SAVORNW Logo
Showcasing the best of
northwest wines and
the awareness of pacific
northwest wine regions.
Showcasing the best of northwest
wines and the awareness of pacific
northwest wine regions.
 
The Top Northwest Wines at the 2021 SavorNW Wine Awards

The Top Northwest Wines at the 2021 SavorNW Wine Awards




The 2018 vintage of Pinot Noir looks like it will be a smash hit as more than seventeen 2018 Pinots collected Gold Medals at the 2021 Savor Northwest Wine Awards competition conducted March 8-10 in Cannon Beach, Oregon. One of the largest competitions focusing on Northwest wines, the 2021 competition blind tasted more than 550 wines from Oregon, Washington and Idaho. In all, 26 Northwest Pinot Noirs received Gold Medals. The second highest number of Gold Medals went to Northwest Syrahs that collected 19 Gold Medals.

Northwest wineries that earned top awards included six wines from Woodinville Washington's Brian Carter Cellars including four Best of Class awards for Merlot (2016 One Merlot), Grenache (2017 One Grenache), Red Rhone Blends (2016 Byzance) and Fortified Dessert Wines (2016 Opulento). The winery also collected a Double Gold for its 2016 Corrida Gran Reserva red blend and a Gold Medal for its 2019 Oriana white blend. The only winery that collected more Gold Medals was Western Washington's Westport Winery that earned 7 top awards including a Best of Class for its 2018 True Blue Malbec and its non-vintage Rapture of the Deep sparkling cranberry wine in the Non-Grape category.

Two Oregon wineries claimed five top awards: Carlton Oregon's Chris James Cellars and Roseburg Oregon's Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards. Chris James had two of the top 2018 Pinot Noirs including their Willamette Valley offering that earned Double Gold and their Eola-Amity Hills that was a Gold Medal winner. Their 2018 Dolcetto took Best of Class in the Other Reds category. Reustle also claimed a Gold Medal for their 2018 Pinot Noir and collected the award for Best Northwest Syrah with its 2018 Winemaker's Reserve Syrah. Both Reustle's 2018 and 2019 Gruner Veltliner Green Lizard wines took Gold Medals, as did their 2017 Winemaker's Reserve Tempranillo.

Snoqualmie Washington's Sigillo Cellars was the only other winery to earn five top awards including a Best of Class for their 2018 Petit Verdot, a Double Gold Medal for their 2018 EVO Red Blend and Gold Medals for their 2018 Sunset Red Blend, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Idaho's top award-winning wineries were Lewiston's Clearwater Canyon Cellars and Lindsay Creek Vineyards, each claiming four top awards.

Other wineries earning four top awards included Oregon's King Estate, Druvor Hill and Willamette Valley Vineyards; and Washington's Elsom Cellars and H3 wines. King Estate Winery claimed Best Pinot Noir of the competition for its 2018 Willamette Valley bottling that was blind tasted side-by-side with other Gold Medal and Double Gold Medal winning Pinot Noirs, coming out on top after four rounds identifying the best of the top wines. Their 2019 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris also received Best of Class honors. Druvor Hill took Gold Medals for three different 2018 Pinot Noirs. Willamette Valley Vineyards also claimed a Gold Medal for a 2018 Pinot Noir, its Bernau Block bottling. Their 2018 Bernau Block Chardonnay also claimed Gold and their 2017 Signature Cuvee Pinot Noir earned Double Gold honors. Elsom Cellars won a Double Gold Medal for their 2016 Isabella red blend and Gold Medals for their 2018 Grenache, 2017 Syrah and 2016 Logan red blend. H3 wines, an affordable high production label and part of the Chateau St. Michelle Wine Estates, fared well in the blind competition among mostly more expensive wines, earning Double Gold Medals for their 2017 Merlot and 2019 Sauvignon Blanc and Gold Medals for their 2018 Red Blend and 2019 Rosé. Chateau St. Michelle's 2020 Le Rosé earned Best Rosé honors.

The entire list of award winners can be found at the link below.

For the complete story see: SavorNW.com