Spain’s early-ripening Tempranillo continues to show itself to be well-suited for Idaho’s Snake River Valley, and Mark Pasculli has proved to be a quick study. He and his family began rehabilitating the vines on the estate he purchased in 2016, and the awards have been pouring in quickly. Aromas of ripe Rainier cherries, breakfast bacon, violets and sweet cedar lead to a stream of fruit — black cherry, raspberry and plum — that’s tethered with suave tannins for an elegant finish. With just two barrels produced, here’s to hoping Pasculli and his children can manage more. Qualifying awards: Idaho Wine Competition (best of class, double gold)
Rating: Double Platinum • 96 points
Production: 49 cases
Alcohol: 13.6%
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