March 19, 2003
Wine Press NW panel names
Platinum wines

Take the Northwest's finest wines - gold medal winners all - set them before a panel of judges and see what's at the crest of the best.

That's how Wine Press Northwest magazine conducts its annual platinum judging. For a Washington, Oregon, Idaho or British Columbia wine to be included, it must have won a gold medal in a recognized competition.

The six judges, including myself, tasted and evaluated 189 wines over two days.

Two received a Double Platinum award - meaning all six judges felt both wines were worthy of the top award.

Eleven others were awarded Platinum awards, 51 won Double Golds and 74 earned Gold medals.

Space limits won't allow me to list all of these fine wines, but I'm including the Platinum awards for Mid-Columbia wineries, plus a few more that especially pleased my palate.

Alas, most of these wines were highly sought after they won various medals over the past year, and many are not readily available at the wineries but may be available in wine shops or on restaurant wine lists.

My advice is if you like a winery's products and it has a proven track record, then buy early.

Maybe you'll end up buying a future Platinum wine.

L'Ecole No. 41 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, $30 - A Double Platinum for this Lowden winery's cab, which shows inviting sweet oak aromas and long fruit flavors. Currants and berries dominated with tremendous balance and great aging potential.

Marty Clubb at L'Ecole took the prize for the top number of fine wines at the competition, with two Platinums and four Double Gold wines.

Three Rivers Winery 1999 Meritage, Columbia Valley, $45 - A Double Platinum Bordeaux blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Huge vanilla in this classy wine, smooth with touches of chocolate-covered cherries and great tannins for aging and body.

Kestrel Vintners 2000 Syrah, Yakima Valley, $28 - This Prosser winery's Platinum can keep pace with anyone and at a fair price. Rich fruit laced with plums with chocolate and coffee touches. The finish is exceptionally long.

Dunham Cellars 2000 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $45 - I had a chance to sample this Platinum beauty a few months after the judging and believe me I was more impressed the second time around. A massive spicy wine with loads of berry jam flavors. What really makes this wine is the wonderful mouth feel.

Columbia Crest 1999 Reserve Syrah, Columbia Valley, $28 - By now you can see a trend here: The judges were particularly impressed with Syrahs, the new star of Pacific Northwest reds. This Platinum is a smooth full-flavored wine showing wonderful blueberries and a delicious trip across the tongue.

L'Ecole No. 41 1999 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Apogee, Walla Walla Valley, $42 - Another Platinum for L'Ecole. This is a delightful blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc. I detected flavors of wild huckleberries, lush raspberries and dark chocolate. A rich, robust wonder.

Reininger Winery 1999 Merlot Walla Walla Valley, $30 - A Platinum from one of my favorite Walla Walla wineries that used to be little-known but not anymore. Vanilla bean and chocolate beginning with lovely berry flavors and smooth, lush tannins.

Other wines that didn't get a Platinum from the majority of the judges but I thought should have included:

Wyvern Cellars 2000 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $25 - The former Worden's Winery in Spokane has a winner here with exploding flavors and aromas of chocolate, coffee, cedar and blackberries. Robust and jammy with a smooth well-structured balance.

King Estate 1999 Reserve Pinot Noir, Oregon, $35 - Inviting cherry and strawberry flavors with good oak aromas. The wine is rich, charming and opulent.

L'Ecole No. 41 2000 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $21 - Fine balanced oak aromas with buttery overtones, tropical fruit flavors and a mouth-pleasing finish.

Salmon Harbor 2000 Merlot, Washington, $9 - My nomination for best buy. It's a blueberry blast. Rich flavors, great tannins, well structured and a tremendous finish.

Barnard Griffin 2000 Syrah, Columbia Valley, $30 - A complex chewy syrah with vanilla and almond aromas and flavors of plums, blueberries and cherries that lead to a long, long finish.

Bookwalter Winery 2000 Merlot, Columbia Valley, $25 - Delightful vanilla oak aromas followed by tasty bold flavors of chocolate and berries ending with a very nice mouth feel.

Hogue Cellars 2000 Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, $10 - Another best buy. Lovely floral aromas with crisp citrus lemon, lime and orange flavors. A great finish with a variety of food-matching abilities.

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