Abeja Heather Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
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Robert
Parker
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Abeja’s 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Heather Hill (unblended with any other variety, and representing the first such single-vineyard release) harmoniously unites – as if they were two choirs – an alliance of fennel, fresh cherry, kirsch distillate, and high-toned herbal essences with an earthy, toasty amalgam of beet root, mulberry, hazelnut, walnut, and humus. The feel here is polished, practically silken, and for a richly-flavored red with nearly 15% alcohol, the long finish is not just free of heat or roughness but amazingly buoyant and enervating. This beauty ought to be worth pursuing for at least the next dozen years.
Abeja is located on a century-old farmstead in the breathtaking foothills of the Blue Mountains, four miles east of Walla Walla Washington. Once seriously dilapidated, all of the original farm buildings have been carefully restored with an emphasis on craftsmanship and longevity. Creative use of salvaged materials adds interest and sets the stage for renewed purpose in these old buildings, which now house our winery and our inn guests.
Washington produces so many exciting wines, and that definitely includes Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. With over 10,000 acres under vine, Cabernet Sauvignon is now the most widely-grown varietal in the state. Terrific examples hail from sub-appellations like Red Mountain, Wahluke Slope, Horse Heaven Hills and Walla Walla Valley. One of the fascinations of these Columbia Valley Cabs is that they so often seem to have one foot in the New World and one in the Old. Representing the former are characteristics like the ripe, forward fruit that results from long sunny days during the growing season (up to two hours longer than in much of California). Old World similarities include an undeniable brightness from acidity, as well as notes of herbs, graphite and a dusty, sometimes gravelly minerality.
Whether you’re looking for a budget bottle for everyday enjoyment, or a stellar, world-class wine with tremendous aging potential, Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines can deliver the goods! Among the many fine options are bottles from Columbia Crest, Chateau Ste. Michelle, L’ecole #41, Quilceda Creek and Leonetti.