The Malbec category had one of the biggest class sizes of the 24th annual Platinum Awards, and this work with Red Mountain fruit by Charlie Hoppes and Mitch Venohr will serve as a marvelous memorial to the late Russ Hamilton, who died after Thanksgiving at age 71. This bottling of clone 9 Malbec was the second consecutive vintage to return a Platinum to this Sunset Road producer. Its characteristics range from Chukar Cherry and chai spices to wet stone, cola, ginger and a Cohiba Maduro with a velvety and earthy finish. Qualifying awards: San Francisco Chronicle (double gold), Seattle Wine Awards (gold), Savor NW (gold), Pacific Northwest (gold)
Rating: Double Platinum • 95 points
Production: 410 cases
Alcohol: 14.8%
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