Robert Whitley Memorial Award Announced; Palazzo Wine and El Cristiano 1761 Tequila Take Top Honors
San Diego, Calif. (July 20, 2023) – The 2023 Critics Challenge Wine & Spirits Competition celebrated its 20th anniversary during the June 23-24 event at the Westgate Hotel in downtown San Diego. The anniversary was marked by naming the competition’s top wine award after Critics Challenge founder and wine journalist Robert Whitley.
“Twenty years ago, Robert had the idea to create a different kind of wine competition, one that gathered his fellow wine writers from around the country to bring their unique talents and worldwide perspectives to a blind tasting,” said Rich Cook, who has served as Competition Director since 2015. “We lost Robert in 2021, but his innovative spirit lives on in this annual competition.”
The inaugural Robert Whitley Trophy for Wine of the Year went to Palazzo Wine’s 2019 Left Bank Red Cuvée Master Blend Series, a Cabernet Sauvignon-based Bordeaux-style blend from Napa Valley. Chief Wine Judge Michael Franz described the Palazzo as having “very smart styling, resulting in a superb wine.” Palazzo also received Small Producer of the Year honors.
Other top awards included Eberle Winery of Paso Robles taking Domestic Winery of the Year, and Australia’s Zonte’s Footstep claiming Import Winery of the Year. Jean Charles Boisset’s portfolio showed quality across the board landing the Boisset Collection the Wine Company of the Year award.
The Spirits division had one of its strongest showings to date. Led by Chief Spirits Judge Michael Cervin, judges awarded Reposado Tequila from El Cristiano 1761 the Spirit of the Year prize. Courvoiser’s stellar line of Cognacs earned the venerable producer the Distiller of the Year award.
Wine and spirits entries represented producers from around the globe. In all, 685 medals were awarded, including 64 Platinums.
A recap of top awards follows. For a complete list of results, go to www.CriticsChallenge.com
Critics Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition, founded in 2004, has become one of the most prestigious wine and spirits competitions in the world. The blind tasting is judged entirely by noted wine journalists. Gold and Platinum winners receive publishable comments from the critics that award the medals, and Platinum winners are reviewed in WineReviewOnline.com or SpiritsReviewOnline.com. Critics Challenge is part of the Challenge Series of international wine and spirits competitions that includes the San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge (formerly San Diego Wine Competition), Winemaker Challenge, Distillers Challenge, and Sommelier Challenge.
DIRECTORS AWARDS – WINE
Robert Whitley Trophy for Wine of the Year
PALAZZO 2019 Left Bank Red Cuvée Master Blend Series
Napa Valley $50.00 Platinum 96 points
Winery of the Year, Domestic
Eberle Winery
Paso Robles, California
Winery of the Year, Import
Zonte’s Footstep
McLaren Vale, Australia
Wine Company of the Year
Boisset Collection
Napa Valley, California
Small Producer of the Year
PALAZZO WINE
Napa Valley, California
Best of Show Sparkling Wine
Castelnau NV Le Chemin du Roi Brut Methode Champenoise
Champagne AOC $160.00 Platinum 95 points
Best of Show White Wine
Lightpost Winery 2021 Chardonnay Reserve Spanish Springs Vineyard
San Luis Obispo County $39.00 Platinum 95 points
Best of Show Rosé
Dark Horse 2022 Rosé
California $9.99 Platinum 94 points
Best of Show Red Wine
PALAZZO WINE 2019 Left Bank Red Cuvée Master Blend Series Napa Valley $50.00 Platinum 96 points
Best of Show Dessert Wine
Jeff Runquist 2021 Sisney Estate Grown Peroni Ranch Amador County $40.00 Gold 93 points
Best Albariño
Miramonte Winery 2021 Albarino
Temecula Valley $32.00 Gold 92 points
Best Barbera
Eberle 2021 Barbera
Paso Robles $40.00 Platinum 94 points
Best Blended Red Varieties
Herzog Special Reserve 2020 Quartet
California $44.00 Gold 92 points
Best Blended White Varieties
La Vieile Ferme 2022 Blanc
Vin de France $11.99 Gold 92 points
Best Bordeaux Style Blend
PALAZZO WINE 2019 Left Bank Red Cuvée Master Blend Series Napa Valley $50.00 Platinum 96 points
Best Boxed Wine
Bota Box NV Dry Rosé
California $22.99 Gold 91 points
Best Cabernet Franc
PALAZZO WINE 2019 Cabernet Franc Reserve
Napa Valley $115.00 Platinum 95 points
Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Louis M. Martini 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley $42.00 Platinum 95 points
Best Canned Wine
Maker Wine Company 2022 2022 Alta Orsa Chardonnay Sonoma County $9.00 Gold 91 points
Best Cava
Poema NV Cava Brut
Cava DO $12.99 Gold 92 points
Best Chardonnay
Lightpost Winery 2021 Chardonnay Reserve Spanish Springs Vineyard
San Luis Obispo County $39.00 Platinum 95 points
Best Chenin Blanc
Baron Herzog 2021 Chenin Blanc
California $10.00 Gold 93 points
Best Dry Rosé
Dark Horse 2022 Rosé
California $9.99 Platinum 94 points
Best Fruit Wine
St. James Winery NV Blueberry
$8.99 Gold 92 points
Best Fruit/Grape Blend
Barefoot Fruitscato NV Lemonade
$6.99 Silver
Best Grenache
Miramonte Winery 2019 Garnacha
Temecula Valley $40.00 Platinum 94 points
Best Gruner Veltliner
Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards 2022 Grüner Veltliner Estate Grown Estate Selection; Hefeabzug Umpqua Valley $34.00 Platinum 94 points
Best Hybrid Wine (3-way tie)
JOLO Winery & Vineyards 2022 JOLOTAGE
North Carolina $39.00 Platinum 94 points
St. James Winery NV Project 1970
Ozark Highlands $18.99 Platinum 94 points
Carlos Creek Winery 2022 Minnterra White
American $24.00 Platinum 94 points
Best Italian Blend
Tostorreddu 2020 Tostorreddu
Isola Dei Nuraghi IGT $19.99 Gold 92 points
Best Low Calorie Wine
Brancott Estate 2022 Brancott Estate Flight Song Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough $12.99 Gold 91 points
Best Malbec
Zonte’s Footstep 2022 Violet Beauregard Malbec
Langhorne Creek $30.00 Gold 93 points
Best Merlot
Merriam Vineyards 2018 Merlot Estate Windacre Vineyard Russian River Valley $54.00 Platinum 95 points
Best Montepulciano
Zonte’s Footstep 2021 Rosso Cova
McLaren Vale $30.00 Gold 90 points
Best Muscat (Dry)
Navarro Vineyards 2022 Muscat Blanc Dry
Anderson Valley $25.00 Gold 91 points
Best Muscat (Sweet)
Barefoot NV Moscato
California $6.99 Gold 91 points
Best Non-Vintage Brut
Castelnau NV Le Chemin du Roi Brut Methode Champenoise Champagne AOC $160.00 Platinum 95 points
Best Petit Verdot
Jeff Runquist 2020 Reserve Petit Verdot
San Joaquin County $48.00 Platinum 94 points
Best Petite Sirah
Lohr Vineyards & Wines 2020 Tower Road Petite Sirah Paso Robles $35.00 Gold 91 points
Best Pinot Grigio (2-way tie)
Jacob’s Creek 2022 Classic Pinot Grigio
Australia $12.00 Platinum 94 points
The Simple Grape 2021 Pinot Grigio
California $15.00 Platinum 94 points
Best Pinot Noir
Kenwood Vineyards 2019 Six Ridges Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley $21.99 Platinum 95 points
Best Port
Jeff Runquist 2021 Sisney Estate Grown Peroni Ranch Amador County $40.00 Gold 93 points
Best Prosecco
La Marca 2021 Prosecco Rosé
Prosecco DOC $19.00 Gold 91 points
Best Red Rhone Blend
Basalt Cellars 2020 Rick’s Red
Washington State $30.00 Gold 91 points
Best Riesling
Walnut Creek 2022 Riesling
American $14.99 Platinum 94 points
Best Sangiovese
Jeff Runquist 2021 Sangiovese Pioneer Hill Vineyard Amador County $29.00 Platinum 94 points
Best Sauvignon Blanc
Rabble 2022 Sauvignon Blanc
Central Coast $17.99 Platinum 94 points
Best Shiraz
Wakefield 2020 St Andrews Shiraz
Clare Valley $80.00 Gold 93 points
Best Sparkling Rosé
Castelnau NV Le Chemin du Roi Brut Rosé Methode Champenoise Champagne AOC $299.00 Platinum 94 points
Best Spirits Barrel Aged Wine
1924 2021 Whiskey Barrel Aged Red Blend
California $21.00 Gold 90 points
Best Super Tuscan Style
Le Vigne 2019 Cuore Della Vigna Estate Grown
Paso Robles $54.00 Gold 92 points
Best Syrah
Heirloom Vineyards 2021 Syrah
Adelaide Hills $40.00 Platinum 94 points
Best Tempranillo
Miramonte Winery 2019 Tempranillo
Temecula Valley $47.00 Platinum 94 points
Best Vermentino
Barboursville Vineyards 2022 Vermentino Reserve
Virginia $23.00 Gold 91 points
Best Vintage Brut (2-way tie)
Domaine Carneros 2018 Estate Brut Methode Traditionnelle Estate Grown Carneros $38.00 Gold 93 points
Trump Winery 2016 Reserve Brut Estate Bottled
Monticello $74.99 Gold 93 points
Best Viognier
Trump Winery 2021 Viognier
Monticello $29.99 Platinum 94 points
Best Zinfandel
Eberle 2021 Zinfandel
Paso Robles $35.00 Platinum 95 points
DIRECTORS AWARDS – SPIRITS
Spirit of the Year
El Cristiano 1761 Reposado Tequila XR Mexico $110.00
Platinum 97 points
Distiller of the Year
Courvoisier Cognac
France
Best Cognac
Courvoisier XO Royal Cognac France $285.00
Platinum 96 points
Best Gin
Highclere Castle London Dry Gin England $39.99
Platinum 94 points
Best Liqueur
Sorel Artisanal Liqueur USA $40.00
Platinum 94 points
Best Ready to Drink Beverage
BACARDÍ Sunset Punch RTD $12.99
Gold 92 points
Best Rum
BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho Rare Gold Rum Puerto Rico $39.99
Gold 93 points
Best Tequila
El Cristiano 1761 Reposado Tequila XR Mexico $110.00
Platinum 97 points
Best Vodka
Ellison Vodka USA $30.00
Gold 92 points
Best Whiskey
Horse Soldier Premium Straight Bourbon Whiskey USA $49.99
Platinum 95 points
Best Whiskey, High Proof
Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition Premium Whiskey – Blend No. 017 USA $149.00 Platinum 95 points
