Happy Sunday! It was a rather melancholy weekend, as I spent a good portion of it taking down all the Christmas decorations and putting them away. Even though the house is festive for a full month out of the year, it just seems to short when it all comes to an end. In any event, after that I did some chores and clean up around the house and now it's time for a nice dinner and a glass of wine. Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2021 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Merlot, a 100% Merlot from the original vines planted by Seven Hills founder Casey McClellan and his father in the early 1980s. I previously reviewed the 2017 vintage and the 2020 Vintage, so let's see how this one is shaping up!
.jpg "2021 Seven Hills SHW Founding Vineyard Merlot")
The wine is deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from this classic varietal. A gentle swirl of the glass presents aromas of candied plum, blackberry and undertones of vanilla bean and violet that will have you on the edge of your seat. Take a sip and your taste buds are unexpectedly elevated as the ripe fruit your nose expected is overwhelmed by earthy notes of basalt and cedar intertwined with toasted oak and caramel before that long-expected fruit makes an appearance with lovely blackberry, ripe plum and cherry. The tannins are balanced with a bit of acidity that provides for a wonderfully smooth dry finish.
Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as this Merlot is proving itself to be a consistent performer over the past five years. This wine would pair well with a wide range of dishes, from steaks and lamb, to hard cheeses and pasta. Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic Pacific Northwest inspired Sunday dinner of pan seared salmon along with creamy butternut squash pasta and oven roasted broccoli rabe and red peppers. Cheers!
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