Art den Hoed’s vineyard just north of the Horse Heaven Hills near Mabton, Wash., has long been a prized source for Ron Bunnell, and it helped him produce a rarity — a wine that has received two Platinums three years apart. This bottling from 2014 picked up a Platinum in 2018, and it’s showing better by earning a Double Platinum in 2021. Much of its pretty nose of black fruit, black pepper, mint and orange oil carries onto the palate, where the variety’s typically robust tannins don’t overwhelm. Savory notes of black olive include baking spice and blueberry juice for a marvelous example of this traditional Bordeaux blending grape. Award: Sunset International (double gold).
Rating: Double Platinum, 97 points
Production: 106 cases
Alcohol: 14.2%
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