Washington State’s Only Red Mountain Winery to Achieve a Perfect Score
BENTON CITY, WA, June 8, 2023 – Recognized as one of Washington State’s pioneers in winemaking and viticulture, Chris Upchurch continues to break records and craft award-winning wines. His 2020 Hero Twins Cabernet Sauvignon has just been awarded the 100-point score from Anthony Mueller of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Cofounder of Delille Cellars in 1990, and of Upchurch Vineyard with his wife Thea in 2007, Upchurch remarks “I always had faith in Red Mountain as being a world-class wine growing region.”
With this recent accomplishment, Upchurch Vineyard joins other celebrated wineries from Washington State, that have received 100-point scores from the Wine Advocate and are blazing the path for incredible wines, including Cayuse, Leonetti, Long Shadows and Quilceda Creek. With over 30 years in the Washington wine industry, Upchurch has garnered over 400 ratings of 90+ for Delille Cellars and Upchurch Vineyard, with over 100 scores of 90+ for Upchurch Vineyard alone. Dick Boushey, Vineyard Manager of Upchurch, upon receiving the 100-point score, remarked with a wry smile, “Wait until we figure things out.” Boushey and Upchurch have been collaborating since the inception of Upchurch Vineyard.
Anthony Mueller describes the second vintage of Upchurch’s limited edition Hero Twins Cabernet Sauvignon this way: “A complete wine… a masterpiece… a guiding light for world-class Red Mountain Cabernet.”
As for the story behind Hero Twins, Upchurch continues: “It is very straightforward. Going through the cellar, sometimes a certain block, or a few barrels stand out as being extremely concentrated and elegantly balanced. It’s a complete wine, the quintessential expression of the vintage, that demands to be left by itself, to show off its mastery without other distractions. This Cabernet showed such unique qualities and called for us to bottle it separately. It’s complete.”
Chris named the wine after The Popol Vuh, his favorite genesis story in Mayan mythology, in which the Hero Twin lords destroyed the arrogant Seven Macaw and defeated the dark lords of the underworld in order to rise up and become the Sun and Moon. The ideal link to these two barrels is tied so closely to the magic of nature and the importance of warm sunny days and cool moonlit nights on Red Mountain.
Hero Twins joins the already established and stand out wines of the Upchurch Vineyard collection that include UV Southwest Facing Sauvignon Blanc, UV Counterpart and Upchurch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Wine Advocate Hero Twins Review
“Coming from iconic Washington winemaker Chris Upchurch, the Cabernet Sauvignon Hero Twins honors and respects quality Cabernet making on Red Mountain with the added bonus of Mayan mythology and folklore. Made from a barrel selection of the best two barrels of clone two Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine comes together and expresses the vintage with precision and finesse. Its firm yet elegantly layered nose sways with a broad-shouldered and generously framed structure and mouthfeel, making this wine absolutely deserving of a spot in your cellar next to the first growths of Bordeaux. At present, it’s still tightly wound and will benefit from additional years in the cellar and should drink fantastically from the middle of this decade through the middle of the 2040s. Your patience will be rewarded!!” – Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate
LINK TO THE WINE ADVOCATE ARTICLE: USA, Washington State: A Look at the 2020 and 2021 Vintages – Robert Parker Wine Advocate
About Chris Upchurch
Chris’ love for wine started in his youth, with extensive travel throughout the Grand Cru wine-growing regions of Europe and the west coast of the United States. “I had to start off developing my palate and my perspective. How can you make great wine if you don’t know what that is?” After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colorado and University of Washington, Chris began his career as a wine merchant, working with several of Seattle’s best-known restaurants. This experience allowed him to hone his palate while tasting wines from around the world. For 32 years and counting as Owner and Head Winemaker at Upchurch Vineyard and Founding Winemaker and Partner of DeLille Cellars, Chris has crafted some of the finest and most award-winning wines in Washington State. In 2007 Chris came full circle and started his own vineyard
About Upchurch Vineyard
Established in 2007 by Chris and Thea Upchurch, Upchurch Vineyard has, from the outset, been dedicated to exploring and sharing the remarkable wines crafted on their small plot of land on the southwest corner of Washington’s Red Mountain. “When we started, I wanted to return to a focus on sustainability, small production and extreme attention to detail with a single vineyard,” notes Chris Upchurch.
Upchurch Vineyard, Red Mountain Tasting Room Location/Hours/Contact Info
Upchurch Vineyard is open for tastings and vineyard tours Friday – Sunday 12pm – 5pm. No Reservations required.
