MARCH 6, 2023 – Winners have been announced in the second annual Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge. A Pinot Noir from Russian River Vineyards (Sonoma County, Calif.) and a Rye Whiskey from Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey (Shelbyville, Tenn.) topped their fields to be named Best of the Best. A list of Best of Show winners follows this press release. For a full list of Best of Class and medal winners, click here for spirits and wine.
The competition was established in 2022, in conjunction with Los Angeles-based beverage professionals (representing both the on- and off-premise channels), to highlight the best of the best wine and spirits producers in the world, and to introduce those producers to the largest market of consumers in the United States.
Judging took place February 21-22, 2023. Says event producer Debra Del Fiorentino of Wine Competitions Management & Production, “The competition grew in its second year to attract close to 1,100 entries, and our judges were impressed with the depth in each category. The quality of product was fantastic!”
Even with the large number of entries, competition was stellar. In addition to the more than 100 Best of Class (BOC) category winners, hundreds more libations were awarded Double Gold (GG) and Gold (G) medals across the wine and spirits fields. When judging early rounds of a beverage competition, each entry is evaluated on its own merits — not comparatively — so every sample has a chance to earn a medal. Unique to the competition this year are two Platinum Score Awards, given to entries that earned a perfect 100-point score from their initial round of judges.
Described by judges as “Age worthy,” “complex,” “very round with great acidity,” “full-bodied” and “savory,” the Russian River Vineyards’ 2018 Austin Vineyard Pinot Noir was voted Best of the Best in the wine category, earning 99 points and a Double Gold rating.
“Austin Estate Vineyard was planted in 2005 by my mentor and world-renowned winemaker Anthony Austin,” says RRV winemaker and CEO Giovanni Balistreri. “I could not be prouder to win this competition with a wine that I made from grapes from his vineyard. This wine has always been stunning, from vintage to vintage, with its elegance, silkiness and purity of fruit.”
Uncle Nearest Uncut and Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey wowed judges with its “leathery,” “earthy,” and “Moose Lodge-class old-style rye” characteristics, as it marched to the top of the spirits sweepstakes entries to take Best of the Best honors.
“To create the Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey, Uncle Nearest sought out the best straight rye from New York and brought it back to Tennessee to rest and finish in barrels before being bottled,” says Victoria Eady Butler, Master Blender at Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. “Sourcing from New York rather than Tennessee, where rye grain doesn’t flourish, furthers the brand’s commitment to honoring its namesake, Nearest Green, by creating the highest quality whiskeys possible.” Eady Butler was further honored as Best Woman Distiller, a new award created to spotlight the amazing efforts of women in the emerging field of craft distilling.
The Los Angeles Times, which is media sponsor of the competition, will publish its own notification of the event and results in a future edition. Additionally, winning producers will be featured in a robust LA Times promotional campaign targeting wine, spirits and food enthusiasts. Next year’s competition will take place in early March 2024.
2023 Los Angeles Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge
Best of Show Winners
— Wine —
Best of the Best and Best Red Wine
Russian River Vineyards 2018 Austin Vineyard Pinot Noir (BOC, GG, 99 pts.)
Judges: “Age worthy,” “complex, very round with great acidity,” “full bodied” “savory”
Best Dessert/Late Harvest
Quady Winery Starboard Batch 88 (BOC, GG, 98 pts.)
Judges: “Cocoa bean,” “walnut shell notes,” “cherry plum compote,” “white spices,” “balanced acidity,” “lively”
Best Rosé Wine
King Estate Winery 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir (BOC, GG, 99 pts.)
Judges: “Lovely violet,” “juicy,” “lingering,” “sea salt”
Best Sparkling Wine
King Estate Winery 2018 Cuvée (BOC, GG, 98 pts.)
Judges: “Engaging,” “white cherries,” “golden raspberry,” “crowd pleaser,” “hint of fruit sweetness,” “Gravenstein apple,” “tiny beads”
Best White Wine
Bricoleur Vineyards 2021 Unoaked Chardonnay (BOC, GG, 95 pts.)
Judges: “Good acid,” “great mouth feel,” “pure Chardonnay flavor,” “seamless”
Platinum Score Award
Shale Oak Winery 2020 Syrah (GG, 100 pts.)
Judges: “Blackberry pop tart,” “cassis,” “smooth,” “cigar box,” “stupid good”
— Spirits —
Best of the Best Spirits, Best Whiskey and Best Rye Whiskey
Uncle Nearest Uncut and Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey (BOC, GG, 98 pts.)
Judges: “Leathery,” “earthy,” “Moose Lodge-class old-style rye”
Best Alambic
Jaxon Keys Winery and Distillery Signature Reserve Brandy (BOC, GG, 97 pts.)
Judges: “Almond,” “dried orange peel,” “caramelized sugar,” “cardamon”
Best Bourbon
E.& J. Gallo Horse Soldier Signature Small Batch (BOC, GG, 97 pts.)
Judges: “Sherry,” “Lapsang tea,” “just a touch of Ryan Reynolds,” “classic sipper”
Best Brandy
Calisco Spirit of California (BOC, GG, 96 pts.)
Judges: “Cherry,” “clean and fresh,” “juniper characteristic on the nose”
Best Cognac / Platinum Score Award
Sire Spirits Branson XO Cognac (BOC, GG, 100 pts.)
Judges: “Deep and rich,” “warm, inviting, satisfying,” “leather chair in front of a fireplace,” “phenomenal,” “exotic spice,” “cherry,” “orange”
Best Gin
Freeland Spirits Contemporary Gin (GG, 93 pts.)
Judges: “Nice balance,” “smooth,” “lovely mouthfeel”
Best Liqueur
JackFromBrooklyn Sorel Liqueur (BOC, GG, 95 pts.)
Judges: “Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg,” “sweet and delicious,” “Christmas in a cup”
Best Mezcal
Cutwater Spirits Mezcal Añejo (G, 93 pts.)
Judges: “Notes of dried pine needles,” “spicy sage,” “perfectly balanced,” “nice
mid-palate finish”
Best of Show Ready-to-Drink (tie)
Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery Apple Bourbon Mule (GG, 95 pts.)
Judges: “Zesty,” “good ginger bite,” “good balance and nice nose”
Cutwater Spirits Piña Colada (GG, 95 pts.)
Judges: “Sweetness on point,” “natural flavor,” “balanced,” “true to style”
Best Rum
Cutwater Bali Hai Tiki Dark Rum (GG, 97 pts.)
Judges: “Molasses dark,” “cola notes with almond spice taste and vanilla”
Best Single Barrel American Whiskey 10 Year
Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Rye Whiskey (BOC, GG, 98 pts)
Judges: “High style,” “sexy,” “complex”
Best Specialty Spirits
SLIQ Spirited Ice Whiskey popsicle (GG, ,95 pts.)
Judges: “Refreshing,” “crisp ginger slush”
Best Tequila / Best Tequila Reposado
Don Fulano Tequila Reposado (BOC, GG, 97 pts.)
Judges: “Complex,” “floral,” “fennel,” “smooth finish”
Best Tequila Añejo
Don Fulano Tequila Añejo (BOC, G, 91 pts.)
Judges: “Sweet vanilla,” “caramel,” “great finish”
Best Tequila Blanco
Don Fulano Tequila Blanco (BOC, GG, 96 pts.)
Judges: “Full, round,” “soft entry,” “wonderful lingering finish”
Best Tequila Extra Añejo
Cierto Tequila Private Collection (BOC, GG, 97 pts.)
Judges: “Full bodied with punch in finish,” “maple syrup quality,” “spice on back end,” “cinnamon,” “roasted almonds”
Best Vodka
Destination Brands VIDO Vodka (GG, 98 pts.)
Judges: “Rich, full bodied,” “long finish,” “apples and pear”
About Wine Competitions Management & Production
Wine Competitions Management & Productions (WCMP) produces more than a dozen wine, cider and spirits competitions annually, each carefully designed to appeal to a niche market based on regionality or style of judging. Judges are internationally renowned and respected experts. For more information, visit our website.
