Best of the Best: Results of the 2012 Platinum Judging

Wine Press Northwest began the Platinum Judging in 2000 as a way to determine some of the best wines of the Pacific Northwest.

To accomplish this, we track more than 30 professionally judged wine competitions worldwide and track those wines from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho that win gold medals.

In 2012, Northwest wineries won nearly 1,100 gold medals at professional judgings, and we collected more than half of them for the Platinum.

The wines are categorized and judged blind over three days by two panels of wine experts, who award wines with Platinum, Double Gold, Gold or no medal. A wine is awarded a medal based on how a majority of the judges voted. In the case of all four judges deem the wine a Platinum, that wine is awarded a unanimous Double Platinum.

Based on each judge's score, we are able to determine which wine or wines end up at the top -- the best of the best.

The 13th annual Platinum Judging took place Nov. 7-9 at the Clover Island Inn in Kennewick, Wash.

Results for Koenig Vineyards:

Platinum

Koenig Vineyards 2010 Botrytis Single Berry Select Late Harvest Riesling, Snake River Valley, $30: This is winemaker Greg Koenig's second consecutive year winning a Platinum, and both were for succulent dessert wines from Idaho's Snake River Valley. This late-harvest Riesling is made in the style of a Trockenbeerenauslese, or TBA, a German dessert wine in which botrytis-affected grapes are chosen individually. It is a painstaking process, but the the effort is worth it. This is a beautiful version with luscious texture, spicy aromas and flavors from the botrytis and gorgeous fruit that allows the varietal notes to shine through. This is one of the rarest wines in the Northwest, and it is worth savoring. (42 cases, 12% alc.) Award: Idaho Wine Competition (gold/best dessert wine)

Double Gold

Koenig Vineyards 2010 Three Vineyard Cuvee Syrah, Snake River Valley, $20: Award(s): Idaho Wine Competition (gold) (14.9%, 369 cases)

Koenig Vineyards 2009 Riesling Ice Wine, Snake River Valley, $20: Award(s): Northwest Wine Summit (gold) (11%, 383 cases)

 Koenig Vineyards 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah, Snake River Valley, $25: Award(s): Idaho Wine Competition (gold) (14.7%, 242 cases)

TAIPEI & HONG KONG

Greg and Kristen Koenig travelled to Asia late April to promote our wine and vodka.   First stop was Taipei where they conducted a press conference, met with local distributors and did tastings at retail establishments.   The next stop, on their whirlwind tour, was Hong Kong.   All of this was made possible through a STEP grant from the Idaho Department of Agriculture to help local companies expand Idaho exports.  



The following are some recent reviews from Fresh Press by Wine Press Northwest:

Fresh Press is an online publication of Wine Press Northwest. Each week, we review recently released Pacific Northwest wines. 

Excellent. Koenig Vineyards 2008 Cabernet

Sauvignon, Snake River Valley, $20. Those who

enjoy the fruit-filled and food-friendly approach to the

Bitner Vineyards 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

should also be happy with this because Greg Koenig

made both. Aromas include red currant, strawberry,

cherry pipe tobacco, green peppercorns, cardamom,

cedar and herbal notes. The drink features fresh

cranberry juice, pomegranate and Rainier cherry,

backed by milk chocolate, cola and a bit of chalkiness

Excellent. Koenig Vineyards 2009 Estate Merlot,

Snake River Valley, $20. The Koenig brothers divide

the duties at their estate along the Sunnyslope of

Caldwell, with Greg operating the winery and Brad the

distillery. This marks the 11th vintage of Merlot off their

vines, and it shows more balance and a better foodpairing profile than many Merlots made in the

Northwest. Aromas of black currant and boysenberry

are joined by nutmeg, pleasing leafiness, green bell

pepper and green olive. Sweet blueberry and currant

flavors pick up Western serviceberry and cordial

cherry notes along the way, finishing with chocolaty

tannins and minerality.  

Outstanding! Koenig Vineyards 2009 CabernetSyrah,

Snake River Valley, $25. Greg Koenig

probably knows the Snake River Valley better than

any other winemaker, based on his years in the

industry and his experience working with different

vineyards. And this is one of the finest wines he’s

made, a 50-50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from

Williamson Vineyard and Syrah from Hells Canyon

Vineyard. It opens with inviting aromas of

blackberries, chocolate syrup and dusty pie cherries,

followed by flavors of black currants, black licorice,

sizzling bacon, graphite and blackberry liqueur. It has

a beautiful mouth feel and sturdy but approachable

tannins that highlights the best of both varieties.