Grilled berry aromas dominate with some cocoa and spice. On the palate this is medium-plus in body with cherry notes, plums, Christmas spices and black pepper. This is a layered wine with fine tannins, supple texture and a medium-plus finish.

WINE INFORMATION

Tom Hedges from eastern Washington met Anne-Marie Liégeois while he was traveling in Champagne.  He was from a tech-oriented New World environment, she from a traditional Old-World home closely associated with grapes and wine.  This unlikely pairing resulted in marriage in 1976.  They worked in the produce exporting business on a global scale until an opportunity arose in 1986 that took them back to the fruit of the vine.  They started a company that exported California and Washington wine to Europe and Asia.  They also acquired land in Washington’s Red Mountain district, then relatively unknown, today quite famous.  In the beginning they worked with nègociant-style wines, sourcing fruit while waiting for their vineyards to mature.  They concentrate on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and have considerably expanded their holdings.  Their daughter Sarah is now the winemaker, while their son Christophe is head of sales and marketing.

Grapes come from the Columbia Valley vineyards, Wooded Island, Bacchus, Sagemoor and Weinbau (all part of Sagemoor Farms), and the Red Mountain Vineyards of Hedges, Bel’ Villa, Jolet, Les Gosses and Magdalena. After alcoholic fermentation occurred, about 40% of the wine was racked to barrel where it completed malolactic fermentation and then aged for an additional 15-18 months. The other 60% completed malolactic fermentation in tank, at the end of which it was racked onto French Oak. About 60% of the oak used was French, the rest  American.

Charcuterie, Cheese, Grilled preparations, Hearty stew, Lamb, Mushrooms, Pizza, Red Meat, Roasted Root Vegetables, Slow-smoked Barbeque/BBQ Sauce, Tomato Sauce, Vegetables