Viscon Cellars Long Road Red Cabernet Sauvignon wins Double Platinum

We are honored to report that our 2011 Long Road Red just picked up a "Best of the Best" award from Wine Press Northwest. (Two of our 2012 offerings, the Unforeseen and the Heart Box Red, earned Gold awards.)

That's our double platinum winner  third from the left.

How the Platinum is Conducted

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

To accomplish this, we chart more than 40 professionally judged wine competitions worldwide to track the gold medals won by fruit from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. In 2016, Northwest wineries were awarded more than 1,600 gold medals at professional judgings.

These wines are categorized and judged blind during three days by three panels of wine experts, who award wines with Double Platinum, Platinum, Double Gold and Best Buy. A wine is awarded a medal based on how a majority of the judges voted. In the case when all the judges on a panel deem the wine a Platinum, that wine is awarded a unanimous Double Platinum.

DOUBLE PLATINUM

Viscon Cellars 2011 Long Road Red Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley • $32
Ben Viscon relied on Lewis Vineyard and an 18-month barrel program to produce what’s now a subtle Cab that shows nice handling of tannins, good varietal expression and has good aging potential for handful of more years. (125 cases, 13.4% alc.) Award: Seattle Wine Awards (gold).

Read the full list of winners here.

Viscon Cellars' 2012 Unforeseen Cabernet Franc Rated "Outstanding" Bordeaux by Wine Press Northwest

Our bottle is second from the right. We're in good company!

Our 2012 Unforeseen Cabernet Franc was rated an "Outstanding" Bordeaux by Wine Press Northwest.

"For this issue of Wine Press Northwest, we asked wineries from Washington, Oregon and Idaho to send us their wines that retail for $30 or less, and we ended up with more than 300 examples, which our intrepid tasting panel worked through to discover what they liked."

Viscon Cellars 2012 Unforeseen, Yakima Valley •  $24
Ben Viscon runs this small winery in West Seattle, north of the Fauntleroy ferry dock. This is a Cabernet Franc that is a classic from first whiff through the complex finish. Aromas of violet, rose petal and Earl Grey tea lead to lively flavors of cedar, raspberry and black cherry. This wine emphasizes elegance over power. (125 cases; 13.2% alc.)

Viscon Cellars 2012 Heart Box Red rated "Outstanding Merlot " by Wine Press Northwest

Our Heart Box Red Merlot (center)

"Owner/winemaker Ben Viscon has opened his small winery in West Seattle and has a big hit on his hands with this delicious Merlot. Aromas of cherry cola and black cherry lead to approachable flavors of blackberry, spice and a hint of vanilla. It’s beautifully balanced with bright acidity and plush, elegant tannins. (110 cases; 13% alc.)

Last fall, Washington wineries crushed more than 35,000 tons of Merlot, wine that will be bottled by itself as well as blended with other grapes. This is more than triple the amount made as recently as 1997. And while interest in Merlot has leveled in the past three years, the red Bordeaux grape is still a strong producer."

Read more.