It was a novel way to run a wine competition to have the public, along with professional industry judges, a mix of winemakers, wine shop owners and journalists, tasting the same wines blind and rating them. The 46th annual Mendocino Wine Competition was held Aug. 17 in Hopland at the Brutocao Winery event center, and featured over 100 wines organized by variety. Worthy winners emerged, with significant congruence between the pro and consumer judges.
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Among the six entries in the sparkling category, People’s Choice went to the NV Roederer Brut Rosé, with the 2011 Terra Savia Blanc de Blanc a close second. For the Industry judges, the results were flipped, with Best of Class going to the Terra Savia.
In the chardonnay category, the People’s Choice was awarded to the 2024 Kalpela Chardonnay with Double Gold going to the 2021 Ettore Chardonnay. Industry judges gave the nod to the 2023 Barra Reserve Chardonnay, while giving the 2024 Kalpela a Gold. They scored the Ettore a Silver.
The sauvignon blanc table had nine entries, from which the Industry Judges chose 2024 Husch Vineyards as Best in Class. Consumers chose the 2024 Bonterra Organic Estate as Best in Class, followed by a Double Gold for the Husch Vineyards wine. Again, pretty close.
In the pinot noir category, both the industry and consumer judges awarded Best of Class to the 2023 Girasole Vineyards Pinot Noir.
In the rosé category, the Handley Cellars 2024 Pinot Noir Rosé was Best of Class, while the People’s Choice went to the 2024 Navarro Vineyards Rosé of Sangiovese.
Both the industry and consumer judges awarded the 2023 Rustic Ridge Zinfandel as Best of Class.
Out of the three Syrahs in the category, the People’s Choice was the 2021 Handley Cellars Syrah, Kazmet Vineyard, with Gold for the 2024 Omen Wines “Craft” Syrah. Industry judges gave Best of Class to the 2024 Omen Syrah, while second place went to 2021 Handley Cellars Syrah, Kazmet Vineyard.
With only three entries in the Petite Sirah category, People’s Choice was the 2021 Graziano Petite Sirah, while industry judges awarded Best of Class to the 2022 Barra Petite Sirah, and Double Gold to the 2021 Graziano Petite Sirah. Again, not much daylight between the two groups on this one.
In the dessert category, industry judges awarded Best in Class to the 2024 Husch Vineyards Late Harvest Gewurztraminer, and Golds to the 2018 Terragena Riesling and the 2018 Nelson Family Vineyards Ice Riesling. The People’s Choices were in complete alignment with the industry judges’ choices.
Harvest has begun here in our back yard. Alamitos Vineyards in San Jose already harvested their estate sauvignon blanc, and next up is pinot noir, chardonnay and albariño, followed by Napa cabernet and their estate Syrah and Touriga Nacional.
Madson Vineyards in Santa Cruz just harvested aligoté from a vineyard in Saratoga, and they expect more grapes to pour in with this warmer weather.
Melanie Bauer planned to open her long-anticipated Winston Champagne Bar in downtown Los Gatos the first week of September. She said they are doing a soft launch the first week of September.
Longtime Testarossa winemaker Bill Brosseau, who has been there since 2000, just opened his Brosseau Wines Studio in Marina, where he features wines from his family’s vineyard in Chalone, as well as wines he’s made for his many clients. While he grew up in Los Altos, he spent a good deal of time on the East side of the Pinnacles in Chalone, where his parents have a vineyard and the eight-room Inn at The Pinnacles.
With over 25 years of winemaking from over two dozen vineyards on his resume, Brosseau’s local forays include Black Ridge Vineyards near the Lexington Reservoir, Eden Estates in Saratoga and Mindego Ridge on Alpine Road in La Honda. He also makes wines for Mad Crush, from the Saratoga vineyard home of husband and wife team of Denise and Mike Thornberry, who own The Tasting House in Los Gatos.
Taste all the Brosseau wines—including the spectacular estate chenin blanc that inspired his parents, Jan and Jon, to plant the vineyard back in the early 1980—at the new tasting studio in Marina, by appointment. Plan a private tour and tasting with Bill and his wife Kilene by booking your Wine Studio experience at www.brosseauwines.com/visit. Mark calendars for the Brosseau Wines Harvest Party Oct. 25.
