Hood River native Rich Cushman continues his push up the all-time career Platinum honor roll, having earned 11 of them in the past five years. Two of those were with standalone bottlings of Merlot, so here’s another example of the Columbia Gorge winemaker’s versatility, his first Platinum with an all-Bordeaux blend — a Left Bank-style approach with Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Merlot (33%) and Petit Verdot. It’s got an Old World feel with its theme notes of cassis, green bell pepper and eucalyptus that gather up dried Bing cherries and peppercorns, setting the table for what Cushman and the Bickford family recommend as a pairing — pot roast with root vegetables. Qualifying award: Cascadia International (double gold)
Rating: Platinum • 93 points
Production: 210 cases
Alcohol: 14.4%
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