Members are granted exclusive access to our limited production wines, receive invitations to winery events, and enjoy savings on wine purchases throughout the year. We are pleased to present our March wine club shipment wines.
The 2021 growing season began with a dry spring with normal growing conditions. Summer brought record-breaking heat and the hottest growing year on record. With the hot summer, we saw crops that were 25-50% less than we had estimated in the spring. Due to the dry, hot, and lower yield season, the 2021 vintage produced wines with great density, flavor, and structure.
2020 Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon $65 Retail
Walla Walla Valley
Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is the wine that started it all, first produced in 1988 from eight year old vines to today being our 33rd vintage from now forty year old vines. Our Estate Founding Vineyard is the oldest production vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA. Our flagship Cabernet Sauvignon showcases the elegance and strength that Walla Walla Valley produces in fine wines.
The grapes are gently destemmed and lightly crushed into open top fermenters. Alcoholic fermentation last 8-14 days, then the wine is pressed from the skins and barrels. Aged in 50% new French (225L barrels) for 22 months. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, lightly filtered and vegan.
The old vine Cabernet Sauvignon has a dark garnet color with aromatics of blackberries, red plums, cigar box, and hints of wet earth. The palate presents a medium-plus-bodied wine framed by firm tannins. Flavors of blackberries, Bing cherries, white peppercorns, dried rose petals, and baking space combined with hints of dried tobacco leaves and bramble. Wait 4-10 years before enjoying this wine with an excellent grilled tri-tip, lamb burger, wild boar ragu or even portabella mushroom ragu fajitas. To enjoy now, decant for up to one hour.
2020 McClellan Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon $60 Retail
Walla Walla Valley
McClellan Estate Vineyard lies at the southern edge of the Walla Walla Valley, adjacent to the founding blocks of our Seven Hills Winery estate vineyard. This vineyard was established by the McClellan family in 2003, employing varietals, clones, trellising systems, and vineyards practices most ideally suited to this specific site. Following over thirty years of working the land in this region of Walla Walla Valley and nearly two decades of faring this site, we see its uniqueness as expressed in this vineyard-designate bottling.
The 2020 growing season started in mid-April, with bloom beginning in the third week of May, slightly earlier than average. June was abnormally wet, causing some shatter and giving us a smaller crop load than average. The summer months were consistently warm without many heat spikes. September and October brought above-average temperatures providing longer hangtime and allowing the McClellan Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon to reach ideal ripeness. The smaller crop loads and warmer fall is a recipe for high quality wines in Walla Walla Valley. McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was hand-picked on October 5th and 15th.
This wine is deep garnet is color with aromas of black cherry, black plums, and dried tobacco with subtle notes of juniper berry, bramble, and black forest cake. The lush texture leads to a medium-plus body with firm, yet silky tannins and flavors of black cherry, black currants, and cigar box with hints of black pepper and vanilla bean. Enjoy within 3-7 years from vintage and will age nicely in ideal conditions for 10+ years. Pairs well with braised short ribs, crispy duck breast with black cherry sauce, or mushroom rosti.
2021 McClellan Estate Vineyard Malbec $50 Retail
Walla Walla Valley
Seven Hills Winery has worked with Bordeaux varietals for over 30+ years and bottles all six varietals, showcasing each grape’s unique characteristics. We have been producing Malbec for more than fifteen years and were the first winery to do so in the Walla Walla Valley. We believe that the southern edge of the valley is one of the rare places where Malbec reaches its full potential, with sufficient heat for ripening coupled with cool nights to preserve aromatics and structure.
The hot temperatures in the summer allowed for ideal ripening for our Malbec. The McClellan Vineyard Malbec was harvested on two separate dates to ensure we deliver a well-balanced and complex wine. We picked the first batch of grapes on September 8th and waited until September 23rd to harvest the second round of grapes. 100% Malbec from our fan-trained vines. Open top fermented and aged in 35% new 500L Hungarian oak puncheon for 16 months. Lightly filtered and vegan.
The deep ruby-purple color catches your eye as it enters the glass. Aromas of blackberry and blueberry explode from the glass with underlying notes of cardamom, and clove. While the aromas lead your thoughts down a path of spiced berry cobbler, your palate is engulfed by juicy flavor of red plums and marionberry, unlaying flavors of white pepper and cigar, all supported by medium tannins and medium plus acidity. Pair with lamb kebabs alongside roasted peppers and mushrooms, a three bean chili or chimichurri grilled flank steak. This Malbec is a nice introductory wine for anyone who is looking to broaden their red wine palate.
For more information or to reorder these wines:
Please contact Julie Titus at julie.titus@sevenhillswinery.com or 509-593-6226
Join us for a Vineyard Tour and Barrel Room Lunch hosted by Seven Hills winemaker Bobby Richards.
Seven Hills Winery club members can pick up their 2024 May Release, taste through wines, nosh on charcuterie, and enjoy live music.
Get ready for a night of Carménère and Carnitas.
March 6th
2021 Malbec
2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Founding Vineyard
2020 McClellan Cabernet Sauvignon
May 8th
2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Summit Vineyard
2021 Cabernet Franc
2021 Carménère
November 6th
2021 Ciel du Cheval
2021 Founding Vineyard Merlot
2021 Pentad