2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Results

I don’t pay too much attention to wine competitions because the wines are very briefly evaluated and the judging panels can vary in competency. However, the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is the largest in the world, with over 5,500 wines judged by 60 well-qualified judges. I only concern myself with Sweepstakes, Best of Class, Double Gold and Gold awards as these are the top awards bestowed on special wines only by a consensus of the judges. You can view the complete results of this year’s competition at www.winejudging.com. A public tasting of the medal winning wines will be held at the Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center in San Francisco on February 18, 2012.

Pinot Noir up to $19.99
Best of Class: 2010 Lucky Star $8.99
Double Gold: 2009 Picket Fence $18

Pinot Noir $20.00 to $24.99
Best of Class: 2010 Mark West California $24
Double Gold: 2009 Artesa Vineyards & Winery $24.99, 2009 Paraiso Vnyds Santa Lucia Highlands $24.99

Pinot Noir $25.00 to $29.99
Best of Class: 2009 Francis Coppola Winery Dutton Ranch $26

Pinot Noir $30.00 to $34.99
Best of Class: 2009 Fritz Russian River Valley $30
Double Gold: 2010 Hahn SLH Estate Santa Lucia Highlands $34.99, 2009 Handley Cellars Anderson Valley $32, 2009 Scheid Vineyards Estate Monterey $32, and 2009 Sonnet Tondre Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands $34.99

Pinot Noir $35.00 to $39.99
Best of Class: 2009 MacPhail Family Wines Sonoma Coast $39
Double Gold: 2009 Artevino Anderson Valley $36, 2009 Fog Crest Vineyards Laguna West Russian River Valley $39, 2008 Mendelson Vineyards Doctor’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands $35, and 2008 Nicholson Ranch Sonoma Valley Estate $38

Pinot Noir $40.00 to $49.99
Best of Class: 2009 Davis Family Vineyards Horseshoe Bend Russian River Valley $42
Double Gold: 2009 Bargetto Regen Estate Reserve Russian River Valley $46, 2009 Flying Goat Cellars Rancho Santa Rosa Sta. Rita Hills $46, 2009 Kokomo Peters Vineyard Sonoma Coast $48, 2008 Stoller Vineyards SV Estate Dundee Hills $40, 2007 Truckee River Winery Garys’ Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands $45

Pinot Noir over $50.00
Best of Class: 2008 Wild Horse Cheval Sauvage Santa Maria Valley $60
Double Gold: 2009 Archery Summit Arcus Dundee Hills $85, 2009 Graton Ridge Cellars Paul Family Estate $50, and 2009 Kenneth Volk Vineyards Enz Vineyard $60