The Wine Knows

As we first reported last spring, Columbia Crest is launching a new brand, known as "H3" for Horse Heaven Hills. Three wines - a 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (9,000 cases), 2005 Merlot (9,000 cases) and 2006 Chardonnay (6,000 cases) - will be released in January at the suggested retail price of $15.

The label is named for the American Viticultural Area in which Columbia Crest is located and planted its estate vineyards more than two decades ago. All the grapes will come from those vineyards.

"Vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills are unique because they are comprised of diverse microclimates that produce different fruit structures with underlying uniform characteristics," said Columbia Crest winemaker Ray Einberger in a press release. "For example, the cooler-climate vineyards produce fruit with mineral undertones, while fruit from the warmer climate vineyards contain slight earth and dust elements. These variances allow me to blend wines that capture the true essence of the AVA in the bottle."

Distribution of these new wines will be somewhat limited initially, though they will be broadly available in the Pacific Northwest, as well as Utah, Montana, Wyoming and New Jersey. They'll be in restaurants in Arizona and Atlanta, Ga.