Five H Releases 2006 Heritage
In July 2008, Five H began distributing 392 cases of the Five H 2006 Heritage, a red blend made up of 85 percent merlot and 15 percent primitivo. Produced at Wahluke Wine Company (WWC) in Mattawa, Wash., Five H Heritage uses grapes from the Milbrandt Vinyards in the majestic Columbia Valley.

Although the merlot can stand by itself, the Hinmans sought to make a wine that was more interesting; a wine that was distinctive.  In Five H Heritage, the family produced a blend that allows the primitivo to enhance the finished product and not overpower the juicy merlot flavors, resulting in a wine that has a full fruit mid pallet. The finish has character, but is not too rough.

Five H Begins Production on Walla Walla Syrah
Five H has begun production on its 2007 Les Collines Walla Walla Syrah, which represents the Hinman family’s first venture in the world of this dark-skinned grape variety.

The Five H 2007 Syrah is aged in three different types of oak puncheons (120 gallon vessels), and after only six months in the puncheon, each is showing subtle differences.

The Hinman family plans to allow the wine to continue aging until the end of 2008, when they will evaluate the wine to determine if it is ready for bottling. The wines are currently in a transitional phase; one week, the wine is ready for tasting, and the next it is withdrawn and rough.

The final product will be a blend of all three barrels, producing 380 cases. It is Five H’s goal to show the wine at the 2009 Newport Seafood & Wine Festival in mid February.

Wine Trends
With sales growth at 72 percent between 2003 and 2006, riesling growers and winemakers are having difficulty keeping pace with demand. Unlike in years past, Western winemakers are making rieslings drier than before, challenging those of Alsace, Germany and Austria. With good acidity and rich texture, bone-dry rieslings taste of delicate green apple, white peach and lime, while their barely off-dry counterparts resemble riper apricot, nectarine and mandarin orange. Arguably one of the most food-friendly wines in the world, rieslings pair well with shellfish, pork, ham, salads and vegetables, egg dishes, sausage and salami, barbecue, Asian dishes and southwestern foods. For recipes, please visit Sunset Magazine’s Web site at www.sunset.com/riesling


Awards
San Francisco International Wine Competition
• SILVER: Five H 2006 Columbia Valley White Riesling
• SILVER: Five H 2006 Columbia Valley White Riesling for label design

International Eastern Wine Competition
• Gold: Five H 2006 Columbia Valley White Riesling

Dallas Morning News
• Featured wine of the week for July 14 – 18 2008