2009 Murray Syrah
This 2009 Murray Syrah is the third release of our estate vineyard Syrah. It is 100% from grapes
we grew on Red Mountain; two different clones of Syrah co-fermented with 5% Viognier. The
Mother Block (Tim’s mom’s vineyard) was in 5th leaf when we harvested these grapes. The
intensity of the vineyard is starting to show even in this young wine. The Syrah is dark red with a
floral and brambly berry nose with a hint of tar and creosote. The palate is pleasingly plush,
smooth with a continuation of the brambly berry fruit through the finish.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes
were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to
extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently
pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During
barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and
bottled in January of 2011.
We produced 253 cases.
- 95% Syrah
- 5% Viognier (co-fermented with the Syrah)
- 100% Red Mountain AVA
"The 2009 Syrah was made entirely from estate-grown fruit and was co-fermented with 5% Viognier. Smoke, game, bacon, and blueberry aromas lead to a savory, round, friendly wine with good depth and balance. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. 90 points"
More reviews
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Reviews October 2011 Newsletter
2008 Out of Line Red Wine
We named our estate vineyard on Red Mountain, Out of Line, (not due to the personalities of the winemakers) but because our vineyard rows are canted eleven degrees off of north south. This orientation more evenly balances the sun exposure on each side of the vine row, increasing the exposure on the east and decreasing it on the west. This wine shows off Red Mountain's character beautifully - it is inky black with an enticing amalgam of dark cherry, blackberry, cassis, cedar and a hint of vanilla on the nose; the palate shows dark fruit flavors built on a structure of fine grained tannins. What makes us excited as winemakers and now flavor farmers is that this is only the second harvest from the vineyard, it should only get better as it ages.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in May of 2010.
We produced 308 cases.
- 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 22% Merlot
- 14% Cab Franc
- 7% Malbec
- 7% Petit Verdot
- 100% Red Mountain AVA, Hightower Cellars Out of Line Estate Vineyard
2008 Murray Syrah
This 2008 Murray Syrah is only our second Syrah. It is 100% from grapes we grew on Red Mountain; two different clones of Syrah co-fermented with 5% Viognier. The grapes were harvested from the Mother Block (Tim’s mom’s vineyard) in late September and early October 2008. The Syrah’s nose has pleasing aromas of raspberry, dried cranberry, white pepper and a floral top note that comes from the Viognier. The palate is smooth with a hint of licorice mingled with fruit and enough acidity to make it a good food wine.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in March of 2010.
We produced 198 cases.
- 95% Syrah
- 5% Viognier
- 100% Red Mountain
The hits just keep on coming. Here's another syrah from Washington that convinces me wineries should postpone the abandonment of this grape. 100% estate fruit from Red Mountain, this syrah possesses all the components attributed to making this grape great. The nose leads with an assault of layered complexity. Rich red and purple berries, smoky, savory, peppery, and violet notes tease the taste buds into great anticipation for what lies ahead for the mouth. And in the mouth, the follow through is as expected. All those beautiful flavors dance harmoniously across the palate as promised, towards a perfectly balanced, structured finish that commands another sip. Here's the red for your summer Bar-B-Que, or stock-up for the fall, which in Seattle, might be next week.
Pike and Western Wine Merchants
2007 Merlot
Our 2007 Merlot is characteristic of Red Mountain Merlots, which are bigger than most Merlots
and have a bit darker and more intense fruit character. This wine is fun and serious at the same
time – it’s like dark cherry juice dripped over mineral stone and filtered through blackberry
bramble. The wine reveals the fruit abundance and structure for which the vintage is becoming
famous. In the mouth this wine is full bodied, but is very easy going with a slightly spicy finish
from the Cabernet Franc.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes
were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to
extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently
pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During
barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and
bottled in the spring of 2009.
We produced 336 cases.
- 92% Merlot
- 8% Cabernet Franc
- 76% Red Mountain, 24% Horse Heaven Hills
"The 2007 Merlot contains 14% Cabernet Franc with the fruit predominantly from the Red Mountain AVA, the balance from Horse Heaven Hills. Medium purple in color, the nose … gives up aromas of toasty oak, mineral, violets, cassis, and black currant. Savory on the palate… 89 points."
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Reviews August 2010 Newsletter
2007 Murray Cuvee
Our 2007 Murray Cuvee is a lovely lighter bodied table wine. What is so exciting for Hightower Cellars is this is over half the grapes in this wine are Estate fruit from our vineyard on Red Mountain. Although the Murray Cuvee is a little bit lighter in body than the Hightower Wines, it still has Red Mountain dark fruits and lovely acidity.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in the spring of 2009.
We produced 552 cases.
- 65% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 26% Merlot
- 9% Cabernet Franc
- 70% Red Mountain, 30% Horse Heaven Hills
"Medium purple in color, it offers up a pleasant nose of cedar, spice box, violets, herbs, and assorted black fruits. Supple, ripe, and easy-going, this very good value will deliver pleasure over the next 4-5 years. 88 points"
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
2007 Murray Syrah
2007 Murray Syrah is our first Hightower crafted Syrah and our first estate bottled wine. The grapes were harvested from the Mother Block (Tim's mom's vineyard) in late September 2007. The Syrah's nose has this beautiful dark red raspberry with a classic leather tinge. The spice on the nose seems to a subtle cinnamon like spice. On the finish there is bitter sweet chocolate.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in late winter of 2009. We produced 249 cases.
- 95% Syrah
- 5% Viognier
- 100% Red Mountain
2007 Murray White
This 8 barrel blend has 7 barrels of Semillon with a barrel of Sauvignon Blanc aged in neutral barrels. There is lots of nice caramel and pear on the nose with a refreshing acidity on the palate. We bottled 190 cases.
- 88% Semillon
- 12% Sauvignon Blanc
2007 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Walla Walla Valley Red Wine
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in the summer of 2009. We produced 199 cases.
- 75% Merlot Pepper Bridge Vineyard
- 25% Cabernet Sauvignon Pepper Bridge Vineyard
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Here at Hightower Cellars, we really believe in Washington Cabernet Sauvignons, enough to stake our name on it. Our 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon is a good example of why we love Washington Cabs. It has a very aromatic nose – full of dark fruits, Red Mountain sweet minerality with just a hint of butterscotch. The wine has so much fruit on the nose and on the palate that it is not overwhelmed with the new oak, but rather the wine and the oak really compliment each other. It has Washington’s great acidity that will make it a great food wine or allow it to age and keep all that fruit intact.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in the spring of 2008.
We produced 273 cases.
- 82% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 18% Merlot
- 73% Red Mountain, 18% Horse Heaven Hills, 9% Pepper Bridge Vineyard
"The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon contains 18% Merlot, the fruit predominantly from the Red Mountain AVA. Deep purple in color, it displays a serious bouquet of toasty oak, pencil lead, espresso, violets, black currant, and blackberry. Dense, rich, and layered, this suave offering is incipiently complex and worthy of several more years of cellaring to full express itself. 91 points"
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
2006 Red Mountain Red Wine
This wine, which is our 4th release of a Red Mountain appellation wine, is 100% from Red Mountain grapes. In 2006 one of our Red Mountain vineyards had a very low yield. Scott Williams of Kiona Winery, very generously offered us a couple of tons from the oldest (and first) planting on Red Mountain. We think the age of the Kiona grapes adds interesting nuances to the wine. Although is has the typical Red Mountain mineralness on the nose and good structure, it has the mellowness and palate of a well aged wine.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in the spring of 2008. We produced 234 cases
-
78% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 44% E. & E. Shaw Vineyard, Red Mountain
- 34% Kiona Vineyard, 1975 Planting, Red Mountain
-
22% Merlot
- 11% Artz Vineyards
- 11% Red Mountain Vineyards
"The 2006 Red Mountain Red Wine is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Merlot. It surrenders a brooding bouquet of balsam wood, lavender, spice box, leather, and assorted black fruits. Dense and chewy on the palate with plenty of structure, this lengthy offering merits another 5-7 years of cellaring and will then offer a drinking window extending from 2016 to 2031. 92 points"
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
2006 Merlot
Our 2006 Merlot won best of Varietal at the local Tri-Cities Wine Festival. It has all of the characteristics of a great Merlot - lovely bright fruit, medium weight structure, silky tannins and a pleasing finish that leaves one wanting more. A wine with this structure makes an excellent food wine. We hope you enjoy it!
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in the summer of 2008. We produced 296 cases.
- 82% Merlot
- 9% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 9% Cabernet Franc
- 73% Horse Heaven, 27% Red Mountain
If Merlot strikes you as underwhelming (and overpriced), you haven’t tried one from Washington. The state’s eastern half may be the only area in North America where the varietal truly thrives. Boutique producers such as Hightower, … typically make a few hundred cases of bright, fruity Merlot that never travel farther than Seattle or Portland.
Bruce Shoenfeld, Travel and Leisure Magazine
2006 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Walla Walla Valley Red Wine
Our 2006 Pepper Bridge Blend reflects the beauty of the vineyard. The nose evokes fig and smoked cherries with an overlay of minerality. It has a smooth palate with a burst of bright fruit on the finish.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in the summer of 2008. We produced 196 cases.
- 88% Merlot Pepper Bridge Vineyard
- 12% Cabernet Sauvignon Pepper Bridge Vineyard
2006 Murray Cuvee
Our 2006 Murray Cuvee is a lovely lighter bodied table wine. It's significant portion of Cabernet Franc adds a real lively and spicy component to the wine.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in the summer of 2008. We produced 205 cases.
- 57% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 43% Cabernet Franc
- 71% Alder Ridge, 29% Red Mountain
2006 Murray White
The 2006 Murray White is very crisp, grassy white wine. The Semillon provides a nice richness to the mouth feel. We bottled 190 cases.
- 50% Semillon
- 50% Sauvignon Blanc
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2005 vintage in Washington has proven itself to be one of exceptional quality. This wine is further proof. Our 2005 Cabernet shows cassis, dried cranberries, and black cherries on the nose with a hint of licorice. In the mouth the wine is round and full with dark fruit flavors and chocolate laced with a hint of floral pepper and spice.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in the spring of 2007. We produced 355 cases.
- 88% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 4% Merlot
- 7% Cabernet Franc
- 61% Red Mountain, 35% Horse Heaven Hills, 4% Pepper Bridge Vineyard
2005 Red Mountain Red Wine
This wine, which is our 3rd release of a Red Mountain appellation wine, is 100% from Red Mountain grapes. The wine is immensely satisfying and masculine yet smooth, like a fine, comfortable, old leather chair. Various dark fruit flavors along with aromas of cedar, smoke and classic Red Mountain mineralness dominate the nose and palate. In general, the 2005 vintage wines from Washington State show themselves to be of exceptionally high quality. We believe our 2005 Red Mountain wine to be a leading example of the 2005 vintage, through its fruit character, intensity and overall balance.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in the spring of 2006. We produced 160 cases
-
90% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 100% from E. & E. Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain
-
10% Merlot
- 100% from E. & E. Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain
2005 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Walla Walla Valley Red Wine
The Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red Wine is full of dark cherry fruits, with a hint of mineralness on the nose. It has a big mouth feel for Merlot and finishes with fruit and gravelly tannins.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in the spring of 2007. We produced 168 cases.
- 100% Merlot Pepper Bridge Vineyard
2005 Murray Cuvee
The 2005 Murray Cuvee is very bright, just like its namesake. It has an abundance of intense cherry fruit on the nose which leads into a very smooth yet lively mouth feel. Because it is lighter bodied, it will play nicely with most foods.
We love the balance and weight of the 2005 vintage. We believe this Murray Cuvee to be a good example of the vintage. We produced 747 cases.
- 88% Merlot
- 6% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 6% Cabernet Franc
- 91% Alder Ridge, 9% Red Mountain
2005 Merlot
Our 2005 Merlot is a delightful garden of flavors - there are floral hints of geranium and rose wrapped up with darker red fruits around a core of characteristic Red Mountain mineralness. This wine’s weight, balance and pervasive fruit character on the nose, palate and finish are further proofs towards the generally held belief that 2005 will prove to be one of Washington’s best.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in the summer of 2007. We produced 238 cases
- 83% Merlot
- 11% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 6% Cabernet Franc
- 77% Red Mountain, 17% Horse Heaven, 6% Walla Walla
2004 Red Mountain Red Wine
Since our inaugural vintage in 1997, Red Mountain has been our favorite source of grapes. In 2002, we were fortunate enough to purchase 15 acres in this tiny appellation. This wine, produced from 100% Red Mountain grapes, is big, rich and luxurious. Dark fruit flavors with an undercurrent of classic Red Mountain mineralness dominate the nose and palate. Fruit and oak tannins integrate nicely on the palate.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in the spring of 2006.
-
80% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 50% Artz Vineyard, Red Mountain
- 50% E. & E. Shaw Vineyard, Red Mountain
-
20% Merlot
- E. & E. Shaw Vineyard, Red Mountain
Dark, dense, ripe and oaky, this ramps up the oak flavors to higher levels, with rich layers of smoke, cedar, honey and butterscotch wrapped into the spicy, sweet fruit. The oak definitely holds down the fort at the moment, but as the wine ages and opens up the lovely cherry/cassis core fruit should come into its own. If you are looking for a Washington take on ripe, high-octane California reds, this is a good place to start. (90)
Paul Gregutt
2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
Our 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon is pleasing from the start - its dark plumy color draws your eye and heightens your interest. Swirl the wine around the glass to release the aromas and smell the combination of intense, dark fruits; Red Mountain mineral aromas; sweet spiciness; and a faint hint of characteristic Cabernet Sauvignon menthol. Take a sip and feel the wine’s smooth grip, balance and velvetiness on the palate from the moment the wine hits your tongue through the long finish.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in the spring of 2006. We produced 250 cases
- 84% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 16% Merlot
- 6% Cabernet Franc
- 68% Red Mountain, 32% Horse Heaven Hills
2004 Merlot
Our 2004 Merlot is full of complex fruit flavors — bright red raspberry and cherry from the Merlot and dark brooding fruit from the Cabernet. This fruit is kept fresh and lively by the wines bright acidity and smooth, rolling tannins. The wine has intensity and concentration with a hint of mineralness. The wine's lively acidity and bright fruit which will pair nicely with rich meals.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in the summer of 2006
- 82% Merlot
- 18% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 55% Alder Ridge, 45% Red Mountain
This is a smooth blend of Red Mountain and Horse Heaven Hills Merlot, with a generous (18%) supplement of Cabernet Sauvignon. It's consistent with previous efforts — satiny smooth, glossy and somewhat impenetrable. The tightly wound fruits taste of ripe raspberry, and the bright acidity adds intensity to the toasty, coffee-inflected finish. This is good winemaking, the wine is dense, supple and extracted. ...(90)
Paul Gregutt
2004 Murray Cuvee
The 2004 Murray Cuvee is packed with lots of ripe fruit with just a hint of chocolate and almond. It has an extremely smooth palate that just floats over your tongue and lingers in your mouth.
- 61% Merlot
- Alder Ridge
- Artz and Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain
- 31% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Artz and Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain
- Alder Ridge
- 8% Cabernet Franc
- Alder Ridge
2003 Cabernet Sauvignon
Hightower 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon is a velvety wine with lots of sweet cherry, berry and violet aromas intermingled with notes of leather, cedar and vanilla. The small amount of Cabernet Franc helps to create a spicy, round finish that stays with you for a long time.
The grapes for this wine were handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes were used. We fermented the fruit in small open-top containers no taller than they are wide to extract greater flavor and color by having more juice in contact with the grape skins. After gently pressing the wine from the skins the wine aged in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity racked the wine off its lees with a siphon. Separate lots were blended and bottled in the spring of 2005.
-
96% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Artz and E. & E. Shaw Vineyards on Red Mountain
- Alder Ridge
- Pepper Bridge
-
4% Cabernet Franc
- Alder Ridge
Hightower's Columbia Valley Cab brings in fruit from Artz and Shaw vineyards on Red Mountain, Alder Ridge in the Horse Heaven Hills, and Pepper Bridge in Walla Walla. Smooth, rich and chocolatey, it falls into a satiny style ... This is well-made and certainly brings the tastes that consumers love right to front and center — sweet fruit and rich chocolate. I like the subtle snap of raspberry that hits you right at the back of the throat. (88)
Paul Gregutt
2003 Pepper Bridge Vineyard Walla Walla Valley Red Wine
The Pepper Bridge Vineyard Red Wine is exactly half Merlot and half Cabernet Sauvignon and is full of typical Walla Walla Valley terroir: berry fruits and with a delicious hint of mint, wrapped with silky tannins with a lovely finish of lingering roses.
- 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 50% Merlot
"The 2003 Hightower Red 'Pepper Bridge Vineyard' is a stunningly delicious red with very European styling. The aroma is lovely black cherry and black raspberry. The flavor blends cassis and black cherry with hints of mocha and vanilla. The finish is amazingly fruity yet powerfully long. This is a superb example of Walla Walla Red Wine."
McCarthy & Schiering Newsletter January, 2006
2003 Red Mountain Red Wine
The glorious grapes of Red Mountain were the primary reason for us packing up our household and winery - forklift and all - and moving to Red Mountain. Red Mountain grapes have been our favorite grapes from our first vintage in 1997.
So, finally, we have our first ever 100% Red Mountain wine - our 2003 Red Mountain Red Wine - from E & E Shaw and Artz Vineyards. A Cabernet dominant blend. It aged for 19 long months in oak before it rested an additional 9 months in bottle. It's a beautiful wine, showing the grace and power for which Red Mountain fruit is renowned. Though concentrated & dark, it sustains an elegant mouth-feel throughout the palate.
-
90% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Artz and Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain
-
10% Merlot
- Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain
"The 2003 Hightower Red Mountain Red is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot from two vineyards on Red Mountain, Artz and E & E Shaw. It has a beautiful aroma of red currant and plum. The oak component is downplayed allowing the wine's pure fruit to show through. On the palate, one immediately tastes layers of complexity. The flavors of plum, currant and cassis jump out. This is a delicious wine from the AVA where Tim and Kelly Hightower will eventually farm their own fruit from a 15-acre vineyard."
McCarthy & Schiering Newsletter May, 2006
2003 Merlot
The 2003 Merlot is mostly Merlot with just a touch of Cabernet Franc (4%), resulting in a beautifully structured, well-integrated, complex little wine full of big, juicy cherries.
-
96% Merlot
- Artz and Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain 32%
- Alder Ridge 32%
- Pepper Bridge 32%
-
4% Cabernet Franc
- Alder Ridge
"Smooth, hard and glossy, with tightly wound fruits dappled with light herbs. The mix of plum, cherry, coffee and earth is perfectly balanced, and the wine shows good density and extract. Grapes are from Red Mountain, Walla Walla and Horse Heaven. Score: 92"
Paul Gregutt, Wine Enthusiast October, 2006
2003 Murray Cuvee
The Murray Cuvee inaugural 2003 vintage is full of dark plum and blackberry aromas with subtle hints of vanilla and a long lingering finish.
- 69% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 31% Merlot
- Alder Ridge (40%)
- Pepper Bridge (30%)
- Red Mountain (30%)
2002 Merlot
Hightower 2002 Merlot's deep ruby color and hints of tobacco wrap around delicious plum and black cherry flavors. The supple tannins provide strong backbone and its lively acidity will partner perfectly with most foods.
-
100% Merlot
- Artz and Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain (46%)
- Alder Ridge (31%)
- Pepper Bridge (23%)
"Floral nose of Lavendar, rose, blackberry jam and herb; clean berry and cherry flavors, mouthwatering acidity...good with food...limited production."
-San Franscisco Chronicle Wine Selections
2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
Hightower 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon is a big wine with deep rich color and flavor. A decadent, full-bodied wine with hints of chocolate, cherry and blackberry. The wine finishes with soft tannins.
-
93% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Artz and Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain
- Alder Ridge
- Pepper Bridge
-
7% Cabernet Franc
- Alder Ridge
"Enticing, complex nose of black/red fruit precedes mouth-filling flavors that lean toward black fruit such as currant, plum and blackberry, mingled with black cherry, vanilla and spice; nicely balanced by firm structure and soft, yet plentiful tannins. Score: 90"
Richard Kinssies & Howard G. Goldberg, The Wine News
2001 Cabernet Sauvignon
Hightower 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with an exquisite nose of sweet red fruits and blackberries with hints of leather, clove, tobacco, and vanilla. On the palate, this full-bodied wine balances cassis, black cherries, and plum flavors with a powerful, structured and velvet-textured mouth feel, culminating in a long finish.
-
88% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Artz and Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain (35%)
- Alder Ridge (27%)
- Pepper Bridge (26%)
-
4% Merlot
- Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain
-
8% Cabernet Franc
- Alder Ridge
2001 Merlot
Exceptional grape sources and care in winemaking made the 2001 Hightower Merlot deliciously aromatic and well balanced. The wine's aromatics exhibit rich blue fruits with notes of smoke and sweet oak. On the palate, the medium bodied, elegant wine offers dark cherry flavors together with soft, elegant tannins akin to coarse silk.
-
88% Merlot
- Artz and Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain
- Alder Ridge
- Pepper Bridge
-
6% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Alder Ridge
-
6% Cabernet Franc
- Alder Ridge
2000 Cabernet Sauvignon
Exceptional grape sources and care in winemaking made the 2000 Hightower Cabernet Sauvignon deliciously aromatic and velvet textured. The wine's aromatics exhibit dried cherry, cassis and dark berry fruit with notes of cedar and tobacco. On the palate, the medium bodied, elegant wine offers lush berry and plum flavors together with round, velvety tannins. We produced 570 cases
-
96% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Artz and Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain
- Alder Ridge
- Pepper Bridge
-
4% Merlot
- Artz Vineyard on Red Mountain
- Boushey
2000 Merlot
The nose has a complex array of aromas dominated by black plum and berry fruits supported by undertones of spice and vanilla oak. The spice notes are subtle and sweet, not pungent. The mouth feel is silky and well layered with soft tannins. Plum flavors linger on the extended finish. We produced 270 cases
-
90% Merlot
- Artz and Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain
- Boushey
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10% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Alder Ridge
1999 Cabernet Sauvignon
Initially, the cool summer of 1999 appeared to be a challenging one for grape growers and winemakers, until late August when the sun warmed the Columbia Valley to near perfect grape ripening conditions. The fine weather held through the end of harvest, ripening the small berried grape clusters perfectly. The cool summer developed intense, rich flavor and color in the grapes while the hot fall ripened the fruit and rounded out the grape tannins. Consequently, the wines of 1999 have greater depth of flavor and complexity than the luscious, ripe wines from the extraordinarily hot 1998 vintage. 1998 was reputed to be the best vintage of the decade in Washington, but we believe that 1999 outshines it. The nose has a complex array of black plum, licorice and caramel. The mouth feel is silky and well layered with soft tannins. Berry flavors linger on the long finish. We produced 425 cases
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78% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Pepper Bridge
- Artz and Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain
- Alder Ridge
-
22% Merlot
- Boushey
- Artz Vineyard on Red Mountain
- Pepper Bridge
1998 Cabernet Sauvignon
The extremely warm weather we experienced in 1998 produced a wine that is full of ripe, luscious fruit. The nose has a lovely array of dark cherry, currant, and black pepper; the mouth feel is complex and full bodied with soft, round tannins and a long, engaging finish. We produced 360 cases.
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75% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Pepper Bridge
- Red Mountain
- Alder Ridge
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5% Cabernet Franc
- Seven Hills
- Pepper Bridge
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20% Merlot
- Boushey
- Otis Vineyards
1997 Cabernet Sauvignon
It has a lush nose of chocolate, black cherry and cedar. It is a wine of great structure with a mouth feel of soft, round, full tannins that carry the fruit to a long lingering finish. We produced 220 cases
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78% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Red Mountain
- Otis Vineyards
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12% Cabernet Franc
- Seven Hills
- Pepper Bridge
- Stout
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10% Merlot
- Stout