Walla Walla Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon tops wine judging

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – For the second consecutive year, Walla Walla Vintners has the top wine in the Walla Walla Valley.

Winemaker William vonMetzger’s 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon using grapes from five top Walla Walla Valley vineyards earned best of show at the third annual Walla Walla Valley Wine Competition. The competition took place June 16 at Walla Walla Community College.

VonMetzger’s 2012 Merlot also earned a double gold and best of class.

Walla Walla Vintners is one of the oldest wineries in the Walla Walla Valley, having launched in the mid-1990s by Myles Anderson and Gordy Venneri. VonMetzger joined the Walla Walla Vintners team in 2002. A year ago, the winery’s 2012 Cabernet Franc won best of show at the judging.

The wines by Victor Palencia, owner and winemaker for Palencia Winery at the Walla Walla Regional Airport, showed exceptionally well. His 2014 Sauvignon Blanc earned best white wine, while is Vino La Monarcha 2013 Malbec won a unanimous double gold. Additionally, five more of his wines won gold medals.

Bergevin Lane Vineyards won a double gold and best of class for its inexpensive 2012 Calico Red, while its 2012 She-Devil Syrah won a gold and best of class.

And Plumb Cellars and Grantwood Winery each won double golds and two gold medals.

The Walla Walla Valley Wine Competition is conducted by Great Northwest Wine, and proceeds from the competition fund a scholarship for students at Walla Walla Community College’s vaunted Center for Enology & Viticulture.

The judges for this year’s competition were: Hank Sauer, a Walla Walla native and longtime Northwest wine competition and education professional; Ken Robertson, columnist for Wine Press Northwest magazine; and Mike Rader and Paul Sinclair, both members of Great Northwest Wine’s tasting panel.

Here are the full results:

Best of show

Walla Walla Vintners 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $38

Best white wine

Palencia Winery 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Columbia Valley, $18

Double gold/best of class

Bergevin Lane Vineyards 2012 Calico Red, Columbia Valley, $15

Grantwood Winery 2013 Petit Verdot, Walla Walla Valley, $22

Saviah Cellars 2013 Dugger Creek Vineyard Barbera, Walla Walla Valley, $30

Walla Walla Vintners 2012 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $30

Gold/Best of class

Bergevin Lane Vineyards 2012 She-Devil Syrah, Columbia Valley, $24

Double gold

Long Shadows Vintners 2014 Poet’s Leap Riesling, Columbia Valley, $20

Long Shadows Vintners 2012 Nine Hats Red, Columbia Valley, $25

Plumb Cellars 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $36

Vino La Monarcha 2013 Malbec, Wahluke Slope, $20

Woodward Canyon Winery 2011 Estate Reserve, Walla Walla Valley, $79

Gold

Adamant Cellars 2012 Winemaker’s Select Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley, $42

Dumas Station Wines 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $38

Five Star Cellars 2009 Stellar, Walla Walla Valley, $48

Grantwood Winery 2013 Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley, $18

Grantwood Winery 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $22

L’Ecole No 41 2013 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Luminesce, Walla Walla Valley, $22

Otis Kenyon Wine 2012 Malbec, Washington, $40

Otis Kenyon Wine 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $36

Palencia Winery 2014 Albariño, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley, $18

Palencia Winery 2013 Grenache, Yakima Valley, $36

Palencia Winery 2013 Casa Amarilla, Yakima Valley, $36

Palencia Winery 2013 Syrah, Yakima Valley, $30

Plumb Cellars 2010 Damn Straight, Columbia Valley, $32

Plumb Cellars 2012 Estate Sangiovese, Walla Walla Valley, $24

Tertulia Cellars 2014 Whistling Hills Estate Vineyard Viognier, Walla Walla Valley, $20

Tertulia Cellars 2012 Riviere Galets Estate Vineyard Reserve GSM, Walla Walla Valley, $55

Vino La Monarcha 2014 Pinot Grigio, Columbia Valley, $15

Woodward Canyon Winery 2012 Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $99

Woodward Canyon Winery 2013 Estate Dolcetto, Walla Walla Valley, $26

Silver

Adamant Cellars 2012 Winemaker’s Select Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $42

Five Star Cellars 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $36

Five Star Cellars 2011 Sangiovese, Walla Walla Valley, $30

Grantwood Winery 2013 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $15

Grantwood Winery 2013 Heritage, Walla Walla Valley, $16

Grantwood Winery 2013 Zinfandel, Walla Walla Valley, $19

L’Ecole No 41 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $40

L’Ecole No 41 2012 Estate Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, $37

L’Ecole No 41 2012 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Apogee, Walla Walla Valley, $50

L’Ecole No 41 2012 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Perigee, Walla Walla Valley, $50

L’Ecole No 41 2012 Seven Hills Vineyard Estate Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $37

Long Shadows Vintners 2014 Dance Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills, $37

Morrison Lane 2014 Viognier, Walla Walla Valley, $24

Morrison Lane 2012 Carménère, Walla Walla Valley, $32

Morrison Lane 2012 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $36

Otis Kenyon Wine 2013 Roussanne, Columbia Valley, $20

Otis Kenyon Wine 2012 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $30

Saviah Cellars 2011 Malbec, Walla Walla Valley, $30

Saviah Cellars 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, $30

Saviah Cellars 2012 GSM, Walla Walla Valley, $38

Saviah Cellars 2012 The Stones Speak Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $55

Tempus Cellars 2012 Grenache, Yakima Valley, $25

Tempus Cellars 2011 Sagemoor Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $32

Tero Estates 2012 Windrow Vineyards Petit Verdot, Walla Walla Valley, $41

Tero Estates 2012 S.T. Red Wine, Columbia Valley, $38

Tero Estates 2011 Windrow, Walla Walla Valley, $45

Tertulia Cellars 2012 Riviere Galets Vineyard Estate Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $35

Vino La Monarcha 2012 Merlot, Columbia Valley, $20

Vino La Monarcha 2013 Sangiovese, Wahluke Slope, $20

Walla Walla Vintners 2013 Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley, $32

Walla Walla Vintners 2013 Sangiovese, Columbia Valley, $25

Walla Walla Vintners 2012 Estate Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $40

Woodward Canyon Winery 2013 Chardonnay, Washington, $66

Woodward Canyon Winery 2014 Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Walla Walla Valley, $29

Woodward Canyon Winery 2012 Artist Series #21 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $59

Bronze

Tempus Cellars 2013 Evergreen Vineyard Riesling, Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley, $18