Wine Name/Vineyard: Seven Hills Vineyard 2016 Merlot

Wine Category: Merlot

Grape blend: 100% Merlot

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Walla Walla

State or country: Washington

Price: $45

ABV: 14.7%

Cases produced: 820

The Barrel Cellar Score:  91 points

Review date: May 19, 2019

About the Winemaker:  This is the 29th Merlot release from Seven Hills Winery’s “old block” vines, originally planted in 1982.  Winemaker Casey McClellan, in his youth, helped plant these vines in the vineyard with his father.  Seven Hills winery is respected by it’s peers in the Walla Walla Valley for consistently producing high quality wines, and its contributions to the winemaking community.  Their wines are known for taking inspiration from the old world while infusing the character and complexity the terroir and climate of the Pacific Northwest region offer.

Color:  Persian plum

Nose:  Ripened berries, cola

Taste:  Dark cherry, berries, spice Finish: mild oak, black pepper, and a touch of cedar

Assessment:   Medium bodied wine with nice tannic and acidic balance. The nose offers reserved but pleasant hints of fruit and cola.  The bottle took a couple of hours to open, but once it did it had plentiful fruit on the palate.  The structure of this wine is reflective of a high-quality Merlot.  This is a really nice bottle of wine and continues to develop for an extended period after opening.  This wine would benefit from another year or so in the bottle, but it is ready to decant and drink now.

This bottle contains the grace of a fine French Merlot while also exhibiting structural elements unique to the soil, climate, and rolling hills of the Walla Walla Valley. This wine is a fair value at $45.  Seven Hills Winery has a variety of great wines at a variety of price points.  Check out this release and others at Seven Hills Winery’s website.  You won’t be disappointed.

Pairing recommendation:  Pair with brie, veal chops, or dark chocolate.

Seven Hills Winery Seven Hills Vineyard 2016 Merlot is a very good wine, and a very solid 91 points

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