Rob and Donna Mellison have now earned four Platinums for their work with Chardonnay, and here is their first Double Platinum with the white Burgundy grape. White rose petals, lemon meringue pie and tropical fruit nuances are allowed to flourish because of the stainless steel fermentation for the grapes they get from their friend Ed Kelly, the longtime viticulturist at … [Read more...] about Mellisoni Vineyards 2022 Chardonnay, Royal Slope $55
Washington
Tinte Cellars 2020 Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley $40
Noah Reed Fox, a product of Walla Walla Community College’s winemaking program, worked with two storied sites — Dineen in the Yakima Valley and Gamache in the White Bluffs — for one of the top Cabernet Francs of the 24th annual Platinum. Its exotic profile includes classic notes of peppercorns, cassis, red licorice, cigar box, Kalamata olive and madrona-smoked lion’s mane … [Read more...] about Tinte Cellars 2020 Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley $40
Coyote Canyon Winery 2022 Coyote Canyon Vineyard Roussanne, Horse Heaven Hills $28
While the Horse Heaven Hills are famous for Cabernet Sauvignon, the Andrews family, vineyard manager Todd Chapman and winemaker Justin Michaud continue to build upon their reputation with brilliant white varieties. In terms of the Rhône white Roussanne, Coyote Canyon’s might be the brightest in the Pacific Northwest — evidenced by their earning a Platinum for the third straight … [Read more...] about Coyote Canyon Winery 2022 Coyote Canyon Vineyard Roussanne, Horse Heaven Hills $28
Fortuity Cellars 2019 Destined Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley $65
Last fall, the Great Northwest Wine panel became smitten with each of the three Fergestroms’ 2018 vineyard-designated Cab from the Shiels family's DuBrul, the Williams family's Heart of the Hill and the Sauer family's Red Willow. The craftsmanship displayed throughout that series continues with this blend of those sites. Dark plum, macerated cherries, black tea and bergamot … [Read more...] about Fortuity Cellars 2019 Destined Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley $65
Canvasback Winery 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain $44
Founding winemaker Brian Rudin, and his successor, Joseph Czarny, worked with nine vineyards along the slopes of Red Mountain, including renowned Quintessence and Duckhorn’s own young Longwinds site — established in 2014 and managed by the famed Dick Boushey. It can be awkward for Duckhorn to extol the virtues of the Canvasback project because a Cab with this quality may cost … [Read more...] about Canvasback Winery 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain $44