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Seven Hills
“The venerable Seven Hills Winery continues to do a solid job.” – The Wine Advocate, October 2009
“My goal as winemaker for Seven Hills Winery is to make intensely structured, balanced wines expressing the distinct terroir of their vineyard origin. I believe the soil, climate and grapes in the northwest appellations afford the opportunity to make wines ranked among the best in their class. I have been fortunate in my many years as Seven Hills winemaker to have developed fruit sources where I harvest from the same rows-the same vines each year. This is a precious resource for us, knowing the vines and working closely with our growers, we can craft wines attaining the full potential of the grape.”
Casey McClellan, owner Seven Hills Winery
Winery
Seven Hills Winery is located in the heart of Walla Walla, in Washington State. Though it has built its reputation quietly, Seven Hills is one of the region’s oldest and most respected wineries. Founder Casey McClellan has played an important role in both the viticultural and winemaking history of the community. As a fourth-generation farmer, Casey worked alongside his father in the early 1980s, planting Walla Walla Valley’s Seven Hills Vineyard. As a winemaker, Casey has guided Seven Hills Winery, creating wines that have emerged as benchmarks for excellence in the Northwest.
Over the course of two decades, Seven Hills Winery has been part of many firsts for the Walla Walla Valley appellation (AVA). Recognized for its Bordeaux-varietal red wines, Seven Hills has bottled more vineyard-designate Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots from the AVA than any other winery. At the same time, Seven Hills Winery has helped pioneer the rich diversity of the region, and its potential for producing an array of stellar red and white wines.
In addition to playing an influential role in defining the character of Walla Walla Valley winemaking, Seven Hills Winery has also explored the promise of many of the Northwest’s other great appellations. To achieve this, Seven Hills Winery has built long-term relationships with some of the finest grape growers in five of Washington’s nine winegrowing appellations. Properties such as Klipsun, Ciel du Cheval, Melrose and Seven Hills Vineyard—sourcing fruit from the same coveted old vine blocks and rows for years.
Using grapes from these storied vineyards, Seven Hills Winery has developed an acclaimed style notable for balancing structure and grace. Highlighting unique terroirs, restrained oak, bright acidity and pure varietal flavors, these wines are recognized as some of the finest wines coming out of the Northwest and reflect a distinctly old-world palate. Seven Hills has earned a reputation for delivering an exceptional level of quality at a remarkable price—making wines that are among the great values of the North American wine world.
Seven Hills is proud to make wines that are Vegan Friendly.
Winery Score Sheet
Sustainability Statement
Seven Hills Vineyard Update 2011
Visit the winery at www.sevenhillswinery.com
Wines
Viognier Talcott Vineyard 2009
The smooth, silky, satiny nose erupts with layers of lemon, lime, tangerine and melon. The pretty slightly waxy mouthfeel is not unctuous but has good body, precise definition, and no jagged edges. The alcohol stays under 14%, and the finish is round and persistent.
90 points, The Wine Enthusiast, 10/2010
92 points, Wine & Spirits Magazine, 12/2010
Pinot Gris Oregon 2009
A fragrant burst of pear blossom, citrus, melon and green apple aromas lead into similar flavors. Elegant and spicy, this nicely captures the fleshiness of Oregon Pinot Gris. About 10% was finished in oak barrels, the rest in stainless.
89 points, The Wine Enthusiast, 10/2010
Pinot Gris Oregon 2008
The 100% Pinot Gris sourced from the Melrose Vineyard in the Umpqua Valley just across the border in Oregon is whole-cluster pressed immediately after picking to preserve the delicate flavor of the fruit. We ferment with Chanson yeasts in stainless steel with 10% of the lot aged in new French-oak barriques for added structure and depth. The wine is a brilliant lemon-straw color with aromas of citrus, pear and spearmint. The palate echoes the nose showing pear and hazelnut accented with citrus notes. Finishing dry, there is an intense fruitiness promoting harmony with the crisp finish. This wine should age well over the next two years, maturing in 9-12 months. 2,100 cases produced.
“Elegant and fragrant, frizzy with focused peach, melon and citrus aromas and flavors, persisting on the lively finish.”
89 points, The Wine Spectator
Palest gold in the glass, this wine has a nose of vanilla custard and lemon. In the mouth it is somewhat plain, with innocuous flavors of lemon, pear, and vanilla. Sound, but unremarkable.
Score: between 7.5 and 8, Alder Yarrow, 1/2011
fact sheet / label
Riesling Columbia Valley 2010
Carefully sourced from the Evergreen, Willard, and Snipes vineyards – a cooler, northern vineyard to foster a fresh brightness and two very old Yakima Valley sites for depth and richness – this graceful, balanced Riesling with low alcohol and brilliant straw color shows abundant lime, green apple and mineral notes, softened by ripe lychee.
A blend of Evergreen vineyard fruit and old-vine Riesling sourced from a pair of Yakima valley Vineyards, this feels drier than its 1.8% residual sugar. Citrus and citrus rind flavors make for a tart, grapefruity style with some bite to the finish. It has the heft to take on a range of spicy foods.
Wine Enthusiast, December 2011
“Seven Hills Winery’s new releases include one white wine, a 2010 Riesling made in a Kabinett style with 10.9% alcohol, 1.8% residual sugar, and plenty of natural acidity. Aromas of mineral, citrus, and spring flowers inform the nose of a crisp, refreshing wine that is ideal for use as an aperitif.”
90 points, Wine Advocate # 196, August 2011
Merlot Seven Hills 2009
“The 2009 Vintage had a late start, with a warm summer accelerating the ripening period to normal to early dates. The vintage showcases fruit character and ripeness, while tannin and acidity takes a backseat in contrast to 2008. I like to blend in a bit of Cabernet Franc in these warmer years, as it lifts the wine and adds a floral component. The wine shows a lovely dark red color. Red raspberry, vanillin, pungent floral notes and a hint of cardamom aromas fill the nose, as well as a slight dustiness. On the palate, I find lush red fruits, pungent spice, and a structure that’s softly bright, over fine tannins. A cellar life of three to five years is easily expected.”
Merlot Columbia Valley 2007
Fruit for this Merlot was selected from several vineyards within the Columbia Valley, including Walla Walla Valley, Yakima Valley, Red Mountain. Temperatures during vintage 2007 were moderately warm with sun-filled days offering extended hang time at harvest. This wine shows the balance and lush character of the 2007 vintage. Sweet oak tones of toffee and spice lead to hints of violets in the nose and gentle tannins with warm blackberry nuances. A small percentage of Cabernet Franc – in 2007, 13% – is added to the blend for softness and complexity. The wine spends 18 months in French, American and European Oak, of which 25% is new. 670 cases produced.
Violets, lovely and fragrant, leap from this broad, soft and open Merlot, loaded with beautiful sweet black fruit. The oak is showing a lot of toast now but that’s not a criticism; this is really tasty, pleasing and a fine value.
90 points, The Wine Enthusiast, 9/2010
Dark garnet in color, this wine smells of plum, tobacco, and wet wood. In the mouth it offers plum and vanilla flavors that are juicy and delicious but somewhat candied in quality. The finish is airy and the acidity is good, making this an easy, if a bit ditzy, wine to drink.
Score: between 8 and 8.5, Alder Yarrow, 1/2011
fact sheet / label
Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2007
Fruit for this blend was sourced from diverse, complementary sites within the Columbia Valley, including Wahluke Slope, Red Mountain, Yakima Valley, and Walla Walla Valley. This is a medium-bodied red of deep purple-black color. The nose shows exuberant blackberry with accents of vanilla, marzipan, clove and sweet spice. These follow through on the palate, which is soft, sweet and bright. The finish is persistent and fruitful. The wine is complex, accessible and a delightful, balanced Cabernet. It also represents an outstanding level of quality and value and should age very well for up to 6-8 years. A delightful Bordeaux-blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 8% Carmenere, and 5% Malbec, these hand-picked grapes were vinified in stainless-steel then aged for 23 months in French, European & American oak barriques. 2,100 cases produced.
“Still young, steely and firm, but classy and deep. This has the best attributes of the ’05 and ’06 Columbia Valley Cabs from Seven Hills—ripe and polished black fruits, firm tannins, a supple finish with a veneer of smoke and licorice. In other words, this is a complete, complex and intriguing Bordeaux blend, with plenty of aging potential.”
91 points, Wine Enthusiast “Cellar Selection” September 2010
Polished, focused and generous with its clearly articulated currant, plum and savory herb flavors, coursing smoothly through the refined finish. Drink now through 2017.—H.S.
92 points, Wine Spectator Insider, March 2, 2011
label / fact sheet / shelf talker
Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2008
We worked with grapes from a diverse, complimentary set of sites within the Columbia Valley. This is a finely balanced, medium-bodied Cabernet of strong red-purple color. The nose shows ripe plum and raspberry, with sweet oak spice and vanillin. The palate opens with ripe fruit and berry over balanced tannins. Lengthy ripe fruit, with hints of dried herb and pepper completes the finish. Pairs beautifully with medium-bodied meat dishes. This wine should age well for 3-5 years from release if properly cellared.
Small amounts of Petit Verdot, Carménère, and Cab Frac in the blend make for a lively, intriguing Cab with a mix of earth, herb and berry aromas. Tart berry/cherry fruit gives a puckery mouthfeel; and Asian spices (from a variety of barrel sources) add more interest to the finish. –P.G.
90 points, Wine Enthusiast, July 2011
“The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Hills Vineyard also spent 20 months in 40% new French oak. It displays leafier, herbal notes along with plenty of spice and savory black fruit flavors. Give it 1-2 years of cellaring and drink it from 2012 to 2023.”
88 points, Wine Advocate # 196, August 2011
Focused, refined and layered, with cherry, earth, bay leaf and spice flavors that linger easily on the velvety finish. Drink now through 2015. 1,800 cases made.
88 points, Wine Spectator, July 2011
Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2009
A bit chewy, with refreshing currant and delicate herb flavors, finishing with an open feel. Drink now through 2014. 1,315 cases made.
89 Points, Wine Spectator
Ciel du Cheval 2007
This benchmark single-vineyard bottling represents the best of the Red Mountain area of Washington State. 2007 gave dramatically riper fruit, the product of accelerated August and early September ripening weather. The blend, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 14% Petit Verdot, and 9% Cabernet Franc, is dominated by Cabernet and rounded with a large portion of Merlot. The percentage of Petit Verdot was increased to bolster the structure, color and savory component. Cabernet Franc lends grace and elegance to the palate. The color is a strong purple, the nose evocative of ripe plum preserves, pepper, dried herb and sweet baking spice. The palate is laid over a solid tannic structure, but with softly balanced acidity, and black fruits of depth and persistence. A somewhat bigger, more forward style than past Ciel bottlings, it is truly reflective of the 2007 vintage conditions and expected to age well for 5-10 years from the vintage date. Aged in French-oak barriques, of which 40% new, a mere 645 cases were produced of this spectacular wine.
“Polished, round and effortlessly focused, with impressive cherry, beet and pomegranate aromas and flavors, persisting beautifully against mineral and spice notes on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.”
93 points, The Wine Spectator Insider
94 points, Wine & Spirits Magazine, 12/2010
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of bright cherry, violets, and kirsch. In the mouth the wine has a beautiful, youthful juiciness that launches flavors of black cherry, cassis, and violets bouncing across the palate. Lightly powdery tannins grip the edges of the mouth and linger in a finish that has a lightly grapey quality. The wine is disarming and delightful.
Score: 9 , Alder Yarrow, 1/2011
fact sheet / shelf talker / label
Ciel du Cheval 2008
2008 gave Seven Hills classically Northwest styled wines of complexity and balance. They continue to base the blend on the 1998 Cabernet block, which is fan-trained, a relatively rare system. Merlot lends its usual lush fruit roundness to the blend, with Petit Verdot adding strength in strucuture and color, with coffee-bean and blackberry tones. Cabernet franc lifts the aromatics and makes for a more vibrant palate. The wine opens with dust in the nose, then blackfruits, and nuances of coffee and tobacco leaf. Generous ripe fruit, with a warming brightness are laid over solid tannins by mouth. The finish is lengthy with a pleasant dryness. In the cellar, the wine should age well for 8 to 10 years.
This wine has an extra dimension, though it is tight as can be. The classic rock/mineral underpinning typical of wines from this vineyard is there, and the fruit is compact and well defined. It’s set in a frame of acid and earth, offering a picture of the more expressive wine that will come with further age. In the mouth it is tight and dense, but loaded with hints of complexity. —P.G.
92 points, The Wine Enthusiast, July 2011
Polished, supple and expressive, offering a deftly balanced but rich mouthful of cherry, plum, paprika and white pepper flavors that flow seamlessly through the long, vivid finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2012 through 2020.
92 points, The Wine Spectator, August 2011
label / tech sheet
Cabernet Sauvignon Klipsun Vineyard 2007
This 100% Cabernet, from the iconic Klipsun vineyard, has been sourced from the original 1989 planting since the first crop, making Seven Hills Klipsun’s longest standing customer. This offers deep cassis, mineral, and earth flavors, powerful and dense. The Seven Hills style, ordinarily restrained and elegant, suits this vineyard especially well, as it reins in the tendency of Klipsun fruit to go over the top, and become too tannic. This is muscular and deep, but proportionate and detailed.
93 points, The Wine Enthusiast, 9/2010
The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Klipsun Vineyard (100%) was also aged in 40% new French oak. It is a more structured effort than the Seven Hills (something for which Red Mountain is known) and is currently still tightly wound. However, it has all the right stuff; excellent balance, more than ample fruit, and plenty of volume on the palate. Give it 3-5 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2014 to 2027.
90 points, Wine Advocate, 8/2010
Medium to dark garnet in color, this wine has a nose of cherry and wet earth with hints of plum aromas. In the mouth rich plummy and cherry flavors mix with faint tannins and flavors of cedar and loam. Great acidity makes the fruit bright, and the wine finishes long and lightly floral. Beautifully balanced and fantastically delicious. 13.2% alcohol. em>
Score: between 9 and 9.5, Alder Yarrow, 1/2011
Cabernet Sauvignon Klipsun Vineyard 2008
A streak of iron and mineral leads, with rich, ripe, dark fruit flavors following. Compact and tannic, this is extremely young. But compressed in the wine are complex streaks of herb and mineral. The tannins are strong and polished.
93 points, The Wine Enthusiast, July, 2011
Ripe and spicy, focusing its black cherry, cassis, wet earth and smoke flavors beautifully as they sail over a bed of mildly chewy tannins. Has depth and grace. Best from 2013 through 2018.—H.S
92 points, Wine Spectator, July 2011
Pentad Red Wine Bordeaux Blend 2006
Dark, bold, and full-bodied, this is the perfect embodiment of power and breed in a full-on (five grape) Bordeaux blend. Boysenberry, cassis, plenty of acidity—the nose promises a great deal, though it is reticent in the mouth, and fairly acidic. This is a wine to lay down and enjoy in a decade.
93 points, The Wine Enthusiast, 9/2010
Rich, ripe and complex, this has a delicious tug-of-war going in the mouth, playing generous blueberry and currant fruit against hints of creme brulee, sage and white pepper. Hints of roasted meat add interest to the finish.
93 points, Wine Spectator, 10/2010
fact sheet
Future Release
Pentad Red Wine Bordeaux Blend 2007
The aromas begin with a pretty violet character, around plum and smoke. Flavors are tightly wound and balanced, with sharp acids. This slowly opens over many hours of breathing time to unveil smooth, soft fruit, light herbs, pretty floral highlights and great texture. —P.G.
93 points, The Wine Enthusiast, September 2011
“The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Hills Vineyard also spent 20 months in 40% new French oak. It displays leafier, herbal notes along with plenty of spice and savory black fruit flavors. Give it 1-2 years of cellaring and drink it from 2012 to 2023.”
92 points, Wine Advocate # 196, August 2011