2017 Seven Hills SHW Founding Vineyard Merlot

Happy Thursday!  I'll admit I'm a bit forlorn coming to the end of Walla Walla Valley Wine Month, but at least I'm enjoying some great wine!  Tonight's wine sort of kills two birds with one stone, as it's a great Walla Walla Valley wine, but it's also a Merlot so it meets my requirement for Sean Sullivan's Washington Merlot Challenge this month.  Tonight I am enjoying a bottle from one of my favorite wine makers, the 2017 Seven Hills SHW Founding Vineyard Merlot.  This wine is the 30th vintage from the wines originally planted by winemaker Casey McClellan and his father back in 1982, so let's dive into this treat of a wine!

The wine is an inky black with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a classic Merlot.  The nose is a rich combination of leather, oak, blackberry and spice, with a bit of dusty granite over the top.  The taste is a rush of cool ripe fruit with blueberry cobbler, blackberry and vanilla swirling in your palate before transitioning to some black pepper spice and savory herbs midpalate.  The tannins are nicely integrated with a reprise of sweet fruit on the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as its just a pleasant sipping wine which I could definitely enjoy as dessert after a hearty dinner!  This wine would pair well with a lot of hearty dishes, from grilled prime steaks and rare lamb chops to hearty pasta or risotto.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple dinner of linguine tossed with sauteed garlic and broccoli rabe in olive oil and topped with shaved parmesan.  Cheers!