Deep, dark almost black color. Blackberry cobbler, sweet cinnamon, black pepper, clove, black licorice, a hint of cassis, sage and shortbread. The entry is full, with refreshing acidity. A nice rich mid-palate leads into a long and lingering finish. Tannins are evident but not excessively astringent, just enough to pause and appreciate before another sip. Flavors of Blackberry, cinnamon and a hint of vanilla and sage. This wine gracefully explodes in your mouth. A full-bodied Red Mountain Cabernet from beginning to end.
Grapes are from Hedges Estate Vineyard, North Block, which is in the Red Mountain AVA and is biodynamically farmed. This wine was cold soaked overnight then inoculated with yeast, fermented for 6 days on skins while being pumped over twice daily before pressing to barrels, where it was inoculated with malo-lactic bacteria. It was 100% barrel aged for 9 months in 40% new oak consisting of 100% French.
Harvest Notes: 2012 was another excellent and more normal vintage in Washington State, a welcome change after the cooler and wetter 2010 and 2011 vintages. The “fading” La Nina current brought warmer and more even spring and summer temperatures and an extended warm, dry autumn with perfect 80 to 85 Fahrenheit afternoon highs and 40 to 50 Fahrenheit lows without rain. The result was great set that yielded ripe, disease free fruit with good natural acidity. The resulting wines reflect the excellent qualities of the fruit and are a pleasure to drink. Probably one of the top 5 vintages I’ve been associated with in Washington State.
Pete Hedges
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