Its suggestions of ripe tropical fruit are enhanced with streams of caramel and smoke, a massaging texture and fortifying oak. The only Chardonnay to qualify for the final sweepstakes round at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.Ĭarli 2018 Santa Clara Valley Chardonnay: Not many vineyards remain in California's Santa Clara Valley, but more would have survived if only other Chardonnays had been as fragrant, vigorous and sweetly fruity as the Carli.Īusterity 2017 Arroyo Seco Chardonnay: Here is a Chardonnay that combines the muscular with the suave. It is dry and lean, unspooling with remarkably fresh suggestions of the apple side of the varietal.ĭeBonne Vineyards 2017 Grand River Valley Unoaked Chardonnay: Proof that Chardonnay doesn't need to be fermented or aged in French oak to yield a wine layered with ripe tropical fruit and an underpinning of complementary earthiness. Smoking Loon 2018 California Unoaked Steelbird Chardonnay: The buy of the year in unaffected and direct Chardonnay. Pezzi King 2018 Dry Creek Valley Estate Sauvignon Blanc: Vintage Sauvignon Blanc from Dry Creek Valley - dry, even, assured and rewarding most of all for its pristine fruit.ĭeLorimier 2018 Alexander Valley Sauvignon Blanc: A Sauvignon Blanc that propels itself into heady Chardonnay territory on the strength of its robust earthiness, sweet fruit and lingering notes of lychee. The fruit is all grapefruit and peach from orchards where nettles also have a benign yet intriguing presence. Pedroncelli 2018 Dry Creek Valley Special Selection Sauvignon Blanc: Dry Creek Valley's standing as the source of Sauvignon Blanc incomparable for its sense of place is reinforced with this layered and stable interpretation. Silver Creek Vineyard 2018 California Sauvignon Blanc: An exceptional buy in Sauvignon Blanc for the verve of its limey fruit and enduring balance. Weibel Demi-Sec Peach Mango: With its stimulating spritz, floral aromatics and abiding peach flavor, this Weibel saves you the chore of driving to a Central Valley orchard in the middle of summer to savor all the juicy sweetness that peaches serve up.īarefoot Bubbly California Pink Moscato Champagne: For its pretty pink color, ebullient floral scent, and sweet and sassy fruit flavors, Barefoot Bubbly's Pink Moscato Champagne could be the officially designated wine of bridal parties everywhere. Sofia 2018 Monterey Couny Brut Rose: Peachy pink color, feathery effervesence and delicate fruitiness add up to a sparkling wine unusually composed and balanced. To that point, the source of this stimulating blend of 55 percent Pinot Noir and 45 percent Chardonnay is Mendocino's little-known Potter Valley.
McFadden NV Mendocino Potter Valley Cuvee Brut: Mendocino County has enclaves other than Anderson Valley that provide sparkling wines of European breeding - fine boned, layered, dry, yeasty, persistent.
Winner of the sparkling-wine sweepstakes award at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Welcome to the New World!īreathless NV Blanc de Noirs: "Breathless" is aptly named, taking away your breath just like your first visit to Yosemite did, thanks to its brassy twilight color, effusive mousse, suggestions of granite as well as wild fruit and almonds in flavor, and a finish as feathery and bracing as spray from Bridalveil Fall. Idle Hour NV Clements Hills Blanc de Blanc: Clements Hills is a sub-appellation of Lodi, not Champagne, but the French could try to annex the district after they experience the sophistication, layering and stamina of this startling methode-champenoise sparkler. This year, Dunne shares his insights and tasting notes for each of the 180 Best of Class winners, giving wine consumers an inside look at why these wines were named the best of each category. Mike Dunne is a longtime SFCWC wine judge and the former food editor, wine columnist, and restaurant critic.
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