Subscribe to RSS
We continue our look back at some of our favorite wines from 2011 along with new bottles that wineries submitted as their own favorites.
Wines were divided into categories according to their type and/or varietal compositions. (A minimum of 10 submissions were required to create a category.)
Based on the wines submitted, we created the following categories: Best CA Bordeaux (red), Best CA Rhone (red), Best CA Burgundian (red & white), Best “Other” CA Red, Best “Other” CA White/Rosé, and Best CA Port/Dessert Wine.
Then, for our first round of tastings, the members of our panel that work (or have worked) in the wine industry gathered to select the best wines from each category. Those bottles will be tasted during the final round by the non-industry members of our panel. They’ll be voting for their favorites in each specific category.
The next category up is Best CA Red Bordeaux. This was our most popular category, as wineries from all over the state do wonderful things with these classic french varietals, which traditionally include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. Here are the reviews for each submission:
Winery: Ancient Peaks
Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Paso Robles
Year: 2009
Price: 15-20
Review:
Aromas of blackberries, cassis, and plums meld with suggestions of dark chocolate and woodsy notes on the nose. A sip reveals flavors of blackberry, currants, and black cherry with accents of vanilla and anise. A rich, dark Cab with plentiful tannins, fans of fairly dry, fruit driven reds will enjoy this bottle.
Rating: 89
Winery: Calcareous
Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Paso Robles
Special Designation: York Mountain
Year: 2008
Price: 30-35
Review:
A bouquet of blackberries, cherries and currants is accented by notes of vanilla, cedar, and chocolate on the nose. A sip reveals flavors of blackberry, currant, and cherry along with suggestions of dark chocolate and dusty earth. Fans of smoother, more elegant Cabs will enjoy this bottle.
Rating: 92
Winery: Coquelicot
Grape(s): Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec
Region: Santa Barbara County
Year: 2006
Special Designation: Mon Amor
Price: 35-40
Review:
Aromas of cherries, currants, and blackberries are accented by suggestions of dark-chocolate and oak on the nose. A sip reveals flavors of cassis and blackberry rounded out by notes of anise and dark-chocolate. A smooth wine that’s rich with dark fruit, it has balanced tannins, making very approachable.
Rating: 91
Winery: DAOU
Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Cabernet Franc (12%), Merlot (10%), Petite Verdot 3%
Region: Paso Robles
Special Designation: Reserve
Year: 2009
Price: 50-55
Review:
Notes of blackberries, cherries, and raspberries are accented by chocolate, spice, and oak on the nose. Flavors of blackberry, raspberry, and black cherry meld with suggestions of dusty earth, dark chocolate, and spice on the palate. A mouth-filling red with generous tannins, if you enjoy concentrated fruit with a nice structure, this is a bottle to try, especially since it’s very food friendly.
Rating: 90
Winery: Ferrari-Carano
Grape(s): Perit Verdot
Region: Sonoma County
Year: 2008
Price: 30-35
Review:
Rich dark fruit is accented by a touch of caramel on the nose. Supple flavors of currants, blackberries, and blueberries are rounded out by notes of cocoa, toasty oak, and a bit of earth. A mouth-filling wine with solid tannins that has dark-dense fruit but still manages to be quite balanced and approachable. Fans of full-bodied red will enjoy this one.
Rating: 91
Winery: Heller Estate
Grape(s): Malbec
Region: Monterey County
Year: 2009
Special Designation: Organic Vineyards
Price: 35-40
Review:
Aromatics of dark berries, black pepper, sweet spice, and and smoked meat greet the senses. A sip unfurls with flavors of blueberry and boysenberry accented by burnt spice, earth, and sweet spice. A dark, dense red with solid tannins, pair it with spicy Mexican dishes made with beef.
Rating: 86
Winery: Hoyt Family Vineyards
Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Santa Barbara County
Year: 2008
Price: N/A
Review:
Aromatics of black cherries, blackberries, plums, and earth rise up from a glass. Cherry and blackberry flavors come together with suggestions of oak and forest floor on the palate. A Cab that offers of balance of dark fruit and earth, fans of that style will enjoy this bottle.
Rating: 88
Winery: Hunt Cellars
Grape(s): Cabernet
Region: Paso Robles
Year: 2005
Special Designation: Cab-Ovation
Price: 70-75
Review:
A bouquet of blackberries, cherries, oak rises up from a glass. The palate offers rich black cherry and bramble fruit flavors with accents of vanilla and oak. An elegant, yet dry Cab with a bold oaky character, it can be enjoyed with food now but there’s still plenty of aging potential, too.
Rating: 92
Winery: Jankris
Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon (50%) & Merlot (50%)
Region: Paso Robles
Special Designation: Crossfire
Year: 2009
Price: 25-30
Review:
Black cherry and plum aromas mingle with hints of anise and earth, as well as herbaceous and floral notes. A sip reveals flavors of cherries, blackberries, and plums accented by suggestions of black licorice, dusty earth, and herbaceous notes. A wine with a soft mouthfeel, if you enjoy laid-back red, this is a bottle to try.
Rating: 86
Winery: MCG Cellars
Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Napa Valley
Special Designation: Scarlett
Year: 2008
Price: 50-55
Review:
Aromatics of blackberries and currants along with notes of oak and spice rise from a glass. The palate unfurls with flavors of cherry, blackberry, and cassis with accents of anise, chocolate, and oak. A dark, rich red with plush tannins, fans of classic Napa Cabs will enjoy this bottle.
Rating: 91
Winery: Midnight Cellars
Grape(s): Merlot
Region: Paso Robles
Special Designation: Estate
Year: 2007
Price: 20-25
Aromas of cherries, plums, and blackberries with accents of chocolate, coffee, and oak rise up from a glass. A sip reveals flavors of red plum and cherry that melds with suggestions of dark chocolate and spice. A fairly dry red with supple tannins and bright fruit, if you’re tried of overly fruity Merlots, try this bottle.
Rating: 90
Winery: Murrieta’s Well
Grape(s): Cabernet, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc
Region: Livermore Valley
Year: 2009
Special Designation: The Spur
Price: 20-25
Review:
Lovely aromas of blackberries, blueberries, dark-chocolate, cedar, and sweet spices rise up from a glass. The palate offers flavors of dark berries, dark-chocolate, clove, licorice, and a hint of cedar. A very smooth, easy-drinking wine that’s fruit-driven and ideal for fans of lush reds.
Rating: 90
Winery: Peju
Grape(s): Merlot and Petit Verdot
Region: Napa Valley
Year: 2007
Price: 30-35
Review:
A lovely bouquet of blackberries, cassis, and cherries opens up into hints of chocolate, clove, and mint on the nose. A sip reveals flavors of cherry and blackberry rounded out by dark-chocolate, sweet spice, and a bit of oak. A lush wine that is still nicely structured, it has layers of underlying fruit with a few sweet barrel notes making this Merlot very approachable, even for naysayers of the varietal.
Rating: 92
Winery: Raymond
Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Napa Valley
Year: 2008
Special Designation: (reserve)
Price: 30-35
Review:
A bouquet of blackberries, cassis, and blueberries is accented by suggestions of chocolate, oak, and black licorice. A sip unfurls notes of blackberry, blueberry, and cherry, rounded out by hints of oak, dark-chocolate, and anise. A smooth, more elegant Cabernet that still has nice structure and is fairly dry with just a hint of sweetness, it’s a treat for fans of nicely balanced wines.
Rating: 92
Winery: Round Pond
Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvgnon
Region: Napa Valley
Year: 2008
Special Designation: Estate
Price: 50-55
Review:
An alluring nose of plum, cassis, and blackberries that melds with suggestions dark-chocolate, sweet spice is quite enticing. A sip unfurls with notes of cassis, and blackberry accented by flavors of dark-chocolate, oak, and herbs. A very smooth wine with rich fruit, nice structure, and slightly sweet undertones, it’s perfect for fans of more elegant Cabs.
Rating: 93
Winery: Sawyers Cellars
Grape(s): 58% Cabernet Sauvignon , 35% Merlot 5% Petit Verdot 2% Cabernet Franc
Region: Napa Valley
Year: 2007
Special Designation: Bradford Meritage
Price: 45-50
Review:
A lovely bouquet of rich blackberries, currants, and plums with accents of chocolate and clove greets the senses. On the palate, blueberry and blackberry flavors meld with notes of oak, coffee, and dusty minerals. An elegant, fruit driven wine, that still offers some nice layers, fans of softer, supple reds will enjoy this bottle.
Rating: 90
Winery: Sawyers Cellars
Grape(s): Merlot
Region: Napa Valley
Year: 2007
Special Designation: (none)
Price: 45-50
Review:
On the nose, aromas of blackberries, cherries, and plums mingle with notes of vanilla and fennel seed. Flavors of cherry and blackberry come together with suggestions of oak, black licorice, and vanilla. A fairly light, smooth wine, if you enjoy soft approachable reds, this is a bottle to try.
Rating: 89
Winery: Sawyers Cellars
Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Napa Valley
Year: 2007
Special Designation: (none)
Price: 45-50
Review:
Aromatics of blackberries, currants, and black cherries meld with suggestions of chocolate and cedar. With a sip, flavors of cherry, blackberry, and cassis come together with notes of oak and anise. A smooth, fairly lush Cab, if you like fruit-driven reds that also offer some other layers, this bottle is well worth a try.
Rating: 91
Winery: Steele Wines
Grape(s): Merlot
Special Designation: Stymie
Region: Lake County
Year: 2008
Price: 40-45
Review:
Aromas of plums, currants, and chocolate covered cherries meld with notes of fennel seed and smoke on the nose. A sip reveals flavors of cherry, cassis, and plum with accents of white pepper, tobacco, and roast coffee. A nicely structured, nicely layered wine with bright, robust flavors, it’s a clear standout from all those wimpy Merlots.
Rating: 93
Winery: Steven Kent
Grape(s): Petit Verdot
Region: Livermore Valley
Year: 2008
Special Designation: Ghielmetti Vineyard
Price: 45-50
Review:
A bouquet of cherries and blueberries mingles with notes of violets and chocolate on the nose. Blackberry and blueberry flavors come together with floral, dark chocolate, black licorice, and earthy suggestions on the palate. A smooth, floral, layered wine with moderate tannins, fans of fairly light, complex reds will really enjoy this bottle.
Rating: 93
Winery: Steven Kent
Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Livermore Valley
Year: 2008
Special Designation: Home Ranch Vineyard
Price: 55-60
Review:
On the nose, aromas of blackberries, cherries and cassis meld with notes of oak and sweet spice. Bramble fruit and cherry flavors with accents of vanilla, oak, and cinnamon emerge on the palate. A rich Cab with opulent tannins, fans of more elegant reds with ample dark fruit will enjoy this bottle very much.
Rating: 91
Winery: Veris Cellars
Grape(s): Petit Verdot
Region: Paso Robles
Year: 2008
Special Designation: Nova Vita
Price: 40-45
Review:
Rich aromas of blackberries and currants mingle with floral notes and hints of earth on the nose. A sip reveals flavors of bright blueberries and bramble fruit with accents of violets, dusty earth, and a bit of oak. If you like dark fruit with a somewhat lighter body, this is a bottle to try.
Rating: 90
Winery: Yorkville Cellars
Grape(s): Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Carmenere
Region: Mendocino County
Year: 2008
Special Designation: Richard the Loin-Heart
Price: 30-35
Review:
The nose has excellent depth as blackberries, currants, and black cherries are complicated by suggestions of earth, floral notes, dark-chocolate, and a hint of oak. Rich dark fruit flavors dominate the palate, rounded out by a bit of earth, oak, cocoa, and floral suggestions. Complex, fairly dry and bright, it’s a wonderful wine for food. Roast chicken, lamb, or a juicy hamburger would all pair nicely.
Rating: 92
The Finalists, as selected by the panel, will include the follow wines:
Calcareous 2008 York Mt. Cabernet Sauvignon
Hunt Cellars 2005 Cab-Ovation
Peju 2007 Merlot
Raymond 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Round Pond 2008 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Steele Wines 2008 Stymie Merlot
Steven Kent 2008 Petite Verdot
Yorkville Cellars 2008 Richard the Loin-Heart
Check back on January 19th for the results of the final round of tastings and to see which wines we’ve selected as California Wines of the Year 2011.
