Over the course of the past week we’ve been cleaning up in the aftermath of the 2nd annual Sommelier Challenge International Wine Competition, primarily preparing the award certificates for mailing.
This task affords me an opportunity to take a closer look at the results. Upon further review, invariably a number of performances stand out. Today we will take a look at a few of those.
What I get from this exercise is a sense of the quality being driven by certain wineries, such as Belhurst Estate Winery of Geneva, New York, which is located in the Finger Lakes viticultural area. Belhurst played in some fast company over the weekend and came away with an award for Best of Show rose wine, two gold medals and two silvers.
Or B.R. Cohn, the Sonoma Valley winery that claimed Best of Class Chardonnay, plus two golds and a silver. These wineries are obviously doing something right.
The following is a partial list of the stellar performers from the Somm Challenge, with the name or names of the awarding sommeliers.
B.R. Cohn
Gold 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Olive Hill Estate Vineyards Sonoma Valley $55.00 – Will Costello
Gold 2008 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley $40.00 – Megan Yelenosky
Best of Class Chardonnay, 2008 Chardonnay, Sangiacomo Vineyard Carneros $29.00 – David Lusby – Megan Yelenosky
Silver 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, Grieve Family Vineyard Napa Valley $22.00 – Brian Donegan – Jennifer Tremayne
Barefoot Bubbly
Silver NV Moscato Spumante California $11.00 – Jesse Rodriguez – Michael Scaffidi
Silver NV Brut Cuvee California $10.00 – David Lusby – Megan Yelenosky
Gold NV Extra Dry California $10.00 – David Lusby – Megan Yelenosky
Platinum NV Pinot Grigio California $11.00 – Desi Eschavarrie – George Skorka
Barefoot Cellars
Silver NV Pinot Noir California $7.00 – Brian Donegan – Jennifer Tremayne
Platinum NV Muscato California $7.00 – Jesse Rodriguez
Silver NV Pinot Grigio California $7.00 – Jesse Rodriguez – Michael Scaffidi
Platinum NV Riesling California $7.00 – Andre Mack – Lisa Redwine
Silver NV Sauvignon Blanc California $7.00 – Andre Mack – Lisa Redwine
Belhurst Estate Winery
Best of Show Rose 2009 Dry Rose New York $19.00 – David Lusby – Megan Yelenosky
Silver NV Naturel Sparkling Wine Finger Lakes $19.00 – David Lusby – Megan Yelenosky
Silver 2009 Gewurztraminer Finger Lakes $19.00 – Andre Mack – Lisa Redwine
Gold 2009 Dry Riesling Seneca Lake $19.00 – Anani Lawson
Gold 2009 Semi-Dry Riesling Seneca Lake $18.00 – Will Costello
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Platinum 2007 Meritage, Artist Series Columbia Valley $50.00 – David Lusby – Megan Yelenosky
Silver 2006 Ethos Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley $38.00 – Brian Donegan – Jennifer Tremayne
Platinum 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Canoe Ridge Estate Horse Heaven Hills $28.00 – Brian Donegan – Jennifer Tremayne
Domaine Carneros by Taittinger
Gold 2006 Brut Cuvee Carneros $26.00 – Anani Lawson
Gold NV Cuvee de la Pompadour Brut Rose Carneros $36.00 – Andre Mack
Gold 2004 Le Reve Blanc de Blancs Carneros $85.00 – Brian Donegan – Jennifer Tremayne
Eagles Trace
Gold 2005 Latitude 38, Estate Grown Napa Valley $75.00 – Jennifer Tremayne
Gold 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Grown Napa Valley $60.00 – Will Costello – Anani Lawson
Eberle Winery
Gold 2008 Barbera Paso Robles $26.00 – Brian Donegan – Jennifer Tremayne
Gold 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Paso Robles $34.00 – Anani Lawson
Silver 2008 Sangiovese Paso Robles $23.00 – Anani Lawson
Gold 2008 Zinfandel Paso Robles $24.00 – Jesse Rodriguez
Gold 2009 Viognier, Mill Road Vineyard Paso Robles $21.00 – Desi Eschavarrie
Francis Ford Coppola
Gold 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Director’s Cut Alexander Valley $28.00 – Lisa Redwine
Silver 2008 Zinfandel, Director’s Cut Dry Creek Valley $23.00 – Michael Scaffidi
Gold 2008 Chardonnay, Reserve, Saralee’s Vineyard Russian River Valley $25.00 – Michael Scaffidi
Silver 2008 Chardonnay, Director’s Cut Russian River Valley $20.00 – Michael Scaffidi
Franciscan
Platinum 2006 Magnificat Napa Valley $50.00 – Desi Eschavarrie – George Skorka
Gold 2007 Cuvee Sauvage Chardonnay Carneros $40.00 – Lisa Redwine
Click here for complete results of the 2010 Sommelier Challenge.
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