The Black Wine

When winemaker, Troy Ledwick of Hence Cellars told me that their "Hence Cellars Walla Walla Estate Malbec - 2005 is just the s---!" I wondered - - is this word short for "shiznit?"

Troy says that when he was asked to make wine for Hence Cellars, his only instructions were to make GREAT wine! With two vintages behind him, Troy believes that the wines are on their way to becoming what he was instructed to make
Three separate Estate vineyard blocks of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec, make up the Estate Wines for Hence Cellars. There is approximately one vineyard acre of Malbec that was planted in 2001 on a slope facing south with high drainage and alkilide soil. There wasn't much attention given to this vineyard, since it was on the far side of the property. With the 2004 frost it suffered some damage. In 2005, 1,100 lbs of Malbec was harvested with a brix of 24 and pH at 3.67. Troy said he could tell right from the beginning that the dark color and peppery aroma was a clue to him that this wine was going to be special.

The Hence Cellars Malbec - 2005 will be released November of 2007. The nose is aromatic with ripe plum and spices like nutmeg. Tastes of bloody red meat followed by flavors of juicy black fruits, Baker's Chocolate and heavy dashes of white pepper. And the color? Let's put it this way -- Hence Cellars is referring to this varietal as their "Black Wine."

And adding to Troy's enthusiasm, it sounds like pretty good shiznit to me! Cheers!