if I can find them for you.
Meantime, have fun shopping!
In vino veritas!
Mike...
Red & White Wine & Food Festival at Bakersfield College
If you love wine – and I know you do – you’ll want to mark mark April 8, on your calendar. One of the largest collections of wineries at any California wine tasting will be featured at the fourth annual Red & White Wine & Food Festival at Bakersfield College on Friday, April 8, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
More than 50 wineries from all over the state will be at the festival, which raises funds for the Bakersfield College Foundation’s Renegade Fund, and culinary arts students’ scholarships. The Renegade Fund allows the foundation to provide support on campus where it is needed most.
Tickets, available from the festival host, the Bakersfield College Foundation, are $50 in advance, or $60 at the door. And here’s what your tax-deductible ticket gets you:
• The opportunity to taste wines from all over the state at one convenient location here in Bakersfield. Each year we try to bring you some of the best-known labels in California. You want hot new brands? We’ve got ‘em. You want icons? We’ve got ‘em. You want gold-medal winners? We’ve got ‘em.
How about MadoroM and Silver Oak for starters? They’ll both be at the Red & White. And they’ve got good company. Wineries who’ve said they’ll be here include Vina Robles, Eberle, Steinbeck, Sagebrush Annie’s, Rio Seco, Sextant, Halter Ranch, Croad, Sculptera, Pessagno, Souza Family Vineyard, La Belle Winery, Fresno State Winery, Hidden Oak, Pear Valley, Via Vega, Lockwood, Sinor-LaVallee, Victor Hugo, Rutherford Ranch, Scott Family, Bell Hill and Arroyo Robles to name a few.
This year, we’ll also feature a strong representation of international wines; Imbibe wine shop owners David and Tami Dobbs will have a pouring station featuring an international selection, as will Luigi’s Lanette Valpredo, showcasing Italian wines. Quintessential Wines’ Cel Tustin will be on hand to pour her collection of international labels.
• An incredible array of food prepared by the culinary arts students under the watchful eyes of faculty chefs Patrick Coyle and Suzanne Davis.
• A souvenir wine glass.
• Great music from the Kris Tiner Group.
And we’re still adding wineries, so come on out to see who else may be pouring.
The event will be on the lawn area west of the campus entrance off Mount Vernon Avenue just north of Memorial Stadium. The entrance is being dubbed “Red & White Way” for the event, and signage will guide attendees to the parking area. Campus carts will be available to shuttle attendees from the parking lot.
For tickets, please call the BC Foundation at (661) 395-4800. We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express. If you’d prefer to pay by check, please come by our office in McCuen Hall (the administration building on campus), or mail your check, made payable to BC Foundation, 1801 Panorama Drive, Bakersfield 93305.
Questions? Call Mike at (661) 395-4840, or (661) 342-2339.
See you at the festival!
Reservation form (clip on dotted line and return with your check)
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NAME____________________________________________
PHONE ________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS _________________________________________________________
NUMBER OF RESERVATIONS-RED & WHITE WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL ($50/PERSON) ________
PLEASE MAIL RESERVATION SLIP AND CHECK TO:
BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE FOUNDATION
1801 PANORAMA DRIVE
BAKERSFIELD, CA 93305