May 5, 2008

A Summer Day, a Hunk of Cheese and V. Sattui

As usual, among the stars of the 25th edition of the San Diego International Wine Competition was one of the Napa Valley's best-kept secrets, the estimable V. Sattui Winery.

It should be noted that V. Sattui is a well-guarded secret as well, for it chooses not to serve its wines up to the vagaries of the retail wine trade. You can only purchase V. Sattui wines by visiting the winery, located along Highway 29 in the heart of the Napa Valley, or joining the wine club.

It is a visit well worth making because the V. Sattui wines are consistently among the most favored by wine competition judges far and wide. And the picnic grounds at the winery are about the best you will find in the Napa Valley.

Whiling away an afternoon with a bottle of wine and a hunk of cheese in the V. Sattui front yard is my idea of a fabulous way to spend a lazy summer day. V. Sattui took only 17 medals in San Diego this year, and had only one wine up for Best of Show in the "Sweepstakes" round of voting.

Yawn, just another spectacular day at the Sattui ranch!

Monterey's Ventana Vineyards checked in with a tidy 10 medals and, in my humble opinion, Ventana wuz robbed when its lovely 2006 Rubystone, a red Rhone-style blend, only got a bronze. I love this wine! Particularly its exquisite balance, the spice, the exciting thread of minerality that clearly sets this wine apart from others of its ilk!

V. Sattui Winery
 Gold, Sweeps 2006 Sattui Family Red California $15.25
 Gold 2007 Marsagnier Sierra Foothills $19.75
 Bronze 2007 Rosato Sierra Foothills $14.95
 Bronze 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Preston Vineyard Napa Valley $45.00
 Silver 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Morisoli Vineyard Napa Valley $50.00
 Silver 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley $38.00
 Silver 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Vittorio's Vineyard Napa Valley $42.00
 Bronze 2006 Pinot Noir Los Carneros $36.00
 Silver 2007 Muscat California $17.75
 Silver 2006 Chardonnay, Carsi Vineyard Napa Valley $28.00
 Silver 2006 Chardonnay Los Carneros $28.00
 Bronze 2006 Chardonnay, Sattui Family Napa Valley $17.75
 Bronze 2006 Chardonnay Napa Valley $17.75
 Bronze 2007 Riesling, Dry California $18.75
 Bronze 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Vittorio's Vineyard Napa Valley $24.00
 Bronze 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley $18.25
 Silver 2007 Semillon Napa Valley $18.75
Ventana Vineyards
 Bronze 2006 Rubystone Arroyo Seco $18.00
 Bronze 2006 Riesling Arroyo Seco $16.00
 Silver 2007 Riesling Arroyo Seco $18.00
 Bronze 2006 Pinot Noir Arroyo Seco $28.00
 Silver 2007 Dry Rosado Arroyo Seco $18.00
 Bronze 2005 Syrah Arroyo Seco $18.00
 Bronze 2005 Tempranillo, 'La Danza' Arroyo Seco $28.00
 Gold 2005 Chardonnay, Gold Stripe Arroyo Seco $18.00
 Silver 2006 Chardonnay, Gold Stripe Arroyo Seco $18.00
 Bronze 2006 Sauvignon Blanc Arroyo Seco $16.00

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May 2, 2008

I Guess the 'S' Must Stand for Superman

As I skimmed the results of the 2008 San Diego International Wine Competition, which are listed by winery and in alphabetical order, I took a long pause at the letter S. Wow, I thought, the S must stand for Superman.

So many outstanding performers in the Superman bracket this year. Take South Coast Winery of Southern California's Temecula Valley, for example. Winemaker Jon McPherson's shirts must be popping their buttons these days, for South Coast rumbled out of San Diego with 19 medals, finishing in a tie with Kendall-Jackson in that category.

And if you like the South Coast wines, you would absolutely love to visit this beautiful winery property for an overnight stay in one of the vineyard villas, or perhaps spend a couple of soothing hours at the world class spa. The restaurant's not too shabby either. Only a one-hour drive from downtown San Diego!

I also was impressed by the awesome consistency of two wineries from the heartland, St. James and Stone Hill, with 11 and 10 medals, respectively. Both wineries are located in Missouri and neither is a stranger to the winner's circle. Both racked up similar medal totals at the Monterey Wine Competition in March.

What's remarkable is that these two wineries are using grape varieties that many judges -- mostly winemakers and wine industry professionals -- never taste. The medals are being awarded on balance and winemaking integrity rather than "varietal correctness," which I've always thought was a load of bull to begin with.

Who can even begin to define varietal correctness? A wine made from Tempranillo grapes grown in Spain's Rioja region will taste nothing like a wine made from Tempranillo grapes grown in California's Sierra Foothills. Judges should always judge the wine rather than how close the winemaker came to their idea of what the wine should have been!

OK, sermon over. Back to the topic of consistency. St. Supery Vineyards of the Napa Valley is the model of consistency. This winery takes important competition prizes each and every year, and this year was no exception. Three of its five medals were Gold, and one was Silver.

Scheid Vineyards
 Gold 2005 Claret, Reserve Monterey County $55.00
 Bronze 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Monterey County $20.00
 Silver 2006 Pinot Noir, Estate Monterey County $25.00
 Bronze 2005 Pinot Noir, Reserve Monterey County $50.00
 Bronze 2006 Chardonnay Monterey County $18.00
South Coast Winery
 Bronze 2004 Meritage, Wild Horse Peak Mountain Vineyard South Coast $32.00
 Silver NV Romanza Temecula Valley $18.00
 Bronze NV Black Jack Port South Coast $38.00
 Bronze 2006 Riesling, Carter Estate Vineyard Temecula Valley $14.00
 Silver 2007 Merlot Blanc South Coast $14.00
 Bronze 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Rolling Hills Estate Vineyard Temecula Valley $16.00
 Silver 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, 4 Block Blend, Wild Horse Peak Mountain Vineyards South Coast $28.00
 Silver 2006 Grenache, Carter Estate Vineyard Temecula Valley $18.00
 Bronze 2005 Merlot, Rolling Hills Estate Vineyards Temecula Valley $16.00
 Bronze 2003 Merlot, Wild Horse Peak Mountain Vineyard, Freedom and Harmony Block South Coast $24.00
 Bronze 2005 Syrah, Rolling Hills Estate Vineyards Temecula Valley $44.00
 Silver 2006 Zinfandel Cucamonga Valley $24.00
 Bronze NV Brut Temecula Valley $18.00
 Silver NV Ruby Cuvée, Sparkling Syrah Temecula Valley 
 Bronze 2007 Muscat Canelli Temecula Valley $14.00
 Silver 2007 Chardonnay, Sans Chene Temecula Valley $15.00
 Silver 2007 Pinot Grigio Temecula Valley $14.00
 Bronze 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Musque Clone Temecula Valley $14.00
 Bronze 2006 Viognier Temecula Valley $18.00
St. James Winery
 Bronze NV Friendship School Red Ozark Mountain, Missouri $7.99
 Bronze NV Country Red American $6.99
 Gold NV Country White American $6.99
 Bronze NV Friendship School White American $7.99
 Bronze NV Velvet White American $6.99
 Bronze 2005 Norton Dessert Wine Ozark Mountain, Missouri $17.99
 Silver 2006 Concord Dessert Wine American $12.99
 Bronze 2005 Catawba Dessert Wine Ozark Mountain, Missouri $12.99
 Gold NV Riesling Columbia Valley $9.99
 Bronze 2005 Chardonel Ozark Mountain $10.99
 Bronze 2005 Late Harvest Chardonel Ozark Mountain $24.99
St. Supery Vineyards & Winery
 Silver 2004 Elu Napa Valley $65.00
 Gold 2006 Virtu Napa Valley $28.00
 Bronze 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Dollarhide Napa Valley $80.00
 Gold 2007 Moscato California $22.00
 Gold 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Dollarhide, Limited Edition Estate Napa Valley $35.00
Stephen & Walker
 Bronze 2004 Portentous Mendocino $65.00
 Gold 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain $65.00
 Silver 2005 Pinot Noir Monterey County $36.00
 Gold 2006 Pinot Noir Monterey County $39.00
 Bronze 2006 Zinfandel Russian River Valley $39.00
Stone Hill Winery
 Silver 2006 Steinberg White Missouri $10.99
 Bronze 2005 Chambourcin Missouri $15.99
 Silver NV Concord American $7.99
 Bronze 2005 Norton Hermann $18.99
 Silver 2005 Norton, Cross J Hermann 
 Bronze NV Pink Catawba Missouri $7.99
 Silver NV Golden Spumante Missouri $10.99
 Gold 2007 Traminette American $15.99
 Gold, Sweeps 2007 Vignoles Missouri 
 Gold 2006 Chardonel, Reserve Missouri $24.99
Stonehedge Winery
 Gold, Sweeps 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Napa Valley $20.00
 Bronze 2006 Malbec, Terroir Select Mendocino $15.00
 Gold 2004 Petite Syrah, Terroir Select Mendocino $15.00
 Bronze 2005 Chardonnay, Terroir Select Santa Lucia Highlands $15.00

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SAN DIEGO RESULTS

May 1, 2008

SD Competition: Sometimes Even the Little Guys Impress

Among the greatest joys of running a big wine competition -- somewhere behind warm fellowship with the judges and admiring the impeccable performance of my staff and volunteers -- is the winery that comes from nowhere to turn in a shining performance.

By coming from nowhere I mean a winery that isn't already steeped in a tradition of excellence and consumer awareness. Pacific Breeze comes quickly to mind.

Not one of your household names, Pacific Breeze. Founded in 2005, it produces fewer than 3000 cases per year. And it entered but a handful of wines. Yet Pacific Breeze came away from the 2008 San Diego International Wine Competition with two Gold medals and two Silvers. One of its Golds, the 2006 GSM, Grenache Syrah Mourvedre, was nominated for Best of Show red and placed in the "sweepstakes" round of voting for that prestigous prize.

I'm not sure everyone understands how difficult it is to win a Gold medal. This year slightly more than five percent of the more than 2000 wines entered in San Diego were awarded Gold. Silvers are only slightly less difficult to win.

Competition judges are looking for something special when they vote Silver. And when they go to Gold they're locked in on finding the best of their Silvers.

Even Bronze medals shouldn't be taken for granted. A Bronze medal indicates a majority of the members of the judging panel believed that wine showed exceptional personality and character.

So hat's off to Pacific Breeze. Well done.

You might wonder why I don't have similar words for Pietra Santa, which is also among the strong performers I've highlighted today. Pietra Santa may be new to some of you. It's a small winery in the Central Coast of California that specializes in Italian grape varieties, although it also does well with the so-called international varieties.

But Pietra Santa has been very good for quite some time. I've come to expect nothing but blue-chip wines from this stellar California winery.

Pacific Breeze Winery
 Gold, Sweeps 2006 GSM, Grenache Syrah Mourvedre High Valley $29.95
 Gold 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Hawk & Horse Vineyards Red Hills $39.95
 Silver 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Signature Series Red Hills $49.95
 Silver 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, aCURE eSTATE Vineyard Alexander Valley $39.95
Pietra Santa Winery
 Silver 2003 Vache Red Blend, Signature Collection Cienega Valley $45.00
 Gold, Sweeps 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Signature Collection Cienega Valley $50.00
 Silver 2004 Dolcetto Cienega Valley $18.00
 Bronze 2004 Merlot Cienega Valley $15.00
 Bronze 2006 Pinot Noir Cienega Valley $18.00
 Silver 2007 Rosato Cienega Valley $18.00
 Bronze 2004 Sangiovese Cienega Valley $18.00
 Silver 2006 Chardonnay Central Coast $15.00
 Bronze 2004 Chardonnay, Vache Cienega Valley $35.00
Quady Winery
 Bronze NV Batch 88 Starboard California $23.99
 Silver 2006 Elysium California $24.99
 Silver 2006 Essensia California $24.99
 Gold NV Deviation California $27.99
 Silver 2007 Red Electra California $13.99
Ravenswood Winery 
 Gold 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County $17.99
 Silver 2004 Merlot Sonoma County $14.99
 Silver 2005 Zinfandel Napa Valley $14.99
 Silver 2005 Zinfandel, Old Vine Sonoma County $14.99
 Bronze 2005 Chardonnay Sonoma County $14.99
Raymond Burr Vineyards
 Bronze 2004 Cabernet Franc Dry Creek Valley $38.00
 Gold 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County $38.00
 Gold, Sweeps 2006 Chardonnay Sonoma County $28.00

Raymond Vineyard
 Silver 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Napa Valley $35.00
 Silver 2005 Merlot, R Collection California $15.00
 Silver 2006 Chardonnay, Reserve Napa Valley $20.00
 Silver 2006 Chardonnay, R Collection Monterey County $13.00

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SAN DIEGO RESULTS