Brian Carter Cellars 2012 Opulento, Yakima Valley, $40
Wine Press Northwest’s reigning Washington Winery of the Year names its Port-style wine after the Portuguese term for opulent, and the Woodinville winery’s namesake vintner keeps his focus on Port varieties. Touriga Naçional (58%), Souzao (21%), Tinta Roriz (11%) and Tinta Cão from Upland and Lonesome Springs vineyards spent 18 months in French barriques that were mostly neutral. It’s a rich, deep and intense take on dessert with qualities of poached plum, dark cherry and raisin, joined by mocha powder and fresh-baked brownies. The alcohol is well-integrated, and there’s a hint of dried cranberry in the finish to accent the residual sugar of 10%. It picked up a silver medal at the 2015 Seattle Wine and Food Experience Wine Awards.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 244 cases
Alcohol: 18%
Obviously there is a typo. How many cases does Palencia produce?
Paul,
For his day job at J&S Crushing/Columbia River’s Edge Winery in Mattawa, Wash., Victor Palencia oversees more than 1 million cases in wine production. For Palencia Winery, he makes about 3,000 cases total.