2001 Hedges Red Mountain Reserve Merlot, 1.5ltr

Hedges Family Estate was founded in 1987 when Tom and Ann-Marie Hedges, a couple with ties to France --Marie is from the Champagne -- produced their first commercial Columbia Valley Cabernet/Merlot blend. The pair had spent a decade working for large agricultural concerns, but they wanted to be wine producers. Their original idea was to set up a wine producer/brokerage business on the model of the French negoiciants. But in 1989 they purchased 50 acres in the Red Mountain district of Washington’s Yakima Valley and began growing their own grapes. In 1995 the couple built a chateau in Red Mountain. Today the estate is still owned and operated by the Hedges family, which now includes adult children. Hedges is known for its red blends and its Merlot, but it also produces Chardonnay and Syrah. The estate has won numerous awards for its wines.

Columbia Valley AVA is larger than some states. At 18,000 square miles, or 11 million acres, the appellation covers almost half of Washington State and a small part of Oregon on the south side of the Columbia River. Established in 1984, Columbia Valley contains numerous sub appellations within its boundaries, including Yakima Valley AVA and Walla Walla AVA, both large and important wine districts. Columbia Valley AVA, generally called the Columbia Basin by Pacific Northwesterners, is in the Columbia River Plateau, and the AVA also includes a section of northeastern Oregon. There are dozens of microclimates within this appellation of about 7,000 vineyard acres. Many kinds of grapes are grown in the Columbia Valley, though the principal grapes planted are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Syrah, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. Eastern Washington experiences very hot summers and cold winters, and the northern latitude means that Washington vineyards receive several more hours of sun in the summer than California vineyards. Grapes in Washington therefore have time to develop significant tannins and overall ripeness.

The Merlot grape is such a deep blue that it is named for the blackbird. It’s an early ripening grape and one of the primary varietals used In Bordeaux. Merlot is also grown in the "International style," which is harvested later to bring out more tannins and body.