Final Round of Competition

They started a wine tasting competition about 30 minutes ago. Guess who was out in the first round? Yep, that would be me. You'd think that I'd be able to tell my white wines apart...as in a Gewurz from a Pinot Gris...oh but no. 

They're on the final round now, the essay competition. There are seven people left...take a look.

Who will win.....? We'll find out momentarily.....

Ok how about now...

Not quite yet...the folks from CIA are grading papers...

Ok, she's talking...

Bob Ascher - Finalist 1

Michael Wangbickler - Finalist 2

Doug Cook - Finalist 3

All men...interesting.

The final 3 are now tasting one more wine for the grande finale! Now they're each picking one wine, then they will taste, and describe them to us, the audience. Well, they will when they return from the bathroom.

Ok - they're back. 

Michael is up first - he's tasted his white and is telling us about the wine now. He's saying it's a Chard from Russian River, 2006, pair with roasted chicken. Not heavily oaked and finishes dry. 

He was officially tasting.....drum roll please.....Sonoma Cutrer Chard, Sonoma Coast, 2006. Amazing! I need to work on my palate.

Doug Cook is up now. Swig, swirl, think. He's telling us about it now: Medium-deep ruby color, red currant and cherries, toasty oak, bit of acidity, alcohol sticks out. Not too complex, simple, pleasing. Zin, 2006, from Dry Creek

Officially he was tasting...2006 Rosenblum, Rockpile Zin

Ok, I'm fully impressed.

Bob Ascher is up next. Same deal - sip, swirl, taste, ponder. He says: Extremely tannic, finish is long and puckery, acidic, young, steak with it to cut through the pucker. 2005, Sonoma County (is that cheating?), didn't mention the varietal.

Officially he was tasting: 2004 Huntington Merlot

The results are in.....who's the winner??

DOUG COOK

Congrats to you and your CIA course prize!