Wiley Coyote Angela Hoxsey scopes out a potential medal winner.
It is remarkable the amazing organization of this event!
As we're tasting one "flight" of wines, the tasting coordinating crew
is busy pouring another set for us.
As the panel awards medals for various wines, the tasting coordinator crew chief
tabulates the results. Two judges must then sign the results page,
verifying their findings.
Chef Ann Walker is always in tune with the various herb and spice notes of the
wines. She's panned quite a few of them, but praised others.
Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the crew in the backroom pouring the wines.
One panel was, apparently, being punished for previous years' work and was
saddled with a number of flights of 2000 vintage California Cabernets.
"The Angry Panel!"
Judge Ron Washam says he'd like to "wash his hands (and palate) of
these poor wines!"
Despite the apparent torturous task, Jeffery Stivers manages to have a laugh.
"I'm taking these off my wine list!"
Steve Bell, another member of the K Group, says "Most of these wines are Ø
for K. They're not O-K!"
Grape Gal Catherine Fallis, also known as "Imelda" according to some
judges (who know of her shoe collecting fetish), hoists a couple of winners.
Her Champagne Saber is safely hidden under the table.
Ms. Fallis may, indeed, be from another planet.
"It's kind of fun tasting with a bunch of Earthlings!" says the
Aquatic grape goddess.
Eno-scribe Scott Clemens says he prefers stereophonic wines. "They're
more harmonious than those monolithic efforts. I find these to have a nice
rhythm, but you can't dance to them."
"Gee, what were they thinking when they bottled this stuff?" wonders
Wine Princess Denise Johnson.
Frank Melis covers the label of a favorite wine.
"Hey, it's a blind-tasting." he explains.
Another San Francisco Wine Mafia Member, Ronald "Lefty" Siragusa.
His violin case is parked under the table.
The Great Communicator (and Best Red of Show), Kimberly Charles.
"I'm a big fan of vin rouge, but then I like everything red."
Tim Teichgraeber speaks perfect Minnesotan. Yeah, you betcha, he's a font
of wine information.
Jordan Mackay is also linguistically-inclined and able to speak fairly good
Texan.
Meanwhile, The Professor is busy helping bring glasses to the table when he's
not crunching numbers.
One group of judges sent out for a glass of beer to "cleanse" their
palates.
Kat Ballou and her posse, Brian Baker, Eugenio Jardim and Debbie Zachareas.
These kids had a lot of fun tasting...We returned later to find they'd changed
from beer to tomato juice!
Okay.
Now you need to be careful as this page gets really twisted.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Adults only!
Meanwhile, Janet Dyer was the winner of this year's Purple
Palate Award.
Scary, I know.
Sorry. Apologies.
Thom Elkjer had the best "ear" for wine.
"I think I can hear the ocean waves in this wine, so I'm guessing it to be
a Sonoma Coast Chardonnay."
Here's yet another really scary photo.
The squeamish should not scroll down any further.
Please!
NO!!!
Famous journalist Alan Double Goldfarb shows off his dental work.
We had never before seen dental graffiti.
After all the results were tabulated by The Professor and our computer whiz kid,
we were invited to the sweepstakes tasting. This is where the judges
decide the best of the best. We had about 40 glasses to contend with.
Andy Blue insists, apparently, that the table for the Major-domo be festooned
with his favorite color, aside from double gold.
At this point, one of the chief organizers is thrilled to be able to see the
finish line from the home stretch.
Chandler Moore enjoys a lip-smacking sip of a double gold medal winner.
Carol Seibert is the "Big Boss" and manages to pull off another
successful wine judging.
We still have work to do!
The Baker tastes alongside a famous San Francisco Pitcher.
Leslie has made her picks, while "The Nose" Nase is still sniffing.
Then it's time to vote.
Andy and The Professor tabulate the results.
After the results are announced we sang "Happy Birthday" to Robert
"Call me Rusty" Albert.
The SF Fire Department had been on "Rust Alert" since the candles were
a potential fire hazard. We did noticed the ambient temperature of the
room escalated a few degrees when the cake was rolled in!
Rusty was quite adept in blowing out the candles (he's had YEARS of practice,
after all!) and disaster was narrowly averted.
And the winners are....
BEST BUBBLES:
1996 MOËT & CHANDON Brut Rosé
BEST WHITE WINE:
HERON HILL 2002 Ingle Vineyard (a s-Ingle vineyard) RIESLING
BEST RED WINE:
COSENTINO WINERY 2001 "M. COZ"
Many thanks to the army of volunteers who work so diligently and efficiently to
make this such an outstanding event!
Apologies to anybody whom I may have not captured on "film."
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