CWA 2010: Red Blends

(100 entries, 66 medals)

This is the largest category, partly because blends are increasingly popular, especially those that go beyond the big three Bordeaux varieties (cab sauvignon, cab franc and merlot). They allow winemakers more creativity and flexibility and offer consumers more complex and often better balanced wines. British Columbia dominated the medals, with Mission Hill’s obviously very successful approach, yielding two golds. Ontario’s riper 2007s also did well. There were almost as many comments from judges as wines in the category. Hard tannin was the most common complaint, but most judges saw improvement over previous years, and all agreed with John Szabo that “red blends are clearly the way to go in Canada.”

Gold

Mission Hill 2007 Legacy Series Compendium, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $45

Wayne Gretzky 2007 Estate Series Cabernet Merlot, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $22

Road 13 2006 Fifth Element, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $42

Mission Hill 2007 Legacy Series Quatrain, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $45

Cassini Cellars 2007 Maximus, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $29

Silver

Laughing Stock 2007 Portfolio, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $40

Niagara College 2007 Dean’s List Meritage, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $48

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2007 Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $20

CedarCreek 2008 Cabernet Merlot, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $19

Lake Breeze 2007 Tempest, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $35

Painted Rock 2007 Icon Red, Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $55

Blasted Church 2007 Nothing Sacred, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $40

Blasted Church 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $26

Mission Hill 2006 Legacy Series Compendium, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $45

Church & State 2007 Coyote Bowl Meritage, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $35

Road 13 2008 Rockpile, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $25

Nk’Mip Cellars 2008 Qwam Qwmt Meritage, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $30

Vineland Estates 2007 Reserve Cabernet Merlot, Niagara Escarpment, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $49

Cassini Cellars 2008 Maximus, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $29

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2007 Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz/Viognier, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $30

Seven Stones 2008 Standing Rock Meritage, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia     $32

Sandhill 2007 Sandhill Estate Vineyard Small Lots Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $30

Painted Rock 2008 Icon Red, Skaha Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $55

Bronze

Mount Lehman 2008 Cabernet/Merlot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $25

Sandbanks Estate 2007 Cabernet Merlot, Prince Edward County, Ontario     $25

Sumac Ridge 2008 Private Reserve Cabernet Merlot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $15

Church & State 2006 Quintessential, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $50

Sandhill 2007 Sandhill Estate Vineyard Small Lots Two, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $35

Thirty Bench Wine Makers 2007 Small Lot Benchmark Red, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $60

Dirty Laundry 2008 Bordello, Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia     $39

Peller Estates Okanagan 2008 Peller Family Series Cabernet Merlot, British Columbia     $15

Henry of Pelham 2007 Speck Family Reserve Cabernet-Merlot, Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $50

Hillside Estate 2007 Mosaic, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $40

Alvento 2007 Emilie, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $30

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2007 SunRock Vineyard Meritage, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $35

Nk’Mip Cellars 2007 Qwam Qwmt Meritage, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $30

Church & State 2006 Coyote Bowl Meritage, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $35

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan 2007 Grand Reserve Meritage, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $26

Clos du Soleil 2008 Signature, British Columbia     $39

Fielding Estate 2008 Cabernet-Syrah, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $25

Inniskillin Okanagan 2007 Dark Horse Vineyard Meritage, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $25

Lake Breeze 2008 Meritage, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $22

Hidden Bench 2007 Terroir Caché Red Meritage, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $45


Aces Winery 2008 Seven Deuce, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $18

Desert Hills 2007 Cabernet Merlot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $25

Aces Winery 2007 Pocket Kings Red, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $65

Van Westen Vineyards 2007 Voluptuous, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $30

Red Rooster 2008 Cabernet Merlot, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $19

Colio Estate 2006 CEV Meritage, Lake Erie North Shore, Ontario     $21

Mt. Boucherie 2007 Summit Reserve Summit, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia     $25

Dan Aykroyd 2008 Discovery Series Cabernet Shiraz, Ontario     $15

Road 13 2009 Honest John’s Red, British Columbia     $19

Seven Stones 2008 The Legend, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia     $45

Muse Winery 2007 Marvelous Matriarch Grande Dame Rouge, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $35

Angels Gate 2008 Cabernet Shiraz, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $15

Henry of Pelham 2008 Sibling Rivalry Red, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $14

Therapy Vineyards 2007 Super Ego, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $39

Arrowleaf 2007 Solstice Reserve, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $25

See Ya Later Ranch 2007 Ping, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $28

Hidden Bench 2007 La Brunante, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $85

Calamus 2007 Meritage, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $30

Creekside Estate 2007 Laura Red, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario     $23

Twisted Tree 2008 Six Vines, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $25

Sandhill 2007 Sandhill Estate Vineyard Small Lots Three, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $35

JoieFarm 2008 PTG, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $30

Church & State 2007 Cabernet Merlot, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia     $25

Union 2007 Red, Ontario     $14