Summit Lake Vineyards' 1995, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley Emily Kestrel Cabernet Sauvignon, 92 Points Exceptional.

THE WINEVIEW, newsletter for wine lovers
Volume One, Autumn 2003, First Edition

Highly Recommended. Highly Recommended will be a regular feature of The WineView. In most cases I have tasted the wines twice or more. Prices may vary from one place to another. 1999 Summit Lake Zinfandel. Every year I tell the Howell Mountain folks "This is your best Zin yet." And so is this one. Maybe the best Zin in California. $24.

THE STAR WINE REVIEW

Indianapolis IN, Recalling '99's best Brings on the wistfulness About experiences The Wine View, By Russ Bridenbaugh

My favorite year-end "work" is to review the best wines of the year and decide which ones make the "Best Wines of 1999" list, Regarding those notes makes me wistful for the wines and often for the special circumstances surrounding their tasting. In nearly all cases, I have tasted these wines twice or more, and that is one of the hallmarks of the wines on this list-they were just as good the second or third time around. This year there are 20 American wines and 15 imports...So here is the list, along with brief descriptions. Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery 1996 Zinfandel, "Haunting beautiful nose and a flavor line that is relentless and beautiful. A premier grand cru of Zinfandel."

*** 1/2 stars

Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s, The Wine Advocate, Inc., February 39, 1998

The following are the Summit Lake reviews we have published since 1992, the rating of the wine, and the issue number in which the review appeared. I cannot go back further than 1992 as we do not have computerized records prior to then.

All the review are for the Summit Lake Zinfandel Howell Mountain;

• 1988 (87 points), issue #82
• 1989 (85 points), issue #82
• 1990 (89 points), issue #82
• 1991 (67 points), issue #87
• 1992 (87 points), issue #93
• 1994 (87-89 points), issue #105 (barrel tasting)
• 1995 (85-87 points), issue #111 (barrel tasting)

Orange County Fair Wine Competition

CONGRATULATIONS!

The 20th Annual Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Competition was held on June 1 and 2. The list below indicates which of your fine wines were selected for an award. Award ribbons will be shipped by the end of the month. If you do not receive your award by July 1, please contact the Orange County Wine Society at the above telephone number. The Orange County Fair's competition is the largest and most comprehensive judging of California wines in the world. This competition attempts to judge every grape wine made in California that is commercially available in Orange County. This year 2,305 wines were judged by 82 professional wine makers and/or winery principals. On behalf of the Orange County Fair and the Orange County Wine Society, co-sponsors of the competition, I again wish to congratulate you on your achievement

Summit Lake Vineyards, 92  Zinfandel, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain, Estate Bottled, Gold Medal

Orange County Fair Wine Competition

CONGRATULATIONS!

As you are probably aware, the 22nd Annual Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Competition was held on May 30th and 31st, 1998. Your entry into this competition is greatly appreciated and we are pleased to be able to inform you that the wines listed below were awarded medals. Award ribbons will be snipped to you by the end of June. The Orange County Fair's competition is the largest and most comprehensive judging of California wines in the world This competition attempts to judge every grape wine made in California that is commercially available in Orange County This year 2,281 wines were judged by 84 professional wine makers and/or winery principals. All of the wines entered in the Commercial Competition are made available for tasting in the Wine Courtyard during the Orange County Fair (July 10th-26th). The award wines are specially featured. Since no entry fee is charged for this competition, the Wine Courtyard serves as the primary fund raiser in support of the competition We thank you for your support, however we often need more so you will find an attachment to this letter with this request. On behalf of the Orange County Fair and the Orange County Wine Society, co-sponsors of the competition, I wish to congratulate you again on your achievement.

Emily Kestrel, 93 Cabernet Sauvignon, Silver Medal

Summit Lake, 95 Zinfandel, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain Estate Bottled, Silver

Orange County Fair Wine Competition

CONGRATULATIONS!

As you are probably aware, the 23rd Annual Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Competition was held on June 5th and 6th, 1999. Your entry into this competition is greatly appreciated and we are pleased to be able to inform you that the wines listed below were awarded medals. Award ribbons will be shipped to you by the end of June. The Orange County Fair's competition is the largest and most comprehensive judging of California wines in the world. This competition attempts to judge every grape wine made in California that is commercially available in Orange County. This year 2,511 wines were judged by 86 professional wine makers and/or winery principals. All of the wines entered in the Commercial Competition are made available for tasting in the Wine Courtyard during the Orange County Fair (July 9th-25th). The award wines are specially featured. Since no entry fee is charged for this competition, the Wine Courtyard serves as the primary fund raiser in support of the competition. We thank you for your support, however we often need more so you will find an attachment to this letter with this request, On behalf of the Orange County Fair and the Orange County Wine Society, co-sponsors of the competition, I wish to congratulate you again on your achievement.

Summit Lake Vineyards, 96 Zinfandel, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain, Estate Bottled, Bronze Medal

CALIFORNIA EXPOSITION & STATE FAIR

Chief Judge and Consultant, California Stale Fair Competition Re:   Major Wine Publication Advertising

Congratulations on your winning wines at the recently completed California State Fair Wine Competition. Your wines are listed below. This letter is to solicit money to purchase full page advertisements in some key publications to announce our winners. Choices include—Wine Spectator, Food & Wine, Wine Enthusiasts , etc.

Because of our decision this year to score wines by the 100 point system in addition to the traditional Bronze. Silver and Gold, we win be purchasing full page ads to better advertise the State Fair Competition. Obviously. because of the cost, we can only accomplish this by working closely with all wineries who win Bronze, Silver, Gold or Double Gold Medals. My survey earlier this year (sent to all wineries), Indicated a positive response. Therefore we are going forward with this venture. 

Summit Lake Vineyards, 95 Zinfandel, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain, Estate Bottled, Silver Medal (89)

Wine Enthusiast

92 point rating. Summit Lake 1999 Zinfandel (Howell Mountain); $22. Marvelously rich and dense, with well-ripened fruit and sweet, dessert-like flavors suggesting cherry liqueur-filled chocolate candies. But it drinks dry and dustily, a balanced, although heady, wine of great style.

Silver Medal, California State Fair. Clair Riley's "Pirates Reserve" Zinfandel Port.
Silver Medal, California State Fair. Emily Kestrel Cabernet Sauvignon.