Lodi wines win big at San Francisco wine competition
Several Lodi wineries were awarded Best of the Class in the 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the largest competition of North American wines with 6,703 entrants.
Noted wine writer Mike Dunne, a freelancer formerly with the Sacramento Bee, who has judged more than 20 Chronicle wine competitions, tasted all 182 BOCwinning wines over three days and wrote tasting notes on each available at https://winejudging.com .
Dunne paints descriptive pictures with words that convey his extensive knowledge and passion. In this week’s FTV, Lodibased wines, either by winery location or fruit source that took home a BOC medal are mentioned and complemented with Dunne’s prose, starting with Idle Hour Winery’s non-vintage Blanc de Blancs ($38) sourced from Lodi’s Clements Hills sub-AVA, which earned BOC in the Blanc de Blancs class.
“Clements Hills is a sub-appellation of Lodi,” Dunne wrote, “but the French could try to annex the district after they experience the sophistication, layering and stamina of this startling method-champeoise sparkler. Welcome to the New World.”
Idle Hour Winery produces numerous varieties and is located in Oakhurst.
Weibel Family Winery’s non-vintage Peach Mango ($12) demi-sec won BOC in the fruit sparkling category. Weibel’s tasting room is on School Street in Downtown Lodi.
“... this Weibel saves you the chore of driving to a Central Valley orchard in the middle of the summer to savor all the juicy sweetness that peaches serve up,” Dunne wrote.
Oak Farm Vineyards’ 2019 Rosé ($19) of Grenache earned BOC in the Dry Rosé (residual sugar .3-.99) category with fruit from Ron Silva’s Silvaspoons Vineyard in Lodi’s Alta Mesa sub-AVA. The wine is scheduled for release out in the market in February and possibly March in the tasting room.
“A rare combination of assertiveness and charm,” Dunne wrote. Oak Farm Vineyards is on DeVries Road in Lodi.
Oak Ridge Winery’s 2017 OZV ($15) won BOC in the Zinfandel up to $16.99 category. The winery with its trademark wine barrel tasting room is on East Victor Road in Lodi.
“If this were a roadside patch of boysenberries at prime summer ripeness, you would slam on the brakes and start picking ... ,” Dunne wrote.
Klinker Brick Winery’s 2016 Dolcetto ($25) was named BOC for the darkskinned variety with ancestral roots in Piedmont, Italy. Klinker Brick is much closer than northwest Italy -- on North Alpine Road in Lodi.
"Wine enthusiasts not yet familiar with Dolcetto won’t find a more friendly and fun introduction than this take from Klinker Brick,” Dunne wrote.
St. Amant Winery’s 2018 Alicante Bouschet ($21) was named BOC for the hardy, red-skinned variety that has red pulp and red juice inside. St. Amant is located on Winemaster Way at North Guild Avenue and East Turner Road in Lodi.
“By the richness of its dark fruit, astonishing complexity, well-integrated oak and rejuvenating acidity,” wrote Dunne, “the St. Amant elevates the historic workhorse Alicante Bouschet to a new level of respect, even nobility.”
Pitted against 45 other entries in the category, the 2017 Michael David Winery 6th Sense Lodi Syrah ($16) took home a BOC medal in the Syrah/Shiraz up to $26.99 category for a wine Dunne describes as, “One blockbuster Syrah, emphasizing ripe and fragrant fruit, considerable oak and massaging sweetness.”
Michael David Winery also earned a BOC medal in the Petit Verdot up to $39.99 category for the 2017 Inkblot Petit Verdot ($35), which Dunne describes, in part, as “... the very name Inkblot and the Michael David reputation for hearty wines all suggest that this will be one monumental Petit Verdot, and it is, ... “
Michael David Winery is on Kettleman Lane/Highway 12 east of Interstate 5 in Lodi.
Harney Lane Winery’s 2017 Petite Sirah ($28) from its Home Ranch vineyard in Lodi’s Mokelumne River subAVA won BOC in the Petite Sirah $25 to $28.99 category. The winery is on Harney Lane east of Highway 99 in Lodi.
“A textbook take on Petite Sirah for its floral, spicy and rich fruit, all of which greet the consumer at first sip and don’t let go until the final swallow,” Dunne wrote.
LangeTwins Family Winery & Vineyards earned BOC in an unknown yet up-and-coming red variety, Teroldego. The 2017 LangeTwins Teroldego ($32) is made from Lodi Rules certified fruit on the family’s estate Jahant Woods Vineyard in Lodi’s Jahant sub-AVA.
“If all Teroldego were made with as much spunk, spice and steadfast fruit as this,” wrote Dunne, “the varietal would rank among the top three red wine grapes in California.”
LangeTwins is located on East Jahant Road off Lower Sacramento Road north of Peltier Road in Lodi.
Lodi wineries took home dozens and dozens of gold, silver and bronze medals, but due to limited space in this column, only BOC winners are mentioned. For the full list, go to https://www.winejudging.com/medal-winners.
Keep in mind wines that have “California” on the label likely are sourced partially or completely from the Lodi AVA, so even more Lodi growers and bulk wineries than those listed likely can take credit for BOC wines.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if I were to go back and compare this year with past results that the Lodi representation, I would have a hunch, would be stronger this year,” Dunne said by telephone Tuesday. “And it speaks to the variety not only of the competition but of what’s happening in Lodi.”
Note: Delicato Winery in Manteca might have played a role with Trader Joe’s Trader Moon Wine Company’s 2018 California Honey Moon Viognier ($5.99), which earned the white wine sweepstakes award as the best white wine in the competition. Neither Delicato nor Trader Joe’s would confirm due to confidentiality agreements.