Boise State geoscientist C.J. Northrup has been a part of the Snake River Valley wine industry for a couple of decades, and his young vineyard along Hoskins Road on the Sunnyslope has proved its maturity with this estate blend that resulted in his first Platinum Award. It’s also another example of the region’s future with Petit Verdot, which at 60% drives the Bordeaux-only melange of Malbec (25%), Merlot (10%) and Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is dark with black cherry, huckleberry jam and black licorice, which includes caramel and tobacco. On the palate, it sports cherries and chocolate from stem to stern as secondary notes of cassis and smoked cedar ride along the smooth tannins. Among the pairing ideas is amaretti cookies, which aligns with the Italian theme at Famici. Qualifying award: Cascadia International (gold)
Rating: Platinum • 92 points
Production: 48 cases
Alcohol: 14.9%
Leave a Reply