Liquid assets
Everybody loves a winner, especially when it comes to wines. And plenty of champion bottles are there for the choosing, with the recent results announced from the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition. One catch: Many of the winning wines haven't been released yet to the public. So, for this week, we've singled out three medal-winning bottles from area wineries that are ready to purchase:
Michael-David Winery 2007 Petite Petit (14.5 percent alcohol, $18): Petite sirah showed especially well at the competition, and here's a version that truly wowed the judges. Michael-David Winery's petite sirah scored 97 points and earned a double-gold award, and this inky wine probably left some stained teeth in the process. Look for pronounced black fruit flavors and vanilla-ish oakiness to go with that big jammy flavor. www.lodivineyards.com.
Nevada City Winery 2007 Barbera (14.7 percent alcohol, $28): There's gold in them thar hills – make that a double gold from the Sierra foothills. Nevada City Winery nabbed 98 points for its barbera, placing it in the same company as Jeff Runquist Wines' 2007 Barbera (a double-gold winner which, sadly for us, is just about sold out). But Nevada City Winery still has its winning barbera in stock, so give it a sip and see what a winner tastes like. www.ncwinery.com.
Lange Twins Winery 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (13.5 percent alcohol, $13): And now a nod to a "best of class" winner for sauvignon blanc. "Liquid Assets" tasted this zesty sauvignon blanc a few times earlier this year and has always been impressed with its refreshing lemon flavors and light mouth feel. Not bad for a winery in just its second vintage. www.langetwins.com.
– Chris Macias, Bee food and wine writer