Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/534849
Scene at: 2015 Roche French Oak Chardonnay named 'Best of the Best' fter two days of sipping and spitting, judges in the 2015 Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge awarded the title of "Best of the Best" to the Roche 2013 French Oak Chardonnay from Carneros. The Chardonnay earned 99 points and glowing praise from competition judges. "It was the standout at this year's event," said competition director Debra Del Fiorentino. "Judges said it was 'a slam-dunk favorite.'" Open only to wines produced in California's North Coast region, the third annual competition, co-hosted by Vineyard & Winery Management, was held April 14-15 in Santa Rosa, Calif. The assembly of judges included some of the North Coast's top sommeliers, winemakers, retailers, educators and media representatives. They awarded a total of 174 gold medals from a field of nearly 1,050 wines – the highest number of entries received since the launch of the competition in 2013. Only wines rated 90 points or higher were awarded gold medals. This year's competition sponsors included: Penta Water, Wine Country Shipping, Alsco, Graber Olives, Sonoma Wine Country Hilton, Costeaux French Bakery, Spring Hill Jersey Cheese, Sonoma Cider, Sonoma Gourmet, Chris's Stuff, Berkmans Spices, Pasta Sonoma, Bottle Barn, Traditional Medicinals, Tierra Vegetables, Taylor Maid Farms Organic Cof- fee, Recherche du Plaisir, F.A. Nino's Godfather of Sauce, Guayaki Yerba Mate, Gipson's Golden, Jim- town Store, Bloody Bob's, Add Garlic!, Neal Brothers Foods, G&G Supermarkets, Chalk Hill Cookery and Community First Credit Union. 3. 2. 1. Celebrating Northern California's Best of the Best 2 O 1 5 1 1 4 V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T | J u l y - A u g 2 015 B R O U G H T T O Y O U B Y B R OU G HT T O Y O Y O Y U B Y