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 “BOTTLE SHOCK” REDUX:  A.I.W.F. REPORTS CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS

 BESTED FRENCH BURGUNDIES IN A BLIND TASTING

MONTEREY, Calif., June 3, 2011- - -The Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Institute of Wine & Food (A.I.W.F.) has announced the results of its “Bottle Shock” competition, a blind tasting and comparison of Monterey Pinot Noir wines vs French Burgundy wines. The tasting took place on Sunday, May 29, 2011 at the Library Room of Tarpy’s Roadhouse in Monterey.

Four Monterey County Pinot Noirs and four French Burgundies were tasted and rated for appearance, aroma, body, taste and finish. Attendees scored the wines from one (best) to seven.

The first-place winner was Talbott’s Cuvée Sarah Case Pinot Noir 2009, Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands, Estate Grown. Retail price per bottle: $75.00.  Second place went to Figge Pinot Noir 2009, Pelio Vinyard, Monterey Appellation,

Carmel Valley.  It retails for $33.00 - $35.00 per bottle. Ventana’s Pinot Noir 2009, Arroyo Seco, Estate Grown was rated third.

It sells for $29.00 at the tasting room although it was noted that it sells for less in markets. Other wines tasted included Cima Collina 2005 Hilltop Ranch Pinot Noir;  Thibault Liger-Belair, Nuits- Saint-Georges, Cote D’Or, Vosne-Romanée;  Santenay Les Gravières, 2007 Premier Cru, Domaine Vincent Girardin and Vougeot Premier Cru Les Cras, Red Burgundy Wine, Mongeard-Mugneret,

Vosne-Romanée. Four of the top five were local wineries.

After the ballots were counted and the winners announced, Dan Karlsen, winemaker, Robert Talbott Vineyards;  Peter Figge, owner/winemaker, Figge Cellars ; Bruce Sterten, owner/winemaker, Ventana Vineyards and Evan Oakes, owner, Ag Venture Tours & Consulting substituting for Cima Collina’s winemaker, Annette Hoff, discussed the Monterey Pinot Noir wines. Wine experts Doug
Meador and Robert Alvarado discussed the French Burgundies.

Commenting on the success of the California Pinot Noirs, Meador observed, “It’s obvious that everyone here has a California palate.”

 Doug Meador, Ventana Vineyards Founder, discussing the merits of French
Burgundy with event attendees.