 These results are form a California run wine competition organized by wine writer Michael Kelly. Easily one of the better wine competitions that constantly seeks a more inclusive, nation representation.  Of course, congratulations to all the winners, but special kudos to Fjord Vineyards, Vermillion Valley Vineyards, Veritas Vineyards, Pearamund Vineyards, and Benmarl Winery!!!! |
The 5th Annual Cabernet Franc Wine Competition was held on April 3rd,2024 at the Copper Valley Golf Club Clubhouse. The format for the blind competition utilizes the Danish system, where the wines are “bagged and tagged with coded numbers”. There were four tables of wine judges (2 tables of Professional Judges and 2 tables People’s Choice Judges) voting on medal designation, Best of Category, Best of Show and Grand Sweepstakes. If not all agree on the medal, which seldom happens, then a lively discussion going over the key award by each group of judges. In total there were 8 classifications by region or Cabernet Franc wine designation. The Regional awards were broken down by: Eastern, Central, Northwest, Southwest, California and International. For California there were five price point categories. There were also two additional categories for Specialty Cabernet Franc Blanc, sparkling, Rose, etc. and Blends having a minimum of 50% Cabernet Franc grapes. In total 91 wines entered the competition. The event started at 9:15 am and went non-stop, concluding at 2:30pm with a luncheon for the judges and volunteers. Two of the four tables of judges. The Grand Sweepstakes winner from the Professional Judges was LXV Wines located in Paso Robles and grapes from the Santa Barbera AVA. Made in the “Chinon style” with low oak treatment. |
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The Grand Sweepstakes winner from the People’s Choice Judges was Brick Barn Wine Estate from Buellton, California. 100% Cabernet Franc and unique with only four barrels being produced with aging in Russian oak barrels. |
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PROFESSIONAL JUDGES RESULTS: EASTERN USA DIVISION: Best of Class: Fjord Vineyard from Marlboro, NY. The grapes come from sustainably farmed vineyard in the Hudson Valley AVA, bottled unfined and unfiltered, spontaneous fermented. This was their first time entering the competition and they also received an award of Double Gold. Medal Awards: Pearmund Cellars – Gold (2020) Pearmund Cellars – Silver (2021) Veritas Vineyard – Silver (2014) CENTRAL USA DIVISION: Best of Show: 2020 Vermilion Valley Vineyards located in Wakeman, Ohio from the Lake Erie AVA. The grapes coming from their estate . This was their first time entering the competition. NORTHWEST USA DIVISION: Best of Show: Camaraderie Cellars located in Port Angeles, Washington with grapes from the Yakima Valley AVA. They also won Gold Medal. Medal Awards: Quady North Winery – Silver (Mae’s Vineyard) Quady North Winery – Silver (Applegate Vineyard) Spangler Vineyards & Winery – Silver (2019) SOUTHWEST USA DIVISION: Best of Show: Vivac Winery located in Dixon, New Mexico from the New Mexico AVA with their 2021 vintage. This Cabernet Franc wine consisted of 10% Syrah& Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Sangiovese. CALIFORNIA USA DIVISION: Best of California Division overall: LXV Best of Class Best of Category 1 ($30 and below): Best of Category: Ironstone Vineyards – Gold (2021 from Murphys, using Lodi grapes with 12% Merlot & 3% Syrah) Medal Awards: Madrone Vineyards – Silver Best of Category 2 ($31 to $50): Best of Category: Cuda Ridge Wines Double Gold (2021 from Livermore, using Livermore Valley grapes with 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot & 2% Petit Verdot) Medal Awards: McKenzie-Mueller – Double Gold Lava Cap – Double Gold Scenic Valley Ranch – Double Gold Dracaena Wines – Double Gold L’Autre Cote – Double Gold L & M Vineyard – Gold (2021) Absolution Cellars – Silver Crystal Basin Cellars – Silver Kautz & Kramer Wines – Silver Shale Canyon Wines – Silver Darcie Kent Estate Winery – Silver Autry Cellars – Silver 3 Steves Winery – Silver Rosa Fierro Cellars – Silver Garre Vineyards & Winery – Silver Kenefick Ranch Vineyards & Winery – Silver J. Lohr Vineyards & Winery – Silver Bumgarner Winery & Vineyards – Silver Ancient Peaks Winery – Silver Villa Vallecito Vineyards – Silver Mineral Wines – Silver Val du Vino Winery – Silver Best of Category 3 ($51 to $75): Best of Category: L’Autre Cote – Double Gold, 2021 100% Cabernet Franc 2021from Ghielmetti Vineyard. Medal Awards: Selin Cellars – Double Gold (2021) Dunning Vineyards – Double Gold J. Lohr Vineyards & Winery – Gold Titus Vineyards – Gold Selin Cellars – Silver (2022) Cellar 13 Winery – Silver (2019) Cellar 13 Winery – Silver (2021) Donati Family Vineyard – Silver Le Vigne Winery – Silver AvinoDos Wines – Silver Rodrigue Molyneaux Winery – Silver
Best of Category: LXV Wine located in Paso Robles and grapes from the Santa Barbera AVA. Made in the “Chinon style” with low oak treatment. Medal Awards: PureCru – Gold Vinoce – Silver Best of Category 5 ($100 & up): Best of Category: Brick Barn Wine Estate from Buellton, California.100% Cabernet Franc and unique with only four barrels being produced and aged in Russian oak barrels. They also received an award of Double Gold. Medal Awards: Palazzo Wine – Double Gold Middle Oak Wines – Silver Mountain Terraces Winery & Vineyard – Silver L’Autre Cote – Silver SPECIALTY DIVISION: Best of Show: Quady North Winery from Jacksonville, Oregon using grapes from Applegate AVA in southern Oregon. Extended Tirage and using Method Rose. This was the first year they entered the competition. CABERNET FRANC BLEND (being a minimum of 50% Cabernet Franc grapes) Best of Show: Justin Vineyards for their 2021 blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot using grapes from Paso Robles AVA. They also won Double Gold award for this wine. Medal Awards: LXV Wine– Gold Cuda Ridge– Silver Absolution Cellars – Silver (O’Dina blend) PureCru – Silver INTERNATIONAL DIVISION: Best of Show: Whale Haven Winery located in the city of Somerset West in South Africa won the International Division. ******************************************************* PEOPLE’S CHOICE JUDGES RESULTS: EASTERN USA DIVISION: Best of Class: Benmarl Winery for their 2022 vintage from Marlboro, New York and using grapes from the Hudson Valley AVA. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. They also won an award of Double Gold Medal Awards: Veritas Vineyard – Gold (2017) Pearmund Cellars – Silver (2020) Veritas – Silver (2014) Veritas Vineyard – Silver (Reserve) Fjord Vineyard – Silver Covert – Silver (2021) Benmarl Winery – Silver (New York AVA) Covert – Silver (2020) CENTRAL USA DIVISION: Best of Show: Silver Crest Cellars located in Madison, Ohio for their 2018 Cabernet Franc. The grapes come from the Grand River Valley AVA. NORTHWEST USA DIVISION: Best of Show: Spangler Vineyards and Winery located in Roseburg, Oregon for their 2019 vintage. The grapes come from the Southern Oregon AVA and they also won an award of Double Gold. Medal Awards: Quady North Winery – Double Gold (Mae’s Vineyard) Quady North Winery – Gold (Applegate Vineyard) Wautoma Springs – Silver Terra Vina Wines – Silver SOUTHWEST USA DIVISION: Best of Show: Callaghan Vineyards located in Elgin, Arizona and using grapes from the Sonoita AVA with their 2019 vintage. Medal Awards: Bodega Pierce – Silver Vivac Winery – Silver CALIFORNIA USA DIVISION: Best of California Division overall: Brick Barn Wine Estate from Buellton, California. 100% Cabernet Franc and unique with only four barrels being produced with aging in Russian oak barrels. They also received an award of Double Gold. Best of Category 1 ($30 and below): Best of Category: Boeger Winery with their 2020 vintage winning an award of Double Gold. Medal Awards: Madrone Vineyards – Silver Rucksack Cellars – Silver Ironstone Vineyards – Silver Best of Category 2 ($31 to $50): Best of Category: L & M Vineyard from Gilroy with their 2020Reserve Cabernet Franc. Using grapes from San Ysidro district. They received an award of Double Gold and this was their first time entering the competition. Medal Awards: Wood Family Vineyards – Double Gold Darcie Kent – Double Gold Absolution Cellars – Gold Shale Canyon Wines – Gold 3 Steves Winery – Gold Rosa Fierro Cellars – Gold J. Lohr Vineyards & Winery – Gold Bumgarner Winery & Vineyards – Gold Crystal Basin Cellars – Silver Cuda Ridge Wines – Silver Kautz & Kramer Wines – Silver Dracaena Wines – Silver L & M Vineyard – Silver (2020, regular) L’Autre Cote – Silver (commercial) McKenzie-Mueller – Silver Garre Vineyards & Winery – Silver Kenefick Ranch Vineyards & Winery – Silver Ancient Peaks Winery – Silver Lava Cap – Silver Scenic Valley Ranch – Silver Villa Vallecito Vineyards – Silver Mineral Wines – Silver Best of Category 3 ($51 to $75): Best of Category: Dancing Fox Winery located in Lodi with their 2020 vintage from the Clements Hills sub-Appellation. They also won an award of Double Gold and was their first time entering the competition. Medal Awards: Donati Family – Double Gold Selin Cellars – Gold (2021) J. Lohr Vineyards & Winery – Gold L’Autre Cote – Gold Cellar 13 – Silver (2019) Cellar 13 – Silver (2021) Le Vigne – Silver Selin Cellars – Silver (2022) AvinoDos Winery – Silver Titus Vineyards – Silver
Best of Category: pureCru Winery located in Napa for their 2019Reserve Cabernet Franc vintage. They also won an award of Double Gold. Medal Awards: LXV Wines– Double Gold Vinoce – Silver Best of Category 5 ($100 & up): Best of Category: Brick Barn Wine Estate from Buellton, California.100% Cabernet Franc and unique with only four barrels being produced and aged in Russian oak barrels. They also received an award of Double Gold. Medal Awards: Mountain Terraces Winery & Vineyard – Gold Palazzo Wine – Silver Middle Oak Wines – Silver L’Autre Cote – Silver SPECIALTY CATEGORY DIVISION: Best of Show: Quady North Winery from Jacksonville, Oregon using grapes from Applegate AVA in southern Oregon. Extended Tirage and using Method Rose. This was the first year they entered the competition. CABERNET FRANC BLEND DIVISION (being a minimum of 50% Cabernet Franc grapes) Best of Show: pureCru for their 2021 blend of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50%Merlot . Medal Awards: LXV Wine– Gold Cuda Ridge– Silver Absolution Cellars – Silver (O’Dina blend) Justin Vineyards – Silver INTERNATIONAL DIVISION: Best of Show: Whale Haven Winery located in the city of Somerset West in South Africa won the International Division. ____________________________________________________________________ A very special thank you to both sets of judges and volunteers without which this event could not have happened! Professional Judges: Tom Bender, Tana Cole, Debi Miller, Fran Cunniffe and Mike Dunne). People’s Choice Judges, left to right: Robert Kent, Holger Hornisch, Candy Strubbe, Peter Singh, Gary Miller and Donna laquinto. And all the volunteers who literally were on their feet all day running wine! A big hearty thank you: Susan Kelly, Celia Miller, Ansuiya Singh, Mary Heaton, Susan Sherrill and to Jeff Heaton who helped with the 6:30 am set up! Sláinte, Michael |
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