Trothe was founded by the Andrews Family in 2018 and focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Andrews Family Vineyards occupy 1,300 acres in the heart of the Horse Heaven Hills. They have been owned and operated by the Andrews family since 1994, on land their family has farmed for generations. Andrews Family Vineyards has contributed fruit to nine Wine Spectator Top 100 wines, including Washington’s only Wine Spectator Number One Wine in the World. Todd Chapman is the Vineyard Manager and Raymon McKee is the Winemaker.
The winery recently sent me samples of their debut wine and their upcoming release.
2018 Cabernet Sauvignon – Purple in color. 14.5% ABV. Spellbinding nose of black fruits, leather and graphite. Full bodied, well balanced and very concentrated. Tremendous grip and mouth feel. Black currants, creme de cassis, tobacco and espresso on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish with prominent tannins. Really impressive Cabernet Sauvignon made with an old world flair. This will need time in the cellar to truly shine. Best over the next 7-10 years. $190 per bottle sold in a 3 pack from the winery. My rating: 95 points.
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon – Dark crimson in color. 14.7% ABV. Gorgeous nose of dark fruits, cedar and leather. Warm, supple and well balanced. Great concentration and power. Blackberry, currants, chocolate and smoke on the palate. The finish is long with silky tannins in spades. Similar to the ’18 this Cabernet has an old school feel and is destined to show well for years to come. Best over the next 6-8 years. $195 per bottle sold in a 3 pack from the winery with a scheduled release this Fall. My rating: 94 points.
New wineries with this type of pedigree and commitment to quality do not come along very often. The wines are certainly at the high end in regards to pricing but you can rest assured that they are very well made and will reward time in the cellar.
The Trothe team hopes to change perceptions of Horse Heaven Hills as a place to visit and to that end they are building a production facility right in the heart of the HHH. I do hope to visit when the facility is completed and I certainly look forward to following Trothe in the years to come.