A decade ago, Karl and Coco Umiker produced their first Platinum when the 2011 Carménère from Phinny Hill Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills shined during our 2013 judging. Since then, the 2015 vintage of Carm was the only bottling to miss out on going Platinum — but Clearwater Canyon has held firm on its price point for this wine since 2016. While this doesn’t carry the same big pinch of pepper in the nose, dried herbs and tobacco make up for it. The presentation of fruit is big and round with dark berry sauce, chocolate and savory black olive in the finish. Awards: Great Northwest Invitational (best of class/double gold).
Rating: Platinum, 91 points
Production: 459 cases
Alcohol: 14.5%
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