Trade & Media

Awards & Accolades

Downloadable Awards Sheet [pdf]

To receive the latest, condensed awards sheet, click the following link. This file can be used for display purposes, or for packing into press kits:

Pessagno Awards Sheet

Single Wine Awards Sheets [pdf]

Current Vintages

Previous Vintages

Chardonnay

2006 Intrinity™

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast, February 2009
"Marked by very ripe fruit that flirts with sweetness, this Chard nonetheless is dry. It also has crisp, mouthwatering acidity for balance. Shows complex flavors of pineapples, Meyer lemon custard, buttered toast and honey, with a bracing minerality." - Steve Heimoff
92 Points - Connoisseurs' Guide, December 2008
"More often than not, Chardonnays from this appellation come with an extra measure of body and weight, and this very ripe, very deep working confirms the point. Dense and dramatic with a distinct streak of honey and roasted grain in the nose, it is fat and very full in the mouth with unctuous flavors that abound in ripe apples, sweet cream and buttered toast. Its keenly placed acids keep it in good balance, and its decidedly dramatic style calls for very rich food."
94 Points, Gold, 1st Place - Beverage Testing Institute 2008 World Wine Championships for Chardonnay
90 Points - "Tangy and persistent Chard from Jekel and Lockwood alum Stephen Pessagno" - Anthony Dias Blue, The Tasting Panel
Silver - Appellation America - Best of Appelation 2008
Silver - 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

2005 Intrinity™

Top 58 0f 100 Cellar Wines 2008, 93 Points - Cellar Selection - Wine Enthusiasts' Top Wines of the Year and September 2008 Magazine
"This is a very low-production, best-of-barrels selection by the winemaker. It's an extremely tight, young wine, austere and almost searing in acidity, with a yeasty taste from sur lees aging. If you're looking for opulent, immediately accessible Chardonnay, this isn't for you. But the wine has tantalizing hints of grilled pineapples and nectarines, and the powerful structure suggests cellaring. Stash this away for a couple of years."
Beverage Tasting Institute 2008 World Wine Championships, 1st place with 95pts. - Gold Medal
Monterey Wine Challenge 2007, Bronze

2007 Sleepy Hollow Vineyard

93 Points, Wine Enthusiast of December 2009
“Shows the intensity that always accompanies Chardonnays from this vineyard. Explosive in pineapple crème brulee, apricot custard, pear tart, buttered toast and vanilla bean flavors that finish in a long swirl of spice. Crisp acidity and stony minerality provide structural balance. Now – 2012.” – Steve Heimoff, West Coast Editor
Silver, Silver - Bi-Medal - 2009 Lodi International Wine Awards

2006 Sleepy Hollow Vineyard

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast September 2008 Magazine
"Pessagno has a perfect track record with this cool-climate vineyard, consistently producing Chards of this caliber. The wine is tight in acids and flinty minerals, even showing new oaky tannins. But the exotic nuances of roasted peaches and grilled pineapples suggest cellarability. Best after 2008."
93pts, 3rd Place, Gold Medal, Beverage Tasting Institute 2008 World Wine Championships for Chardonnay
Appellation America - Best of Appelation 2008 - Gold
89 Points - Connoisseurs' Guide, December 2008
Silver - 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

2005 Sleepy Hollow Vineyard

Long Beach Grand Cru, Silver
Jerry D. Mead’s New World Wine Competition, Gold

2007 Lucia Highlands Vineyard

92 Points, Wine Enthusiast of December 2009
“Extraordinarily rich and ripe, with flashy flavors of ripe pineapples, guavas and pears, accented with oak-influenced crème brulee, cinnamon toast and vanilla. Crisp acidity fortunately provides brightness and balance. Drink now.” Editors Choice. – Steve Heimoff, West Coast Editor
Bi-Medal - 2009 Lodi International Wine Awards

2006 Lucia Highlands Vineyard

89 Points - Wine Enthusiast September 2008 Magazine
" Very tight now, with minerally, yeasty flavors of lees and unintegrated smokey new oak. High acidity adds to the impression of austerity. Difficult to appreciate in it's infancy, but this elegant, layered, complex Chard should begin to blossom after 2008 and hold for several years."
Beverage Tasting Institute 2008 World Wine Championships, 88pts. - Silver Medal

2005 Lucia Highlands Vineyard

Monterey County Fair 2007, Silver
Jerry D. Mead’s New World Wine Competition, Gold

Pinot Noir

2007 Central Avenue Vineyard

90 Points, Editor's Choice - Wine Enthusiast, October 2009
“Impressive for the way the cherry fruit explodes in the mouth, so rich and opulent, then turns wonderfully dry and clean on the finish. It’s a beautiful Pinot Noir, silky and spice. At this price it’s perfect for restaurants.” Editor’s Choice – Steve Heimoff
Diversity Tri-Medal - 2009 Lodi International Wine Awards

2006 Central Avenue Vineyard

90 Points, Gold - Beverage Testing Institute 2008 World Wine Championships for Pinot Noir
87 Points - Wine Enthusiast September 2008 Magazine
"Light in structure and made for early drinking, this Pinot is crisp and dry, with cherry, cola and minty flavors. High acidity gives it a searing taste that calls for rich fare, like ahi tuna tartare."

2005 Central Avenue Vineyard

Monterey County Fair 2007, Silver
Spring 2007 Bounty Hunter Catalog
"What a bargain! Our tasting panel was betting on a much larger price tag, and we were thrilled to discover our folly! A dramatic nose of cherry-berry fruits and cinnamon comes spilling out of the glass, and the palate impression is laced with grip and fruit tannin. Single-vineyard Pinot of this quality for $21.00 is almost unheard of these days!"
Monterey Wine Challenge 2007, Silver
2007 San Diego Wine Competition, Bronze
Jerry D. Mead’s New World Wine Competition, Best of class Gold

2006 Lucia Highlands Vineyard

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast September 2008 Magazine
"Here's a savory, delicious and varietally true Pinot Noir that drinks well right away, but has the structural integrity for the cellar. With crisp, dry flavors of cherries, pomegranates, cola, tobacco, and Chinese five-spice, it appeals for its exotic immediacy, but has the density to evolve for 5 to 6 years."
92 Points, Gold - Beverage Testing Institute 2008 World Wine Championships for Pinot Noir

2005 Lucia Highlands Vineyard

Long Beach Grand Cru, Silver

2007 Idyll Times Vineyard

90 Points - Wine Enthusiast
“Immature and direct in cherry, raspberry, orange zest and cola flavors, with additional notes of annise and sandalwood, followed by a very spicy finish. Shows great structure, elegance, and depth. Should be better after 2-4 years in the bottle.” – Steve Heimoff.

2006 Idyll Times Vineyard

Gold - 2009 Monterey Wine Competition
Gold - Beverage Testing Institute 2008 World Wine Championships

2005 Idyll Times Vineyard

93 Points, 3rd Place, Gold - Beverage Testing Institute 2008 World Wine Championships

2007 Four Boys™ Vineyard

93 Points, Editor's Choice - Wine Enthusiast
"Only 208 cases were produced of this exceptionally ripe, attractive Pinot Noir. It’s big in cherry, raspberry, currant, cola, cocoa, raisin, spice and sweet sandalwood flavors that are framed in rich tannins and brightened with crisp acidity. Yet it’s young and freshly primary. Should begin to resolve after 2010, if you can keep your hands off." Cellar Selection. — Steve Heimoff

2006 Four Boys™ Vineyard

96 Points - Wine Enthusiast, March 2009 Issue
"Just gorgeous, an absolutely wonderful Pinot Noir to drink. Fully dry and crisp in coastal acidity; it shows rich, complex flavors of cherries, red currants and mocha, with a grounding, earthy animality suggesting grilled mushrooms and beef jerky. Beautiful now, and should gradually improve for a decade." - Steve Heimoff
94 Points, Gold, 1st Place - Beverage Testing Institute 2008 World Wine Championships for Pinot Noir

2005 Four Boys™ Vineyard

90 Points - Wine Enthusiast September 2008 Magazine
Monterey County Fair 2007, Gold

2004 Four Boys™ Vineyard

Monterey Wine Challenge 2007, Silver

Port

2005 Hames Valley Vineyard

91 Points, Gold - Beverage Testing Institute

2004 Ouro - Perelli 101

88 Points, Silver - Beverage Testing Institute

2002 Hames Valley Vineyard

Gold - 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
88 Points - Wine Enthusiast September 2008 Magazine
"The great sweetness of this wine makes it's success. It's just delicious, offering up a mouthful of chocolate-covered cherry candy flavors with the sharpness of cassis. Crisp acidity and fine, dusty tannins make it elegant."

2000 Hames Valley Vineyard

Monterey Wine Competition, Silver
Monterey Wine Competition Peoples Choice
Orange County Fair, Silver
San Francisco International Wine Competition, Bronze

Sauvignon Blanc Late Harvest

2006 Griva Vineyard

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast September 2008 Magazine
"This is a half-bottle of Sauvignon Blanc grown in the Arroyo Seco, one of the best sources in California for crisp white wines. With residual sugar of 18.4%, it's very sweet, but it's not a sugar bomb. You'll find complex flavors of pineapples, apricots, vanilla custard, honey and creme brulee, backed up with firm acidity that makes the wine finish clean."

2005 Griva Vineyard

88 Points, Highly Recommended, 2007 Beverage Testing Institute, World Wine Championships, Silver

Ten Year Tawny

91 Points - Wine Enthusiast September 2008 Magazine
"Very sweet and delicious, a true Port-style wine that's high in acidity and packed with tannins. But the sugar level is so high, it makes the wine drinkable now. The flavors are of chocolate, red currants and vanilla."

Zinfandel

2007 Idyll Times Vineyard

96 Points, Platinum Medal, 1st Place– Beverage Testing Institute
"Deep ruby black color. Rich berry pie, nougat and pina colada creme brulee aromas follow through on a round, satiny entry to a fruity full body with highly concentrated depth, tangy acidity and bright craisin notes. Finishes with a very long, seamless raisin, chocolate and spice accented fade. Outrageously delicious.."

2006 Idyll Times Vineyard

Silver - 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

2005 Idyll Times Vineyard

94 Points, "Exceptional," 2008 Beverage Testing Institute World Wine Championships, Gold

2003 Idyll Times Vineyard

Beverage Tasting Institute World Wine Championships, Silver Medal, 88 Points, “Highly Recommended"
Orange County Fair, Silver
Monterey Wine Competition, Silver
Jerry D. Mead’s New World Wine Competition, Bronze

Syrah

2006 Idyll Times Vineyard

90 Points, Gold Medal – Beverage Testing Institute
"Deep nearly opaque garnet violet black color. Bright aromas of figs, raisins, and dark chocolate are attractive and follow through on a soft, silky entry to a fruity medium-to-full body with lots of ripe fruit and delicate spices. Finishes in a nice, warming peppery craisin compote fade with piquant acidity and light tannins. A sexy, hedonistic syrah with a very zinfandel like character."