The love of the land is a distinction of winemaker Anne Hubatch. With a degree in geology and environmental studies from the University of Wisconsin and work experience under Oregon vineyard greats (Adelsheim, Apolloni and more), Hubatch started Helioterra Wines in 2009 sourcing from estates that have a like-minded dedication to the ground. Drawing inspiration from the Oregon state gemstone, called heliolite (also known as sun stone), and Greek words for the sun (helio) and earth (terra) that are the stepping stones for grape growth, Hubatch’s wines exemplify some of the Northwest’s best vineyard sites.
For the 2012 Yakima Valley Syrah, Hubatch pulls fruit solely from the Oasis Vineyard, ran by a fourth generation Yakima Valley farmer Brenton Roy who boasts vinifera plantings as old as 1968. True to form for Washington’s Yakima Valley Syrah, this wine is dark as night, aesthetically and aromatically. Partially whole cluster fermented and then co-fermented with three percent Viognier, aromatics of violets, wood spice and orange zest are vibrant against the dark canvas of blackberry pie, black currant and fresh ground coffee. The palate is equally complex with a wide mid-palate (thanks to some sur lie aging) of dark fruit flavors of blackberry and currants, followed by fresh acidity and dusty, lingering tannins. This Syrah just tips the scale onto the fuller-bodied side, but holds its weight with the control and elegance Hubatch’s wines are recognized for.
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