Tasting Notes: A hint of garnet in this darkly colored wine indicates a riper, more mature wine, which is typical of the 2001 vintage from Red Mountain. Dense, ripe blackberry, cassis and a hint of plum fruit aromas are perfectly balanced by aromas of vanilla, cola, butterscotch, licorice, spice and cocoa with a hint of earthiness. Concentrated flavors of ripe blackberry and cassis fruit combine with hints of cocoa powder and vanilla. This is a dark, dense wine from the start to its long, fine-grained tannin finish.
Grapes are from the Red Mountain Appellation vineyards of Hedges Estate, Bel’ Villa and Red Mountain. The wine was aged as individual lots in 75% new and 25% selected one to two year old French (90%) and American (10%) oak barrels for 18 months.
Harvest notes: Very hot followed by cold, wet windy temperatures during bloom and set caused uneven set. Combine this with a typically warm summer and ideal extended fall ripening conditions of warm days and cool nights and the result is a somewhat unusual combination of generally lower acidity and pH in the grapes. A challenging but ultimately great vintage for those patient enough to let the grapes achieve optimum maturity and the flavors that come along with it.
Grapes are from the Red Mountain Appellation vineyards of Hedges Estate, Bel’ Villa and Red Mountain.
Steve Lessard
Experience Hedges wine all year round
