WHITE WINE
Five H 2009 White Riesling
This 2009 Five H Columbia Valley White Riesling was fermented cool, which helped generate an inspirational aroma, which makes the wine enjoyable before it even reaches your taste buds. The wine depicts floral fruits, and various spring and summer thoughts. It’s acidity is balanced by sweetness, offering a richness and depth characteristic of Five H’s White Riesling wine.
This is the first vintage of the Five H White Riesling to include the International Riesling Foundation scale for sweetness on our label. The scale is used worldwide to help consumers better understand what style of riesling they are purchasing.
• White Riesling Fact Sheet
• General Info Sheet
RED WINE
Five H 2009 Heritage
The second vintage of the Five H Heritage is a blend of eight different grape varieties all harvested, and fermented together, a process called “Field Blend”. The Hinman family was intrigued by this method, and this blend of Heritage met the standards we expect for a Five H wine.
The field blend process, an old world method of fermenting different grapes together, is a significant departure from the traditional ind ividual grape fermentation. The flavor profile of this wine demonstrates the unmatched unique tasting component of which is a signature of Five H Heritage.
We’re pleased to offer this quality red wine blend that not only compliments our white riesling, and Walla Walla syrah, but also represents the Hinman families heritage in both style and distinctiveness.
• Heritage Fact Sheet
• General Info Sheet
Five H 2008 Walla Walla Syrah
The 2008 Five H Walla Walla Valley Seven Hills Syrah was harvested at lower sugar levels (brix) than other producers in the region. In fact, Five H was the first to harvest syrah grapes from the Seven Hills property in 2008. The reason for the early harvest was to yield a less-bold finished wine.
Five H believes the character of a true Walla Walla Valley wine should reflect style and structure in abundance - without overpowering high alcohols. Our 2008 Walla Walla Valley Seven Hills Vineyard Syrah shows ripe fruit that is bursting with flavors of plum and black cherries. Of course, the wine also has a hint of spice that is characteristic of classic Syrah. Sturdy tannins will give this wine a long life to develop even more complexity.
This wine, a true Walla Walla Valley classic, was a labor of love that the Hinman family is excited to share.
• Syrah Fact Sheet
• General Info Sheet
ABOUT FIVE H WINES
Why “Five H White Riesling” and not “Five H Riesling”?
In the early days of the Oregon wine industry, there were concerns about honest labeling. During that period, riesling had many names, like Johannesburg riesling, Wach riesling and Rhine riesling. At the time, the Oregon wine industry and OLCC determined that the term white riesling was required.In the early 1990s, however, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) determined riesling and white riesling were synonymous. Given the Hinman family’s tradition and their personal history with the varietal, they decided on white riesling for Five H.
What is Sussreserve?
Süssreserve is unfermented grape juice back-blended into a fully-fermented dry wine – such is the case with Five H White Riesling. The process adds sweetness, balances the natural wine acids and enhances the fruit character of the finished wine. It is also a stylistic touch, which Doyle learned while studying winemaking at Germany’s famed Geishenheim Wine Institute many years ago.
The winemaker makes a determination to add Süssreserve after the wine is finished fermenting. This allows the winemaker control over the finished wine. White riesling is inherently acidic and tart when fermented to dryness. Süssreserve can balance the character to perfection and enhance the white riesling flavor.
The more common approach to developing sweetness in white riesling involves stopping the fermentation before the wine is totally dry. This leaves sweetness in the wine, but, in the opinion of the Hinman family, does not intensify the original flavor profiles for this noble grape like Süssreserve. It may be more difficult to produce finished white riesling wine in the Süssreserve style, but it is worth the extra effort.
