2008 Hedges Family Estate Red Mountain

DATE CONSUMED

Saturday, February 02, 2013

VINTAGE

2008

WINERY/PRODUCER

Hedges Family Estate

WINE NAME

Red Mountain

TYPE OF WINE

Red blend

COMPOSITION

36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 14% Syrah, 11% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec

SUBNAME/NICKNAME

N/A

VINEYARD DESIGNATION

Six different Red Mountain vineyards

REGION/A.V.A. (American Viticultural Area)

Red Mountain, Washington

ALCOHOL CONTENT

13.5%

PRICE PAID

Unknown (this was a gift from a friend)

WHERE/WHEN BOUGHT AND/OR HOW PROCURED

Our friend John brought this over to our house in November, 2011

BOUQUET

This wine has a nice, spicy, earthy, slightly oaky bouquet, in addition to the black and red fruits on the nose  (in other words, this wine has a typical American Bordeaux blend bouquet).

TASTING NOTES

This is a very nice red blend, with a mostly red fruit flavor profile (raspberries and cherries), along with a healthy dose of black fruit as well.  This is a medium-bodied blend with a very moderate alcohol level, which is very refreshing since I’m used to California rich, creamy, spicy, alcoholic fruit bombs.  Which means this is a very nice, well-balanced blend with not too much of anything (fruit, oak, spices, alcohol, acid, etc.).  I enjoy a big, bold, brash, obnoxious red wine as much as anybody, but every once in a while, it’s pleasant to enjoy a sublime, subdued, quiet, delicious, well-made wine.  I’m assuming partly due to the six different varietals used in this blend, this wine has a very nice flavor profile (though not extraordinarily deep and/or complex), along with beautiful earthiness, spiciness, ever-so-slightly oakiness, perfect acidity and alcohol content, with a smooth, lingering finish that knows exactly how long to stick around and when to get the hell off of my palate.

I’ve had more compelling Bordeaux-styled red blends, but for an affordable Washington red blend (according to Hedges website, this wine has a retail price of $25), if you’re partial to Bordeaux blends, this is one heck of a bargain. 

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS

We served this wine with Arthur’s beef stew, which paired very nicely with the beef, veggies, and spices.  Because this blend shows beautiful restraint, it would also pair well with a grilled/spiced ribeye steak, prime rib, and just about any other red meat dish.  But because it isn’t a Fruit/Spice/Cream/Earth/Alcohol/Oak Bomb, I would stick with more restrained red meats, especially simply-spiced steaks and prime rib.  Spicy lamb dishes would pair better with Zins, Syrahs, Petite Sirahs, and Cab Savs, but this beauty would pair perfectly with a simple stew (like what we had tonight) or a simple grilled steak.

 

AGING POTENTIAL

This wine is drinking very well right now and should continue to age, mature, and develop nicely for another ten years or so.

SCORE (on a 100-point scale)

88

Q.P.R. (QUALITY-TO-PRICE RATIO) (POOR, FAIR, GOOD, EXCELLENT)

GOOD (based on the winery’s website suggested retail price)

WINERY WEBSITE

http://www.hedgesfamilyestate.com/