A Potful of Double Gold Medals for the Northwest at AFWC 2024

Idaho

Clearwater Canyon Cellars owners Coco and Karl Umiker were golden at this year’s American Fine Wine Competition with one Gold and three Double Gold medals, starting with a Double Gold for their exquisite 2021 Reserve Sagrantino (96 points, $38).  Coco (Winemaker) and Karl (Vineyard Manager) were thrilled to secure fruit from Connie and Charlie Crawford’s Sagrantino vines, rooted in Washington’s Yakima Valley AVA, to craft Clearwater Canyon Cellars inaugural vintage of this fascinating cultivar.  Although not widely grown in Washington, there are additional Sagrantino vines in the Yakima Valley, Walla Walla Valley, and Columbia Valley AVAs.  This treasure opens with enchanting aromatics followed by intense flavors of black plum and black cherry, clove, earth, and leather melding in harmony. Irresistible through the long-lasting finale. It was Double Gold for Coco’s praiseworthy 2020 Reserve Carménère, (95 points, $42) which displays a floral aromatic and succulent palate bursting with forest berries, Satsuma plums, black cherry, and hints of fresh ground black pepper, and the Umikers 2021 Carménère (92 points, $32), both crafted from Horse Heaven Hills Phinney Hill Vineyard fruit, took home Gold. The third Double Gold win was for their remarkable 2021 Estate Syrah (94 points, $32), rich while elegant with elements of roasted meat, black fruits, dried herbs, and earthiness supported by firm tannins, grown and produced in their Lewis-Clark Valley estate vineyard.

Koenig Vineyards co-proprietors James (Winemaker) and Sydney Nederend garnered two Double Gold 95-point wines, including a Best of Class award. It was their compelling, deep, dark, delicious, and precisely balanced Snake River Valley 2020 Estate Cabernet/Syrah (95 points, $36) taking the Other Red Blend category’s highest award. The Nederend’s second Double Gold, their expressive, splendidly balanced, lip-smacking NV Riesling Ice Wine (95 points, $30), is as pure as it gets, and sumptuous through the heavenly finish.

Oregon

Hood River Oregon’s Cathedral Ridge Winery scored Best of Class and Double Gold (95 points, $34) in the White Blend category for their 2022 Necessity White wine. It is a field blend co-fermentation of Riesling and Pinot Gris, and just a touch of Chardonnay, shares winery COO John Bell. Crafted by Master Winemaker Michael Sebastiani (a fourth-generation winemaker of the renowned Sebastiani family in Sonoma County) and Assistant Winemaker Tyler McCafferty, it kicks off with a whiff of white flowers and citrus underpinnings.  Crisp and minerally with white fruits, and a squeeze of fresh lime. Brilliantly refreshing beyond the lingering finish. They also took Gold for their 2019 Rock Star Red Reserve ($50).

Additional DOUBLE GOLD medals for Oregon included:

Abacela vineyard and winery in the Umpqua Valley AVA scored two Double Gold medals, each receiving an impressive 95 points.  One for their engagingly aromatic, and finely balanced 2021 Estate Malbec ($32) brimming with dark berries, savoriness, and dark chocolate.  And secondly for their rich, layered 2020 Estate Tannat ($32) with its tantalizing flavors of olallieberries, black raspberries, and fresh ground multi-colored peppercorns.

Brandborg Vineyard & Winery earned a golden trio for their three entries. It was Double Gold for Terry and Sue Brandborg’s beautifully finessed 2021 Bench Lands Pinot Noir (93 points, $27) that coats the palate with black cherries, pie spices, plum chutney, black raspberries, and subtle oak nuances, and Gold for their 2022 Northern Reach Pinot Noir ($45), both from Umpqua Valley AVA.  Their 2022 Pinot Gris ($20) from Oregon’s Elkton AVA was also awarded a Gold medal.  

DANCIN Winery triumphed a Double Gold for their elegant, fine-tuned 2021 Rogue Valley Estate Alto Pinot Noir (93 pts, $42), that dances on the palate with its fine-tuned layers of Montmorency cherries, raspberry coulis, wild mushrooms, and exotic spices.  

Jachter Family Wines achieved a Double Gold medal for their complex 2019 Willamette Valley Cuvee Karen Ann Pinot Noir (93 points, $80). This focused, refined Pinot Noir showcases Sweetheart cherries, raspberries, and pomegranate, savory spice, earthy tones, and well-placed oak swirling harmoniously to a memorable finish. They also gained a Gold for their silky, well-balanced 2021 Single Vineyard Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir ($65).

Umpqua Valley’s Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards captured the most gold medals, with three Double Gold and six Golds. It was Double Gold honors for their exquisite citrusy fragranced 2022 Green Lizard Gruner Veltliner (95 points, $38), displaying minerality, star fruit, chamomile, and classic white pepper; 2022 "Enigma" Riesling ( 93 points, $29) which electrifies the palate with juicy clementines, a kick of spice, and minerally notes; and sophisticated, blackberry and blueberry fruited, spicy 2021 Winemaker’s Reserve Syrah (96 points, $48).  Gold medals included their 2022 Estate Riesling ($28), 2022 Estate Malbec ($38), Winemaker’s Reserve Tempranillo ($48), 2022 Estate Gruner Veltliner ($36), 2021 Estate Selection Pinot Noir ($39), and 2021 Estate Syrah ($39). 

Willamette Valley’s Youngberg Hill Vineyard and Winery in the McMinnville AVA took Double Gold for their silky Bing cherry, plum jam, savory-spiced 2018 Estate Pinot Noir (94 points, $50) and spine-tingling 2020 Extended Tirage Sparkling (93 points $65).  It was Gold for their 2018 Natasha Pinot Noir ($50), 2022 Pinot Blanc ($35), and Bailey Family Reserve Pinot Noir 2017 ($115).  

Washington

Washington’s top honors were shared by Barrister Winery and Cellar Beast Winehouse, each achieving three Double Gold medals. 

Original founders and lawyers Greg Lipsker and Michael White launched the winery more than two decades ago and named it Barrister (a British term for lawyer).  Tyler Walters joined them in 2009, and the trio works closely together in all aspects of the winery. Barrister’s Double Gold 2020 Malbec (96 points, $45) crafted of Walla Walla Valley fruit is a star. On April 17th the world celebrated International Malbec Day, and here is a fine example of why Washington Malbec has gained significant popularity in the past decade, it grows well here. According to Farm Progress, 707 acres were grown in Washington as of 2022. The two other Double Golds were for their powerful, dark fruit and black pepper spiced 2020 Bacchus Vineyard Syrah (94 points $43), from the cooler White Bluffs AVA, and “Barrister’s Block” Bordeaux style blend from Columbia Valley AVA (94 points, $51) with its multilayers of cassis, wild berries, tobacco leaf, hints of earth and well-integrated oak earned Double Gold honors. They also secured a Gold for their 2019 Cab Sauv (91 points, $45) from White Bluffs AVA fruit.   

Cellar Beast Winehouse attained GG for their Red Bordeaux style blend 2021 Midnight Archer (93 points, $65). This gem is composed of 70% Quintessence Vineyard Cab Sauv, 20% Cab Franc, 7% Pontin del Roza Vineyards Carménère, and 3% Petit Verdot.  All fruit was from the Red Mountain AVA with the exception of the Carménère, which was rooted in the Yakima Valley AVA. The wine boasts layers of dark fruits and spice, nicely balanced by new French oak and neutral French oak. A second Double Gold was gained for their expressive Yakima Valley AVA 2022 Meek Vineyard  “Jeune Bête” (95 points, $32). This southern Rhone style blend of 53% Grenache, 36% Syrah,11% Cinsault exhibits black raspberry, fresh plum, multi-color peppercorns, and hints of grilled meat. Their third Double Gold was bestowed upon their richly fruited, velvety smooth 2021 “The Dark Angel” Winemaker’s Reserve (92 points, $65) a Carménère/Petit Verdot blend from Yakima Valley AVA’s Pontin del Roza Vineyards. “All wines at Cellar Beast rely on the attention of the winemaking team (myself, Matt Check, and Mark Pagliaro), and all varietals are produced in separate batches” shares winemaker Brian Crew.

Congrats to these top-scoring frontrunners, and all medal-winning Northwest wineries.  Further details on all winners can be found at AmericanFineWineCompetition.org.

(Photo used on the blog index page ©Richard Duval Images)