V. Sattui Dazzles at Winemaker Challenge II

By Robert Whitley
Creators Syndicate

It comes as no surprise that the Napa Valley winery, V. Sattui, has once again emerged as a force at a major international wine competition. Sattui has long been a juggernaut on the competition circuit.

Over the final weekend of January, at the second annual Winemaker Challenge in San Diego, Sattui flexed its muscles when no fewer than four of its wines advanced to the championship round — with the 2008 V. Sattui Pilgrim Vineyard Zinfandel ($30) besting the field of more than 700 entries to win Winemaker Challenge Wine of the Year.

The Winemaker Challenge is one of the few U.S. wine competitions that utilize winemakers exclusively to evaluate its entries.

V. Sattui’s other big winners included a Best of Class Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2008 Morisoli Vineyard, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($55), and Platinum awards for the 2008 Petite Sirah, North Coast ($26) and 2008 Syrah, Napa Valley ($32). V. Sattui won 18 medals overall, with two Gold awards to go with its four Platinum awards.

The Winemaker Challenge reserves Platinum recognition for the wines that advance through the judging to the championship round. This year only 40 of the 705 wines entered made it to the finals and attained Platinum status.

While V. Sattui’s powerful performance might have been routine, a couple of the other winners of major awards were of the stunning variety.

Southern California’s Fallbrook Winery, located 45 miles north of San Diego, prevailed in the vote for Best of Show White wine with its 2010 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc ($16). Though relatively unknown on the national scene, Fallbrook has enjoyed strong competition performance in the past, and its Sauvignon Blanc has been a consistent medal-winner, so its victory in the showdown for best white wine was hardly a fluke. In fact, Fallbrook won medals with all six wines it entered, and the 2008 Gracie Hill Vineyard Sangiovese made it to the finals and earned a Platinum award.

The Best of Show Dessert wine was the 2000 Lambouri Commandaria Legacy ($14) from Cyprus, a Sherry-style dessert wine made from the Mavro and Xinisteri grapes. The wine is not imported to the United States.

Best of Show Sparkling went to Gloria Ferrer for its Sonoma County Brut ($20). Gloria Ferrer has been on a roll in recent years, winning Best of Show sparkling awards with its Royal Cuvee, Va de Vi and Carneros Cuvee. The Sonoma County Brut is just the latest in a long line of superb bubblies from Gloria Ferrer, which must be running out of room in the trophy case after its extraordinary success at wine competitions during the past three years.

The V. Sattui Pilgrim Vineyard Zinfandel was, of course, already Best of Show Red wine when it captured the final vote for Wine of the Year.

Other notable performances:

•   Navarro Vineyards represented Mendocino’s Anderson Valley with 14 medals overall, including two Platinums (2009 Premiere Reserve Chardonnay, Anderson Valley, $19; 2009 Cuvee 128 Sauvignon Blanc, Mendocino, $18) and five Golds (2009 Pinot Noir, Mendocino, $19; 2009 Syrah, Mendocino, $25; 2009 Muscat Blanc, Anderson Valley, $19; 2009 Dry Gewurztraminer, Anderson Valley, $19; 2009 Pinot Gris, Anderson Valley, $19).
•  J. Lohr Winery of Paso Robles, Calif., took eight medals, including three Golds and two Platinums. Both Platinum winning wines went on to take Best of Class: 2007 Cuvee ST. E, Paso Robles ($50) was Best of Class red Bordeaux Blend, while 2009 Fog’s Reach Pinot Noir, Arroyo Seco ($25) was Best of Class Pinot Noir. J. Lohr has been a stellar producer of value wines in the $10-$20 range, but its upper tier wines also deliver a big bang for the buck.
• Eberle Winery, another rock solid Paso Robles producer, won 10 medals, including Gold for the 2009 Steinbeck Vineyard Syrah Rose, Paso Robles ($17) and the 2008 Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles ($19).
• Chateau Ste. Michelle and Domaine Ste. Michelle of Woodinville, Wash., won a combined 11 medals. Domaine Ste. Michelle, which makes the Ste. Michelle sparkling wines, won four medals, including two Platinum awards for its 2004 Luxe, Columbia Valley ($23) and its Blanc de Blancs, Columbia Valley ($13). Chateau Ste. Michelle’s 2008 Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills ($24) took Best of Class Chardonnay. All of these wines represent superb value, delivering exceptional quality at fair prices.
• Dr. Konstantin Frank of New York’s Finger Lakes region had a sensational showing with four medals, including a Platinum for the 2008 Rkatsiteli ($18). Its 2009 Gewurztraminer ($25) and 2009 Gruner Veltliner ($20) won Gold. All of the Frank wines are from the Finger Lakes appellation.
• Gloria Ferrer won seven awards in addition to its Best of Show Sparkling, including Platinum for the 2007 Estate Chardonnay ($18). The consistently lauded 2002 Royal Cuvee Brut ($32) won a Gold award, as did the 2006 Blanc de Blancs ($24).
• Spain was well represented by Sherry producer Gonzalez Byass, winning Gold with the Tio Pepe Fino Muy Seco Sherry ($19) and Silver with its 2006 Finca Moncloa, Vino de la Tierra de Cadiz ($35) and the Alfonso Oloroso Seco Sherry ($20).
• Redwood Creek carried the banner for value wines, winning five medals, including two Golds, with wines that retail for $8 or less. The Gold medals went to the 2009 Pinot Noir, Frei Brothers Vineyards, California ($8) and the 2008 Zinfandel, Frei Brothers Vineyards, Lodi ($8).

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