Southern Oregon winemaker Rob Folin notches a Platinum for an Italian red variety for the third straight year from Ed Kerwin’s estate vineyard nestled near the Oregon/California border. Thoughts inspired by the aromas include sun-warmed stones at an Italian villa, licorice, blackberry and cherry. Those notes expand on the palate to include black pepper and a hint of dried … [Read more...] about Belle Fiore Winery 2020 Icon Barbera, Rogue Valley $43
Oregon
Belle Fiore Winery 2020 Estate Icon Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley $35
Rob Folin served our country in the Marines for more than decade prior to spending a string of vintages at now-famous Domaine Serene in the Dundee Hills. That early experience with Pinot Noir and his talent continue to be showcased during the Platinum Awards, where he emerged with a top award for the second time in three years. Aromas of ripe red fruit, hibiscus and a pinch of … [Read more...] about Belle Fiore Winery 2020 Estate Icon Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley $35
Cardwell Hill Cellars 2022 Estate Rosé from Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $25
Dan Chapel’s program featuring an estate vineyard that celebrated its 40th year of life in 2023 earned its 17th career Platinum this past fall. All of those have been with Pinot Noir, yet this is the first for a rosé by our 2021 Oregon Winery of the Year. The blend of Pommard (80%) and Dijon 777 clones was harvested specifically for rosé, and its light aromas of light cherry … [Read more...] about Cardwell Hill Cellars 2022 Estate Rosé from Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $25
Spangler Vineyards 2019 The Terraces Petite Sirah, Southern Oregon $39
Our 2018 Oregon Winery of the Year earns a third career Platinum for its Petite Sirah program, and Pat Spangler has been working with the red Rhône grape long enough that early on he had to label it as “Durif” for a time. Its brooding nose of dark cocoa, black cherry, black tea and saddle leather leads to varietally correct intense sensations of Bing cherry, Baker’s chocolate … [Read more...] about Spangler Vineyards 2019 The Terraces Petite Sirah, Southern Oregon $39
Zerba Cellars 2020 Cockburn Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley $40
Six of the 47 career Platinums won by this Oregon winery have been for Cabernet Franc, which makes Cecil Zerba’s 1,300-foot elevation Jon Cockburn Ranch Vineyard one of the Northwest’s premier sites for a grape more celebrated in the Loire Valley than Bordeaux. Brent Roberts, a graduate of Washington State University’s wine program, began at Zerba Cellars in 2014, and this is … [Read more...] about Zerba Cellars 2020 Cockburn Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Walla Walla Valley $40