Tag Archives: Bee Hunter Wines

Art, Awards, Competition, Event, Festivals, Film, Judging, Sommelier, Video, Wine

Announcing. . . the 2024 SIFF Wine Awards Winners!

Leave a comment

Revealed during the Awards Brunch, hosted by Fairmont Mission Inn, at the Sonoma International Film Festival last Sunday March 24th. Watch the highlights, peruse the list for more details: Congratulations & THANK YOU to everyone involved!

SPARKLING WINE

DBL GOLD / 96 Pts   Breathless NV Blanc de Noirs Brut, Sonoma County

  • BEST OF CLASS / BEST SPARKLING WINE –SIFF WINE AWARDS 2024
Sharon Cohn of Breathless Wines

DBL GOLD / 95 Pts       Gloria Ferrer 2019 Brut Rosé, Carneros

DBL GOLD / 95 Pts       Breathless 2018 Pinot Meunier Sparkling Wine, Sonoma County

GOLD / 92 Pts              Gloria Ferrer 2013 Carneros Cuvée, Carneros

GOLD / 92 Pts              Glen Lyon 2021 “Lexy’s Toast” Sparkling Rosé, North Coast

GOLD / 91 Pts              Bennett Valley Cellars NV ” Cuvée Marina” Sparkling Wine, Sonoma County

GOLD / 91 Pts              Glen Lyon 2021 “Lexy’s Toast” Sparkling Wine, North Coast

SILVER                        Breathless 2018 Pinot Blanc Sparkling Wine, Reserve, Alexander Valley

SILVER                        Gloria Ferrer 2019 Blanc de Blancs Brut, Carneros

SILVER                        Larson Family NV Sparkling Wine, Carneros

AROMATIC WHITES (ALSATIAN, RHONE & ITALIAN WHITE VARIETALS)

DBL GOLD / 97 Pts   Larson Family 2022 Gewurztraminer, Estate Grown, Carneros

  • BEST OF CLASS / BEST AROMATIC WHITE WINE – SIFF WINE AWARDS 2024

DBL GOLD / 96 Pts       En Garde 2022 Viognier, Petaluma Gap

DBL GOLD / 95 Pts       Thirty-Seven 2022 Albarino, Estate Grown, Petaluma Gap

GOLD / 92 Pts              Anaba 2022 Viognier, Landa Vineyards Sonoma Valley

GOLD / 90 Pts              Anaba 2022 Turbine White Blend No. 02, Sonoma Valley

SILVER                        Muscardini 2021 Vermentino, Coyote Creek Vineyard, Clements Hills, Lodi

SILVER                        La Prenda 2021 “The Copper” Pinot Grigio, Napa Valley

SILVER                        Sebastiani 2022 Pinot Grigio, Russian River Valley

SILVER                        Glen Lyon 2022 “Suzie’s Toast” Viognier, Margarets Vyd, Sonoma Valley

SILVER                        Mountain Terraces 2021 Viognier, Estate Grown, Moon Mountain District

SAUVIGNON BLANC

DBL GOLD / 96 Pts   Laurel Glen 2022 “Blanc Slate” Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley

  • BEST OF CLASS / BEST SAUVIGNON BLANC — SIFF WINE AWARDS 2024

DBL GOLD / 95 Pts       Capo Isetta 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, North Coast

DBL GOLD / 95 Pts       Ledson 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Little Horse Estate Vineyard, Sonoma Valley

GOLD / 94 Pts              Zina Hyde Cunningham 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Estate, Sonoma Valley

SILVER                        Highway 12 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County

SILVER                        Kukeri 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley

CHARDONNAY

DBL GOLD / 97 Pts   Capo Isetta 2022 Chardonnay, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Carneros

  • BEST OF CLASS / BEST CHARDONNAY – SIFF WINE AWARDS 2024

DBL GOLD / 95 Pts       Buena Vista 2021 Eleanora’s Selection Chardonnay, North Coast

DBL GOLD / 95 Pts       Idell Family 2022 Chardonnay, Michael Mara Vineyard, Sonoma Coast

DBL GOLD / 95 Pts       Banshee 2021 Chardonnay, Sonoma County

GOLD / 92 Pts              Bennett Valley Cellars 2022 Chardonnay, Sonoma County

GOLD / 92 Pts              Ferrari-Carano 2021 “Tre Terre” Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

GOLD / 91 Pts              Anaba 2021 Chardonnay, Carneros

GOLD / 91 Pts              Larson Family 2022 Three Lab Chardonnay, Sonoma County

GOLD / 90 Pts              DeLoach 2021 “Fleur de Lys” Estate Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

GOLD / 90 Pts              Sonoma Creek 2022 Chardonnay, Sonoma County

GOLD / 90 Pts              Larson Family 2022 Millerick Road Chardonnay, Sonoma County

SILVER                        Bennett Valley Cellars 2021 Bin 5757 Uoaked Chardonnay, Sonoma County

SILVER                        Gloria Ferrer 2021 Vista Reserve Chardonnay, Estate Grown, Carneros

SILVER                        La Chertosa 2022 Reserve Chardonnay, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley

SILVER                        Ledson 2021 Chardonnay, Adelines Vineyard, Anderson Valley

SILVER                        Thirty-Seven 2020 Estate Chardonnay, Petaluma Gap

SILVER                        Sebastiani 2020 Butterfield Station Chardonnay, North Coast

Thankful for Danyelle Blue, helping organize our competition wines!

PINK WINES / ROSÉS

DBL GOLD / 97 Pts   Benziger Family 2023 Rosé of Grenache, Frank Johnson Vyd, Dry Creek Valley

  • BEST OF CLASS / BEST PINK WINE – SIFF WINE AWARDS 2024

DBL GOLD / 96 Pts       Lasseter Family 2022 “Enjoue” Rosé, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley

GOLD / 94 Pts              Ledson 2022 Counoise Rose, Redwood Valley

GOLD / 93 Pts              Ferrari-Carano 2022 Dry Sangiovese Rosé, Sonoma County

GOLD / 92 Pts              Muscardini 2022 Rosato di Sangiovese, Santo Giordano, Sonoma Valley

GOLD / 91 Pts              La Chertosa 2022 “Eye of the Swan” Reserve Aleatico Rosé, Sonoma Valley

SILVER                        Glen Lyon 2022 “Blush O’ The Boar” Syrah Rosé, Estate, Sonoma Valley

SILVER                        Capo Isetta 2023 Rose of Pinot Noir, Carneros

PINOT NOIR

DBL GOLD / 98 Pts   DeLoach 2018 “Fleur de Lys” Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

  • BEST OF CLASS / BEST PINOT NOIR – SIFF WINE AWARDS 2024

DBL GOLD / 97 Pts       Thirty-Seven 2022 Pinot Noir, Estate Grown, Petaluma Gap

DBL GOLD / 97 Pts       Banshee 2022 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County

DBL GOLD / 96 Pts       Gloria Ferrer 2021 Pinot Noir, Estate Grown, Carneros

DBL GOLD / 96 Pts       En Garde 2022 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

DBL GOLD / 96 Pts       Sonoma Creek 2022 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County

GOLD / 94 Pts              Capo Isetta 2022 Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Petaluma Gap

GOLD / 94 Pts              Kukeri 2021 Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap

GOLD / 94 Pts              Buena Vista 2021 Pinot Noir, Carneros

GOLD / 93 Pts              Bennett Valley Cellars 2021 Bin 5757 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County

GOLD / 91 Pts              Anaba 2022 Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Petaluma Gap

GOLD / 90 Pts              Larson Family 2021 Millerick Road Pinot Noir, Sonoma County

SILVER                        DeLoach Vineyards 2021 Pinot Noir, Van Der Kamp Vyd, Sonoma Mountain

SILVER                        Glen Lyon 2022 Pinot Noir, Parmelee Hill Vineyardd, Sonoma Coast

SILVER                        Bennett Valley Cellars 2021 Pinot Noir, Bennett Valley

SILVER                        Larson Family 2021 Three Lab Pinot Noir, Sonoma County

SILVER                        Larson Family 2020 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County

RHONE REDS (VARIETALS & BLENDS)

DBL GOLD / 97 Pts   Ledson 2021 Grenache, Ricetti Lane, Redwood Valley

  • BEST OF CLASS / BEST RHONE WINE – SIFF WINE AWARDS 2024
Celebrating with the Ledson family!

GOLD / 94 Pts              Lasseter Family 2019 “Chemin de Fer” Red Wine, Estate, Sonoma Valley

GOLD / 91 Pts              Idell Family 2019 “Compound” GSM Blend, Sonoma County

GOLD / 91 Pts              Glen Lyon 2022 Estate Syrah, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley

SILVER                        Idell Family 2019 “Oscar” Syrah, Sonoma Valley

RED WINE BLENDS

DBL GOLD / 98 Pts Glen Lyon 2021 “Squire’s Toast” Red Wine, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley

  • BEST OF CLASS / BEST RED BLEND – SIFF WINE AWARDS 2024

DBL GOLD / 95 Pts       Muscardini 2019 “Tesoro” Red Wine, California

GOLD / 91 Pts              Ferrari-Carano 2022 “Siena” Red Wine, Sonoma County

SILVER                        Idell Family 2018 “MB-5V” Red Wine, Oscar Vineyard, Sonoma Valley

ZINFANDEL

DBL GOLD / 96 Pts   Ledson 2019 Zinfandel, Old Vine, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley

  • BEST OF CLASS / BEST ZINFANDEL – SIFF WINE AWARDS 2024

GOLD / 92 Pts              Muscardini 2020 Zinfandel, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Moon Mountain District

GOLD / 91 Pts              Tom Mackey 2021 Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley

SILVER                        Sebastiani 2022 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

MERLOT & OTHER BORDEAUX VARIETALS

DBL GOLD / 97 Pts   Serres Ranch 2019 “Buchanan” Merlot, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley

  • BEST OF CLASS / BEST MERLOT & OTHER BORDEAUX REDS – SIFF WINE AWARDS 2024

DBL GOLD / 97 Pts       En Garde 2021 Petit Verdot, Moon Mountain District

DBL GOLD / 96 Pts       Highway 12 2022 Cabernet Franc, Private Reserve, Sonoma Valley

DBL GOLD / 96 Pts       En Garde 2021 Cabernet Franc, Knights Valley

DBL GOLD / 95 Pts       Ledson 2019 Reserve Merlot, Estate Vineyard, Sonoma Valley

GOLD / 92 Pts              Larson Family 2019 Malbec, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley

GOLD / 94 Pts              Serres Ranch 2019 “Watriss” Red Wine, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley

GOLD / 92 Pts              Benziger Family 2020 “Three Blocks” Estate Red Wine, Sonoma Valley

GOLD / 91 Pts              Larson Family 2021 Meritage Red Wine, Sonoma County

GOLD / 90 Pts              Thirty-Seven 2019 “The Hermit” Reserve Red Blend, Estate, Petaluma Gap

SILVER                        Ledson 2019 “Cepage” Red Wine, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley

SILVER                        Tom Mackey 2021 “Sirius” Red Wine, Sonoma Valley

SILVER                        Millerick Road 2020 Meritage Red Wine, Lake County

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

DBL GOLD / 98 Pts   En Garde 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley

  • BEST OF CLASS / BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON – SIFF WINE AWARDS 2024

With Csaba Szakal of EnGarde Wines.

DBL GOLD / 97 Pts       Laurel Glen 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Grown, Sonoma Mountain

DBL GOLD / 97 Pts       Laurel Glen 2019 “Counterpoint” Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Mountain

DBL GOLD / 96 Pts       En Garde 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Moon Mountain District

DBL GOLD / 96 Pts       Mountain Terraces 2019 Block 14 Cabernet Sauvignon, Moon Mountain

DBL GOLD / 96 Pts       Muscardini 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Madrona Ridge Vyd, Moon Mountain

DBL GOLD / 96 Pts       Serres Ranch 2019 “Marshall” Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley

DBL GOLD / 95 Pts       Sebastiani 2019 “Cherryblock” Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley

GOLD / 94 Pts              Sebastiani 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

GOLD / 92 Pts              Tom Mackey 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley

GOLD / 92 Pts              Capo Isetta 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Moon Mountain District

GOLD / 92 Pts              Sonoma Creek 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County

GOLD / 91 Pts              Banshee 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County

GOLD / 91 Pts              Buena Vista 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County

GOLD / 91 Pts              Ferrari-Carano 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County

SILVER                        Tom Mackey 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley

SILVER                        Tom Mackey 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley

SILVER                        Larson Family 2019 Three Lab Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County

DESSERT WINE & PORT

DBL GOLD / 96 Pts   Bee Hunter 2014 Late Harvest Riesling, Greenwood Ridge Vineyard, Anderson Valley

  • BEST OF CLASS / BEST DESSERT WINE – SIFF WINE AWARDS 2024

GOLD / 90 Pts              Glen Lyon 2021 Syrah Port, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley

SILVER                        Anaba 2018 Late Harvest Viognier, Sonoma Valley

Event, Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Wine

Rhone Rendezvous Is Back! At Gravenstein Grill on Thursday May 12th

Leave a comment

Join me at Gravenstein Grill for the 3rd Annual Rhone Rendezvous! We will be featuring incredible wines from some of the best wineries in Sonoma County, along with small bites by Chef Simontacchi, hosted on our spacious outdoor patio.

Get your TICKETS, which include a tasting with ALL of the guest wineries, including Acorn, Anaba, Bee Hunter, Crux, Donelan, Enkidu, Jeff Cohn Cellars, Longboard, Miner Wines, Ramey, Ram’s Gate, Scherrer, Trentadue & Truchard!

See you there! Christopher

20180913_194437
69736553_10217739969764697_1412444431021244416_n
41851556_1946957388720907_7345719975513948160_n
20200603_152211
Competition, Event, Festivals, Film, Sommelier, Video, Wine

SIFF: The Wine Awards 2021!

Leave a comment

Congratulations to the winners of our 4th Annual SIFF | Safe Harbor Wine Storage Wine Awards presented by San Francisco Magazine

Sonoma International Film Festival and our jury of tasting experts, led by noted sommelier Christopher Sawyer, toast the winners and thank all that participated. Watch the Wine Awards announcement on the SIFF Vimeo Channel and check out the details below!

Charity, Competition, Food, Sports, Wine

Positive vibes from the Super Bowl and Miami Food & Wine Culture

Leave a comment

Although it’s hard to believe: When Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami came to an end, everyone came out a winner. In the case of the Kansas City Chiefs, their dramatic 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers marked the team’s first Super Bowl win in 50 years. And, despite the disappointing loss to wine country locals, the game also capped off an amazing season for the 49ers: a young, talented team which made the miraculous transformation from a 4-12 record in 2018 to a 13-3 mark this past year, coupled with two convincing wins in the playoffs, which earned them the opportunity to compete for the coveted Vince Lombardi trophy on the 100-year anniversary of the NFL.

Beyond the players, the other big winners were the 49er Faithful, as well fans from the Chief’s Kingdom, and the over 6,000 members of the media attending the game on February 2, who also had special opportunities to explore the fabulous food and wine culture that has blossomed in the greater Miami area since the Niners won their last Super Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in 1995.

I am happy to say, I have been following the delicious wave of new culinary delights since I began judging the American Fine Wine Competition, which takes place every January at the Chaplin Center for Hospitality, on the campus of Florida International University in North Miami. To make this year more special, I got a taste of what 49er and Chiefs fans could expect with my fellow wine pals Charlie Arturola, Jacqueline Coleman, Peg San Felippo, Roberto Columbia, Wendy Rosano, Stu Nudelman, Henry Escobar and other judges attending the AFWC’s 13th Annual One Thousand Bottles: Sipping Through America, a special gathering held at the Chaplin Center on the FIU campus exactly two weeks before the kick-off of Super Bowl LIV.

In a nutshell: this fabulous event gives consumers, sommeliers, retailers, wine pros, and members of the media a rare opportunity to taste the top wines we judged earlier in the day, while sampling exquisite delicacies prepared by South Florida’s best restaurants and food purveyors, as well as newly released wines being poured by special guests from West Coast wineries. As an extra touch of class, proceeds from the get-together are donated to charity. And since 2007, AFWC has raised more than $1,000,000 for these local charities, including the Miami Dolphins’ admirable collaboration with the Tackle Cancer organization.

Standout bites at this year’s event included: a stunning array of fresh seafood delights from Krudo; a lobster sandwich on top of a purple Peruvian potato from The Blue at the Boca Resort; juicy, tender and smoky morsels from Nature’s Cut Organic & Grass Feed Beef, which raised in Uruguay and imported to Miami; and a very Pinot-friendly mushroom crudité from star Chef Stefano LaCava, who prepared the fantastic judges dinner the night before.

These and more tasty offerings provided by Cvltvra Restaurant, Ortanique, The Crepe Maker, Cooper’s Hawk, Nature’s Cut, Gatsby’s Joint, A Flair For Fudge and El Brazo Fuerte Bakery were also paired with delicious wines poured by our friends from DAOU Family Estates, Trujillo Wines, Hagafen Cellars, Kestrel Vintners, Staura Cellars, A. Torano Family Vineyards, Yount Ridge, Shadowbox Cellars and Bricoleur Vineyards during the event.

As the fun continued, I was able to savor more fine wines with Napa Valley vintners Chris and Shannon Hyde of Hyde Estate, Mike Henry from Acre Wine, FIU-grad Stephanie Honig of Honig Vineyards and Winery, as well as my other great pals Ali Nemo and Andy Du Vigneaud of Bee Hunter Wines of Anderson Valley. All this, while watching the 49ers punch their way to Super Bowl LIV with their convincing NFC Championship victory over the Green Bay Packers, which was broadcast on monitors in the Chaplin Center.

The following day, we judged the final rounds of the competition, which culminated with the sweepstakes round that matched the Best of Class wines in a head-to-head showdown in each category. Here are the big winners at the AFWC 2020:

  • Sparkling Wine: Mumm Napa NV Brut Prestige, Napa Valley
  • White Wine: Castello di Amarosa 2018 Gewurztraminer, Anderson Valley
  • Red Wine: Papapietro Perry 2016 Pinot Noir, Pommard Clone, Russian River Valley
  • Sweet Wine: Ferrante 2017 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, Grand River Valley, OH

The full details on all the Double Gold, Gold and Silver medal winners will be listed on the American Fine Wine Competition website soon.  Coming soon, look for my story about two special restaurants I visited during my visit to Miami in mid-January!