Wine Club Newsletter

2021 Vintage Growing Season

The 2021 growing season commenced with a dry spring characterized by typical growing conditions. However, summer ushered in unprecedented heat, making it the hottest growing year ever recorded. This sweltering summer resulted in crop yields reduced to 25-50% of our initial spring estimates. Despite the challenges posed by the arid, hot, and low-yield season, the 2021 vintage yielded wines with remarkable density, flavor, and structure.

2017 Summit View Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

2020 Summit View Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon $65 Retail
Walla Walla Valley

In the southwest corner of the Walla Walla Valley sitting at 1,200 feet elevation, there is only 12 feet of Ellingford Silt Loam (wind-blown glacial Loess) on top of fractured basalt. It is at this location where you can find the K1 block of Summit View Vineyard, planted with Cabernet Sauvignon clone 191. We have vinified this entire block of Summit View Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon for several years and are impressed with the distinctive nature of Clone 191 on the site. It’s a great example of the synergy created by matching the proper clone with the right vineyard site. This limited bottling of a single vineyard block and single clone helps us to showcase the unique terroirs of this exclusive vineyard site.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from block K1 on the top of Summit View Vineyard. Open top fermented, aged in 50% new French 225L barrels for 22 months. Lightly filtered. Vegan.

Dark Ruby in color. This Cabernet commands your attention with pronounced aromatics of black cherries, Crème de Cassis, Cherry Cordial, dried tobacco leaf, and leather, accented by iron and basalt stone notes. Full body with bold flavors of ripe cherries, black plum, tobacco with hints of earth, dried sage, and cocoa nibs, all wrapped around assertive tannins that linger on the palate well after the wine is gone. Drink within 5-7 years from vintage but will age nicely for 10+ years. Pair with impressive dishes like Tomahawk Steak, Wild game, Chanterelle Mushroom Pierogis, or Molten Chocolate Lava Cake.

2021 Cabernet Franc $50 Retail
Walla Walla Valley

We work with all the traditional Bordeaux varietals, including Cabernet Franc, the “long lost grape of Bordeaux.” This wine is grown in the southern hills of Summit View Vineyard and the volcanic-laced silt loams of our SHW Estate Vineyard, two of the most intriguing Cabernet Franc sites in the Walla Walla Valley. It is always delightful for blending, but as the years have gone by, we have become more and more enchanted with it as a remarkable stand-alone wine.

100% Cabernet Franc from McClellan Estate and Summit View Vineyard in the Southwest Walla Walla Valley focusing on deep silt-loam soils and mid-elevation. Open top fermented, aged in 25% new French 300L barrels for 14 months. Lightly filtered. Vegan

The wine captures the varietal character of Cabernet Franc while also expressing the vineyards’ deep silt-loam and hillside terroir. This vintage shows a garnet color with a nose of cherries, tobacco leaf and graphite with hints of pink peppercorns and sage. The palate is medium body with medium acidity showing bright cherries, black plums, and dried herbs framed by soft integrated tannins. The wine drinks well now and should age nicely for an additional 4 to 6 years from vintage. Pair with stuffed mushrooms or grilled hanger steak.

Seven Hills Winery Cabernet Franc

Seven Hills Carmenere

2021 Carménère $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 work with all the traditional Bordeaux varietals, including Carménère, the “long lost grape of Bordeaux.” This wine is grown in the southern hills of Summit View Vineyard and the volcanic-laced silt loams of our SHW Estate Vineyard, two of the most intriguing Carménère sites in the Walla Walla Valley. It is always delightful for blending, but as the years have gone by, we have become more and more enchanted with it as a remarkable stand-alone wine.

100% Carménère from SHW Estate, Summit View Vineyard and William Spofford in the Southwest Walla Walla Valley focusing on deep silt-loam soils and mid-elevation. Our Carmènére harvest began on September 30th and our last day of picking was on October 18th. Open top fermented, aged in 25% new French 300L barrels for 14 months. Lightly filtered. Vegan.

Garnet color, with pronounced aromas of ripe blackberries and blueberries dusted with baking spices all wrapped in fresh tobacco leaves. Medium body and acid with lush texture provide flavors of triple berry cobbler, cocoa, cracked peppercorns with hints of earth and tobacco. Pair with Carnitas tacos, family barbeques or as an introductory wine for anyone who is looking to broaden their red wine palate.