Vintage: 2019

Wine Name/Vineyard: Seven Springs

Wine Category: Red Blend

Grape blend:  Pinot Noir and Gamay

Bottle size: 750 ml 

Region: Willamette Valley

State or country: Oregon

Price: $35

ABV: 13.5% 

Cases produced: N/A 

The Barrel Cellar Score:  90 points 

Review date: Aug 29, 2023

About the Winemaker: Evening Land Vinyards like many Willamette Valley Vineyards, produces French influenced wines. Not only is it the perfect climate to produce French inspired wines, but many of the vines in the Willamette were sourced from France.

The vineyard this comes from has produced many highly regarded wines. It exists on a beautiful hill with volcanic soil and other minerals beneficial to the grapes and wine. The vineyard produces a viriety of grapes including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay.

Color:  Persian Plum

Nose:  Bright cherry, fresh herbs, and earth.

Taste:  Cherry, Raspberry, earth, and forest floor.

Assessment:  Seven Springs Passetoutgrain is a red blend modled after those produced in the Burgundy region of France. The name “Passetoutgrain” literally means “toss it all in”. This, I believe, refers to the fact that the wine is made form a blend of grapes (Pinot Noir and Gamay).

The 2019 vintage is light to medium bodied with bright fruity flavors including Cherry and Raspberry. The highlight of the wine is its fantastic earthy notes that hang over the palate like an early morning Willamette fog. While the wine has many bright fruit notes, I would consider it reserved in typical French style.

At $35 a bottle, this wine is a fantastic value. Buy multiple bottles.  The Barrel Cellar gives Evening Land Vineyards 2019 Passetoutgrain 90 points.

Pairing recommendation:  Mild French Cheese or a hearty Beef Burgandy Stew.