San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Winners

The annual San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is the largest competition of North American wines, offering an impressive lineup of competitor wines from all over the United States. Each year, we submit several Ruby Hill favorites to go head-to-head in this prestigious competition, and the 2025 results have officially arrived! To celebrate, we are taking a moment to shine the spotlight on our winners: 2021 Jewel Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2021 Odyssey. 

2021 Jewel Cabernet Sauvignon - Gold Medal

This wine is smooth, spicy, with aromas of black currant confiture, black plum, cardamom, dried florals, and notes of orange vanilla cream on the nose. The flavors on the palate are Black raspberry, blackberry jam, spiced dark chocolate, interlaced with ginger, earth, and a dry, juicy finish. Decant and enjoy. — Tonya Pitts, Wine Enthusiast

Earning critical acclaim vintage after vintage, this stunning Cabernet is an absolute knockout. Rich, deep, and with lots of aging potential, we recommend this gold-medal Jewel Cabernet Sauvignon for memorable meals. We like to pair this wine with peppery, earthy, and dense foods, making it perfect for chilly days. 

2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Double Gold Medal

A signature aroma of vibrant fresh fruit, including cherry and black currant, is joined by hints of violet and graceful oak accents. Dried fruit notes emerge on the palate, with craisin and prune, while maintaining youthful brightness into the finish.. The mouthfeel is full, with a touch of grippy tannins that relax quickly. Delightful layered complexity leaves you wanting more!

A very recent release, this relatively young Cab is already drinking exceptionally well. Rich and flavorful character permeates the entire experience as you enjoy this vintage, which has earned the coveted Double Gold Medal. Enjoy this Cabernet with medium-rare steak, aged cheddar, or double chocolate cake. 

2021 Odyssey - Best of Class

The lovely aroma of this wine opens up with grand complexity. Lush layers of fruit notes, including bing cherry, raspberry, strawberry and marionberry, enrich the air. The mouthfeel is rich and velvety on the palate, with seamless harmony of tannins and acidity creating luxurious structure. Dark fruit notes create a lavish tapestry of flavor and lead into a long and fruit-forward finish. The tannin character will allow this vintage to mature well for years to come. 

This vintage is “Chapter 2” of our limited-edition Odyssey series, a small-lot wine crafted to celebrate the history of the Estate Vineyard. This stunning blend is modeled after timeless right-bank Bordeaux blends. Earning the noteworthy “Best of Class” award, the Odyssey truly stands out as a wine to remember. 

Life is too short to drink bad wine, so stock up on these winners today! Click here to shop our critically acclaimed wines.