Happy Friday! It's been a stressful week, and I am happy to have some time to relax this weekend and what better way to start a weekend than with a nice dinner and glass of wine! Tonight I have opened a bottle from one of my long-time favorite producers from Walla Walla, Seven Hiss Winery! The 2023 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a full Cabernet harvested from the original Seven Hills Vineyard planted by Casey McClellan and his father back in the early 1980s. Let's see how this latest vintage is treating us!
The wine has the classic look of a nice quality Cabernet, dark at the center and bright ruby along the edges. The nose presents aromas of leather, oak and a cascade of ripe cherry and marionberry with undertones of freash herbs and floral notes. The first sip is a rush or ripe red fruit, cherry, raspberry and marionberry that transitions easily to flavors of mocha, cherry cola and dark chocolate midpalate. The tannins are well integrated, providing an ideal base for the long, smooth dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic example of a quality Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine would pair well with a range of summer dishes, from barbecued ribe, burgers and brats to charbroiled steaks or alder planked salmon. Tonight, I am taking the traditional route and enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse topped with grilled hatch chiles (yes, it's finally hatch chile season!) and roasted gemstone potatoes. Cheers!
