Thirsty Thursday: Taste the Sweepstakes Winners!

In the last couple of posts, I’ve smuggled you into the ultimate inner sanctum of wine judging: the Sweepstakes Round at the recent San Francisco International Wine Competition. www.sfwinecomp.com Yesterday, I listed the winners. Today we’ll taste a few. (Let me go grab my notes…)


BEST SAUVIGNON BLANC Cairnbrae Vineyards 2006 The Stones Marlborough New Zealand

Panel “D” sent a Double Gold Sauv Blanc to the Sweeps, where we had a total of three to choose among. I loved this one, and I gave it not only my highest score for Sauv Blancs (93 of 100), but also my vote for “Best White.” Lime, honeydew melon, a touch of those “green” or “here, kitty” pyrazines (see last week), and crisp, puckery acidity to make it a great partner to food. Textbook New Zealand Sauv Blanc.


BEST RIESLING Snoqualmie Vineyard 2006 Winemaker’s Select Columbia Valley 5.05% rs $7

Wow, a Sweeps-winning Riesling for seven!!! bucks!?! From where? Germany? Cool-climate California? New York? No. Washington state! Downright yummy, somewhat sweet (~5% residual sugar, and that’s perfectly OK if you list it as such), rich and ripe with juicy summer stone fruit (think peaches, apricots, nectarines) and a characteristic touch of “petrol.” (That’s an OK descriptor in Riesling.) I raised my hand on this one, and also on our other Riesling choice, which was made in a drier style. (Riesling can correctly range all over the map, from bone dry to ultra-decadent, honey-sweet dessert versions.)


BEST OF SHOW - WHITE Chouinard Vineyards 2006 Chenin Blanc Monterey 1.85% rs $11

Chenin Blanc. Who’da thunk it! (See Gerald Weisl's www.weimax.com pic: I'm surrounded by guys who voted "yes." I didn't. C'est la vie.) When this varietal won “Best White,” the judges bandied about such phrases as “raised from the dead” and “saved from extinction” (a reference to its—uh, “low profile” is a diplomatic way to put it). Andy Blue’s www.bluelifestyle.com comment (referring to a French region where they make and love Chenin) is “They’re gonna be dancing in the Loire tonight.)


BEST OF SHOW - SPARKLING Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin 1988 Brut Rare Vintage Champagne France $90

One of the biggest treats about judging a Sweepstakes Round: If you find a wine you love (or a few), you can hold onto them and actually drink some when you’re done making your decisions. (For the rest of the weekend, alas, we spit.) I didn’t let a drop of this beautifully aged Veuve go to waste. Deep, full-flavored, elegant, with toasty pastry and butterscotch/caramel and great weight in the mouth thanks to yeast contact and a nice long time in bottle. Glorious!

Next time, we’ll check out some winning reds. (Thanks once again, Carol Seibert, for the master list of Sweepstakes winners.) www.sfwinecomp.com/pdf_07/07_results_medal.pdf

Until then,
Cheers,
Rosina
gilded fork, wine, wine writing, Welcome to Wine Country, Rosina Tinari Wilson