Best in class - 3rd Annual Under the Radar California

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Wonderfully complex, this double-gold Carignane earned unanimous gold from 12 judges. Sweet, jammy strawberry, plum, and black cherry that turn to stewed fruit as the wine opens. The fruit gives way to layers of pepper, lavendar, clove, charred wood, walnut, and marzipan. Rich, balanced finish. Spellbinding!

This wine leads with pronounced black currant, blueberry, blackberry, and stewed black plum. As it gathers steam like a freight train, there are layers of black currant leaf, clove, and leather, with a medium plus body softened by vanilla. On the finish notes of black pepper make a welcome appearance. Such impressive structure, balance, and complexity for a 2021. Simply outstanding. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 2% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot. 

Dusty, brambly black fruit highlight an exquisite, expertly made Cabernet Sauvignon. The most floral of Westerly’s new releases, with violet as the star and clove as the supporting actor. Black pepper, vanilla, pyrazines, and toast complete an array of decadent flavors and aromas. A natural successor to the 2018. This wine has restrained power as the 15.9% ABV plays much lower than that. So well balanced and impressively complex. A strong acidic backbone keeps the fruit fresh and will allow this Cab to age long and gracefully. Enjoy now or over the next 8-10 years. 

The full-bodied Amistad Sauvignon Blanc leads with pronounced tropical fruit aromas and flavors of pineapple and guava, wrapped around hints of pear and peach. Floral components of blossom and honeysuckle. Mouthcoating and rich, with a backbone of salinity that carries it through to a long finish.

Major Jason Mergenov (Ret.) takes home best-in-class for the second year in a row with his Rockets Red Fizzion Petillant Naturel. "Pet Nat"--a sparkling wine made by bottling the wine before the first fermentation is complete--is all the rage now among a newer generation of wine drinkers and gaining steam with experienced winos as well. Rockets Red Fizzion has playful, fizzy bubbles that deliver strawberry, tart apple, and cherry blossom, with a backbone of minerality. Add this to your summer rotation. A fun wine!

A deftly-made, layered Chardonnay. Initially shows green apple, pineapple, and banana and builds to lemon and minerality balanced with a touch of crème fraiche. Near endless finish. Crisp notes and warm flavors. Yin and  yang. This is evovled Chardonnay-making at its finest.

Matt Espiro Jaegar and Carolina Espiro's Fuil Wines earns a best-in-class for the third straight year. Their Solas Nua Chilled Red Wine delivers a wonderful balance of Morello cherries and vanilla, followed by red currant leaf, cherry blossom, and a touch of leather. A versatile, food-friendly wine that is a joy to drink.

Immediately pleasant, sweetly elegant, with minerality like cool a forest stone. Fruits are present--cherry and strawberry--but well integrated into the structure of the wine. The age shows in wonderful complexity. Great wine, really enjoyable.

This is what you want in a California Zinfandel. Rich fruit flavors of jammy plum, fig, and blueberry. Black pepper provides a transition to darker fruits, followed by chocolate with smoky undertones. A long, meaty, spicy finish. Just a treasure from beginning to end.

Nero d’Avola is the most important red-wine grape in Sicily and has more recently popped up in Valle de Guadalupe and Mendocino County. This expression from St. Avalo in the Los Olivos District is deep purple in color and has a pronounced intensity of aroma and flavor. There are a plethora of identifiable characteristics that are impressively balanced. Primary descriptors: blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry, black currant, violet, black currant leaf, and wet wool. Secondary: toast, butterscotch, and chocolate. Tertiary: savory and vegetal. This wine has fruit on the midpalate that adds layers of complexity on the velvety finish. A high acid, high tannin, full-bodied treat that can be enjoyed now or over the next 7-10 years. Scores on this wine will only go up from here. Outstanding. 

St. Avalo’s Sangiovese exhibits impressive winemaking, as this medium ruby wine is mature for its age. Pronounced intensity of aroma, highlighted by deep red fruits, plum jam, and hazelnut on the midpalate, followed by eucalyptus, oak, toast, anise, black pepper, forest floor, leather, and amaretto. There is solid fruit development for a 2021, already showing cooked red plum, prune, and tar. It has the high acid and tannin you’d expect, with a long, long finish. It is ready to drink now but has outstanding potential for aging. Not as “grungy” as a Brunello di Montalcino, as it is a bit brighter and fresher, but not less enjoyable. A California spin on Sangiovese, and it is pitch perfect. 

Gamay Noir is the grape made famous in Beaujolais, particularly for its Beaujolais Nouveau style, a wine released the third Thursday of every November and made from that year’s vintage. It is a bright, fresh, red-fruit driven wine meant to be consumed young. This offering from St. Avalo is an excellent expression of the varietal. In the glass, it is the classic medium ruby color Gamay Noir fans expect. Floral aromas of freshly cut violets and potpourri with a sweet, red-fruit essence. Strawberry jam and Morello cherry on the midpalate, followed by cranberry, red currant, and red plum. The alluvial soil in Los Olivos District creates the ideal environment for the high acidity in this wine, which is pure Gamay Noir. It is fresh and clean on the palate with low tannin. The fruit builds toward an earthy finish that also features hints of white pepper and vanilla. This wine is young, fun, and easy to like. Perfect to serve with your holiday meals, and at 12.1% ABV, it is also, ahem, user-friendly.  

The highest scoring wine in the competition with one of our judges. Pronouned intensity of aroma and flavor. Kanzi apple (look it up!) on the midpalate, followed by pear, apricot, and peach. Honeysuckle on the nose. A hint of buttered popcorn integrated into brisk acidity. The mouthfeel is phenomenal: oily, luscious, viscous. Fantastic wine. 40% Gruner Veltliner, 36% Kerner, 4% Bacchus, 20 Gewurztraminer.

A rich bouquet: floral with a hint of vanilla, plum, berries, sassafras root, green grass, and mint. Its earthiness creates balance and should develop more with age. Pipe tobacco notes as the wine opens up that stay on the palate a wonderfully long time. There's something new each time you return to it. The (double) gold standard in California Syrah, Noah Rowles' 2019 vintage was best in class in our 2022 competition.

A summer breeze! This dry Muscat Canelli features honey and mango on the nose. Hints of butter combine with green apple highlights in the mouth. Tropical fruits, lovely acidity, crisp and cool on the palate. A versatile, stereotype-busting wine that would pair perfectly with cheeses, nuts, sushi, and anything light and spicy.

Pronounced aroma of dark cherry, red currant, currant leaf, violet, and game. Builds to  pepper, turned earth, and 70% cacao. Graphite and bramble on the finish. A complex wine that evolves from first sip to last.

The honeysuckle grabs you and doesn’t let go, but does invite pineapple and peach medley to the party. The aromatic, juicy fruits are balanced by spicy ginger, pine, and herbal notes. This wine has a rich, creamy mouthfeel. Viognier is quickly becoming Fuil's signature wine. They tend to sell out quickly so grab your case now!

Light and bright aromas of green apple, pear, and peach drizzled with honey. Tastes similarly fresh with notes of citrus. Medium plus acidity and salinity add a raciness to the splippery mouthfeel. Touches of hay and almond on the briny, mouthwatering finish. Easy to love!

The aroma is powerful and delicious. Black currant, black plum, and pepper with sweet, jammy undertones. Blueberries soften the flavors.  Some tartness peeks out as does a charred wood aroma as you sip. Subtle earthiness and tobacco notes. This wine has layers of flavor worth discovering. 

Tasted by twelve judges, with all scores ranging from 93-95. Alicante Bouschet(!), Zinfandel, Petit Verdot, and Merlot. Bright and fruit driven. Black raspberry and black currant surround licorice, violet, and baking spices. The wine transitions to kirsch notes and caramel, with some toastiness and chalkiness. Supremely balanced with a long, alluring finish. Aptly named. 

Redtail (56% Syrah, with Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, and Grenache) has an array of descriptors. An inviting bouquet of red raspberry, cherry, spice, and sweet chocolate. Fills the mouth with a warm, delightful taste. Sweet yet savory. Spicy and earthy. As the wine opens it reveals vanilla, cocoa, strawberry, and blueberry flavors, as well as a touch of leather and black pepper. Threads the needle of complexity and balance. We dare you not to smile on the finish! 

Oh the color! If you subscribe to the belief that you first taste with your eyes then just looking at this medium salmon-colored Rose' by 3P Wine Company will satisfy your palate. The initial nose is herbal, highlighted by red currant leaf. The palate reveals Morello cherries, grapefruit, strawberry, and nectarine. This wine tingles the tongue, with a slight effervesence that makes your taste buds come alive. A long, tangy, succulent finish.

Pronounced aroma of warm spices, primarily cumin and sage. Dried red currant and dried raspberry on the midpalate that transitions to pepper and a touch of mint. Medium plus tannins and medium acid provide a nice structure. Supremely balanced. Impressively mature for a 2021. Rua (Gaelic for "Red") is ready to enjoy now, and enjoy you will!

Almost deep ruby in color. Pronounced intensity of aroma of secondary characteristics from first the smell: vanilla, oak, and cocoa. On the palate you find stewed strawberry, juicy red plum, cherry, and a bit of shiitake mushroom. Mouthcoating. Long finish. Impressiviey balanced for 14.7% ABV.