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All grapes are handpicked and handsorted to ensure that only the best grapes are used. We ferment 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 ages in small oak barrels for twenty months. During barrel aging we gravity rack the wine off its lees with a siphon.
Currently available wines are below, read about previous vintages in our wine library.
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
Here at Hightower Cellars, we really believe in Washington Cabernet Sauvignons, enough to stake our name on it. Our 2007 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 2009.
We produced 273 cases.
- 95% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 5% Petit Verdot
- 80% Red Mountain, 20% Horse Heaven Hills
2007 Red Mountain Red Wine
This wine, the 5th release of our top end Red Mountain appellation wine, is 100% from Red
Mountain grapes and almost half from our estate vineyard. Drinking this wine makes us think of
a big, succulent Ribeye steak hot off the grill – deep red and juicy and with a hint of charry BBQ
goodness – intensely satisfying. On the palate this is a mouth filling burst of dark fruits,
blackberry, cassis and plum with round chewy tannins and flavors that linger on and on leaving
you savoring the last swallow, but salivating for more.
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. Separate
lots were blended and bottled in the spring of 2009.
We produced 247 cases.
- 63% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 11% Merlot
- 16% Cabernet Franc
- 5% Petit Verdot
- 5% Malbec
- 53% Shaw Vineyard, 47% Out of Line Estate Vineyand
"The 2007 Red Mountain Red Wine is made up of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc aged in 80% new oak. Savory, spicy, and forward, this is a balanced, surprisingly elegant wine with the Red Mountain tannins nicely in check. This lengthy, nicely proportioned red will evolve for 2-3 years and drink well through 2019. 90 plus points"
More reviews
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Reviews October 2011 Newsletter
2008 Merlot
This is our 8th release of Merlot. Although Merlot has been pushed “sideways” by some wine lovers – we believe that what was bashed in the Sideways movie was California Merlot, not Washington Merlot. (The New York Times also wrote that with a list of reviews on Washington wineries.) This is a Cab Lover’s Merlot – big meaty and tannic, but with a nose that makes you want dig out your favorite steak knife and dive right in. It Is 100% Merlot and although labeled Columbia Valley – it is actually 100% Red Mountain with half coming from Out of Line and the other half coming from E&E Shaw Vineyard on Red Mountain.
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 2010.
We produced 155 cases.
- 100% Merlot
- 100% Red Mountain AVA (50% Hightower Cellars Out of Line Estate Vineyard, 50% E&E Shaw Vineyard)
2009 Out of Line Red Wine
Our estate vineyard might be named Out of Line, but for us it is right in line with our hopes and aspirations. When you label a wine "estate", it means that the winery that crushed, fermented, finished, aged and bottled the wine also grew the grapes on land it owns or controls, all within an American Viticultural Area (AVA). In 2005 we planted the baby vines surrounding our winery and have lovingly cared for them since.
We winemakers are always trotting out long lists of adjectives and varietal percentages, but one does not need to memorize those or be able to come with the descriptors themselves to be able to taste and enjoy handcrafted wines that are expressions of a place and time. What is most important is what you like. But for those that are interested in descriptors, here you go: this wine has heady mingled aromas and flavors of dark cherry, cedar, graphite, cassis and kola. We heard an expression the other day that we think applies to this wine – It feels like an angel in velvet pants going down your throat.
We produced 312 cases.
- 42% Merlot
- 34% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 8% Cab Franc
- 8% Malbec
- 8% Petit Verdot
- 100% Red Mountain AVA, Hightower Cellars Out of Line Estate Vineyard
2008 Pepper Bridge Red Wine Walla Walla Valley
Our 2008 Pepper Bridge Wine is fresh and fruity with lots of floral and pleasing menthol top
notes. The acid and oak tannins are very nicely integrated. There is lots of bold fruit in the
mouth. Although is a 100% Merlot without the normal Cab we blend with it to provide structure,
it is probably the biggest Pepper Bridge Blend to date.
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. Separate
lots were blended and bottled in the spring of 2010.
We produced 227 cases.
-
100% Merlot Pepper Bridge Vineyard
"The 2008 Pepper Bridge is a cuvee of 100% Merlot sourced from a quality site. It displays a more complex nose with exotic spices, cherry blossom, balsam wood, and assorted red and black fruits. This sets the stage for an elegant Merlot with savory flavors, good depth, and impeccable balance. Drink it over the next 8 years. 90 points"
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Reviews October 2011 Newsletter
2008 Murray Cuvee
Our 2008 Murray Cuvee is exactly what we are looking for in a table wine. It is a heady blend of
dark and red fruit aromas mingled with a dusty mineralness and cedar back notes. The texture
fills the mouth without being overpowering. It is lighter in body, but still has fine grained tannins
to give it some grip and allow it to go with many types of food.
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 2010.
We produced 721 cases.
-
Cabernet Sauvignon 50% ,Cabernet Franc 21%, Merlot 18%, Malbec 11%
-
Red Mountain 68%, Horse Heaven Hills 32%
"Hightower’s new releases begin with the 2008 Murray Red Wine, a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, 18% Merlot, and 11% Malbec. Aromas of rose petal, cinnamon, clove, incense, black cherry, and black currant inform the nose of a ripe, easy-going, tasty wine meant for drinking over the next 5 years. …excellent value…89 points"
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Reviews October 2011 Newsletter