2016 Seven Hills Vineyard
Tasting Notes
Fresh ripened blackberry stands front and center in 2016 Seven Hills Vineyard with notes of concentrated raspberry, clove and tobacco leaves following close behind in this expressive vintage. The minerality always present in this vineyard designate blend speaks to a sense of place. On the palate, dark, rich fruit abounds, showing off blueberry, fig and cassis. Waves of cinnamon and cocoa nibs dance alongside peppery notes. A smooth mouthfeel gives way to elegant tannins and proves this will be a hard vintage to forget.
The Year
The 2016 vintage was full of surprises, starting with the warmest April on record. Bud break happened two weeks early at the beginning of April with increasing temperatures and maturation through May and June. Temperatures peaked in early June, followed by rains in July that brought cooler weather. This allowed the vineyards to slow down and pushed harvest closer to average pick times. With the warm start and long cool finish, picking started in late August and finished by mid-October, just before a long spell of rain. The cool summer months resulted in beautiful aromatics and elegant mouthfeel that are the key elements of wines from the Walla Walla Valley.
Viticulture
Entirely estate; Certified Sustainable and Salmon Safe. Founding member of VINEA.
Wine Specifics
Varietals: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 18% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot
Vineyards: 100% Seven Hills Vineyard
Awards & Accolades
93 Points, Jeb Dunnuck
“another terrific wine that displays a
complex style in its currants, damp
earth, graphite, and sweet spice
aromas and flavors. Medium to
full-bodied, balanced, and seamless
on the palate, it has plenty of sweet
fruit, ripe tannins, and no hard edges.”
92 Points, Vinous | Wine & Spirits
