The 2009 Hedges CMS Red is 45% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Syrah sourced from vineyards in Horse Heaven Hills, Wahluke Slope, Red Mountain and Columbia Valley AVA’s in Washington.The Hedges Family Winery has a campaign against wine scores , if you agree, sign the petition. This wine was aged in new French (60%) and American (40%) oak barrels for 5 weeks, enough time to get some oak influence, but not enough for aging. The alcohol content is 13.6%.
The color is a shiny raspberry red. The nose is blackberry, coffee, toffee and vanilla, like walking into a Starbucks. Silky smooth on the palate, black and blueberry upfront, a little chocolate underneath the dark fruit. The mid palate brings herbal tea, a faint touch of pickle juice, cocoa powder and a late slap of strawberry. You can sense the tannins, but there is no bite. The finish is dark berries and is fairly long.
The Hedges CMS Red is a very tasty, well made wine, velvety, a little on the complex side, basically a nice glass of wine. Would pair well with dinner, remember delicious always pairs well with delicious and a good bottle to open up a cool fall evening.
