The Challenges
There were two major challenges in the Bay Area this past weekend. The Niners vs The Giants at Candlestick and The Cabernet Shootout Challenge at The Winery SF on Treasure Island.
You’re undoubtedly familiar with the NFC Championship game.
The Cabernet Shootout Challenge had a better outcome if you’re a Bay Area fan.
Both were incredibly exciting. 49ers fans are both saddened and proud. Sad that the season has come to an end but very proud of the brilliant season orchestrated by rookie head coach, Jim Harbaugh.
In the NFC Championship, there could only be one winner. Not so at The Cabernet Shootout Challenge.
The Cabernet Shootout has numerous winners and you can pick your favorites to enjoy again and again.
The Cabernet Shootout Challenge, attended by 335 Cabernet enthusiasts – consumers, press and trade, was a remarkable event hosted by the Bay Area Wine Society in partnership with Affairs of the Vine at The Winery SF on Treasure Island on Saturday, January 21st. One Brick was amazing in making the entire event run smoothly.
Winemakers, proprietors, and winery personnel shared their outstanding Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet Francs, and Cabernet Blends. Other wines produced by the wineries were also available to taste at their stations. A fantastic array of tasty hors d’oeuvre were served. My personal favorites were the incredible pates from Les Trois Petits Cochons.
Cabernet Sauvignon, the king of red wines, is grown in nearly every wine producing region in the world. The Cabernet Shootout judging panel consisting of 25 men and 16 women had the pleasure of tasting 287 Cabernets from 56 different appellations. Read their comments and scores. Men Women
Make sure to check out the judging panels “Bang for Your Buck Wines” too, wines selling for under $20 that received 85 points or more. There’s a bunch of them!
An extraordinary array of palates gathered to assess some of the top rated wines from the Cabernet Shootout. “This distinctly different format,” noted Tom Merle, President of the Bay Area Wine Society, “provided a unique opportunity for people who buy the wine to challenge the tastes of the wine experts.”
The Cabernet Challenge consisted of just 32 of winning wines from The Cabernet Shootout. These wines were randomly divided into two flights of 16 wines each (Life Is A Cabernet and Celestial Cabernets). The Cabernet Shootout Challenge attendees were asked to focus on one just of the flights. The wines were divided randomly, wrapped in aluminum foil, and identified with color stickers.
192 of the wine lovers participated in the Cabernet Shootout and cast their votes using chips that were gender specific.
Instructions to the Cabernet Shootout Challenge Wine Lovers Judging Panel
Professional wine tasters consider the following: Clarity/Appearance, Color, Aroma/Bouquet, Acidity, Sweetness, Body/Texture, Taste/Flavor, Bitterness, Astringency, Finish, Overall Quality.
All that really matters is what you like.
The wine lovers made notes and then cast their votes by putting chips in the ballot boxes of their favorite wines. The chips were gender specific.
Life Is A Cabernet (Red Ballot Boxes) – The Consumer Judging panel of this flight consisted of 53 women and 46 men, a total of 99 judges.
BEIGE Martin Ray Winery 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Mountain
BLUE Scherrer Winery 2004 Scherrer Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley
BRONZE Christopher Creek 2007 Finlays Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek
BURGUNDY Serene Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
DARK BLUE Lucas & Lewellen 2008 COTE DEL SOL Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Barbara County
DUSTY ROSE JuneRay Wines 2008 Ashlow Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
GREEN Castello di Amorosa ll Barone 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
GUNMETAL En Garde 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain District Napa Valley
HOT PINK Bonneau 2007 Hyde Cabernet Sauvignon, Los Carneros
KHAKI Bogle 2007 Reserve Old River Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Clarksburg
LILAC Hahn Winery 2009 Meritage, Central Coast
LIGHT YELLOW Sol Rouge 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lake County
MAGENTA Perrucci Family Vineyard 2006 Special Res Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mtns
PUMPKIN Indigene Cellars 2007 Philanthropist Cabernet Blend, Central Coast
PURPLE Field Stone 2007 Staten Family Res, Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley
RED Stella Monsi 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain
Celestial Cabernets (White Ballot Boxes) – The Consumer Judging panel of this flight consisted of 50 women and 43 men, a total of 93 judges.
AQUA MARINE Firefly Night 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
BLACK CYRUS 2007 Estate Cabernet Blend, Alexander Valley
BRICK Dusinberre 2004 Boodeaux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
DARK RED For Giving 2008 Godspeed Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt. Veeder
DEEP PURPLE Roy J Maier ‘07 Saint Helena Road Vyds Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
GOLD Penman Springs Vineyard 2007 Penman Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
GRAY Ty Caton Vineyards 2009 Estate Caton Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
LIGHT BLUE VGS 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
LIME GREEN Boete 2006 Cheval Rouge Saunders Vineyard Cabernet Blend, Carmel Valley
ORANGE Smith & Hook 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast
ORCHID Prestwood Cellars 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
PINK Bellarina 2008 Meritage Cabernet Blend, Knights Valley
TAN VJB Vineyards & Cellars 2008 Reserve Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
TURQUOISE Meadowcroft Wines 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt Veeder, Napa Valley
WHITE Blue Rock 2009 Baby Blue ~ Blue Rock Vineyard Cabernet Blend, Alexander Valley
YELLOW McGrail Vineyards 2008 Reserve McGrail Vyds Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley
Our panel is very fortunate indeed to have the opportunity to taste these wonderful wines and we are very cognizant of the fact that our conclusions matter and have impact, so we take our responsibility very seriously.
Affairs of the Vine’s Shootouts are the only competition in which the judges’ conclusions are put to the test by an unbiased panel of wine lovers.
The comments on the wines at The Cabernet Shootout Challenge were amazing and the discussions engaging but in the end each person voted their own palate. All of the wines were winners, all receiving many, many votes.
The Cabernet Shootout Challenge attendees agreed with the panel…the wines tasted were fantastic!
And now…the findings!
Two wines tied for 1st place by the Male Cabernet Shootout Judging Panel/ (we were fortunate enough to have them both available in the blind tasting.)
CYRUS 2007 Estate Cabernet Blend, Alexander Valley, $60.00
AND
En Garde 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon< Diamond Mountain District – Napa Valley, $88.00
Four wines tied for 1st place by the Female Cabernet Shootout Judging Panel. We were lucky enough to have three of the four available to taste in the Cabernet Shootout Challenge. Miner Family is sold out of the 2007 The Oracle.
For Giving 2008 Godspeed Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt. Veeder, $90.00
AND
Miner Family Winery 2007 The Oracle Cabernet Blend, Napa Valley, $90.00
AND
Serene Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, $54.00
AND
VGS 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, $75.00
Life Is A Cabernet flight
Male Cabernet Lovers
1st Place CYRUS 2007 Estate Cabernet Blend, Alexander Valley, $60.00
Very heavily favored also were:
Roy J Maier 2007 Saint Helena Road Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, $60.00
Boete 2006 Cheval Rouge Saunders Vineyard Cabernet Blend, Carmel Valley, $30.00
McGrail 2008 Reserve McGrail Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley, $36.00
Female Cabernet Lovers
1st Place McGrail 2008 Reserve McGrail Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley, $36.00
Other favorites:
Blue Rock 2009 Baby Blue ~ Blue Rock Vineyard Cabernet Blend. Alexander Valley, $25.00
Prestwood Cellars 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, $79.00
Ty Caton Vineyards 2009 Estate Caton Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley, $44.00
Celestial Cabernets flight
Male & Female Cabernet Lovers agreed. (Wow! Is that unusual or what?)
1st Place for both Male & Female
Indigene Cellars 2007 Philanthropist Cabernet Blend, Central Coast, $21.00
Other Male Cabernet Favorites:
Bonneau 2007 Hyde Cabernet Sauvignon, Los Carneros, $60.00
Lucas & Lewellen 2008 COTE DEL SOL Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Barbara County, $32.00
Other Female Cabernet Lovers Favorites:
Bonneau 2007 Hyde Cabernet Sauvignon, Los Carneros, $60.00
Castello di Amorosa 2008 Il Barone Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, $88.00
En Garde 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain District – Napa Valley, $88.00
Field Stone Winery 2007 Staten Family Reserve, Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, $40.00
Lucas & Lewellen 2008 COTE DEL SOL Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Barbara County, $32.00
Perrucci Family Vineyard 2006 Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains, $75.00
Look for these wines at your local fine wine retailer or online. Share them with friends and those you love. They are all well worth seeking out and tasting.
Taste and enjoy them all if you’re fortunate enough to have the opportunity. Keep buying your old favorites but try new ones too. When you find a style you like, try other wines that are similar. Do you like this wine as much? See if you can determine the similarities in the wines you like best. Is it appellation? Winemaking style? Winemaker?
If you have difficulty finding them at your local retailer, feel free to email Affairs of the Vine. We will be happy to put you in touch with someone at the winery who can help you acquire the wines that entice you.
So what do these wines have in common? Everyone one of these wines is outstanding!
Our Mantra…Trust Your Own Palate
Read reviews but remember it’s your palate that counts. Try to find a wine critic who commends wines that you like. Don’t feel that you have to like the wines that wine critics praise. Don’t be intimidated! If a movie reviewer gives 5 stars to a film, do you feel that you’re unsophisticated if you don’t like it too? Wine is no different. Personal preference is what counts. So drink and enjoy what you like. At Affairs of the Vine we say, “If you like the way it looks and you like the way it smells and you like the way it tastes…its good wine. So use our recommendations as a guide but you are the authority of what provides “Love at First Sip” for you.
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