Hurricane Ridge (2020)

About this wine

This Cabernet Sauvignon opens with generous aromas of blackcurrant, black cherry and plum, backed by notes of cedar, dried herb and a touch of vanilla from time in oak. On the palate it is full bodied and structured, with dark fruit flavors layered with cocoa, baking spice and a gentle hint of tobacco. The tannins are firm but fine grained, giving the wine a solid frame that supports its ripe fruit without feeling harsh, and the acidity is fresh enough to keep the finish lively. Hurricane Ridge is the second label of Andrake Cellars, based near Olympia in western Washington, and it is made from grapes trucked over from the warm, dry vineyards of Eastern Washington, a region known for producing concentrated Cabernet fruit. The Hurricane Ridge wines traditionally use the press wine from Andrake lots, which tends to bring a bit of extra color, grip and savory depth, making this Cabernet feel hearty and flavorful at the table.

About the grape

Cabernet Sauvignon originated in Bordeaux in France when Cabernet Franc crossed naturally with Sauvignon Blanc, and it became one of the world’s most widely planted red grapes by the twentieth century. It is naturally thick skinned and late ripening, so in Washington it is typically planted on warmer sites with good sun exposure such as on south facing slopes in the Columbia Valley and surrounding appellations to ensure full ripeness. Growers in this region often control vigor through careful canopy management and moderate yields, which gives concentrated fruit that forms the backbone of varietal bottlings like the 2020 Hurricane Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon. For this wine the grape is likely harvested relatively late in the season and then fermented and matured in small oak barrels to showcase Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure and ageworthy character while still reflecting the sunny but cool nights of Washington vineyards.

Quick facts

• 🏔 The Hurricane Ridge name is borrowed from the blustery mountain ridge in Olympic National Park so every bottle quietly nods to snowfields alpine meadows and wild Washington weather
• 🧳 This Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a tiny Olympia producer whose wines are often better known in cities like Chicago and Seattle than in their own backyard giving it a bit of cult traveler status
• 🎭 Winemaker Bob Andrake treats Hurricane Ridge as his adventurous second label using carefully selected press wine from his more rare Andrake Cellars bottlings to create a bolder more outgoing personality
• 🚚 The grapes for Hurricane Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon take a road trip across Washington starting in the sun baked vineyards of the east and ending in a compact gravity designed garage style winery near Puget Sound
• 🕵️‍♂️ For a Washington Cabernet this wine is surprisingly elusive it is produced in very small quantities sold in many different states and can be easier to stumble upon far from Olympia than a few miles down the road

Palate profile

Producer

Hurricane Ridge is a small Washington wine label created by winemaker Bob Andrake in the late 1990s as part of his work at Andrake Cellars near Olympia. The wines are made primarily from press wine that follows the free run juice used in the premium Andrake bottlings, offering a more approachable expression of the same Columbia Valley vineyards. Production has always been limited, reflecting Andrake's focus on hand crafted red wines rather than large scale distribution. Although Hurricane Ridge has remained a quiet presence in the South Puget Sound wine scene, its bottles have reached restaurants and shops well beyond Washington through Andrake's broader network.