A Best-of-Class Heritage at the Nation’s largest and most prestigious wine competitions
We are consistently rated Best of Class, Double Gold and 90-95 Points in the Nation’s largest wine competitions by wine professionals in a double-blind format such as the San Francisco Chronicle- the largest competition for American Wines in the World and the Los Angeles International- the second largest such competition.
What matters most is not the medals and plaques and 95+ Point ratings, but whether or not you, our members enjoy them. And we are confident you will.
Ratings by Competition:
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The Largest Competition for American Wines in the World
2024 SFCWC
2021 Grenache Blanc - Best Of Class
2020 Rosé - GOLD
2023 SFCWC
2021 Grenache Blanc- BEST OF CLASS
2019 Discombobulated- DOUBLE GOLD
2019 Rosé- DOUBLE GOLD
2021 SFCWC
2018 Discombobulated- GOLD
2020 SFCWC
2010 Syrah- DOUBLE GOLD
2019 SFCWC
2013 Pinot Noir Reserve Toretti Vineyard- GOLD
2013 Pinot Noir Wolff Vineyard- GOLD
2017 SFCWC
2012 Infinity+17- BEST OF CLASS
2015 Chardonnay- GOLD
2016 SFCWC
2011 Syrah- BEST OF CLASS
2013 Discombobulated- BEST OF CLASS
2011 The Other Side- BEST OF CLASS
2012 Infinity+17- GOLD
2014 SFCWC
2009 Syrah- GOLD
2013 SFCWC
2009 Syrah- DOUBLE GOLD
2007 Pinot Noir- GOLD
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2nd Largest Competition for American Wines in the World
2023 LAIWC
2019 Rosé- 93 Points
2022 LAIWC
2019 Grenache Blanc- BEST OF CLASS 94 Points
2019 LAIWC
2013 Infinity+17- BEST OF CLASS & 95 Points
2014 LAIWC
2012 Chardonnay- GOLD & 93 Points
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The Largest Judging for California-Only Wines
2023 OCWS
2018 Chardonnay- 91 Points
2019 Discombobulated- 90 Points
2022 OCWS
2018 Chardonnay- 91 Points
2019 Rosé- 90 Points
2019 Discombobulated- 90 Points
2021 OCWS
2018 Chardonnay- 91 Points
2019 Grenache Blanc- 90 Points
2019 OCWS
2013 The Other Side- DOUBLE GOLD & 93 Points
2012 Syrah- 90 Points
2018 OCWS
2013 Pinot Noir Wolff Vineyard- 92 Points
2013 Zinfandel- 90 Points
2015 OCWS
2010 Syrah- GOLD
2013 OCWS
2009 Pinot in top 98.6 percentile (Top 5) out of 2762 Wines entered
2009 Syrah- GOLD
2012 OCWS
2008 Syrah- GOLD
2009 Pinot Noir- GOLD
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2022 TOTC
2019 Grenache Blanc- 90 Points
2021 TOTC
2019 Grenache Blanc- 96 Points
2018 Discombobulated- 95 Points & DOUBLE GOLD
2018 Chardonnay- 91 Points
2020 TOTC
2018 Discombobulated- 91 Points
2019 TOTC
2013 The Other Side- 90 Points
2018 TOTC
2013 Pinot Noir Reserve Toretti Vineyard- GOLD
2013 The Other Side- GOLD
2015 TOTC
2013 Chardonnay- 92 Points
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450-500 Pinot Noirs around the world were judged meticulously over 3 months by 50 judges
2015 SFPS
2011 Pinot Noir- DOUBLE GOLD, 94 points, 3rd out of 497 entries
2012 Pinot Noir- GOLD
2014 SFPS
2010 Pinot Noir- GOLD
2013 SFPS
2009 Pinot- GOLD & 2nd highest Pinot out of 440 Pinots across the Nation- 92 Points
2012 SFPS
2009 Pinot Noir- GOLD & Peoples Choice Award out of 460 Pinots entered
Reviews:
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Master Sommelier.
Internationally renowned wine expert and lecturer.
Former Director of Education and Education chair for the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas.
Double Bond came across my radar through a good friend and colleague. This small Central Coast winery was founded by biochemist John Klacking. The winemaking team is headed up by retired physicist John Thunen, who has a long successful track record in small batch production. Double Bond’s portfolio is made up entirely of limited production single varietal wines from established vineyards in Edna Valley and Santa Barbara County. Especially noteworthy are the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Edna Ranch and Wolff Vineyards in Edna Valley, and the Syrah from the Larner Vineyard in the Ballard Canyon of Santa Ynez Valley. Partner Sean McCaffrey says the philosophy of Double Bond is all about combining the best fruit sources with minimal winemaking. The results are impressive. Here are my notes for the wines.
2008 Chardonnay, Edna Ranch Vineyard, Edna Valley 14.2% $28 SRP
Notes: bright, forward tropical fruits with Meyer lemon-lime citrus, a touch of savory herb, and vanilla cream spice. Elegant, well-balanced, and seamless. The best Edna Valley Chardonnay I’ve tasted in a very long time.
2008 Pinot Noir, Wolff Vineyard, Edna Valley 13.8% $45 SRP
Notes: cranberry, sour cherry, and beet aromas with notes of red flowers, lavender, black tea, and barrel spice. Forward, supple, and very long.
2009 Pinot Noir, Wolff Vineyard, Edna Valley 15.2% $45 SRP
Much riper style than the 2008 vintage. Ripe, plummy fruit with notes of craisin, savory herb, mint, and pronounced barrel spice. Rich, lush, and spicy.
2008 Syrah Lanner Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley 15.9% $48 SRP
Ripe black fruits with kirsch, pepper spice, black licorice, dried savory herb, bitter chocolate, and coffee notes. Touch of heat on the finish. Dense, powerful, and concentrated.
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Editor of Sommelier Magazine
“Exceptionally well-integrated and balanced, this Pinot shows admirably moderate weight as well as relatively retrained fruit. Consequently, it seems exemplary in sophistication and elegance, yet these virtues don’t come at the cost of any lack of expressiveness. Fruit notes recalling tart pie cherries as well as dried cherries are very appealing, with subtle spice notes and just the faintest whiff of toast. A Double Gold award winner at the 2018 Toast of the Coast Wine Competition.”
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A Dozen Favorites from the 2015 Pinot Shootout by Scott W. Clemens | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog, Wine Reviews
2011 Double Bond, Edna Valley, Wolff Vineyard:
“Enormously complex and layered, this is not a wine that will appeal to everyone, but I love it. Vibrant and silky, it has scents of camphor, cocoa, cinnamon, candied cherry and a hint of forest floor. Ranked third among male judges of our Shootout Panel. 350 cases produced. 95 points.”
2012 Double Bond, Edna Valley, Wolff Vineyard:
“Quite different than the 2011 reviewed above, having a heady nose of violets and hawthorne blossoms. Bright and inviting, on the palate it’s silky smooth with firm structure, fine minerality and a bing cherry finish. 400 cases produced. 92 points.”