FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Melody Fuller Oakland Wine Festival 510.893.1929 Starwriter1@msn.com Oakland Wine Festival July 21, 2018 JUDGMENT OF OAKLAND TM Prominent Wines Dominate Wine Enthusiasts Votes at the Double-Blind Tasting During the Third Annual Oakland Wine Festival s Judgment of Oakland TM The Oakland Wine Festival presents the 2017 results for the Judgment of Oakland. TM This annual report shares the detailed outcomes one of the first such event that invites consumers to double-blind taste exceptional wines from around the world, side-by-side with winemaking legends and wine industry leaders. Double-blind tasting is a rare experience or invitation offered to only select professionals worldwide for centuries. "It is wonderful that Melody Fuller, Founder and President, Oakland Wine Festival, is involving more consumers in the wine judging process." Dr. Liz Thach, MW, Distinguished Professor of Wine and a Professor of Management at Sonoma State University. Judgment of Oakland TM This year s event featured 121wines. Over 200 winemakers, vintners, winery owners, sommeliers, trade, media and wine aficionados and novices double-blind tasted and privately cast close to 3,000 votes of a 1, 2 or 3 on the wines. The 2011, Quixote, Helmet of Mambrino, Petite Sirah from the took the top honor for the 2017 Best of Show Judgement of Oakland TM. Keep reading to learn who the other winning wines are for the represented vintages, varietals, appellations and more! The wines, presented in plush black velvet bags, range in price from the quite affordable to the very expensive, thus representing a broad range of varietals, vintages and winemaking styles. The wines tasted and voted on covered an expansive landscape and a wide variety of appellations. vintners presented an amazing depth of fine wines. Sonoma had a spectacular showing of wines. Exciting wines from France, New Zealand, and Brazil amazed, confused and teased many of our vintners, winery owners, sommeliers, media, trade and consumers. These wines were in the top ten in several categories from top vintages to top varietals.
Beautiful wines from Oregon, Monterey, Livermore, Lodi, Mendocino and Paso Robles showed quite strong in this year s Judgment of Oakland TM. Delicious wines from South Africa, the 2017 featured International Wine Region for this year s Annual Oakland Wine Festival, nearly stole the show while capturing the hearts and palates of the wine savvy and novice alike. A fine team of sommeliers and wine educators, led by Ryan Williams, CSW the Oakland Wine Festival s Honorary and Lead Sommelier, provided guidance for participants as they tasted, voted on and discussed the wines. All were encouraged to vote their wine palates and to responsibly taste the extensive variety, and not all 121, of the national and international wines that our invited vintners selected to share and showcase. Votes cast by consumers, sommeliers, winemakers, trade, or media participants were also color-coded, thus identifying the classification of participant who has cast the vote. Every wine had its own private black box which allowed votes to be cast with discretion. Winemakers, vintners, consumers, members of the media and wine trade industry spent much time meeting and enjoying one another during the Judgment of Oakland TM double-blind tasting. In that spirit, every participant did not submit a vote for every wine tasted. Statistics for the Judgment of Oakland TM 2
Presenting a depth of wine varietals supports the educational and charitable goals of the Oakland Wine Festival which are to provide, promote and preserve the knowledge, exposure, art and understanding of wine, wine appreciation, winemaking, viticulture, enology and food. We accomplish these objectives by sharing our industry relationships, intimate workshops, special events, and by creating unique excursions and opportunities to spend time with winemakers and chefs from around the world. Consumers and wine professionals continue to applaud the value and uniqueness of The Oakland Wine Festival and the Oakland Wine and Food Society. All remining wine from the 121 donated that day to a local nonprofit organization who used the wine for their fundraiser the following day. Their fundraiser, which was in jeopardy because they had no wine to serve, would not have happened without our donation. 30 Wine Varietals Number of Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 33 Red Blend 17 Chardonnay 9 Pinot Noir 8 Merlot 5 Sauvignon Blanc 5 Zinfandel 5 Chenin Blanc 4 Viognier 4 Cabernet Franc 3 Petite Sirah 3 Rose 3 Brut Rose Sparkling Wine 2 Petite Verdot 2 Shiraz 2 Syrah 2 Brut Burgundy 1 Brut Sparkling Wine 1 Malbec 1 Marsanne 1 Mourvedre 1 Pinotage 1 Pinotage Rose 1 Riesling 1 Rose Burgundy 1 Roussannne 1 Semillon 1 Symphony 1 White Blend 1 Zinfandel Port 1 Total Number of Wines 121 3
2015 2013 2011 2009 NV 4 1 1 1 4 10 Vintages Vintage 14 17 18 0 10 20 30 40 Number of Bottles Per Vintage 29 32 Number of Wines 2016 17 2015 18 2014 32 2013 29 2012 14 2011 4 2010 1 2009 1 2006 1 NV 4 Total 121 Fine-wines and high-end wines were the overwhelming all-around favorites with our participants, thus again debunking lingering long held beliefs, biased opinions, stereotypes, urban myths and erroneous wine consumption assumptions. Best in Show! Best in Show wines are the wine that takes the top spots from of the highest ranking of the weighted votes cast by consumers and professionals. The 2011, Quixote, Helmet of Mambrino, Petite Sirah from the took the top honor for the 2017 Best of Show Judgment of Oakland TM. The Top 60 Best in Show wines (represents 50% of the total number of wines showcased) are comprised of 8 of the 10 presented vintages which speaks volumes for the wine quality and diverse winemaking styles of our wines and winemakers. Within the top ten of our Best in Show, Cabernet Sauvignon represented 50% of the wines, Chenin Blanc held down 20%, and Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel each had 10% of the top 10 wines. The 2014 vintage took four of the top 10 spots in our Best of Show. Two 2015 vintages, and a sole 2012 vintage, which also came from Quixote Winery, rounded out our top 10 vintages. 4
Best in Show Top 60 Judgment of Oakland Winery Vintage Wine Appellation RANK Black Velvet Number 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Quixote Winery 2011 Helmet of Mambrino Petite Sirah 100 Hesperian Kitko Vineyard, Atlas Peak Wines 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon 99 Seven Stones Winery 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon 21 David Clinton Wine Mounts Vineyard, Dry Creek Cellars 2014 Zinfandel, Old Vine Valley Sonoma 28 Sonoma- Loeb 2015 Pinot Noir, Dutton Ranch Sonoma 107 Quixote 6. Winery 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 101 BR Cohn Cabernet Sauvignon, 7. Winery 2013 Special Selection Sonoma Valley 98 Old Vine Chenin Blanc, 8. Ken Forester 2016 Reserve Stellenbosch, South Africa 102 9. Bad Baby 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon France 22 10. Ken Forester 2014 The FMC Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch, South Africa 105 Dunn 11. 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 4 Summit Lake Sophia Lynn, Howell 12. 2011 Petite Sirah Mountain, 25 Paula Harrell 13. Wines 2013 Zinfandel, Three Fifteen Sonoma 45 14. Fleur Du Cap 2013 Chardonnay Stellenbosch, South Africa 93 15. Ken Forester 2015 Sauvignon Blanc Stellenbosch, South Africa 103 16. Truchard 2015 Chardonnay Carneros, 9 17. Summit Lake 2012 Zinfandel Estate, Howell Mountain 24 18. Perliss Estate 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, The Ravens Calistoga, 44 Durant & 19. Booth 2012 Malbec 77 20. Ken Forester 2012 Renegade Red Wine Stellenbosch, South Africa 104 21. Clos Pegase 2015 Chardonnay Mitsuko s Vineyard, Carneros 95 22. Oakville East 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Exposure Oakville, 16 23. Wente 2014 Riva Ranch Pinot Noir, Single Vineyard Arroyo Seco, Monterey 85 5
Judgment of Oakland Winery Vintage Wine Appellation Black Velvet Number Mitsuko s Vineyard, Carneros 94 24. Clos Pegase 2014 Pinot Noir Ancient Oak Red Blend Sappho Berger 25. Cellars 2012 Vineyard Sonoma 106 Lang & Reed Wine 26. Company 2015 Chenin Blanc 6 27. Theopolis 2014 Symphony York Highlands Mendocino 12 28. Theopolis 2013 Petite Sirah York Highlands Mendocino 13 29. Newton Vineyard 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District 17 30. Silk Bush 2010 Shiraz Breedekloof, South Africa 30 31. Silk Bush 2016 Viognier Breedekloof, South Africa 31 32. Swanson 2012 Alexis Cabernet Sauvignon 97 33. Raymond Vineyard & Cellar NV Rose Burgundy 118 34. Raymond Vineyard & Cellar 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon 120 35. Truchard 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon 10 36. Seven Sisters 2015 Pinotage Rose Western Cape, South Africa 34 37. Handwritten 2011 Red Wine, Three Words 36 38. 39. Raymond Vineyard & Cellar NV Brut Burgundy 119 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar 2014 Chardonnay 121 40. Adelsheim Vineyard 2014 Pinot Noir, Breaking Ground Newbery, Oregon 3 41. Bouchaine 2015 Pinot Noir Pommard Estate, 5 42. Lang & Reed Wine Company 2013 Cabernet Franc 7 43. Handwritten 2012 Red Blend, Three Words 37 44. 45. 46. McBride Sisters Collection 2016 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand 82 Summit Lake 2016 Rose Perliss Estate 2016 Emily Kestrel, Howell Mountain, 26 Rose, Wingspan, Saturn Return 38 6
1 2 3 8 8 9 13 16 Results for the Judgment of Oakland TM Judgment of Black Velvet Number Oakland Winery Vintage Wine Appellation Juslyn 47. 2016 Rose 56 Burgess 48. Cellars 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, 43 Juslyn Spring Mountain District 49. 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon 54 Durant & 50. Booth 2012 Red Blend Reserve 78 51. Jam Cellars 2015 Butter, Chardonnay California 83 Fleur Du 52. Cap 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch, South Africa 92 Casa 53. Valduga 2014 Brut Rose Sparkling Wine Vale Dos Vinhedos, Brazil 50 Covenant Dry Creek Valley Sonoma 54. Wines 2016 Red C Sauvignon Blanc 75 Newton 55. Vineyard 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Yountville, 18 Robert Hall 56. Winey 2014 Meritage Paso Robles, California 42 Fleur Du 57. Cap 2013 Shiraz Stellenbosch, South Africa 91 58. 59. 60. David Clinton Wine Cellars 2014 Zinfandel, Ancient Vine Tedeshi Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma 29 Terra Valentine 2016 Viognier Russian River Valley 52 Terra Spring Mountain District Valentine 2013 Syrah 53 BEST IN SHOW VINTAGES 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 NV 7
Best in Show Varietals Best in Show Appellations 8
Wine Professionals Choice Our winemakers, winery owners, sommeliers, trade and media guest cast over 500 votes. Our wine professionals rated 36% of the wines they tasted with a value of 2. They rated 32% the wines they tasted with a vote of one. Our professionals also rated 32% of the wines they tasted with a value of 3. This year our wine professionals votes resulted in an 8-way tie for the wine receiving the largest number of number 1 votes: Alphabetical Order of the Professionals 8-Way Tie for the Number 1 Wine: Winery Vintage Varietal Appellation Number Clos Pegase 2014 Pinot Noir Mitsuko s Vineyard, Carneros, 94 David Clinton 2014 Zinfandel, Old Mounts Vineyard, Dry Creek 28 Wine Cellars Vine Valley, Sonoma Hesperian Wines 2014 Cabernet Kitko Vineyard, Atlas Peak, 99 Sauvignon Ken Forester 2016 Old Vine Chenin South Africa 102 Blanc, Reserve Quixote Winery 2011 Helmet of 100 Mambrino Petite Sirah Raymond NV Brut Burgundy 119 Vineyard & Cellar Theopolis 2014 Symphony York Highlands, Mendocino 12 Truchard 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon 10 The professionals 8-Way tie demonstrated no varietal bias and no appellation bias. Clearly the 2014 vintage was a favorite. Wine Professionals Rankings (Weighted) Rank Winery Year Varietal Appellation 1. Quixote Winery 2. Perliss Estate 3. Seven Stones Winery 2011 Helmet of Mambrino Petite Sirah 100 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga, 44 The Ravens 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon 21 9
Rank Winery Year Varietal Appellation 4. Clos Pegase 2014 Pinot Noir Mitsuko s Vineyard, Carneros, 94 5. Ken Forester 2016 Old Vine Chenin South Africa 102 Blanc, Reserve 6. Truchard 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon 10 7. David Clinton 2014 Zinfandel, Old Vine Mounts Vineyard, Dry Creek 28 Wine Cellars Valley, Sonoma 8. Clos Pegase 2015 Chardonnay Mitsuko s Vineyard, Carneros, 95 9. Bad Baby 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon France 22 10. Fleur Du Cap 2013 Chardonnay Stellenbosch, South Africa 93 11. Demuth Wine 2013 Syrah Sonoma 110 12. Hesperian 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Kitko Vineyard, Atlas Peak, 99 Wines 13. Truchard 2015 Chardonnay Carneros, 9 14. Silk Bush 2016 Viognier Breedekloof, South Africa 31 15. Ken Forester 2014 The FMC South Africa 105 16. Theopolis 2014 Symphony York Highlands, Mendocino 12 17. Oakville East 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, 16 Exposure 18. Cass Winery 2015 Mourvedre, Estate Paso Robles 113 19. BR Cohn 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley 98 Winery Special Selection 20. Raymond NV Brut Burgundy 119 Vineyard & Cellar 21. Paula Harrell 2013 Zinfandel, Three Sonoma 45 Wines Fifteen 22. Summit Lake 2012 Zinfandel Estate, Howell Mountain, 24 23. Ken Forester 2105 Sauvignon Blanc South Africa 103 24. Lang & Reed 2013 Cabernet Franc 7 Wine Company 25. Newton 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District, 17 Vineyard 26. Covenant 2016 Red C, Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma 75 Wines Blanc 27. Matthiasson 2014 White Wine Blend 58 Family 28. Foley Johnson 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Bottled Rutherford, 46 10
Rank Winery Year Varietal Appellation 29. Juslyn 2016 Rose 56 30. Silk Bush 2010 Shiraz Breedekloof, South Africa 30 31. Newton 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Yountville, 18 Vineyard 32. Lang & Reed 2013 Cabernet Franc North Coast, California 8 Wine Company 33. Mira Winery 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 60 34. Cass Winery 2014 Red Wine Reserve Paso Robles 116 35. Sonoma-Loeb 2015 Pinot Noir Dutton Sonoma 107 Ranch 36. Quixote 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 101 Winery 37. Dunn 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Napa 4 Valley 38. Adelsheim 2014 Pinot Noir Breaking Ground, Newbery, 3 Vineyard Oregon 39. McBride Sisters 2016 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand 82 Collection 40. Wente 2014 Riva Ranch Pinot Arroyo Seco, Monterey 85 Noir, Single Vineyard 41. Ken Forester 2012 Renegade Red Wine South Africa 104 42. Jam Cellars 2015 Butter, Chardonnay California 83 43. Fleur Du Cap 2013 Shiraz Stellenbosch, South Africa 91 44. Seven Sisters 2015 Pinotage Rose Western Cape, South Africa 34 45. De Toren 2013 Fusion V Red Wine Stellenbosch, South Africa 49 Private Cellar 46. Fathia 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley 19 47. Mira Winery 2012 Petit Verdot Rutherford, 63 48. Mira Winery 2015 Chardonnay 61 49. Demuth Wine 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma 111 Limited Reserve 50. Summit Lake 2011 Petite Sirah Sophia Lynn, Howell 25 Mountain, 51. Bouchaine 2015 Pinot Noir Pommard Estate, 5 52. Burgess Cellars 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, 43 53. Raymond 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon 120 Vineyard & Cellar 54. McBride Sisters 2015 Red Blend Central Coast, California 81 Collection 55. Summit Lake 2016 Rose Emily Kestrel, Howell 26 Mountain, 56. Cass Winery 2016 Viognier Estate Paso Robles 114 11
Rank Winery Year Varietal Appellation 57. C. G. DiArie 2013 Due Amici, Red Wine, Shenandoah Valley, 65 Estate California 58. Building 43 2014 Red Wine, Bomber 43 Sierra Foothills 47 Winery 59. Foretell Wines 2013 Pinot Noir Fort Ross, Seaview, Sonoma 48 60. Demuth Wine 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma 112 Mountain Terraces 61. Theopolis 2013 Petite Sirah York Highlands, Mendocino 13 62. Fleur Du Cap 2103 Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch, South Africa 92 Consumers Choice Our patrons cast over 1,700 votes. Their ranked results represent the overall weighted score. Our consumers rated 38% of the wines they tasted with a value of 2. 32% of the wines consumers tasted received a vote of 3 and 30% of the wines consumers tasted received a vote of 1. This year our consumer votes resulted in several wines receiving large numbers of number 1 votes: Alphabetical Order of Consumers Number 1 Wine Votes: Winery Year Varietal Appellation 98 BR Cohn 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley Winery Special Selection 28 David Clinton Wine Cellars 2014 Zinfandel, Old Vine Mounts Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma 4 Dunn 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 77 Durant & 2012 Malbec Booth 78 Durant & 2012 Red Wine, Reserve Booth 99 Hesperian Wines 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Kitko Vineyard, Atlas Peak, 105 Ken Forester 2014 The FMC South Africa 102 Ken Forester 2016 Old Vine Chenin Blanc, South Africa Reserve 103 Ken Forester 2015 Sauvignon Blanc South Africa 69 Obrien Estate 2014 Merlot, Estate 45 Paula Harrell 2013 Zinfandel, Three Fifteen Sonoma Wines 101 Quixote Winery 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 12
Winery Year Varietal Appellation 100 Quixote 2011 Helmet of Mambrino Winery Petite Sirah 119 Raymond NV Brut Burgundy Vineyard & Cellar 21 Seven Stones 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Winery 107 Sonoma-Loeb 2015 Pinot Noir Dutton Sonoma Ranch 25 Summit Lake 2011 Petite Sirah Sophia Lynn, Howell Mountain, 24 Summit Lake 2012 Zinfandel Estate, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley 97 Swanson 2012 Alexis Cabernet Sauvignon 13 Theopolis 2013 Petite Sirah York Highlands, Mendocino The consumers top number 1 wines also revealed no significant varietal bias, and while the dominated the appellation category, Sonoma and South Africa were strong favorites as well as Mendocino. Consumers also proved to be very loyal to the winemaker and wineries wines with several wineries winning consumers over. Summit Lake, Quixote Winery, Ken Forester and Durant and Booth were palate pleasers where all or many of the wines submitted by these wineries were favored across vintage and varietal by our consumers. Overall Consumer Rankings (Weighted) Winery Vintage Varietal Appellation Rank 99 Hesperian 2014 Cabernet Kitko Vineyard, Atlas 1. Wines Sauvignon Peak, 28 David Clinton 2014 Zinfandel, Old Mounts Vineyard, Dry 2. Wine Cellars Vine Creek Valley, Sonoma 102 Ken Forester 2016 Old Vine Chenin South Africa 3. Blanc, Reserve 97 Swanson 2012 Alexis Cabernet 4. Sauvignon 107 Sonoma-Loeb 2015 Pinot Noir Dutton Sonoma 5. 21 Seven Stones Winery Ranch 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon 6. 13
Winery Vintage Varietal Appellation Rank 98 BR Cohn 2013 Cabernet Sonoma Valley 7. Winery Sauvignon, Special Selection 25 Summit Lake 2011 Petite Sirah Sophia Lynn, Howell 8. Mountain, 101 Quixote 2012 Cabernet 9. Winery Sauvignon 77 Durant & Booth 2012 Malbec 10. 119 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar Nonvintage Brut Burgundy 11. 105 Ken Forester 2014 The FMC Chenin South Africa 12. Blanc 45 Paula Harrell 2013 Zinfandel, Three Sonoma 13. Wines Fifteen 24 Summit Lake 2012 Zinfandel Estate, Howell Mountain, 14. 95 Clos Pegase 2015 Chardonnay Mitsuko s Vineyard, 15. Carneros, 13 Theopolis 2013 Petite Sirah York Highlands, 16. Mendocino 89 Fleur Du Cap 2014 Pinotage Stellenbosch, South Africa 17. 100 Quixote Winery 2011 Helmet of Mambrino Petite Sirah 18. 22 Bad Baby 2015 Cabernet France 19. Sauvignon 4 Dunn 2013 Cabernet Howell Mountain Napa 20. Sauvignon Valley 56 Juslyn 2016 Rose 21. 53 Terra 2013 Syrah Spring Mountain District, 22. Valentine 39 Pomar Junction Vineyard 2014 Petite Verdot Paso Robles, San Benito 23. 84 Wente 3 Adelsheim Vineyard 2015 Riva Ranch Chardonnay, Single Vineyard Arroyo Seco, Monterey 24. 2014 Pinot Noir Breaking Ground, Newbery, Oregon 25. 106 Ancient Oak 2012 Sappho Berger Sonoma 26. Cellars Vineyard 93 Fleur Du Cap 2013 Chardonnay Stellenbosch, South Africa 27. 14
Winery Vintage Varietal Appellation Rank 92 Fleur Du Cap 2103 Cabernet Stellenbosch, South Africa 28. Sauvignon 94 Clos Pegase 2014 Pinot Noir Mitsuko s Vineyard, 29. Carneros, 78 Durant & Booth 2012 Red Wine, Reserve 30. 51 Casa Valduga Nonvintage 130 Brut Sparkling Wine Brazil 31. 44 Perliss Estate 2014 Cabernet Calistoga, 32. Sauvignon, The Ravens 5 Bouchaine 2015 Pinot Noir Pommard Estate, Napa 33. Valley 12 Theopolis 2014 Symphony York Highlands, 34. 6 Lang & Reed Wine Company 82 McBride Sisters Collection Mendocino 2015 Chenin Blanc 35. 2016 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand 9 Truchard 2015 Chardonnay Carneros, 37. 104 Ken Forester 2012 Renegade Red South Africa 38. Wine 85 Wente 2014 Riva Ranch Pinot Noir, Single Arroyo Seco, Monterey 39. Vineyard 38 Perliss Estate 2016 Rose, Wingspan, Saturn Return 16 Oakville East 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Exposure 36. 40. Oakville, 41. 83 Jam Cellars 2015 Butter, California 42. Chardonnay 42 Robert Hall 2014 Meritage Paso Robles California 43. Winery 103 Ken Forester 2105 Sauvignon Blanc South Africa 44. 37 Handwritten 2012 Red Wine, Three 45. Words 11 Truchard 2014 Pinot Noir Carneros, 46. 15
Winery Vintage Varietal Appellation Rank 40 Perliss Estate 2015 Semillon Bavarian Lion Vineyard, 47. Knights Valley, Sonoma 118 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar 7 Lang & Reed Wine Company 43 Burgess Cellars 14 Bougetz Cellars Nonvintage Rose Burgundy 48. 2013 Cabernet Franc 49. 2013 Cabernet Estate, 50. Sauvignon 2013 Jovana, Red Wine 51. 30 Silk Bush 2010 Shiraz Breedekloof, South Africa 52. 29 David Clinton 2014 Zinfandel, Ancient Tedeshi Vineyard, Dry 53. Wine Cellars Vine Creek Valley, Sonoma 20 Terra 2013 Cabernet Wurtele Vineyard, Spring 54. Valentine Sauvignon Mountain District, NV 17 Newton 2014 Cabernet Spring Mountain District, 55. Vineyard Sauvignon 120 Raymond 2013 Cabernet 56. Vineyard & Sauvignon Cellar 36 Handwritten 2011 Red Wine, Three 57. Words 91 Fleur Du Cap 2013 Shiraz Stellenbosch, South Africa 58. 55 Juslyn 2013 Perry s Blend, Red Spring Mountain District, 59. Blend 81 McBride 2015 Red Blend Central Coast, California 60. Sisters Collection 69 Obrien Estate 2014 Merlot, Estate 61. Varietal by Rank Order (Within Varietals) Cabernet Sauvignon Number Winery Vintage Appellation 99 Hesperian Wines 2014 Kitko Vineyard, Atlas Peak, 101 Quixote Winery 2012 21 Seven Stones Winery 2014 98 BR Cohn Winery 2013 Sonoma Valley 22 Bad Baby 2015 France 16
Number Winery Vintage Appellation 97 Swanson 2012 44 Perliss Estate 2014 Calistoga, 4 Dunn 2013 Howell Mountain 92 Fleur Du Cap 2103 Stellenbosch, South Africa 16 Oakville East 2013 Oakville, 10 Truchard 2014 17 Newton Vineyard 2014 Spring Mountain District, 43 Burgess Cellars 2013 Estate, 18 Newton Vineyard 2014 Yountville, 120 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar 2013 20 Terra Valentine 2013 Wurtele Vineyard, Spring Mountain District, NV 54 Juslyn 2013 Spring Mountain District, 88 Mt. Brave 2013 Mt Veeder, 27 Summit Lake 2012 Emily Kestrel, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley 19 Fathia 2013 Sonoma Valley 74 Covenant Wines 2015 60 Mira Winery 2012 46 Foley Johnson 2014 Rutherford, 71 Jam Cellars 2014 California 70 Obrien Estate 2014 15 Bougetz Cellars 2014 67 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar 2016 North Coast, California 86 Wente 2014 Livermore, California 111 Demuth Wine 2012 Sonoma 112 Demuth Wine 2012 Sonoma 108 Chappellet 2014 109 Demuth Wine 2012 Sonoma, Chalk Hill Red Blend 104 Ken Forester 2012 Renegade Red Wine South Africa 78 Durant & Booth 2012 Red Wine, Reserve 37 Handwritten 2012 Red Wine, Three Words McBride Sisters 81 Collection 2015 Red Blend Central Coast, California 17
14 Bougetz Cellars 2013 Jovana Red Wine 36 Handwritten 2011 Red Wine, Three Words 49 De Toren Private Cellar 2013 Fusion V, Red Wine Stellenbosch, South Africa 55 Juslyn 2013 Perry s Blend, Red Blend Spring Mountain District, 87 Favia 2013 La Magdalena Red Wine 35 Silk Bush 2014 Red Blend, Altitude Breedekloof, South Africa 116 Cass Winery 2014 Red Wine Reserve Paso Robles 65 C. G. DiArie 2013 Due Amici, Red Wine, Estate Shenandoah Valley, California 47 Building 43 Winery 2014 Red Wine, Bomber 43 Sierra Foothills 64 C. G. DiArie 2009 Elope, Red Wine Sierra Foothills, California Chardonnay 95 Clos Pegase 2015 Chardonnay Mitsuko s Vineyard, Carneros, Napa Valley 93 Fleur Du Cap 2013 Chardonnay Stellenbosch, South Africa 9 Truchard 2015 Chardonnay Carneros, 83 Jam Cellars 2015 Butter, Chardonnay California 84 Wente 2015 Riva Ranch Chardonnay, Single Vineyard Arroyo Seco, Monterey 121 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar 2014 Chardonnay 80 McBride Sisters Collection 2016 Chardonnay Central Coast, California 61 Mira Winery 2015 Chardonnay 68 Obrien Estate 2015 Chardonnay, Estate 18
Pinot Noir 107 Sonoma-Loeb 2015 Pinot Noir, Dutton Ranch Sonoma 94 Clos Pegase 2014 Pinot Noir Mitsuko s Vineyard, Carneros, 3 Adelsheim Vineyard 2014 Pinot Noir Breaking Ground, Newbery, Oregon 5 Bouchaine 2015 Pinot Noir Pommard Estate, 85 Wente 2014 Riva Ranch Pinot Noir, Single Vineyard Arroyo Seco, Monterey 11 Truchard 2014 Pinot Noir Carneros, 48 Foretell Wines 2013 Pinot Noir Fort Ross, Seaview, Sonoma Merlot Number Winery Vintage Appellation 90 Fleur Du Cap 2014 Stellenbosch, South Africa 69 Obrien Estate 2014 33 Silverado 2013 Mt George Vineyard, Coomsbsville, Napa Valley 117 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar 2013 96 Swanson 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Number Winery Vintage Appellation 82 McBride Sisters Collection 2016 Marlborough, New Zealand 103 Ken Forester 2105 South Africa 75 Covenant Wines 2016 Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma 66 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar 2016 North Coast, California 19
Zinfandel 28 David Clinton Wine Cellars 2014 Zinfandel, Old Vine Mounts Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma 45 Paula Harrell Wines 2013 Zinfandel, Three Fifteen Sonoma 24 Summit Lake 2012 Zinfandel Estate, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley 29 David Clinton Wine Cellars 2014 Zinfandel, Ancient Vine Tedeshi Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma 73 Covenant Wines 2015 Landsman, Zinfandel Lodi Chenin Blanc 102 Ken Forester 2016 Old Vine Chenin Blanc, Reserve South Africa 105 Ken Forester 2014 The FMC, Chenin Blanc South Africa 6 Lang & Reed Wine Company 2015 Chenin Blanc 32 Raats Family Wines 2016 Chenin Blanc, Old Vine Stellenbosch South Africa Viognier Number Winery Vintage Appellation 31 Silk Bush 2016 Breedekloof, South Africa 52 Terra Valentine 2016 Russian River Valley 114 Cass Winery 2016 Paso Robles 57 Pomar Junction Vineyard 2016 Paso Robles, San Benito 20
Cabernet Franc Number Winery Vintage Appellation Lang & Reed Wine 7 Company 2013 8 Lang & Reed Wine Company 2013 North Coast, California 62 Mira Winery 2015 Hyde Vineyard, Petite Sirah 100 Quixote Winery 2011 Helmet of Mambrino Petite Sirah 25 Summit Lake 2011 Petite Sirah Sophia Lynn, Howell Mountain, 13 Theopolis 2013 Petite Sirah York Highlands, Mendocino Rose 38 Perliss Estate 2016 Rose, Wingspan, Saturn Return 26 Summit Lake 2016 Rose Emily Kestrel, Howell Mountain, 56 Juslyn 2016 Rose Brut Rose Sparkling Wine Number Winery Vintage Appellation 79 McBride Sisters Collection Nonvintage Marlborough, New Zealand 50 Casa Valduga 2014 Vale Dos Vinhedos, Brazil 21
Petite Verdot Number Winery Vintage Appellation 39 Pomar Junction Vineyard 2014 Paso Robles, San Benito 63 Mira Winery 2012 Rutherford, Shiraz Number Winery Vintage Appellation 30 Silk Bush 2010 Breedekloof, South Africa 91 Fleur Du Cap 2013 Stellenbosch, South Africa Syrah Number Winery Vintage Appellation 53 Terra Valentine 2013 Spring Mountain District, 110 Demuth Wine 2013 Sonoma Vintage by Rankings (Within Vintage) NV 119 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar Nonvintage Brut Burgundy 118 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar Nonvintage Rose Burgundy 130 Brut Sparkling 51 Casa Valduga Nonvintage 79 McBride Sisters Collection Nonvintage Wine Brut Rose Sparkling Wine Brazil Marlborough, New Zealand 22
2011 100 Quixote Winery 2011 Helmet of Mambrino Petite Sirah Summit Lake 25 2011 Petite Sirah 36 Handwritten 2011 Red Wine, Three Words Sophia Lynn, Howell Mountain, 2012 97 Swanson 2012 Alexis Cabernet Sauvignon 24 Summit Lake 2012 Zinfandel Estate, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley 101 Quixote Winery 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 77 Durant & Booth 2012 Malbec 106 Ancient Oak Cellars 2012 Sappho Berger Vineyard Sonoma 104 Ken Forester 2012 Renegade Red Wine South Africa 78 Durant & Booth 2012 Red Wine, Reserve 37 Handwritten 2012 Red Wine, Three Words 27 Summit Lake 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Emily Kestrel, Howell Mountain, 60 Mira Winery 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 63 Mira Winery 2012 Petit Verdot Rutherford, 111 Demuth Wine 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Limited Reserve Sonoma 112 Demuth Wine 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mountain Terraces Sonoma 109 Demuth Wine 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Chalk Hill 2013 23
98 BR Cohn Winery 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Special Selection Sonoma Valley 45 Paula Harrell Wines 2013 Zinfandel, Three Fifteen Sonoma 93 Fleur Du Cap 2013 Chardonnay Stellenbosch, South Africa 4 Dunn 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 13 Theopolis 2013 Petite Sirah York Highlands, Mendocino 92 Fleur Du Cap 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch, South Africa 16 Oakville East 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Exposure Oakville, 7 Lang & Reed Wine Company 2013 Cabernet Franc 53 Terra Valentine 2013 Syrah Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley 43 Burgess Cellars 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, 91 Fleur Du Cap 2013 Shiraz Stellenbosch, South Africa 120 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon 14 Bougetz Cellars 2013 Jovana, Red Wine 20 Terra Valentine 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Wurtele Vineyard, Spring Mountain District, NV 54 Juslyn 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley 49 De Toren Private Cellar 2013 Fusion V, Red Wine Stellenbosch, South Africa 8 Lang & Reed Wine Company 2013 Cabernet Franc North Coast, California 88 Mt. Brave 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt Veeder, 19 Fathia 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley 55 Juslyn 2013 Perry s Blend, Red Blend Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley 87 Favia 2013 La Magdalena, Red Wine 117 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar 2013 Merlot 65 C. G. DiArie 2013 Due Amici, Red Wine, Estate Shenandoah Valley, California 33 Silverado 2013 Merlot Mt George Vineyard, Coomsbsville, Fort Ross, Seaview, Sonoma 48 Foretell Wines 2013 Pinot Noir 110 Demuth Wine 2013 Syrah Sonoma 24
2014 28 David Clinton Wine Cellars 2014 Zinfandel, Old Vine Mounts Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma 99 Hesperian Wines 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Kitko Vineyard, Atlas Peak, Napa Valley 21 Seven Stones Winery 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon 44 Perliss Estate 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, The Ravens Calistoga, 105 Ken Forester 2014 The FMC Chenin Blanc South Africa 94 Clos Pegase 2014 Pinot Noir Mitsuko s Vineyard, Carneros, 89 Fleur Du Cap 2014 Pinotage Stellenbosch, South Africa 85 Wente 2014 Riva Ranch Pinot Noir, Single Vineyard Arroyo Seco, Monterey 39 Pomar Junction Vineyard 2014 Petite Verdot Paso Robles, San Benito 17 Newton Vineyard 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley 18 Newton Vineyard 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Yountville, 42 Robert Hall Winey 2014 Meritage Paso Robles, California 90 Fleur Du Cap 2014 Merlot Stellenbosch, South Africa 121 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar 2014 Chardonnay 29 David Clinton Wine Cellars 2014 Zinfandel, Ancient Vine Tedeshi Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma 50 Casa Valduga 2014 Brut Rose Sparkling Wine Vale Dos Vinhedos, Brazil 86 Wente 2014 Charles Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon Livermore, California 58 Matthiasson Family 2014 White Wine Blend 46 Foley Johnson 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Bottled Rutherford, 69 Obrien Estate 2014 Merlot, Estate 25
2015 107 Sonoma-Loeb 2015 Pinot Noir Dutton Ranch Sonoma 95 Clos Pegase 2015 Chardonnay Mitsuko s Vineyard, Carneros, 22 Bad Baby 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon France 9 Truchard 2015 Chardonnay Carneros, 5 Bouchaine 2015 Pinot Noir Pommard Estate, 103 Ken Forester 2015 Sauvignon Blanc South Africa 83 Jam Cellars 2015 Butter, Chardonnay California 6 Lang & Reed Wine Company 2015 Chenin Blanc 84 Wente 2015 Riva Ranch Chardonnay, Single Vineyard Arroyo Seco, Monterey 81 McBride Sisters Collection 2015 Red Blend Central Coast, California 34 Seven Sisters 2015 Pinotage Rose Western Cape, South Africa 40 Perliss Estate 2015 Semillon Bavarian Lion Vineyard, Knights Valley, Sonoma 74 Covenant Wines 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon 73 Covenant Wines 2015 Landsman, Zinfandel Lodi 0 Cass Winery 2015 Mourvedre Estate Paso Robles 61 Mira Winery 2015 Chardonnay 68 Obrien Estate 2015 Chardonnay, Estate 62 Mira Winery 2015 Cabernet Franc Hyde Vineyard, 2016 102 Ken Forester 2016 Old Vine Chenin Blanc, Reserve South Africa 56 Juslyn 2016 Rose 82 McBride Sisters Collection 2016 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, New Zealand 38 Perliss Estate 2016 Rose, Wingspan, Saturn Return 31 Silk Bush 2016 Viognier Breedekloof, South Africa 26
75 Covenant Wines 2016 Red C, Sauvignon Blanc Summit Lake 26 2016 Rose Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Emily Kestrel, Howell Mountain, 72 Covenant Wines 2016 Mensch, Roussannne Lodi 52 Terra Valentine 2016 Viognier Russian River Valley 80 McBride Sisters Collection 2016 Chardonnay Central Coast, California 66 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar 2016 Sauvignon Blanc North Coast, California 114 Cass Winery 2016 Viognier Estate Paso Robles 32 Raats Family Wines 2016 Chenin Blanc, Old Vine Stellenbosch, South Africa 67 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast, California 115 Cass Winery 2016 Marsanne Estate Paso Robles 57 Pomar Junction Vineyard 2016 Viognier Paso Robles, San Benito Copyright 2017, all rights reserved. As the double-blind voting results were triple checked, it became clear that the Judgment of Oakland TM results for 2017 would be something that professionals within this industry as well as consumers would be talking about for a while. Thank you to our amazing volunteers whose hard work and keen attention to detail made the Judgment of Oakland TM one of integrity and honesty. Thank you to our students who served as Interns counting and recording the votes, thus providing reliable and uncompromised data. We also thank our readers: Antonia Allegra, Russ Weis, Fern Stroud, Dera Williams, Dr. Liz Thach, Jessica Alem, Shundria Reed and Linda Kay. Upcoming Events Limited sponsorship opportunities are available for our July 21, 2018 4 th Annual Oakland Wine Festival which will be held in Oakland, California. Please contact the Founder: Starwriter1@msn.com. We open the 2018 year with our Monthly Oakland Wine Festival Kick-Off Wine Tasting and Soiree s featuring Silverado and our other Honorary Steering Committee Members. Tickets for these intimate seated events will go on sale soon. 27
About The Oakland Wine Festival The Oakland Wine Festival is a high-profile, educational, international wine and food event featuring celebrated winemakers from, Sonoma, and around the world. The festival is a collaboration between Founder, Melody Fuller, and several wine industry leaders in the and beyond. Fuller is a wine educator, wine writer, publisher and editor focused primarily on white papers, lifestyle articles and books. Melody was named Best Westerner by Sunset Magazine for the innovative and creative work that she does in the wine world. She was an invited attendee at the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers at Meadowood for two years. The Oakland Wine Festival is the result of the desire to further acknowledge an overlooked yet key community of wine lovers who appreciate having world-class vintners and chefs within arm s reach. Over 100 wineries accepted the invitation of the festival s Honorary Steering Committee, composed of wine industry luminaries, to participate or return to this annual event. A key part of our mission is to build new relationships and deepen invaluable and authentic relationships between winemakers, wineries, sommeliers, media and trade professional, and the seasoned and curious wine and food enthusiasts from all over the world states Fuller. ### Contact: Melody Fuller, Founder, Starwriter1@msn.com, 510-893-1929 The Oakland Wine Festival nor the Oakland Wine and Food Society are not selling, or distributing wine or wine-related products. We are an educational and charitable organization focused on promoting and preserving the art of winemaking and wine appreciation. Through our Oaklandwinefestival.com Web site, the Oakland Wine Festival provides viticulture, enology and event information to our members, the public and all interested parties. These communications are for informational purposes. The Oakland Wine Festival is not responsible for (or a participant in) the sales of any wineries products in any fashion or manner. The Oakland Wine Festival and the Oakland Wine and Food Society disclaim any responsibility or warranty for any products sold by wineries or other wine industry service providers. 28