Winery: Yorkville Cellars

Grape(s): Semillon 60% & Sauvignon Blanc 40%

Region: Mendocino County

Year: 2010

Special Designation: Eleanor of Aquitaine

Farming Certification: CCOF Organic

Price: 20-25

Review:

Fragrant notes of honey, pear, and citrus with accents of dusty minerals rise up from a glass. Lively notes of lemon, lime, and ruby red grapefruit meld with fresh minerals on the palate. A bright wine that’s very food friendly, it’s great to pair with white fish in a creamy sauce or to enjoy on its own if you’re a fan of crisp, minerally whites.

Rating: 89

THE LOYAL COMPANION, by Cru Vin Dogs Wine Group, is dedicated to helping local animal shelters and rescue groups find homes for our devoted and faithful friends. In keeping with our overall mission, Tracking Down Great Wines For Good Causes, the blends consist of wines our eco-passionate winemaker, Tony Wasowicz, has made along with small lots we’ve sourced from prestigious vineyards and good friends we’ve known over the years. Our goal is to produce exceptional quality wines that far exceed the price point. Each release of The Loyal Companion will be identified by Lot number and the label will remain the same. Artist Jay Snellgrove’s illustration of “Chica,” a 7-month-old shelter dog, exemplifies how animal adoption can change the life of a Loyal Companion in need of a friend.

Winery: Cru Vin Dogs

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Region: Sonoma County

Year: 2010

Price: 10-15

Review:

A bouquet of apricot, pineapple, and mango mingles with suggestions of vanilla and all-spice on the nose. Flavors of tropical fruit, apricot, and pear with accents of honey, vanilla, and sweet spice emerge on the palate. A fairly creamy Chardonnay that still offers ample fruit, fans of rich whites with balanced vanilla notes will enjoy this bottle.

Rating: 88

Winery: Cru Vin Dogs

Grape(s): Syrah 54%, Cabernet 23%, Malbec 14%, Zinfandel 9%

Region: Sonoma County

Year: 2010

Price: 10-15

Review:

Aromatics of bramble fruit and plums meld with suggestions of spice on the nose. Blackberry and boysenberry flavors emerge on the palate accented by notes of spice, earth, and floral hints. A wine with rich tannins and dark, concentrated fruit, if you enjoy reds with a solid structure, this is a bottle to try.

Rating: 89

After two rounds of tastings, sorting through over 100 total entries, we’re finally ready to reveal our wines of the year.

The finalists in each category (as selected by the members of our tasting panel who work or have worked in the wine industry) were tasted in flights by non-industry members of our panel as well as a handful of invited guests. Everyone who voted enjoys wine and drinks it it on a regular basis, but certainly are not experts. In essence, they are simply members of the general wine-buying public, and since consumers do most of the purchasing, our thinking was they’d be best suited to pick our wines of the year. Each participant was told to vote for the wine they felt should win each category.

Winners of each category are listed below with the percentage votes they received.

Honorable Mentions are also listed by category. They include any wines that also received votes. Finalists that did not garner votes have been omitted.

2011 CA Bordeaux Wine of the Year

Steele Wines 2008 Stymie Merlot (Lake County): 33%

Honorable Mentions

Steven Kent 2008 Petite Verdot (Livermoe Valley): 27%

Round Pond 2008 Estate Cabernet (Napa Valley): 20%

Hunt Cellars 2005 Cab-Ovation (Paso Robles): 20%

See the other entries and category finalists here.

2011 CA Rhone Red Wine of the Year

Hunt Cellars 2006 Que Sirah, Syrah (Paso Robles): 100%

Honorable Mentions

(none)

See the other entries and category finalists here.

2011 CA Pinot Noir of the Year

J. Lohr 2009 Fog’s Reach (Paso Robles): 27%

Honorable Mentions

La Rochelle 2008 Sonoma Coast: 20%

Dieberg 2007 Pinot (Santa Barbara): 20%

McIntyre Vineyards 2009 SLH (Monterey County): 20%

Calcareous 2009 York Mountain (Paso Robles): 6.5%

Ampelos Cellars 2006 Pinot (Santa Barbara): 6.5%

See the other entries and category finalists here.

2011 CA “Other” Red Wine of the Year (category included Zin, Italian varietal, and blended wines)

Midnight Cellars 2008 Estate Zinfandel (Paso Robles): 53%

Honorable Mentions

Summit Lake 2007 Zinfandel (Napa Valley): 40%

Cedarville 2009 Zinfandel (El Dorado County): 7%

See the other entries and category finalists here.

2011 CA Chardonnay of the Year

Ferrari-Carano 2009 Reserve (Napa Valley): 34%

Honorable Mentions

McIntyre Vineyards 2009 SLH (Monterey County): 27%

Mitchell Katz 2010 Shadow Hills (Livermore Valley): 13%

Alma Rosa 2007 El Jabali Vineyard (Santa Barbara): 13%

Steele Wines 2009 Cuvee (Lake County): 13%

See the other entries and category finalists here.

2011 CA “Other” White Wines of the Year (Tie)

Scheid Vineyards 2009 Pinot Blanc (Monterey County): 34%

Lone Madrone 2009 Points West White (Paso Robles): 34%

Honorable Mentions

Peju Provence (Napa Valley): 27%

Yorkville Cellars 2009 Eleanor of Aquitaine (Mendocino County): 13%

See the other entries and category finalists here.

2011 CA Port/Dessert Wine of the Year

Hunt Cellars 2000 “Oldie But Goodie” (Paso Robles): 87%

Honorable Mentions

Ventana Vineyards 2010 Orange Muscat (Monterey County): 6.5%

Murrieta’s Well 2010 Livermore Valley Port: 6.5%

See the other entries and category finalists here.

Congratulations to all the winners! May 2012 be just as wonderful a year for wine!

To close out our wine coverage for 2011, we decided to round up some of our favorite bottles from the past year as well as invite wineries to submit their own favorites. Submissions were divided into categories based on their type and/or varietal compositions. (A minimum of 10 different bottles were required to create a category.)

We created the following categories based on submissions: Best CA Bordeaux (red), Best CA Rhone (red), Best CA Burgundian (red & white), Best “Other” CA Red, Best “Other” CA White/Rosé, and Best CA Port/Dessert Wine

Then, for our first round of tastings, the members of our panel that work (or have worked) in the wine industry gathered to select the best wines from each category. Those bottles will be tasted during the final round by the non-industry members of our panel. They’ll be voting for their favorites in each specific category as well their overall favorite Red, White, and Port/Dessert Wine.

The next category up is Best CA Burgundian White, which means Chardonnay, of course. Here are the reviews for each submission.

Winery: Alma Rosa

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Region: Santa Barbara

Year: 2007

Special Designation: El Jabali Vineyard

Price: 25-30

Review:

Sourced from CCOF Organically Grown Grapes, aromas of pineapple, vanilla, and a bit of lemon bring life to a glass. A sip offers flavors of lemon zest, vanilla, and pineapple. A fairly creamy, lush Chardonnay with nice amount of oak influence, it still retains a lovely bit of acidity. Try a bottle if you enjoy a harmonious balance of vanilla and brightness.

Rating: 90

Winery: Bernardus

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Region: Monterey County

Year: 2009

Special Designation: (none)

Price: 20-25

Review:

Aromas of tropical fruit and vanilla greet you on the nose. A sip reveals flavors of pineapple, melon, vanilla, and caramel. With lush fruit flavors and nice oak accents, it’s a wine for fans of a creamier mouthfeel and sweeter barrel influences

Rating: 90

Winery: Cache Creek

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Region: Lake County

Special Designation: Reserve

Year: 2009

Price: 25-30

Review:

Aromas of apple, pear, and vanilla can be discovered on the nose. Those same flavors emerge on the palate with hints of minerals and barrel spices. A rich, somewhat creamy wine, it’s for fans of lush, drinkable Chardonnays.

Rating: 90

Winery: Ferrari-Carano

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Region: Napa Valley

Year: 2009

Special Designation: Reserve

Price: 30-35

Review:

Aromas of pear, apple, and fresh fig mingle with notes of sweet spices and floral suggestions. The pear, apple, and fig return on the palate, along with a bit of vanilla, nutmeg, and oak. A lush, smooth, wine with nicely integrated oak, it’s perfect for fans of classic California Chardonnay.

Rating: 91

Winery: McIntyre Vineyards

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Region: Monterey County

Year: 2009

Special Designation: Santa Lucia Highlands

Price: 35-40

Review:

A bouquet of crisp apple, baked pear, vanilla, and oak greet the senses. Flavors of tart apple and pear meld with notes of vanilla and hints of minerals on the palate. A fairly round Chardonnay that still has a nice, welcoming acidity, if you like vanilla but still want some lively notes, this is a wine for you.

Rating: 91

Winery: Midnight Cellars

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Region: Paso Robles

Year: 2010

Special Designation: Estate

Price: 15-20

Review:

Aromatics of apples, mango puree, vanilla and graham cracker crust greet you on the nose. Flavors of apple, pear, papaya, and tart pineapple meld with notes of vanilla and oak on the palate. A fairly crisp wine, with an inviting acidity, fans of livelier Chardonnays that still have some vanilla character will enjoy this bottle.

Rating: 90

Winery: Mitchell Katz

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Region: Livermore Valley

Year: 2010

Special Designation: Shadow Hills

Price: 15-20

Review:

Aromatics of creamy, toasty oak along with notes of pear and tropical fruit rise up from a glass. The palate offers flavors of rich vanilla, pear, and pineapple with a few hints of gram-cracker. A fairly round wine, with a supple mouthfeel, it’s for fans of approachable, creamy Chardonnays.

Rating: 90

Winery: Steele Wines

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Region: California

Year: 2009

Special Designation: Steele Cuvee

Price: 15-20

Review:

A bouquet of tropical fruit, apples, and pears meld with lush notes of vanilla and sweet spice greets the sense. On the palate, flavors of pineapple, green apple, and a bit of lime are accented by suggestions of vanilla and all-spice. A rich chardonnay that still has real pleasing acidity, it offers very nice balance and surprising depth for its price range.

Rating: 90

Winery: Ventana Vineyards

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Region: Monterey County

Year: 2009

Price: 15-20

Review:

A bouquet of tropical fruit mingles with notes of vanilla and tart apple. The palate offers flavors of pineapple, apple, and citrus fruits with accents of vanilla and sweet spice. A fairly round wine with nice a light acidity, fans of Chardonnays with a good balance of vanilla and fruit will enjoy this bottle.

Rating: 89 

Winery: Wente

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Region: Monterey County

Year: 2010

Special Designation: Riva Ranch

Price: 15-20

Review:

A bouquet of bright tropical fruit, floral suggestions, and sweet spice greets the senses. The palate reveals flavors of pineapple, dried apricot, white-blossoms, graham cracker and vanilla. Somewhat round but still bright on the palate, it offers some interesting layers and welcoming fruit. Fans of more subtle vanilla in Chardonnays will enjoy this wine.

Rating: 89 

Winery: Wente

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Region: Livermore Valley

Year: 2010

Special Designation: Morning Fog

Price: 10-15

Review:

Aromas of apple, pear, and tropical fruit with just touch of sweet spice can be discovered on the nose. With a sip, flavors of green apple, pear, and pineapple are accented by suggestions of vanilla and all-spice. A nice, crisp Chardonnay with only a subtle oak influence, if you’re not a fan of big, round, and buttery, this is a wine for you.

Rating: 88

The Finalists, as selected by the panel, will include the following Chardonnays:

Alma Rosa 2007 El Jabali Vineyard

Ferrari-Carano 2009 Reserve

McIntyre Vineyards 2009 Santa Lucia Highlands

Mitchell Katz 2010 Shadow Hills

Steele Wines 2009 Cuvee

Check back in mid-January for the results of the final round of tastings and to see which wines we’ve selected as California Wines of the Year 2011.

 

Winery: Charles R Vineyards

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Region: Livermore Valley

Year: 2009

Price: 15-20

Review:

Notes of vanilla, honey, gram-cracker and pineapple mingle with suggestions of perfume on the nose. A sip reveals flavors of pear and pineapple, as well as springtime floral notes and a hint of toasty oak. A wine that has a refreshing acidity and a somewhat usual flavors profile, it’s for fans of somewhat unorthodox Chardonnay.

Rating: 87

Character: bright fruit, floral, balanced acidity

 

Winery: Mitchell Katz

Grape(s): Pinot Gris (100%)

Special Designation: Buttner Vineyards

Region: Livermore Valley

Year: 2010

Price: 10-15

Review:

Notes of apple, melon, and citrus fruit mingle with hints of honey and white-blossoms. A sip reveals flavors of green apple and honeydew that are rounded out by suggestions of honey and orange blossoms. Not bone dry and crisp like so many Italian Pinot Grigos, this wine has a rounder mouthfeel and more lush fruit. It’s for fans of softer, approachable whites.

Rating: 88

Character: lush fruit, supple mouthfeel, mellow acidity 

Winery: Steele Wines

Grape(s): Sauvignon Blanc

Special Designation: Shooting Star

Region: Lake County

Year: 2010

Price: 10-15

Review:

A lovely nose of lime, gooseberry, honeydew, and fresh fig aromas greets the senses. Mellon, gooseberry, and grapefruit flavors meld with suggestions of candied banana and dried figs. A vibrant acidity gives the wine plenty of life but in no way overpowers the fruit. Those who enjoy crisp, mouth-filling Sauvignon Blancs will love this offering.

Rating: 89

Character: rich fruit, bright mouthfeel, lively acidity

Winery: Steele Wines

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Special Designation: Steele Cuvee

Region: California

Year: 2009

Price: 15-20

Review:

A bouquet of tropical fruit, apples, and pears that melds with lush notes of vanilla and sweet spice greets the sense. On the palate, flavors of pineapple, green apple, and a bit of lime are accented by suggestions of vanilla and all-spice. A rich chardonnay that still has real pleasing acidity, it offers very nice balance and surprising depth for its price range.

Rating: 90

Character: rich fruit, balanced acidity, supple mouthfeel

Winery: Cache Creek

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Region: Lake County

Special Designation: Reserve

Year: 2009

Price: 25-30

Review:

Aromas of apple, pear, and vanilla can be discovered on the nose.Those same flavors emerge on the palate with hints of minerals and barrel spices. A rich, somewhat creamy wine, it’s for fans of lush, drinkable Chardonnays.

Rating: 90

Character: lush fruit, supple mouthfeel, balanced acidity

Winery: Cache Creek

Grape(s): Chardonnay

Region: Lake County

Year: 2009

Price: 20-25

Review:

A bouquet of apple, tropical fruits, and vanilla rise from a glass. Flavors of apple, pineapple, mango, and creamy vanilla drift across the palate with each sip. A rich, fairly round wine, with a good dose of vanilla, it’s a classic example of a California Chardonnay.

Rating: 88

Character: lush fruit, round mouthfeel, balanced acidity