Hedges Family Estate Red Wine 2021, Red Mountain, Washington

2021 vintage – 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Syrah, 19% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, 5% Souzao, 5% Touriga. Reddish black bramble fruits, red currants, bright cinnamon, clove, vanilla and a touch of chili pepper, cocoa, toasted seeds, and a touch of earthy graphite. Nice structure, good length and lovely flavors of fruit, spice, and earth. This wine has a classic Hedges style with a modern touch, very enjoyable now and will age for years to come. Cellaring: This wine, like other Red Mountain wines, is best now with food, but will age well, probably peaking in 5-10 more years. Grapes are from Red Mountain AVA vineyards within a two-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 51% new oak, American (62%) and French oak (38%).