I’ve just completed my 15th year as Director of the Monterey Wine Competition in what has become my annual rite of spring. As is my custom, I have perused the results and taken away a number of what I believe are outstanding value wines – gold medal winners retailing for $25 or less, a price point that is remarkably low for quality vino in today’s world.
Gold medals are a precious commodity on the wine competition circuit. The Monterey judges – 24 wine professionals plus Chief Judge Linda Murphy of Decanter Magazine – evaluated more than 1200 wines over two days (March 1-2) and awarded fewer than 5 percent of the wines a gold medal.
I’ve chosen a few of the gold-medal winners that stood out for value, in my humble opinion:
Alexander Valley Vineyards 2005 Syrah, Alexander Valley ($20) – This winery has long been famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon and the red Bordeaux-style blend, Cyrus. To take a gold with this modestly priced Syrah is a feather in the cap.
Angove’s 2006 Red Belly Black Chardonnay, South Australia ($12) – Angoves is best known perhaps for its Nine Vines wines, but the Red Belly Black Chardonnay was an eye-opener.
Bernard Griffin 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley ($17) – Besides this gold, Bernard Griffin had a good competition with three additional medals, all silver. What I like about this wine is its balance. It’s not an overripe fruit bomb. Amen to that!
Bianchi Winery 2005 Garey Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley ($25) – Show me a gold-medal winning Santa Maria Valley Pinot and I say snap it up. This is a great price for Pinot in today’s world. Bianchi also made a huge statement with eight medals overall.
Big Ass 2006 Zinfandel, Sonoma County ($15) – When you consider that some Zins that sell for twice as much aren’t even half as good, you know this winery is kicking some booty.
Biltmore Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, American ($20) – Yes indeed, this North Carolina winery has been making excellent wine for a number of years. Finding the wine is the problem.
Blackstone 2005 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Reserve ($20) – See my Bianchi comment above.
Bogle 2005 Petite Sirah Port, Clarksburg ($18) – This is a typical California Port-style wine, showing ripe fruit and soft tannins for drinking now.
Bogle 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($11) – At this price point, one of the top two or three Cabs in California.
Fetzer 2007 Pinot Grigio, California ($9) – Fetzer may be an industrial-size value winery, but it consistently puts quality in the bottle at a modest price. Its 2006 Valley Oaks Sauvignon Blanc ($9) also took gold.
Ficklin Old Vine Tinta Port, Madera ($15) – If the rising euro and declining dollar are scaring you off Ports from Portugal, Ficklin’s many and varied bottlings make a terrific substitute.
Five Rivers 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles ($10) – Like the Bogle Cab, a steal at this price and one of the top value reds produced in California.
Geyser Peak 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, California ($12) – Dollar for dollar the best everyday Sauvignon made in America, in my humble opinion.
Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut, Sonoma County ($20) – One of the finest and most consistently satisfying non-vintage brut sparkling wines made in California. Gloria Ferrer had a banner competition, winning Best Sparkling with its 2000 Royal Cuvee Brut, Carneros ($32).
Hardy’s 2006 Nottage Hill Chardonnay, Southeastern Australia ($11) – The Aussies have always delivered good quality Chardonnay for not much money, and this Hardy’s vintage is merely more of the same.
Hayman & Hill 2005 Merlot Reserve, Napa Valley ($15) – Hmmmm, a gold-medal winning Napa Valley Merlot at a dirt-cheap price? Might have to jump all over this.
Heron Hill 2006 Semi-Dry Riesling, New York ($13) -This winery from New York’s Finger Lakes region took four medals overall and two golds, including this delicious off-dry Riesling and a Vidal Blanc ($18).
Kendall-Jackson 2005 Grand Reserve Merlot, Sonoma County ($26) – These new K-J Grand Reserve wines are really, really good and the price is a bargain given the quality in the bottle.
Mont-Pellier 2006 Viognier, California ($6) – This is one of the great secrets in white wine. It’s not this good every year, but it frequently blows your socks off for less than $10. It’s one you buy by the case and pour for family and friends with abandon!
Navarro 2006 Late Harvest Gewurztraminer, Anderson Valley ($19) – The Best of Show Dessert wine this year and a real beauty. Navarro reaped 13 medals overall, including three golds.
Orfila 2005 Coastal Cuvee Merlot, California ($18) – Winemaker Leon Santoro is one of California’s most underrated vintners, largely because he operates in relative obscurity in Escondido, about 30 miles outside of that famous wine region, San Diego.
Peter Lehmann 2005 Shiraz, Barossa Valley ($15) – A great Aussie wine brand that bottles nothing but quality and manages to keep prices modest.
Stone Hill 2005 Chambourcin, Missouri ($16) – Wow, I tasted this wine during the sweepstakes voting for Best of Show red wine and fell in love with it. Might well be the best Chambourcin I’ve ever tasted. Stone Hill won eight medals overall, including two other golds.
Swedish Hill 2006 Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes ($15) – It’s so easy to overlook the Finger Lakes wines because they’re not easy to find, but these are some of the finest Rieslings produced in North America.
Hogue 2006 Riesling, Columbia Valley ($9) – Hogue is another top-notch producer (especially for white wines) that continues to deliver quality while holding the line on price. Bravo!
Ventana 2006 Riesling, Arroyo Seco ($16) – The Best of Show white wine also won a double gold at the San Francisco Chronicle wine competition in January. That’s consistency. Consistently brilliant.
Woodbridge 2006 Viognier, Lodi ($14) – It’s my contention that many of the less expensive Viogniers are the better ones because they aren’t as overblown as the high-priced offerings. This is a good example of what I mean.
COMPLETE MONTEREY WINE COMPETITION RESULTS
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