2018 Hedges Family Estate Red Mountain
Tasting Notes
Aroma / Flavor: Blackberry / Black cherry / Raspberry / dried sage / clove / anise / Black pepper / Ginger
Texture: Silky / full / lush / spicey / long
2018 Hedges Family Estate Red Blend
Winemaker: Sarah Goedhart
Vintage: 2018
AVA: Red Mountain
Variety: 36% Cabernet Sauvignon / 34% Merlot / 13% Syrah / 10% Cabernet Franc
Cellaring: This wine, like other Red Mountain wines, is best now with food, but will age well, probably peaking in 5-10 more years..
Production: Grapes are from Red Mountain AVA vineyards within a 2 mile radius of the winery: Hedges, Bel’ Villa, Les Gosses Magdalena and Jolet. The wine was destemmed and partially crushed into stainless steel fermenters where it was pumped over twice daily until desired tannin extraction was achieved. It was then pressed to barrels where it underwent malo-lactic fermentation, then racked off lees and 100% barrel aged for 18 months in 33% new oak, American (63%) and French oak (37%).
Harvest notes: The 2017-2018 winter was extremely mild, fairly dry and quite the opposite of the snow and ice ravaged winter we saw the year before. This mild winter really tricked the vines and other early Spring bud pushing plants to sprout out quickly. Hedges’ estate vineyards were pruned early (beginning in late January) in anticipation for this early bud break and the vines really responded well. We added a few more Biodynamic practices into the mix, such as home brewed horsetail tea spray, which helped us escape some mildew pressure in June. The heat of summer and long sunny days advanced ripening, but the maturation period of early September and October was mild which made for a harvest that you could pick fruit at a slow and steady pace. Overall the 2018 vintage is going to be a good one!
