2023 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

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!

2024 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Malbec

Happy Saturday!  I had another day full of yard work, similar to what I did two weeks ago, and I must admit I am completely exhausted!  I likely will have a glass of wine and fall asleep on the couch, but at least there is wine! Speaking of which, tonight's wine is from one of my long-time favorite Walla Walla producers, Seven Hills Winery and the 2024 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Malbec.  Let's see how this new vintage is tasting!  

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Malbec.  A gentle swirl in the glass reveals aromas of leather, blackberry and plum amid hints of peppery spice.  The first sip is a rush of jammy fruit, marionberry, blackberry compote and plum that transitions nicely to some notes of cardamom, pipe tobacco and vanilla bean midpalate.  The tannins are mellow but well structured, prviding a nice foundation for the long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a really pleasant drinking Malbec that could pair with a range of hearty dishes, or just sipping on the patio (which I will not do tonight for fear of dozing off!).  This wine would pair well with brased short ribs, London broil or lamb chops, but tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared New York strip, oven roasted beets and sweet potatos and steamed sugar snap peas.  Cheers!

2023 Seven Hills Winery McClellan Estate Petit Verdot

Happy Wine Wednesday!  It's been a few weeks since I posted on Wine Wednesday, so let's enjoy it!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2023 Seven Hills Winery McClellan Estate Petit Verdot, a single varietal bottling of what is usually a blending varietal harvested from the McClellan Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this new vintage is shaping up!

The wine is deep ruby in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents an enticing blend of ripe plum, leather and oak, with subtle undertones of pipe tobacco.  The first sip is wonderfully fruit forward, with a rush of black cherry, marionberry and blueberry that ease into some notes of dark chocolate and mocha midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, with a rush of acidity towards the long, smooth dry finish.

I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a really pleasant drinking wine from an often overlooked varietal. This is also quote a versatile, food friendly wine, as I could see this pairing with a range of casual summer fare, from burgers and brats, to barbecue and steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some spicy Cajun dirty rice with onions, peppers and andouille sausage.  Cheers! 

2023 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Wine Wednesday!  After all the holiday hullabaloo, I thought it might be time to relax midweek with a nice glass of wine.  Tonight, I have opened a bottle from a recent wine club shipment from one of the early pioneers of Walla Walla wine, Seven Hills.  The 2023 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the McClellan Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is an inky black complexion at the center with bright ruby along the edges, classic for a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of black cherry, currant and floral notes of violets and rosehips with the faintest hint of vanilla.  The first sip is an intriguing combination of tart cherry intermingled with sweet blueberry that transitions nicely to some earthy mineral notes amid vanilla caramel notes midpalate. The tannins are well structured, providing for a long, smooth dry finish that seems to linger for a minute or more.

I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a very pleasant drinking wine with the quality that befits its heritage.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from braised short ribs to grilled lamb, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a grilled bone-in ribeye covered with sautéed onions and mushrooms along with pan fried potatoes and steamed Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2024 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere

Happy Sunday!  I spent the day doing some indoor chores and relaxing, so not particularly productive, but that's what weekends are for!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of a recent wine club shipment from one of my long-time favorite Walla Walla producers, Seven Hills Winery.  The 2024 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere is a made from a varietal that not long ago was thought extinct, so let's see how this lost Bordeaux varietal is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass while the nose presents aromas of blackberry, cherry and plum with undertones of green grass and spice.  The first sip is a refreshing burst of ripe berries with a bit of tartness underneath that eases into some notes of blueberry compote midpalate.  The tannins are subdued, but fully structured to provide a long, smooth dry finish with a bit of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant, easy drinking red that would pair well with a range of summer dishes.  This wine would pair well with barbecued ribs, burgers or brats, ideal for the 4th of July.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some beef kabobs and fresh corn on the cob.  It's been a while since I've brought out the skewers, but this turned into a wonderful summer dinner.  Cheers!

2025 Seven Hills Rosé

Happy Saturday!  It's Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to summer and the unofficial start to rosé season!  Tonight I happened to open a bottle of wine from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, Seven Hills Winery, and my happenstance someone called and convinced me to order a case of this for the upcoming summer, so let's taste the 2025 Seven Hills Rosé, a wine composed primarily of Cabernet Franc, so let's see what's going on!

This wine is a lovely pale peach color in the glass, just what you'd like to see from a summer rosé.  The nose presents aromas of bright citrus, pomegranate, pineapple and hints of white floral.  The first sip is a mouthful of summer, with notes of green grass, lemon chiffon, pink grapefruit and some bright citrus acidity that will have you drifting to the patio to finish the bottle.  The tannins are crisp yet unobtrusive, providing for an elevated, crisp dry finish that leaves you satiated on a summer evening.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's one of the best rosé wines I've sampled in several years.  This wine would pair well with a range of summer dished, from caprese salad to fish tacos, salmon ceviche to black and bleu salad.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a classic pairing, sesame crusted tuna steak with citrus wasabi dipping sauce, wild rice blend and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2022 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Merlot

Happy Sunday!  It's been a relaxing day, so I've decided to open a bottle of wine from one of my all-time favorite Walla Walla producers.  The 2022 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Merlot is a classic Merlot from a region of the country with acute expertise in producing Bordeaux varietals, so let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Merlot.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of classic leather, oak and gentle floral notes that will have you anxious to take a sip.  That first sip is a rush of ripe fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that wash over your palate before transitioning to some wonderful earthy notes of dusty limestone and black pepper spice.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but still supportive of the long, smooth dry finish that will have you easing back into your easy chair. 

Overall,. I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a perennial favorite Merlot that really treats this varietal with the respect it deserves.  This wine could be enjoyed as an easy sipping wine with friends or family, but it would also pair well with grilled steak, hearty baked pasta, beef stew or grilled lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled bone-in ribeye on a bed of sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms, grilled broccoli rabe and a big baked potato.  Cheers!

2022 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Petit Verdot

Happy Sunday!  Now that the holiday rush has largely subsided, we can once again focus on the importance of balancing work with wonderful food and wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of wine from one of my favorite Walla Walla producers, Seven Hills Winery.  The 2022 Seven Hills Petit Verdot was sourced entirely from the McClellan Estate Vineyard in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington. Let's see how this new vintage is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with a heavier body more reminiscent of a nice Merlot.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry and plum, intertwined with some light floral aromas of violet and lilac that have you anxious to take a sip.  That first sip is a concert of flavors that come at you fast, blackberry and plum that east into some tart cherry before blasting some earthy limestone from the quarry walls, just before you head for a picnic lunch with smoked meat and olive tapenade on the forest floor.  At the end of the concert, the tannins sweep up for the long, smooth dry finish that will have you reaching for more.

Overall, I rate this wine a solid 9 as it's a perennial favorite for a single bottling of a typical blending Bordeaux varietal.  This wine also seems to be a perfect food-friendly wine that would pair with a broad range of dishes, from barbecue to pizza, steak to pasta, Indian to Asian cuisine.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a chicken and vegetable Thai inspired curry noodle dish.  The fruit and acidity are an ideal complement to the rich spice of the curry rice noodles.  Cheers!

2015 Seven Hills Klipsun Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Cellar Saturday!  It's the first Saturday of a new month, which means it's time for me to raid the cellar and open a bottle at least a decade in the making!  Tonight it's a special selection from one of my favorite Walla Walla wine makers, the 2015 Seven Hills Klipsun Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is a perennial favorite harvested from some of the oldest vines in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine has matured!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of prune, leather and earthy basalt as it opens up.  The first sip is a blast of black fruit, ripe plum, cherry and currant, intermingled with earthy minerality and peppery spice that sings with mature notes.  The tannins are still vibrant with a strong backbone for the lingering dry finish that will have you pleasantly surprised at this mature wine.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it seems to be just hitting its stride.  This wine would pair perfectly with fall, as the hearty structure of this wine is ideal for chilly temperatures and hearty meals, like beef stew, braised short ribs or big steaks.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a big porterhouse grilled rare, with some steamed asparagus and a baked potato.  Cheers!

2023 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere

Happy Saturday!  I spent the afternoon in the yard, pulling a lot of weed and inadvertently transplanting some irises that I pulled up with some of the weeds.  But now it's time to relax in the air conditioning and maybe stop sweating for a while, and of course enjoy dinner and a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2023 Seven Hills Walla Walla Carmenere, a wine made from the "lost" Bordeaux varietal that's made a come back over the past few decades.  So let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass and the nose presents aromas of ripe berries, raspberries, blackberries and currant, that give way to notes of leather, dark chocolate and tobacco.  The first sip is an interesting combination of ripe red fruit with hints of mint, that transitions to some notes of earthy peat and dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and supple providing just the right base for a lovely warm, dry finish. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it strikes me as easy drinking and food friendly.  And speaking of food, I have a pronounced habit of enjoying a nice Carmenere with tacos, as this strikes me as a perfect taco wine.  To be sure, it would also pair well with pasta, steaks, barbecue or pizza, but tonight it's steak fajita tacos with all the trimmings!  Cheers!

2022 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  After doing laundry and a bit of work, I had the chance to go out on my first bike ride of the summer, which was very nice.  And now that I've stopped sweating, I thought I'd open a nice bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner.  Tonight, I've opened a recent wine club selection from Seven Hills Winery, the 2022 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine comes from the original vineyard planted in the 1980s by Seven Hills Founder Casey McClellan and his father, making this a very special wine.  Let's see how it's tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, classic for a nice Cabernet.  The nose presents aromas of candied plum, blackberries and vanilla bean intermingled with toasted oak and earthy basalt.  The first sip is a rush of warm black fruit that easily transitions to notes of vanilla caramel and hints of earthy minerals and oak midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a long, smooth dry finish with a bit of acidity at the end. 

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a perennial favorite, but I just don't think the 2022 vintage has quite reached its prime yet.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops to barbecue, fajitas to earthy mushroom risotto, or simply enjoying with friends on the patio.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled Angus ribeye, grilled asparagus and broccoli rabe and some creamy orzo.  Cheers!

2020 Seven Hills Pentad

Today was my annual pilgrimage to Illinois to plant flowers at the cemetery for all my family members and at least the weather was very pleasant.  Five flats of flowers planted and now I'm ready for a nice dinner and a glass of wine, before the serious flower planting commences tomorrow.  Tonight I've opened a perennial favorite, and although I have gone out of order in reviewing the 2021 vintage before this one, I am happy to share the 2020 Seven Hills Pentad this evening.  This wine is a blend of the five primary Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Carmenere, but I can't find the fact sheet for the 2020 vintage, so we'll just have to enjoy this wine without knowing the breakdown of the blend.  Here goes nothing!

The wine is has a hearty look in the glass, inky black at the center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of green grass, leather and undertones of blackberry and currant.  The first sip is a rush of ripe black fruit that transitions easily to some earthy notes of olive tapenade, and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a wonderfully dry finish that has just enough earthy funk to pay homage to the Bordeaux heritage.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9.5, as it's a classic version of what Walla Walla does so well with Bordeaux style blends.  This wine would pair well with a range of dishes, from rack of lamb to braised short ribs, thick steaks to grilled octopus.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled T-bone steak with cowboy crust seasoning, oven roasted purple fingerling potatoes and bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2022 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Well happy Saturday!  I spent much of the day mowing, then running errands and completing a little work before having dinner and heading to the theatre for our penultimate performance!  Tonight, I've opened a bottle from one of my all time favorite Walla Walla wineries, the 2022 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine is 100% composed of Cabernet Sauvignon from the McClellan Estate Vineyard, with some of the older vines in the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine has a classic look of a quality Cabernet in the glass, inky black at the center and bright ruby along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals a nose chock full of ripe black fruit and earthy elements that make Walla Walla wines so special, leather, limestone and peat.  The first sip is a rich mouthful of ripe blackberry, currant and plum that dance around your palate with hints of mint and and dried herbs.  The tannins are subtle but well structured, providing for a long, smooth, dry finish that decidedly more European in character.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a fabulous example of the high-quality Cabernet that the Walla Walla Valley is capable of.  This wine would pair well with classic steaks, braised short ribs, or pappardelle Bolognese, but it would also feel right at home in a summer cookout of burgers and brats.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a pan seared New York strip with sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms, along with some oven roasted asparagus.  Cheers!

2023 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Malbec

Happy Saturday!  It was a long week, and it's not even over yet!  At least I got to sleep in today before working some more, but now it's time for a relaxing dinner and a nice bottle of wine before the time change which will have me groggy for the next week.  Tonight I've opened a bottle from a wine club shipment from Seven Hills Winery that I got yesterday.  The 2023 Seven Hills Walla Walla Malbec is sourced from fruit grown on the McClellan Estate Vineyard in Walla Walla, so let's see how this wine is starting out!

The wine has a dark center and bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect for a classic Malbec.  The nose presents a an intriguing combination of smoke, blackberry and leather, with undertones of earthy peat.  The first sip is jarring rush of tart cherry that eventually subsides, evolving into some notes of blackberry, olive tapenade and dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a long, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a wonderfully drinking Malbec, but is still quite young.  I expect this wine will age gracefully and be quite a stunner with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes, from hearty pasta, lamb or Sunday pot roast, but like any great Malbec, this wine yearns for a nice steak.  We wouldn't you know it, tonight I just to happen to have a pan seared Za'atar seasoned New York Strip over sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms with some steamed asparagus with hollandaise.  Cheers!

2021 Seven Hills Pentad

Happy Saturday!  It's been a somewhat relaxing day today, finishing up a few chores and errands before settling in for dinner before the theatre tonight.  For this post, I've opened up a bottle of 2021 Seven Hills Pentad, a classic Bordeaux style blend of five grape varietals (hence "Pentad") from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (19%), Petit Verdot (9%), Malbec (9%) and Cabernet Franc (8%), so let's see how this previous vintage is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, with an inky center, a testament to the heavy hand of Cabernet Sauvignon on the blend.  The nose presents welcoming aromas of leather, cedar and ripe blackberry amid undertones of baking spice.  The first sip is a marked departure from the Cabernet heavy expectations, as you are awash in mellow notes of boysenberry and plum, before the heavy hand of Cabernet makes its presence known with a rush of acidity, leather and earthy limestone midpalate.  The tannins are up front but well structured, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers into your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it represents the best of Walla Walla when it comes to blending Bordeaux varietals, and although I think it's drinking well now, it will likely improve with a few years in the cellar.  This wine would pair well with hearty meals, pasta, beef stew, braised short ribs or lamb rack, and of course steak.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a cowboy crusted ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, oven roasted potatoes and steamed sugar snaps.  Cheers!

2021 Seven Hills SHW Founding Vineyard Merlot

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!

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!

2021 Seven Hills Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  I had a rather relaxing day, doing some chores, going to the gym, and now getting ready to make Sunday dinner and enjoy a nice bottle of wine.  Tonight, I've opened a bottle of 2021 Seven Hills Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from some of the oldest blocks of the Ciel du Cheval Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from this Cabernet led Bordeaux style blend.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blueberry and hints of lavender amid subtle notes of tobacco and black pepper.  The taste is a mind-bending rush of tart cherry, intertwined with blackberry and blueberry creating a fruit cocktail before transitioning to some notes of dried herbs and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat subdued, but well structured to provide the backbone to the lingering dry finish that will have you easily reaching for another sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a classic Washington version of a Left Bank Bordeaux.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from steaks and chops, braised lamb shank or wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare, pan seared filet mignon, mashed potatoes and shaved Brussels sprouts with bacon, pomegranate and 25-year white balsamic.  Cheers!

2020 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  Yesterday was the day of my annual Christmas Party, and we had a great crowd which means there were not a lot of leftovers!  I use this party as an opportunity to try some new dishes for the guests, and this year we had three new ones that were all well received.  Today, after spending a good portion of the afternoon cleaning up, it's now time to open a bottle of wine and enjoy a good dinner.  Since this is the last Sunday of the month, it's also Dinner in the Diner Sunday, the last one of this yearlong effort, but more on that later.  For the wine, tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Seven Hills Founding Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the original vineyard planted by Seven Hills founder Casey McClellan and his father back in the early 1980s.  The other vintages I've enjoyed (including the 2017 and 2019) were well worth it, so let's see how the 2020 is faring!

The wine has the classic look of a big Cabernet, inky black at the center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry, cherry and dark chocolate, inviting you to take a sip.  That first sip is a wild ride of flavors as you experience and eruption of sweet cherry up front, that eases into some earthy notes of toasted oak and dusty limestone, before transitioning to some espresso and dark chocolate notes midpalate.  The tannins are youthful, but well behaved, providing for the wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a classic example of the age worthy potential of Walla Walla Cabernets.  This wine would pair well with a range of hearty dishes, from rack of lamb and braised short ribs, London broil to hearty pasta dishes.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a main course derived from the dining cars of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, fried country ham with red gravy, along with some mashed sweet potatoes and green bean casserole.  Cheers!

2021 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Petite Verdot

Happy Sunday!  Given that the last Sunday of November was 6 days ago, I missed it, so I've decided to do my "Eating in the Diner" tribute this Sunday, so you'll see what I've made from the Dining Car archives.  But first, I've selected a wine that I believe will go well with my selected repast, the 2021 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Petite Verdot, a 100% Petit Verdot from the Walla Walla AVA of Washington.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a lovely bright ruby color in the glass, with a somewhat lighter body than you might see in the prime Bordeaux varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot.  The nose is in intriguing blend of green grass and floral notes of violet and buttercup, with undertones of leather and cocoa powder.  Take a sip and enjoy the rush of tart cherry, black currant and hints of baking spice, that easily transition to some flavors of cherry cola and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are supple and well integrated, providing for a wonderfully smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a delightful examples of a supporting cast member of the Bordeaux family that stands up well by itself.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty fall and winter dishes, from braised short ribs to hearty stews, pasta to pot roast.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with Swedish meatballs as prepared by the Pennsylvania Railroad on many of their signature trains, like the Broadway Limited.  Although, the recipe only includes the meatballs, I've opted for a less traditional plating, serving them with pappardelle rather than mashed potatoes, but still with the pickled cucumber salad and lingonberries.  Cheers!

2022 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Malbec

Well, happy Saturday!  It seems that since I reviewed the last vintage of tonight's wine last Father's day, I might be a couple months behind schedule! Oh well, it's been a hot summer and being a winter baby, I will excuse my lack of motivation in the heat and humidity (today it hit 90 degrees with 70% humidity today!).  In any case, tonight's wine is the 2022 Seven Hills McClellan Estate Malbec, which if Malbec is involved surely means there is a hunk of beef waiting for me, so let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Malbec.  A swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, black cherry, smoke and vanilla bean that beckon you to take your first sip.  That sip is a rush of ripe berry and earthy complexity washing over your palate, starting with some dark cherry and blueberry intermingled with some vanilla bean and smoky oak that transition easily into some mineral notes of dusty limestone and hints of white pepper midpalate.  The tannins are well structured but definitely background players in the long, smooth dry finish with just a hint of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderful example of what Washington can do with a varietal like Malbec.  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, from a wild mushroom risotto to braised lamb shank, grilled steak to fajitas.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled ribeye, along with some roasted hatch chiles, steamed Italian green beans and fresh corn on the cob.  Cheers!