The annual judging of wines from grapes grown in Sonoma. These are the wines I tasted over two days. Only golds were poured–and there were hundreds of them–so I only got a small sampling. Pretty much impossible to take notes so I went with a letter grade system this year.
Within varietals there are often sub-classes by price, such as Zinfandel under $30, but I lumped them all together.
The short version
Best wines tasted:
PeaceLand 2013 Fountaingrove District Cab $75
Davis Family 2013 Sonoma Coast Campbell Ranch Pinot $65
Gloria Ferrer 2005 Carneros Cuvee $75
Best QPR:
Alexander Valley 2014 Alexander Vly Cab $24
Dutcher Crossing 2014 Dry Creek Vly Proprietor’s Resv Cab $31
The long version
- Bordeaux Blends
Alexander Valley 2012 Cyrus $65 C+
- Bordeaux Varietals
Campana Ranch 2013 Pitite Verdot $34 C+ Good, for a PV
- Cabernet Sauvignon
Alexander Valley 2014 Alexander Vly Cab $24 B+ QPR Best of Class (under $30)
Dutcher Crossing 2014 Dry Creek Vly Proprietor’s Resv Cab $31 A- QPR Cab/Syrah (Best of Class ($30-40)
Arbor Bench Dry Creek Vly 2014 Est Cab $49 A-
Hanna 2014 Alexander Vly Red Ranch Cab $44 C+ not close to ready yet
Mayo 2014 Sonoma Co Resv Delaney Vyd Cab $55 B+ Best of Class (over $50)
Ancient Oak 2012 Sonoma Mtn Berger Vyd Cab $75 C
PeaceLand 2013 Fountaingrove District Cab $75 A
- Italian Varietals
Sunce 2013 Sonoma Co Les Trois Amis $65 B+ tannic Super Tuscan
- Petite Sirah
Foppiano 2013 Russian River Vly Gianna’s Block $60 B
- Pinot Noir
Picket Fence 2014 Russian River Vly Pinot $9.99 B-
Balletto 2014 Russian River Vly Emerson Block Pinot $42 A-
Balletto 2014 Russian River Vly Cider Ridge Pinot $42 B+
Balletto 2013 Russian River Vly Burnside Road Pinot $42 A-
Balletto 2015 Russian River Vly BCD Pinot $42 C
Peche Merle 2013 Russian River Vly Pinot $39 C
Russian River Vyds 2014 Russian River Vly Horse Ridge Pinot $65 B- hot finish, Best of Class Pinot over $45 and Sweepstakes for best red wine)
Davis Family 2013 Sonoma Coast Campbell Ranch Pinot $65 A
Davis Family 2013 Russian River Vly Horseshoe Bend Pinot $55 B-
Davis Family 2014 Russian River Vly Horseshow Bend Pinot $55 B intense
Furthermore 2012 Sonoma Coast Alchemy Pinot $85 B-
Furthermore 2013 Sonoma Coast Nevina’s Vyd Pinot $55 B
Matrix 2014 Russian River Vly Bacigalupi Vyd Resv Pinot $68 B soft, lush
Matrix 2014 Russian River Vly Estate Resv Pinot $95 D off nose, no varietal char
Russian River Vyds 2014 Russian River Vly Burke Vyds Pinot $65 A-
Screen Door 2014 Russian River Vly Pinot $50 B
Sonoma Cutrer 2013 Russian River Vly Estate Founder’s Resv Pinot $65 B
Woodenhead 2013 Russian River Vly $46 C
- Rhones
Alexander Valley Vyds 2012 Alexander Vly Alluvia $40 A
- Sauvignon Blanc
J Rickards 2015 Alexander Vly SB $22 D Smelled like Junipers / Gin. Best of Class and white wine Sweepstakes winner.
Hanna 2015 Russian River Vly SB $19 B Bit austere
- Sparkling Wine
Gloria Ferrer 2007 Carneros Royal Cuvee $39 B- Dry, Best of Class and Sweepstakes winner for sparkling wines
Gloria Ferrer 2005 Carneros Cuvee $75 A Wowser
J Vyds Russian River Vly Cuvee 20 $38 B
- Syrah
Thirty-Seven 2014 Sonoma Coast Syrah $24 B+ Best of Class under $30
Ashton 2012 Sonoma Mtn Est Syrah $59 B- Best of Class over $30
- Other Reds
Hook & Ladder 2013 Russian River Vly Station 10 B
Little Vyds 2014 Sonoma Vly Center Stage $45 C tight, too young
Little Vyds 2013 Sonoma Vly Center Stage $45 B
- Zinfandel
Ammunition 2013 Sonoma Co Badger Hound Zin $23 E Cooked. Listed 16%. Best of Class under $30
Seaton Family 2014 Alexander Vly Rosenberg Zin $32 D alc. Best of Class $30-40
PeaceLand 2013 Fountaingove Dist Zin $35 A- great balance (something you don’t usually say about a Zinfandel)
Black Stallion 2014 Rockpile Zin $45 B+
JCK 2014 Sonoma Co Jack Florence Vyd Zin $45 B+
St Francis 2014 Dry Creek Vly Zin $48 A-