After surveying California Bordeaux from all over the state, we thought a fitting way to wrap-up our series would be to list our panel’s favorite wines. In general, we were impressed by the quality from all eight regions we featured, but as with any tasting, there were those which stood out above the others. Here are the bottles earned our highest marks broken down by variety:

 

Cabernet Franc

Burrel School 2009 “Extra Credit” Cabernet Franc

Heller 2009 Estate Cabernet Franc (Monterey County)

Hearst Ranch 2008 “Lone Tree” Cabernet Franc (Paso Robles)

Hunt Cellars 2006 “Opulence” Cabernet Franc (Paso Robles)

Scheid Vineyards 2009 Estate Cabernet Franc (Monterey County)

Cabernet Sauvignon

Alpha Omega Winery 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa)

Daou 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles)

Dutcher Crossing 2009 Taylor Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County)

Freemark Abbey 2005 Sycamore Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa)

Hawk & House Vineyards 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (Lake County)

Hunt Cellars 2007 Cab-Ovation (Paso Robles)

Hunt Cellars 2005 Cab-Ovation (Paso Robles)

Raymond Vineyards 2008 Generations Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa)

Carmenere

Yorkville Cellars 2009 Carmenere (Mendocino County)

Malbec

Moore Family Winery 2009 Malbec (Lake County)

Steven Kent 2009 Malbec (Livermore Valley)

Hearst Ranch 2010 “Babicora” Malbec (Paso Robles)

Merlot

Guglielmo 2009 Private Reserve Merlot (Santa Clara)

Hunt Cellars 2007 “Unforgettable” Merlot (Paso Robles)

Hunt Cellars 2006  “Unforgettable” Merlot (Paso Robles)

Perrucci Family 2008 Merlot (Santa Cruz Mountains)

Petit Verdot

Cuda Ridge 2010 Petit Verdot (Livermore Valley)

Steven Kent 2009 Petit Verdot (Livermore Valley)

Scheid Vineyards 2007 Petit Verdot (Napa)

Red Blends

Alpha Omega Winery 2009 Proprietary Red Wine (Napa)

Coqueticot 2007 Mon Amour Bordeaux Blend (Santa Barbara County)

Derby Estates 2007 Implico (Paso Robles)

Hunt Cellars 2006 Rhapsody in Red (Paso Robles)

Scheid Vineyards 2006 Reserve Claret (Monterey County)

Sullivan Vineyards 2008 Coeur De Vigne (Napa)

West 2008 Crest Cuvee (Sonoma County)

Whites

Cima Collina 2010 Cedar Lane Sauvignon Blanc (Monterey County)

Hunt Cellars 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (Paso Robles)

Margerum 2011 “Sybarite” Sauvignon Blanc (Santa Barbara County)

Page Mill 2011 Sauvignon Blanc (Livermore Valley)

Shannon Ridge “High Elevation” 2011 Sauvignon Blanc (Lake County)

Our Best of Tasting Awards

Best White:  Hunt Cellars 2009 Sauvignon Blanc

Best Cabernet Franc: Hunt Cellars 2006 Cabernet Franc

Best Cabernet Sauvingnon:  Alpha Omega Winery 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon & Hunt Cellars 2007 Cab-Ovation (tie)

Best Malbec: Steven Kent 2009 Malbec

Best Merlot: Hunt Cellars 2007 “Unforgettable” Merlot

Best Petit Verdot: Steven Kent 2009 Petit Verdot

Best Red Blend: Alpha Omega Winery 2009 Proprietary Red Wine