A number of white Rhône blends finished toward the top of the 22nd Platinum Awards, and Garver family in Sams Valley worked with the Medford, Ore., winemaking team of Herb Quady, Brian Gruber and Nicole Shulte to claim a Platinum with its MRV program for a second straight vintage. This time, Viognier (47%) takes the lead ahead of Roussanne (35%) and Marsanne, and there is great weight to the profile of stone fruit and butterscotch as pear skin and lemon oil allow it to strike a balance. Enjoy with shellfish and cream-based pasta dishes. Awards: San Francisco Chronicle (gold), McMinnville (double gold).
Rating: Double Platinum, 96 points
Production: 457 cases
Alcohol: 13.7%
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