Reserved for connoisseurs of the extraordinary, your membership unlocks unparalleled access to a realm where rarity, exquisite taste, and magical craftsmanship converge. Revel in the exclusivity and the assurance that each sip is a tribute to the unique experiences our winemaking team has meticulously crafted, ensuring you’re among the select few to savor these rare and enchanting offerings.
The 2023 growing season in Washington began with a warm and welcoming spring, setting the stage for an exceptional vintage. Growing Degree Days mirrored those of the outstanding 2021 season, signaling a return to beautifully balanced conditions. As summer unfolded, the vineyards thrived under ideal weather; warm, sun-drenched days and cool, refreshing evenings creating the perfect environment for steady vine development and optimal ripening. Mother Nature continued her generosity into fall, offering a stretch of pristine weather that allowed the fruit to remain on the vine until it reached peak maturity and ideal brix levels, ensuring remarkable flavor, concentration, and balance.
It has been a few months since our last release in May, and I could not be more excited to share these new wines with you. The 2025 harvest arrived a touch earlier than usual, guided by warm, even days that brought beautifully balanced fruit from both Walla Walla and the Columbia Valley. With modest yields and exceptional quality, the season delivered wines that truly capture the character of this place we love.
As we celebrate this release, I also want to share a bit of the Seven Hills magic that is close to my heart. Years ago, when my daughter was little, she fell in love with unicorns. To make the winery feel like a second home for her, I began marking my most promising barrels with a small unicorn emblem. Before long, what began as a simple gesture between us turned into a cherished cellar tradition. The team joined in wholeheartedly, and on harvest days it is not unusual to see a unicorn or two wandering among the barrels. Somewhere along the way, the unicorn became our unofficial mascot, a lighthearted reminder that making great wine always holds a touch of wonder.
To celebrate that spirit, we have included a special unicorn pourer in this release, a small piece of our story for you to enjoy at home. You will also find a “Member for a Day” pass, which allows you to extend your tasting benefits to friends or bring two additional guests on your next visit. It is our way of saying thank you for being part of the Seven Hills family and for sharing in the joy, connection, and magic of Walla Walla winemaking.
This November, I am proud to present three expressive wines that showcase the strength and grace of our region: the 2023 Quintessence Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Block 54), 2023 Pentad, and 2023 Founding Vineyard Merlot. Each reflects the beauty of our vineyards, the intention behind every decision, and the enduring spirit of Seven Hills. You will find detailed notes for each wine as you read on.
As you enjoy these new releases, I invite you to join us in Walla Walla for FALL RELEASE WEEKEND and the PENTAD DINNER, where we will celebrate the season together with good food, great company, and these remarkable wines. Cheers to tradition, and to the little bit of magic that makes great wine possible.
-Bobby Richards
Winemaker
2023 Pentad Red Wine $85 retail
Walla Walla Valley
Pentad represents the pinnacle of our winemaking philosophy, embodying more than forty years of grape growing and blending mastery in the Walla Walla Valley. This wine captures the harmony and depth of the region’s finest Bordeaux varietals through a thoughtful composition of five of the six traditional grapes. Cabernet Sauvignon provides backbone and structure from high-elevation, basalt-strewn sites, while Merlot adds generous fruit and suppleness from the deep foothill soils of the Blue Mountains. Malbec and Petit Verdot contribute vibrancy and depth from our estate vines, and Carménère brings a final lift of earth and bright red fruit.
Each varietal was fermented separately in stainless and oak tanks for eight to fourteen days before aging for twenty months in 50% new French oak. The result is a wine of precision and grace, vegan and crafted with minimal intervention. This wine is comprised of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot, 9% Malbec, 3% Carménère.
Deep garnet in color, the 2023 Pentad opens with aromas of black cherry, blackberry, plum, and cassis, accented by violet, cedar, and warm spice. The palate is bone-dry and velvety, framed by lively acidity and polished tannins. Layers of cocoa and earth carry through a long, resonant finish. Pair with grilled or smoked meats; its depth and elegance shine beside richly marbled cuts such as A5 Wagyu.
2023 Quintessence Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon $65 retail
Red Mountain
From the sun-drenched slopes of Red Mountain, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon captures the essence of Washington’s most powerful and expressive terroir. Quintessence Vineyard’s Block 54 produces fruit of remarkable concentration, shaped by shallow soils of fractured basalt and the steady warmth of the Columbia Basin. Since 1988, Seven Hills Winery has worked closely with Red Mountain’s pioneering growers to craft wines of strength, balance, and character, and this release continues that legacy.
The 2023 growing season was marked by consistent warmth and a long, even ripening period that yielded small, intensely flavored berries. After gentle destemming, the fruit fermented for twelve days in stainless steel before aging for twenty months in French oak barrels, half of them new. The resulting wine displays a seamless blend of power and refinement.
In the glass, it shows deep garnet hues and layered aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, and fig, accented by notes of toasted vanilla, star anise, and pipe tobacco. The palate is full-bodied, with flavors of plum, black currant, cocoa, and cedar framed by medium-plus tannins and balanced acidity. Rich and structured, this Cabernet can be enjoyed now (decant for 45 minutes) and will continue to evolve for 6 to 15 years. Pair with hearty, slow-cooked dishes such as braised short ribs, Sunday gravy, or a savory autumn chili.
2023 Founding Vineyard Merlot $55 retail
Walla Walla Valley
From our historic Founding Vineyard in the heart of the Walla Walla Valley, this Merlot reflects the elegance and vitality that define our home. Long regarded as one of the region’s benchmark varietals, Merlot thrives here in the loess-rich soils that temper Washington’s warmth and lend both finesse and structure to the wines. The 2023 vintage continued that tradition, offering a balanced growing season with warm days and cool nights that nurtured ripe, expressive fruit.
After careful hand-harvesting, the grapes were destemmed and fermented for ten days before aging in 45% new French oak barrels for 22 months. The result is a Merlot of clarity and depth, showing the seamless integration of fruit, spice, and texture that has become a hallmark of Seven Hills.
Medium ruby in color, the wine opens with aromas of blackberry, red currant, and baking spice layered with hints of leather and dark chocolate. The palate is silky yet firm, with bright acidity and fine-grained tannins supporting flavors of raspberry, cocoa, and cardamom that linger on the finish. Versatile at the table, this Merlot pairs beautifully with beef bourguignon, New York strip steak, or roasted acorn squash with wild rice. Enjoy upon release or cellar gracefully for ten years or more.
Join us for an evening of spellbinding wines, mystifying entertainment, and an astonishing dinner prepared by Salted Mill Chef, Ian Williams.
Join us at the winery for one of the most anticipated weekends of the year.
For more information or to reorder these wines:
Please contact us at INFO@SEVENHILLSWINERY.COM or 509-593-6226