World renowned. Washington grown.
2005 H3 Cabernet Sauvignon
90 points - Wine Spectator
Tasting Notes
“This intense, fruit-forward Cabernet Sauvignon delivers aromas of cherry blossom, and rose petals, with a perfect balance of earth, mineral, deep berry flavors, and a soft, smooth cocoa finish.”
— Ray Einberger, Winemaker
Growing Season
- August 15 marked the beginning of the earliest harvest on record.
- Warm summer months contributed to the uniformity of berry maturation.
- A temperature drop in late summer cooled the vineyards and allowed the grapes extra hang time to enhance flavor and aromatic development.
- The warmer areas of the Horse Heaven Hills saw early ripening with mature fruit and intense flavors with slight dust and earthy undertones. The cooler locations saw later ripening with bright fruit, slight mineral and herbal qualities.
Vineyards
- The Horse Heaven Hills vineyards are seated east of the Cascade Mountain range. Up to 14,000 feet high, the mountains effectively block eastward-moving wet weather systems from the Pacific Ocean.
- The terrain consists of south-facing slopes that provide excellent sun exposure for grape ripening, and good air drainage which protects the vineyards during the winter months.
- Well-drained, sandy soils have low fertility and low water-holding capacity, allowing precise control of vine growth patterns.
- Strong wind patterns, which are unique to the Horse Heaven Hills, reduce canopy size and density, create better sun exposure, and contribute to even ripening by moderating temperature extremes.
Vinification
- Grapes were crushed at 20% whole-berry to retain fruit quality.
- Fermentation lasted 7-14 days on the skins to extract optimum fruit and structural components.
- Various yeasts were used to maintain fruit flavors and complexity.
- Malolactic fermentation occurred in stainless steel tanks and oak barrels.
- Blending occurred shortly after malolactic fermentation.
- The wine was barrel aged in 40% new American and French oak, and 60% older oak for 14-18 months.
Technical Data
- Total acidity: 0.58 g/100ml
- pH: 3.75
- Alcohol: 14.3%