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Here are some select good-value gold-medal wines from the 2008 Riverside Wine Competition run by Dan Berger, an eminent California wine writer and critic for whom I have high regard, having judged with him at the New World International. As usual, wines below have a “California” appellation where no other is listed.
“Best-of-Show” winners included good-value Ch. Ste-Michelle 2007 Columbia Valley Dry Riesling and good premium-value Mumm Napa Valley Brut. Several other Mumm Napa sparking wines also won gold medals.
Top-value whitesSutter Home White Cabernet
Barefoot Cellars Chardonnay
Talus 2006 Lodi Chardonnay
PKNT 2006 Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
Little Penquin Pinot Grigio
Delicato 2006 Twisted Chardonnay
Trinchero 2006 Firehouse Riesling
Husch 2007 Mendocino Chenin Blanc
Little Black Dress Pinot Grigio
Parducci 2007 Sauvignon Blanc
Barefoot Bubbly Blanc de Blanc
Top-value reds
J. Lohr 2006 Painter Bridge Zinfandel
Black Swan 2006 SE Australia Shiraz-Merlot
Delicato 2005 Twisted Merlot
Cecoh 2005 Red Tree Zinfandel
Redwood Creek 2006 Cabernet
Phillips 2005 Night Harvest Cabernet
Fetzer 2005 Valley Oaks Cabernet
Fat Cat 2007 Pinot Noir
Good-values
Monkey Bay 2007 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Dancing Bull 2004 Merlot
Kendall Jackson 2006 VR Chardonnay
Bonterra 2006 Organic Sauvignon Blanc
Laurier 2005 Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc
Four Bears 2005 Central Coast Chardonnay
Napa Ridge 2004 Napa Merlot
Toasted Head 2006 Chardonnay
Kendall Jackson 2006 VR Pinot Noir
Laurier 2006 Alexander Valley Merlot
Good premium values
Valley of the Moon 2007 Pinot Blanc
Chateau St. Croix Sweet Muscat
Navarro 2006 Mendocino Sauvignon Blanc
Huntington 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Navarro 2006 Mendocino Pinot Noir
Except for personal taste and preference, results from well-run wine competitions such as Riverside are the best guides I know to reliable quality and value.
Complete 2008 Riverside Competition results are available online at www.riversideinternationalwinecompetion.com.
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