Gorgeous deep garnet color. Wow! Really intense dried fig, cassis and dried rosemary. Blackberry, black pepper and sage pair nicely with cinnamon and cumin. A hint of earthy cocoa shows itself also. A bright and full entry really excite the palate. The wine sends shots of blackberry, cinnamon and cocoa flavors out and you end with an intensely structured and full finish. This is a wild, complex, “savage” Cab that will definitely mellow on the palate (but not aromatically) over the next 10 to 20 years and seems to constantly change with every sniff and taste.
Cellaring: This wine is currently not for the faint of heart. It is big, bold and tannic exploding with exotic aromas and flavors. Everything a Biodynamically made Cab should be. I would taste it again in 5-10 year increments
Grapes are from the Biodynamically farmed Hedges Vineyard and Magdalena Vineyard, which is in the Red Mountain AVA. The wine was destemmed and partially crushed into stainless steel fermenters, where it was allowed to begin fermenting with native yeast. It was pumped over twice daily until desired tannin extraction was achieved. It was then pressed to barrels where it underwent “native” malo-lactic fermentation, then racked off lees and 100% barrel aged for 18 months in 20% new American oak barrels.
Harvest Notes: 2014 was warm early and stayed warm until harvest, the hottest since 1998. Ripe and the Brix that go with it were no problem this vintage and it was very fast, short growing season. Heat began early and remained constant which helped plants and fruit clusters acclimate to the extreme heat. With nights still cooling berry shrivel and raisining was nonexistent. With little to no rainfall throughout the year mildew problems were of no concern. One problem for wine makers was the early ripening of all varieties which made it challenging for harvesting grapes at their optimum. However, our long term relationships with our growers and vigilant testing (and the earlier than usual picking that went with it), helped us to pick grapes at their optimum. Riper, richer flavors predominate. Plenty of lushness in 2014.
Pete Hedges
Experience Hedges wine all year round
