2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

The results of the annual San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition were recently announced. There were 5,050 wines entered from 23 states. The Pinot Noirs were judged in seven classes depending on price. Listed below are the Best of Class, Double Gold and Gold award winners (wines reviewed in the PinotFile are indicated by *). No Pinot Noirs were among the Sweepstakes winners except the 2006 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Champagne Caves Brut Rosé sparkling wine ($42). Visit www.winejudging.com for the complete results and information on the judges. A public tasting of the award winning wines will be held at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco on February 19.

Up to $19.99

Best of Class: 2008 Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Noir $18

Double Gold: 2009 Poppy Monterey County Pinot Noir $14.99

Gold: 2009 Angeline Winery Reserve $18, NV Barefoot Cellars California Pinot Noir $6.99, 2008 Bogle Vineyards California Pinot Noir $11, *2009 Bonterra Vineyards Mendocino County Pinot Noir $19.99, *2009 Cameron Hughes Carneros-Napa Lot 199 Pinot Noir $15, 2009 Coastal Ridge Pinot Noir $6.99, 2009 Concannon Central Coast Selected Vineyard Pinot Noir $10, 2009 Cupcake Vineyards Central Coast Pinot Noir $13.99, 2009 Fat Cat Cellars Pinot Noir $8.99, 2009 Fat Monk Central Coast Pinot Noir $12.00, *2009 Fleur de California Carneros Pinot Noir $17, 2009 Forever Vineyards California Pinot Noir $10, 2009 Gnarly Head California Pinot Noir $10.99, 2009 Goyette Winery Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $14.99, 2009 Jargon California Pinot Noir $10.99, 2009 Mark West Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir $16.99, 2009 Montpellier Vineyards Pinot Noir $6.99, and *2009 Sean Minor Four Bears Carneros Pinot Noir $17.

$20.00 to $24.99

Best of Class: 2008 Diva Cellars Franscioni Family Vineyard Monterey Pinot Noir $24

Double Gold: 2008 CRU Vineyard Montage Central Coast Pinot Noir $20, 2008 Paraiso Vineyards Estate Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir $24.99, *2008 Montage Vineyards The Etzel Vineyard Ribbon Ridge Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $24.95, *2007 Wente Vineyards Reliz Creek Vineyard Arroyo Seco Pinot Noir $24.95, and 2009 Poppy Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir $24.99.

Gold: 2009 Pine Ridge Vineyards Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir $24, 2008 Willowbrook Cellars Carneros Pinot Noir $24, 2007 Peter Cellars Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $24.95, 2007 Philo Ridge Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir $24.00, 2008 Waterstone Carneros Pinot Noir $22, 2009 Castoro Cellars Blind Faith Vineyard Paso Robles Pinot Noir $21.95, 2008 McKenzie-Mueller Vineyards Real McCoy Napa Valley Pinot Noir $22.99, *2007 Buena Vista Carneros Winery Carneros Pinot Noir $24.00, 2008 DeLoach Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $24.00, and 2009 Francis Coppola Winery Diamond Monterey County Pinot Noir $20.00.

$25.00 to $29.99

Best of Class: 2008 Bloomfield Vineyards San Francisco Bay Pinot Noir $25

Double Gold: 2009 Hahn SLH Estate Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir $29

Gold: 2008 Kenneth Volk Vineyards Santa Maria Cuvee Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir $28

$30.00 to $34.99

Best of Class: 2009 Copious Winery California Pinot Noir $32

Double Gold: 2009 Balletto Vineyards Winery Block Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $34, and 2007 Per Bacco Cellars Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir $30.

Gold: 2007 Bianchi Winery Edna Ranch Edna Valley Pinot Noir $30, 2008 Cathedral Ridge Winery Dampier Vineyard Columbia Gorge Pinot Noir $32, *2008 Costa de Oro Winery Gold Coast Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir $34.99, 2008 DiFronzo Vineyard DiFronzo Estate Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir $30, *2007 Handley Cellars Anderson Valley Pinot Noir $30, 2009 Jigar Wines Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $30, 2009 Jus Soli Winery Bennett Valley Pinot Noir $30, 2008 Kenneth Volk Vineyards Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir $30, *2007 Ridgeway Two Pisces Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $32.95, 2008 Russian River Vineyards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $32, 2008 Sarah’s Vineyard Estate Santa Clara Valley Pinot Noir $34.99, 2008 Tulocay Haynes Vineyard Napa Valley Pinot Noir $30, and *2008 Verve Laetitia Vineyard Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir $33.

$35.00 to $39.99

Best of Class: 2008 Nicholson Ranch Estate Sonoma Valley Pinot Noir $38

Double Gold: 2008 Elodian Monk’s Gate Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $39.99

Gold: 2008 Asuncion Ridge Vineyards San Luis Obispo Pinot Noir $35, 2009 Carmel Hills Winery Monterey County Pinot Noir $39, 2009 Copious Winery Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $35, 2008 Dutton Estate Winery Karmen Isabella Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $39, *2008 Fog Crest Vineyard Laguna West Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $39, 2009 Frank Family Vineyards Carneros-Napa Pinot Noir $35, 2009 Graton Ridge Cellars Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $38, 2008 Hook and Ladder Winery Third Alarm Reserve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $35, 2007 Husch Vineyards Reserve Anderson Valley $35, 2007 Moshin Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $36, 2009 Pichetti Winery Truchard Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir $36.95, 2007 Salisbury vineyards Avila Valley San Luis Obispo Pinot Noir $37, 2008 Sierra Madre Vineyard Estate Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir $39.99, 2007 Silver Mountain Muns Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir $38, and 2007 Windsor Oaks Vineyards & Winery Estate 5 Dijon Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $35.

$40.00 to $49.00

Best of Class: 2008 Gracianna Bacigalupi Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $48 and 2008 Truckee River Winery Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir $45.

Double Gold: 2008 DeLoach Our Finest Selection Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $40, 2008 Matrix Winery Buoncristiani Reserve Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $45, and 2007 Mendelson Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir $40.

Gold: *2008 Benziger Family Winery Signaterra Bella Luna Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $49, 2008 De La Montanya Winery Christine’s Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $45, 2008 Erath Leiland Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $45, 2008 Fog Crest Vineyard Estate Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $45, 2006 Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves Vineyard Designate Carneros Pinot Noir $40, *2008 Kokomo Winery Peters Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $48, *2008 Pfendler Vineyards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $45, 2008 Sanford Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir $42, 2009 Soquel Vineyards P.R. Lester Family Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir $40, 2008 Tepusquet Canyon Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir $40, 2008 Tondre Tondre Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir $40, and 2009 Uptick Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $48.

$50.00 and Over

Best of Class: *2008 Benziger Family Winery de Coelo Quintus Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $70.

Double Gold: 2007 Baxter Oppenlander Vineyard Mendocino Pinot Noir $60, 2008 Fess Parker Winery Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir $50, 2008 Lynmar Quail Hill Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir $60, and 2008 The Four Graces Doe Ridge Estate Yamhill County Willamette Valley Pinot Noir $75.

Gold: *2008 Beauregard Vineyards Bald Mountain Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir $50, *2008 Canihan Family Cellars Exuberance Sonoma Valley Pinot Noir $59, 2008 Costa de Oro Winery Dijon Selection Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir $59.99, 2008 Fess Parker Winery Ashley’s Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir $50, 2008 King Estate Domaine Oregon Pinot Noir $60, 2007 Truckee River Winery Garys’ Vineyard Best Man Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir $60, 2007 Vision Cellars Rosella’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir $50, and 2008 Wente Vineyards Nth Degree Arroyo Seco Pinot Noir $55.