2020 SFCWC SLH Chards Gold or Better

Every year I look at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition results and usually am inspired to a blind tasting or two. This year wasn't any different, outside of being the worst year ever. Inspired by our love of Testarossa's Rosella's Chardonnay, I found a tasting of 5 wines in Santa Lucia Highland's Chards that won a Gold medal or better.

The wines were:

• 2017 Bernardus, Sierra Mar Vineyard
• 2018 Barton, Secret Garden
• 2017 Calerrain
• 2018 Tondre, Tondre Grapefield
• 2018 Soquel Vineyards, Partners' Reserve Lone Oak Vineyard

I had never heard of Barton, or Calerrain. It's always exciting to try new wineries.

It took me a couple of months to gather up all of these wines, with some mishaps along the way. At one point I was moving the Bernardus, Sierra Mar Vineyard and realized it was red. I had mistakenly ordered the Pinot from wine.com instead of the Chard. Luckily Bernardus was kind enough to find the Chard, even when the website said it was sold out. Barton too found enough of the Secret Garden after the website listed it as sold out. Reaching out to the wineries, before using 3rd party sellers, is something I'll do in the future.

Tondre was harder to acquire than you would think. The site did not reply to my inquiry, but I was able to find a wine shop in Fresno that helped me out. It seemed a little silly that I couldn't find some place closer, and maybe I could have. As it was, Tony at Bella Vino Cellar took good care of me.

Thankfully, I had friends that were excited to try the Chards. A couple of the usuals were not interested.

I defoiled and bagged all the wines.

Kait randomized and left them in groups so no one knew what letter corresponded to what wine.

We zoomed, enjoying the company and wine.

We used a Coravin, as did the Fosters. Bob gave me one of these years ago for Christmas. I never thought I'd find a use for it, but the virus and remote wine tastings have given the gift purpose. Rebecca's Coravin was fancy compared to ours, leading to envy, planned future investigation, and possibly purchases. They had pimped their Coravin with an aerator.

Results

A - 2018 Soquel Vineyards, Partners' Reserve Lone Oak Vineyard came in first place with an average of 3.84. It costs $12.50 as a special if you buy 6, but normally costs $25 for wine club members.

D - 2017 Calerrain  came in second place with an average of 3.57. It costs $35 directly from the winery.

E - 2018 Barton, Secret Garden came in third place with an average of 3.36. It costs $40 directly from the winery. This turns out to be from Boekenoogen vineyard, which is a coincidence, since we just tried a Boekenoogen from Wrath.

C - 2018 Tondre, Tondre Grapefield came in 4th place with an average of 3.22. It costs $30.

B - 2017 Bernardus, Sierra Mar Vineyard came in last place with an average of 2.90. It costs $35, club discounted down from $50.

50th Birthday COVID-19 Interrupts

2020 was a special year for us. It was my 50th birthday and our 30th wedding anniversary. We thought this was a pretty good reason to do something big, and we planned to go to France, the birthplace of Pinot. Unfortunately, COVID-19 happened, and everything was delayed. While we were unable to go to France we still feel incredibly lucky to have a job and our health, knock on wood, in these trying times.

Because it was the "end of the world" and we weren't in France, I decided to have a tasting of White Burgundies, even if it was only going to be Sue and myself. I used KnL's website and chose one White Burgundy from each of the regions they had available. It turned out to be only four appelations: Chassagne Montrachet, Corton, Meursault, and Puligny Montrachet. We had them delivered.

Spring did not stop for COVID-19, it came as usual around my birthday.

We had the tasting on the Friday after my birthday and only invited our kids and their significant others given the shelter in place and social distancing.

I wrapped all the bottles, but we didn't use go so far as decanters for a double blind system.

Alex, the only one of our three children that drinks, agreed to participate. I used an aerator to pour the wines into the glasses.

Given the small number of participants, I wouldn't rely on the results, but we all enjoyed trying the wines. I would have liked to involved all my friends as well, but it was nice to be with family.

Results

A - 2017 Ballot Millot Meursault 1er Cru "Perrières" came in first place with an average of 3.83. It costs $150. This was Alex's and my favorite.

C - 2017 Domaine Bouchard Père et Fils Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru came in second place with an average of 3.20. It costs $200. This was Sue's favorite.

B - 2017 Domaine Joseph Drouhin Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Folatieres" tied for third place with an average of 3.00. It costs $120

D - 2017 Domaine Marc Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru "Morgeot" tied for third place with an average of 3.00. It costs $95

Judgment of Dublin

A couple of months ago we were invited by Dom and Marie-Anne to try out Pacific Catch in Dublin with Bob and Carolynn. During our dinner conversation it came up that Marie-Anne's father thought that while California did a great job on reds, it had gotten whites all wrong. I asked if she had ever heard of the Judgment of Paris. She had not, so we planned this tasting.

Maria-Anne generously supplied all the French wines.

I supplied the Californian wines. I found all the ones we used at K&L. After I purchased the Chateau Montelena, I read an article that detailed how the original wine maker of the Chateau Montelena had moved on to his own winery, Grgich Hills Estate. Further research revealed that he made a commemorative wine. I picked up one of these as well, but decided to stay with my original purchase. We'll enjoy this special bottle at a future date.

Dom brought in the wines to work days before, so that the temperature of all the wines would be the same when served.

We delayed randomizing until everyone arrived due to concerns about warming the wines, but I was able to prep the decanters and bottles.

Since we were only six we were able to have a glass for each wine.

I was worried the wine would warm, which it did, but Sue found a basket that held two decanters with ice quite nicely.

We started with a lovely glass of Veuve Clicquot. We randomized the wines and had a wonderful time tasting and talking.

Results

We tasted a lot of great wines.

Top to Bottom from Left to Right

D - 2013 Francios Carillon, Puligny-Montrachet came in first place with an average of 3.25.

A - 2013 Chateau Montelena, Napa Valley tied for second place with an average of 3.17. It cost $40.

E - 2014 William Fevre, Chablis tied for second place with an average of 3.17.

C - 2009 Kistler Vineyards, Kistler Vineyard, Sonoma Valley came in fourth place with an average of 2.97. It cost $125.

F - 2009 Mount Eden Vineyards, Estate, Santa Cruz Mountains came in fifth place with an average of 2.92. It cost $80.

B - 2014 Grand Vin De Bourgogne, Pouilly-Fuisse came in last place with an average of 2.58. Bob told of of a co-worker from the past, Jeff, who would always say "There's no such thing as a bad Pouilly-Fuisse." My experience is limited, but so far I agree!

The French wines averaged a 3.00. The American wines averaged 3.02.

History did not repeat itself, but we all enjoyed tasting some excellent wines.

After the tasting Sue treated us with a wonderful New England Clam Bake, with a side of steak and chicken for non seafood lovers.