© 1996 JDM Enterprises
L.A. FAIR RESULTSby Jerry D. MeadResults are in from the Los Angeles County Fair "Wines of the Americas" International Wine Competition, the longest running wine judging in America, and maybe the world. I'll highlight some of the top award winners in the most popular categories, but the only way you're going to find out about all of the winners is to order the official awards book. This year's edition is 68 pages thick with an attractive 4-color cover picturing the event's three sweepstakes winners. To receive your copy send $5 to: LA Wine Winners, Box 1598, Carson City, NV 89702 (800) 845-9463. The Governor's Award, this year's overall best of show sweepstakes winner, was De Loach 1992 "Russian River - O.F.S." Cabernet Sauvignon. Two other sweepstakes winners were in the running for best of show, one of which was Rancho De Philo Triple Cream Sherry. Produced by a small Cucamonga Valley winery, it will be almost impossible to find at retail, though the winery will sell direct to consumers or trade. The remaining sweepstakes winner was Jarvis 1993 "Napa Valley Estate" Chardonnay. Speaking of Chardonnay, L.A. does this strange thing of breaking the wines down into classes based on vintage, and whether they were "barrel-fermented," "partially barrel-fermented," or "non-barrel-fermented." It isn't surprising to note that the vast majority of gold medalists come from the "barrel-fermented" class, which simply proves what I've always said, "Americans like a little Chardonnay with their oak." The truth is, most Americans have no idea what the Chardonnay grape tastes like...they know what oak barrels, staves, planks and chips taste like and equate that friendly vanilla quality to the taste of Chardonnay. From the 1994 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay class all of the following won gold: Atlas Peak "Napa"; Bonterra "Mendocino"; Charles Krug "Napa"; Clos Du Bois "Alexander Valley-Calcaire Vineyard"; Geyser Peak "Alexander Valley Reserve" and Handley "Anderson Valley Estate." Also to: Landmark "Sonoma County-Overlook"; Stag's Leap Wine Cellars "Napa Reserve"; Stag's Leap Wine Cellars "Napa-Beckstoffer Ranch"; Wente "Riva Ranch Reserve" and Zaca Mesa "Santa Barbara County - Chapel Vineyards." The 1993 Barrel Fermented class was home to the sweepstakes winning Jarvis and other golds included: David Bruce "Santa Cruz Mountains Estate Reserve"; Grgich Hills "Napa"; Michel-Schlumberger "Dry Creek Valley-Benchland Estate"; Palmer Vineyards "North Fork of Long Island" (That's right, folks, New York State!); Robert Mondavi "Napa Reserve" and Tualatin "Willamette Valley Reserve" (and yes that's in Oregon). Two more golds were presented to partially barrel fermented Chardonnays, Kendall-Jackson 1995 "Vintner's Reserve" and Geyser Peak 1994 "Sonoma" And two final golds to value priced wines that were stainless steel fermented, Deer Valley 1995 "Monterey" and Dunnewood 1994 "Central Coast." While a healthy number of Chardonnay golds were given, L.A. showed some of the stinginess we've seen at other judgings of late, in certain other categories. No gold for Barbera, no gold for Syrah, none for Chenin Blanc, and none for Semillon, Seyval Blanc, Vignoles or Viognier. And several other important categories had only a single gold presented. Speaking of low medal counts, L.A. didn't give much gold in the red Zinfandel classes: A single gold for non-vintage Zin to Rosenblum "Vintner's Cuvee XII. A single gold again for zins from the 1993 vintage, to Haywood "Sonoma Valley - Rocky Terrace." Winding up with a pair of golds from 1994: Alderbrook "Sonoma" and Zellerbach "Mendocino - Old Vines." A pair of golds for the sweet pink wines called White Zinfandel, and both in the bargain price range of $5 or less: Blossom Hill Reserve and Rutherford Estate Cellars 1994. Getting serious once again, a single gold for Benziger 1993 "Alexander Valley" Cabernet Franc. Only one gold for the popular Merlot class from the 1994 vintage: Benziger "Sonoma County." The judges liked the 1993 vintage better (or wines with an extra year of age), because a total of eight golds were presented: Best of Class Merlot honors to Dry Creek Vineyard "Dry Creek Valley Reserve." Golds also to Beaulieu "Napa Valley"; Gallo Sonoma "Northern Sonoma"; Gary Farrell "Sonoma - Ladi's Vineyard"; Greenwood Ridge "Anderson Valley"; Kendall-Jackson "Grand Reserve"; Monterra "Monterey - San Hill" and Windsor "Sonoma - Carol Shelton Signature." Windsor, while available only by direct mail, is consistently one of the top ten medal winning wineries. And three more Merlot golds from the 1992 vintage: Beringer "Napa-Howell Mountain-Bancroft Ranch"; Columbia Crest "Columbia Valley, Washington" and Louis Martini "Los Vinedos Del Rio Vineyard." The value wines in the Merlot collection above would be Monterra, Gallo Sonoma, Beaulieu and Benziger. A single gold for Petite Sirah to Concannon 1994 "Central Coast." A single gold to Sangiovese (the Italianate red variety of Tuscany) to Cambria 1993 "Santa Maria - Tepusquet Vineyard." Not surprisingly, Oregon dominated the Pinot Gris class, winning both gold medals: Erath 1995 "Willamette Valley" and Montinore 1995 "Willamette Valley." Next week, we'll have the Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc winners and The Wine of the Week will return. In the meantime, if you have trouble finding any of the medal winners listed above, call my office and someone will help you track them down: (800) 845-9463.
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