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Gold Medal Award Winners-San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
January 2009
This year for the first time, the Cloverdale Citrus Fair in San Francisco, California awarded not one, but two coveted gold medals to Coeur d'Alene Cellars, one for 2006 Opulence and one for the 2007 Washington Viognier. Over a 4 day period last week, a panel of 60 wine judges evaluated 4,235 wines from all the major wine regions of the world, maintaining their 26 year long tradition as the largest wine competition in the world and a leader in wine judging. A public tasting event on February 28 from 2-5 pm will spotlight the gold medal winners with proceeds benefiting the Santa Rosa Junior College Wine Studies and Culinary Arts Program.
Coeur d'Alene Cellars' owner, Kimber Gates, sourced the grapes for these wines from Rob Andrews' McKinley Springs Vineyard on the Horse Heaven Hills AVA of the Columbia Valley in Washington State. Careful cultivation of these vineyards, combined with the windy, high plateau climate, bring outstanding, vibrant fruit notes with good structure and acidity.
Opulence fruit comes from one of the oldest syrah plantings in Washington. Coeur d'Alene Cellars bottled 661 cases of this 2006 premium Syrah, the fourth vintage of their reserve Syrah. Gentle cofermentation with 5% Viognier enhances the aromatic nose and the intense deep, dark, red cherry/berry fruit flavors, balancing the elegant, polished tannin structure with a smooth mouthfeel and a long, peppery finish. At $40/bottle, Opulence accompanies salmon, beef and bacon dishes deliciously, making any occasion or celebration special.
The 2007 Viognier, the winery's sixth vintage of this bold grape, exemplifies the effect of the Washington state terroir on this Rhone varietal. Long, hot, summer days and cool autumn nights create a flavor profile unlike viognier grown in other climates, creating apricot, peach, stone fruit flavors that lend themselves well to gentle French oak undertones and a creamy finish. Consistent scores in the 90's make this locally produced wine popular nationwide. The 424 cases released last July retailed for $20 per bottle but are sold out as of this printing.
Gates has expanded the winery's repertoire to 14 wines and 4200 cases, all vinted from hand picked grapes sourced from nearby highly acclaimed Columbia Valley growers. The production facility is located at 3890 Schreiber Way in the Commerce Park off of Kathleen Avenue and welcomes wine tasters and tours daily except Sunday. It is also available online at www.cdacellars.com.
For more information on the Cloverdale Citrus Fair Wine Competition, see www.winejudging.com.
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