2012 Den Hoed Cabernet Sauvignon Andreas Wallula Vineyard

JamesSuckling.com

• By James Suckling
  3/18/2018, (See more on JamesSuckling.com...)

  (Den Hoed Horse Heaven Hills Andreas Wallula Vineyards, Red, United States) Login and sign up and see review text.

• By Stephen Tanzer
  Focus on Washington: Hot Times in the Desert (Nov 2016), 11/1/2016, (See more on Vinous...)

  (Den Hoed Cabernet Sauvignon Andreas Wallula Vineyards Washington) Login and sign up and see review text.

Full Pull

• By Paul Zitarelli
  Full Pull Classic Den Hoed, 7/30/2017

  (Den Hoed Wine Estates Andreas Cabernet Sauvignon) Hello friends. They say it takes a village to raise a child. I think it takes a village to raise a vine—and this is never more true than when you reach deeply into the history of Washington wine. Each vineyard—each wine—tells the stories of the many people who played a part in its birth, its upbringing, and its present state. From the people who planted the vines, to the first winemakers to produce juice from its fruit, to the vineyard managers, winemakers, and proprietors who continue the pursuit of art-meets-science that is viticulture—every character in the story plays a pivotal role in where it has gone, and where it will go. Den Hoed Wine Estates’ esteemed wine comes from such a village. It began in a small town in Holland, where two parents decided they wanted a better life for their family—which brought Andreas Den Hoed to the United States. The story grew when Marie, Andreas’ fiancé, joined him, leaving her entire family in Holland to pursue making her own. The village started to grow when Andreas and Marie moved to Washington, when they had their own children, when they began planting their first vineyard in 1956. The journey ebbed and flowed as two of Marie and Andreas’ children, Bill and Andy,  joined the family business and set their sights on a parcel of land bordering the Columbia River in the Wallula Gap. Rob Newsom, of Bodreaux Cellars, and Gilles Nicault, of Long Shadows, came on as winemakers, and Washington wine legend, Allen Shoup, joined as a partner and guiding force. From farmland in Holland to an award winning vineyard in Washington, Den Hoed Wine Estates was raised. All of these people created Den Hoed together, and through years of gusto, bravery, and some careful planning, they turned a steep slope of untouched sagelands bordering the Columbia River into a legendary vineyard*. Den Hoed produces two wines per vintage, one made by Rob and one by Gilles, both sourced from the family’s vineyard, inspired by Marie and Andreas. Today, we’re honoring the village it took to bring us these exemplary wines by offering classic Den Hoed. Two different Cabernets, both from the outstanding 2012 vintage, sourced from neighboring blocks in the family’s outstanding estate vineyard, made by the winery’s two equally capable yet different wine makers. A cab-lovers dream. *This vineyard is truly spectacular, and unrivaled by anything in the state. The Den Hoed brothers were rich with luck and expertise when they decided to buy this sloping property along the Columbia River. Thought to be revolutionary (or honestly, impractical by some) when they purchased the land, this south-facing, terraced site is now considered one of the best vineyards in the state and is used by many of our list-favorite wineries. Climbing over 1,000 feet in just over three miles, this vineyard consists of varied micro climates that provide unique growing opportunities for over 15 different varieties. From its lowest points along the river to its highest peaks, Wallula Vineyard has the potential for beautiful, ultra-premium reds and high-quality, acid driven whites whites. Named for the Den Hoed patriarch, Andreas, this Cabernet presents complementary to Marie’s View, but wholly different. Made by Gilles Nicault from Long Shadows, this wine was aged roughly 30 month in mostly new French oak. On the nose, it’s obviously but not overwhelmingly influenced by the French winemaker and the French oak, leading with vanilla, fresh cedar, and rich, dark chocolate. Herbaceous greens and dark, black fruit follow, leading to a palate that’s full bodied and lush, with extraordinarily elegant blackberry, cherry, and currant fruit. While Marie’s View showcases the floral parts of Cabernet, Andreas shows off the robust fruit side of the grape. This is a wine to lay down for half a decade, at least, and enjoy for years after.