The Hightowers have racked up seven Platinums in the past four years, and three of their 11 career Platinums have been for Merlot. Historically, they’ve leaned on clone 15 fruit from their estate vineyard for the standalone bottlings of Merlot, which they first made in 2000. It’s fabulous and fun from start to finish in its theme of strawberry compote, cherry blossom and tanned … [Read more...] about Hightower Cellars 2020 Merlot, Red Mountain $38
Red Mountain
Hamilton Cellars 2019 Estate Malbec, Red Mountain $48
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 … [Read more...] about Hamilton Cellars 2019 Estate Malbec, Red Mountain $48
Black Heron Wines 2018 MonteScarlatto Vineyard Treasure Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, Red Mountain $30
Columbia Valley distiller Mark Williams bought an established spirits business in 2013, and famous Red Mountain is about a five-minute drive from his West Richland, Wash., cellar. He earned several gold medals in 2023 for his Red Mountain reds, and he picked up his first career Platinum with this blend of Merlot (52%) and Cabernet Sauvignon. Attractive aromas of raspberry jam, … [Read more...] about Black Heron Wines 2018 MonteScarlatto Vineyard Treasure Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, Red Mountain $30
Hamilton Cellars 2019 Estate Cabernet Franc, Red Mountain $40
The Wine Boss winemaking team in downtown Richland, Wash., worked with the Hamilton estate Bel Tramonto block, and for a second straight vintage, it earned a Platinum. And it came into this year’s judging as one of the most-decorated Cabernet Francs in the field. Think of blackberry cobbler, fresh Aussie black licorice, a wisp of applewood smoke, pencil shavings and cured meat, … [Read more...] about Hamilton Cellars 2019 Estate Cabernet Franc, Red Mountain $40
Rising Star: Stephanie Cohen shines atop Red Mountain at Col Solare
BENTON CITY, Wash. — Stephanie Cohen had a sense back in eighth grade that her career would be tied to fermentation. She remembers thinking during a tour of a Belgian brewery that the brewing process was “the coolest thing.” It led to thoughts of becoming a winemaker and starting down the path that’s taken her near the top of Red Mountain. That vision as a teen growing up … [Read more...] about Rising Star: Stephanie Cohen shines atop Red Mountain at Col Solare