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02/20/2002 Archived Entry: "Hedges Columbia Valley Red 1999"

The 1999 vintage of Hedges Columbia Valley Red is quite a different animal than vintages past. All prior vintages were a delicious blend of only two grapes, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. This year we have a wonderful, fuller-bodied blend of four grapes. With 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Syrah this vintage is more complex and certainly an amazing value at $13.99 a bottle.

Rich and layered on the palate, this red is well-structured, very delicious and destined to age for perhaps three or four years, which is unusual for wines in this price range. Washington State is very well suited for growing these grapes. The warm, arid, Columbia Valley is protected from maritime influences by the Cascade Mountain Range, which lies to its west. Irrigation adds to limited rainfall, providing just enough water for the grapes to achieve maximum concentration and balance between their fruit and acidity.

Hedges also produces two other red wines, Three Vineyards and Red Mountain, which are more expensive than this week’s "wine buy,'' but surely worth their price. Hedges also produces a white wine, Fume-Chardonnay (a Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay blend).

The beauty of blending grapes to achieve perfect balance, while producing really interesting wine, is clearly reflected in the wonderful winemaking of Hedges.

-Carol A. Berman