June 9, 2023 – There are some very happy wineries on the Central Coast after the results of the 2023 Sunset Wine Competition were posted earlier this week.
Hearty congratulations to the big winner, which was Brecon Estate for Best White and Best of Show with a standout 2022 Albariño from the Spanish Springs vineyard in San Luis Obispo County. It’s the first time the winery has put the new SLO Coast AVA designation on the label, according to winemaker, Damian Grindley. He says this cool, coastally influenced region helped put both Brecon Estate and Central Coast Albariño on the map. Get some if you can: it’s excellent stuff.
Best of Show Red went to La Storia 2020 Merlot, from a vineyard in Alexander Valley, under the tried and true Trentadue label. My Dad loves this brand, although he’s not much into red wine anymore. Made by longtime winemaker, Miro Tcholakov, he told me he chose a specific block of Merlot to farm for maximum quality. He said of the win, which required beating out 20 other reds in the Sweepstakes round, “It shows Merlot is back on top where it should be — and once was — as one of the best red varieties. I knew we could make a standout Merlot from this vineyard.” At around $34 per bottle, this stuff will restore your faith in Merlot.
Best of Show Rosé went to the ubiquitous Seaglass, made from Monterey fruit. It was described as light and delicate, with a pale blush and yet complex and lively.
Best of Show Sparkling went to a NV Sojourn Cellars Brut Sparkling from Sonoma County made by Rack and Riddle. It’s no secret that this winemaking team is behind so many excellent value sparklings at tasting rooms throughout California.
Two of my favorites wines from the Sweepstakes were the outstanding 2022 King Estate Pinot Gris from Oregon and the 2022 Penny Royal “Pino Trio” of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir, from Anderson Valley, speaking eloquently of the orchard fruit that made the region famous.
Here are some of the highlights from the local winners.
Bargetto Winery scored two Double Golds.
2020 Bargetto Winery Estate Pinot Noir Pommard Clone Santa Cruz Mountains (GG 95 pts)
2019 Bargetto Winery Estate Dolcetto Santa Cruz Mountains (GG 95 pts)
Clos de la Tech, from Woodside, scored two Golds.
2016 Clos de la Tech Domaine Lois Louise “Cote Sud” Estate Santa Cruz Mountains Estate, (G 94 pts)
2016 Clos de la Tech Domaine Valeta “Sunny Slope” Estate Santa Cruz Mountains, (G 90 pts)
Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards in Saratoga brought home Gold for the 2021 Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains (G 93 pts)
Cru Winery at the former Paraiso Vineyard tasting room in Soledad, scored two Double Golds and a Gold. Well done! And congrats to them on making both local and national news for being in Soledad, named one of the top 15 small towns in America by Smithsonian Magazine.
2019 Cru Winery Sierra Madre Vineyard Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley (GG, 96pts)
2021 Cru Winery Smith & Lindley Vineyard Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands (GG, 97 pts)
2020 Cru Winery GSM Paso Robles (G, 91)
Furthermore Wines garnered two Best of Class wins: one for Sonoma Coast and the other for the Santa Lucia Highlands.
2019 Furthermore Wines Nevina’s Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast (Best of Class, 98 pts)
2019 Furthermore Wines Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands (Best of Class 97 pts)
Gali Vineyards scored Gold for their 2022 Gali Vineyards Rose of Pinot Noir Estate Santa Cruz Mountains (G 93 pts)
Hahn scored a Best of Class for their 2021 Hahn Estate SLH Pinot NoirSanta Lucia Highlands (G 95)
Half Moon Bay Winery brought home a Best of Class for their 2021 Half Moon Bay Winery Mavericks Sauvignon Blanc, done entirely in stainless steel.
Idle Hour scored a Best of Class for the 2022 Idle Hour Grenache Blanc Santa Ynez La Presa Vineyard (BOC, 94 pts).
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines scored a Best of Class win for the 2021 J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines South Ridge Syrah from Paso Robles. The 2021 J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines J. Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles scored Double Gold and 96 pts, while the 2020 Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Helena scored Gold, 93 pts. Rounding out the red stampede was the 2019 J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Shotwell Vineyard Malbec Paso Robles (G, 93 pts).
JL Wood scored an impressive Double Gold in their first go-round at the Sunset Wine competition for their 2021 JL Wood Premier Chardonnay from Arroyo Seco, (GG, 97 pts). Owner Paul Morrison told us, “We know a good portion of customers like oak, and we did use French oak barrels with some staves to spice it up. However, we did not put the wine through ML. It is a wine where the fruit comes first and oak and spice are in the background, but contribute to a broader sense of fullness. We got a Gold Medal in the Winemaker’s Challenge and 93 points previously.”
Kings Mountain Vineyards scored a Double Gold for the 2019 Bacchus Estate Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains (GG, 95pts)
Lightpost Winery brought home two Double Golds and two Golds. Winemaker Christian Roguenant does it again!
2021 Lightpost Winery Saveria Vineyard Vintage Reserve Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains (GG, 95pts)
2021 Lightpost Winery Pinot Noir SCM Vintner’s Reserve Santa Cruz Mountains (GG, 96 pts)
2019 Lightpost Winery Sparkling Reserve Brut “Jules de Brut “San Luis Obispo County (G, 90 pts)
2021 Lightpost Winery Sta. Rita Hills Vintage Reserve Pinot Noir (G, 91 pts)
Noble Vines scored Gold for the 2022 Noble Vines 515 Rosé Central Coast (G, 91 Pts) and for the 2022 Noble Vines 152 Pinot Grigio Monterey County (G, 91pts)
Pelio Vineyards came home with three Golds for wines from the Pelio Vineyard.
2021 Pelio Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir Rosé Carmel Valley (G, 93 pts)
2019 Pelio Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir Monterey County (G, 91 pts)
2018 Pelio Vineyards Estate Chardonnay Monterey Estate (G, 92 pts)
Picchetti Winery came home with a BOC, a Double Gold and a Gold.
2021 Picchetti Winery Leslie’s Estate Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains (BOC 98pts)
2022 Picchetti Winery Sauvignon Blanc Arroyo Seco (GG, 96 pts)
2022 Picchetti Winery Mattie Ros é California (G, 91)
Sandar & Hem Wines scored two Golds for their just released summer wines.
2022 Sandar & Hem Wines Bates Ranch Grenache Rosé Santa Cruz Mountains (G, 91pts)
2021 Sandar & Hem Wines Mountain Winery Vineyard Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains (G, 94pts)
Storrs hit a Double and a single on this one.
2022 Storrs Sauvignon Blanc Monterey (Double Gold, 96pts) – Described as “the total package as a Sauv Blanc. Limey, tart, flavorful finish, concentration of fruit.”
2021 Storrs Grenache Central Coast (G, 93pts)
Most of these wineries scored slews and slews of Silvers also, but my keyboard is overheating already. Results can be found at: SunsetGoldWinners2023
The summary of the top winners and all the Sweepstakes wines can be found here: SunsetSweeps2023
About the author
Laura Ness is a longtime wine journalist, columnist and judge who contributes regularly to Edible Monterey Bay, Spirited, WineOh.Tv, Los Gatos Magazine and Wine Industry Network, and a variety of consumer publications. Her passion is telling stories about the intriguing characters who inhabit the fascinating world of wine and food.
