Here Come De Judge...

Yesterday I got roped into being a judge for the home winemaker competition at the Calaveras County Fair (and Jumping Frog Jubilee). Twelve judges convened yesterday afternoon at the Frogeteria (I'm not making that up) in Frogtown (the fairgrounds, and I'm not making that up either!)

Our panel of judges consisted of a local grower, a cellar rat, a candidate for County Supervisor, and myself. We judged a flight of assorted blends, a flight of Syrah, and a flight of Cab. We gave out two Golds and a handful of Silvers and Bronzes. The rest of the wines, um, needed some work - but most were quite survivable. Only a few were of a quality that could cause great consternation at a family gathering....

In general, any flaws consisted of too much oak, picking too ripe, and not finishing fermentation (some residual sugar or even fermentation in the bottle.) However, many of the wines were quite clean and delicious!

(In case you were wondering, I did not run afoul of a recent California ABC ruling regarding home winemaking competitions. I tasted, but did not consume! Thanks to the local Ace Hardware for the excellent spit buckets! For some wines, I really needed it......)

We also judged the Best of Show Red, a 2006 Stone Mountain "Road Rash Red", a Cab/Merlot blend (and only 12% alcohol?!?) That's a picture of it above right. Overall I have to say I went from slight dread to really enjoying the experience and am actually ready to do it again next year! I have a few more photos for you, but first...

UPDATE: Still no winner! (But I do have one entry that is as close to perfect as you can get without being dead on - and that person will win if I don't get a perfect guess.) Enter the Score Whore Contest! I'm ending it tomorrow!

First, some of my fellow judges...

The wine....

And the actual judging...