Christopher Barnes in Carlton, Ore., used four barrels of fruit from Carl Muska’s vineyard near Amity to produce the highest-ranked Pinot Noir of the 22nd Platinum Awards. Barnes has been working with this site starting with his first commercial vintage of 2015, this Pinot Noir, grown at 500 feet elevation, is one of perfume, precision and balance. Gorgeous notes of cherry, red currant, cedar and anise lead to a wondrous interplay of approachable tannins and delicious pomegranate acidity, picking up spice box and blueberry along the way. Suggested pairings include Beef Ragout, cedar-planked salmon or aged cheddar. Award: SavorNW (gold).
Rating: Double Platinum, 99 points
Production: 100 cases
Alcohol: 13.68%
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