The May Mini-Tasting featured four varietals and one blend. There were four host sites throughout the county.
The first flight was a pair of Grenache Blancs, one from California and one from Rhône France. This was followed by three flights featuring the primary varietals of a classic Rhone blend, the GSM. Each of these flights featured a California wine against an “old world” wine. The GSM flight had a California GSM against one from Chateaneuf du Pape, and the California wine was preferred by most of the attendees. The four favorite wines across the four host sites:
| Place | Wine & Winery | YR | PRICE | DESCRIPTION |
| 1st | Morcha Garnacha
Bodegas Morca Campo de Borja, Aragon, Spain |
2018 | $39.98 | VINOUS 94 POINTS—”Deep, lurid violet. Ripe dark berries, cherry cola, vanilla and pungent flowers on the deeply perfumed nose. Smooth, broad and sweet on entry, then tighter in the midpalate, offering impressively concentrated cherry and blackberry flavors and hints of vanilla, licorice and spicecake. A smoky nuance builds with air and carries through a very long, gently tannic finish that repeats the floral and licorice notes.” |
| 2nd | Mourvèdre
(Monastrell) Bodegas Sierra Salinas Mira Salinas Allicante, Spain |
2017 | $17.99 | Deep ruby/plum color is followed by a Bandol-like bouquet of smoked black fruits, earth, meat, and spice. It’s rich, medium to full-bodied, has beautiful fruit, good acidity, and plenty of tannins, and it’s a classic, balanced Monastrell that more than over-delivers at the price. These are custom cuvées for Jorge Ordóñez that are only brought into the US. |
| 3rd | GSM
Fundamental Central Coast, CA |
2019 | $17.96 | JEB DUNNUCK 91 POINTS—”The 2019 Red Wine checks in as 50% Syrah, 35% Grenache, 12% Mourvèdre, and the balance Viognier, all of which was 85% destemmed, and it spent 10 months in neutral oak. Lots of red, blue, and black fruits as well as peppery and spice dominate the nose, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with plenty of fruit, surprising complexity, and good overall freshness. It’s a smoking good red as well as a value.” |
| 4th | Grenache Blanc
LAFAGE 2019 CUVEE CENTENAIRE Rhône, France
|
2019 | $13.95 | JEB DUNNUCK 93 POINTS—Based on 60% Grenache Blanc and 20% each Grenache Gris and Roussanne, from very old vines, the 2019 Côtes Catalanes Cuvée Centenaire is another thrilling white from Jean-Marc Lafage. Caramelized grapefruit, crushed citrus, mint, white flowers, and lots of salty minerality emerge from this medium-bodied white that has both richness and freshness. |
NOTE: The Garnacha, GSM, and Grenache Blanc are all available at Hi-Times Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa.
In addition, attendees brought a delicious dish to share and then voted on a Chef of the Evening. The results of the Chef of the Evening at each Host site are:
- Hosts Mike and Cathy MacKenzie: Katie Leary – Mushroom Appetizer
- Host Kathy Nalty: Linda Shepard – Strawberry Dream Cake
- Hosts Greg and Cathy Risling: Denise Casad/Dan Weddell – Charcuterie Board
- Hosts Wendy and Stacey Taylor: Kevin Donnelly – Key Lime Pie
The detail scores by site will be posted on the OCWS website.
Congratulations to all the winners! A big Thank You to the Hosts!
Please send your recipes to me at George@ocws.org for possible publication on the website.
– George Cravens, Director
NOTE: The Gold Medal Mini-Tasting will be held in August after the OC Fair (like last year). Many of the wines entered in the Commercial Wine Competition are not released in time for a July Mini-Tasting, and we’d like to feature as many Double Gold winners as possible. Look for more details in the July Wine Press.