COLOUR
Red
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2023
GRAPE
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Malbec
PRODUCER
Hedges Family Estate
REGION
Washington
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium - Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Medium - Long
Intensity
Mid - Pronounced
Tannins
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Hedges Family Estate was founded in 1987 by Washington-native Tom Hedges and his French wife, Anne-Marie Liégeois. In a fascinating historical twist, their initial venture was funded by selling bulk Cabernet-Merlot to the Swedish government, who sought clean, untainted wine in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster. This successful deal funded the purchase of their first 50 acres on the slopes of Red Mountain in 1989, long before the region gained international acclaim. Today, the estate is led by the founders' children, Sarah Hedges Goedhart and Christophe Hedges, who champion biodynamic farming and a low-intervention philosophy. The family is also famously known for their strict 'no-score' stance, refusing to submit their wines to critics in the belief that wine is a subjective, experiential art form.
ALCOHOL
14.0%
AVG. PRICE
€30
STYLE
Classic
VEGAN
YES
SULPHITES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
16-18°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
The estate was originally funded by selling bulk wine to Sweden, who sought clean wine after the Chernobyl disaster.
Fact 02
The Hedges family famously opposes the 100-point scoring system and refuses to submit their wines to critics.
Fact 03
The estate vineyards are 100% Demeter Certified Biodynamic and organic, holding a Michelin Green Emblem.
FOOD PAIRING
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WINE MAKING PROCESS
The winemaking process for this estate blend is guided by a low-intervention, traditional philosophy. Grapes are sourced entirely from the family's Demeter Certified Biodynamic estate vineyards on Red Mountain. After being destemmed and partially crushed, the fruit undergoes spontaneous fermentation with wild, native yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. To achieve optimal extraction of color and structured tannins, the must is subjected to twice-daily pumpovers. The wine is then aged in a combination of French (60%), American (37%), and Hungarian (3%) oak barrels, with approximately 50% of the barrels being new oak. The final blend is bottled with minimal sulfur additions and without heavy fining or filtration to preserve the pure expression of the Red Mountain terroir.
