This week, La Mesa Vineyards was decorated with two major awards at the 2024 California State Fair:
La Mesa Primitivo 2020 - Double Gold, 99 points, "Best of California"
La Mesa Barbera 2020 - Gold, 95 points
Owner-winemaker Côme Laguë reflects on these high achievements. "Our Primitivo estate was originally planted in 2003 at a time when it was relatively new to California. Known as the 'Italian Zinfandel' Primitivo is light on tannins, less dense and ripens more evenly in our high-altitude climate. We grow our Primitivo head-trained on our lower hillside block, dry-farmed on deep-rooted special rootstock to extract maximum flavors and minerality from this terroir. All these combine in maturation to yield a red with a magical, dancing-on-your-tongue quality."
La Mesa Barbera 2020 was awarded Gold at this competition, no small feat. "Our Barbera is celebrated for its deep color, low tannins, high acid and intense aroma and flavor. Our vines benefit from cool nights and warm days at our high elevation, as well as the mineral-rich, slightly acidic clay and decomposed granite soil with a reddish hue from its iron content. The estate grapes make our Barbera and Barbera Blanc wines, along with our La Notte port and special Primabera blend."
"As a relatively new winery, this is the first time we entered our wines in the California State Fair. The early work we did to research new clones, grafting and maturation techniques are paying off. Our family and friends have long offered us encouragement during years marked by drought, wildfires, frost events, lockdowns and generally tough business conditions. So it's gratifying to emerge from all that placing among the very best in the state by an expert panel of judges."
Congrats to our neighbouring Amador wineries, some of whom took awards at this competition. We are delighted to be in your company.
Full results from the competition published at the California State Fair website: https://calexpostatefair.com/