My wife asked me whether I had checked the posted results of the Winemaker Mag amateur competition, which I hadn't. I entered 4 wines, 3 of which didn't place but still drinkable (a blend, with lots of other entries, a Malbec that had an overdose of Spanish cedar [cigar box wood-a little goes a long, long way], and a bland and bit flabby Cabernet Sauv.). But my Old Vine Zin took a Gold! Was very happy about that. Looking forward to the notes from the tasters they send the non commercial producers like most of us. I encourage you all to enter these competitions as they are a great way to learn and to check your efforts. I will enter the zin in the upcoming American Wine Society amateur competition. Entries for that are due in September, I think.