2020Horse Heaven Hills Claret
2020Horse Heaven Hills Claret
The 2020 Matthews Horse Heaven Hills Claret is a blend of AVA-focused Bordeaux varietals coming from several small vineyard parcels, mostly within the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Hand-harvested in the fall, it was hand-sorted and fermented using stainless steel (92%) and French oak barrels (8%). The free-run juice was aged in French oak (96% new) for 22 months. Only 24 barrels were ultimately selected for this blend, which was bottled in July of 2022, producing only 599 cases.
The 2020 Matthews Horse Heaven Hills Claret shows a deep ruby to dense purple color in the glass. Expressive aromas of cola, sandalwood, dried flowers, bramble fruit and blueberry fruit leather lead to flavors of candied hibiscus, cacao nib, wild mountain blueberry and toasty oak. Balanced acidity, body, and palate-coating fine-grained tannins on the finish, with fall spices and black fruits.
68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 8% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot
受賞歴と称賛の声
"The 2020 'Horse Heaven Hills Claret' combines 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Cabernet Franc with small parts Malbec, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Coming from the Wallula Gap and Champoux Vineyards, this comes off very soft and inviting on the mouth with juicy red fruits that mingle well with tobacco leaf, milk chocolate and sagebrush tones. Most stored in stainless steel, this is very inviting to enjoy now and over the next decade."
-93 points, Owen Bargreen, owenbargreen.com
AVAs
Horse Heaven Hills
Horse Heaven Hills
- Designated
- 2005
- Vineyards
- 17,082 acres (6,912 hectares)
- Top Varieties
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc
- Average Annual Precipitation
- 9 inches
- Soil
- wind-blown sand, loess, Missoula Flood sediment, basalt bedrock
- Average Vine Age
- 25yrs