2015 Seven Hills Merlot Columbia Valley

VINEYARD: Select hand farmed vineyards in Walla Walla Valley, Red Mountain, and Wahluke Slope AVAs

GRAPES: 77% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc

V I NTAGE: Very warm growing conditions, with strong heat unit accumulation spread throughout the ripening season, producing intensely flavored fruit with significant tannin structure and exotic aromatics

AGEING: Small, open top fermenters. Aged 16 months in American, Hungarian, Russian, and French oak, 35% new

AROMA: Raspberry, cranberry, red cherry, vanilla cream, coffee bean, eucaluptus and herbs

TASTE: Generous and lush with blackberry, red currant, plum, cherry, pink boysenberry, vanilla, toffee, white pepper, vanillin, cinnamon and roasted nut

ALCOHOL: 14. 8 %

LOT SIZE: 945 cases

WINEMAKER’S NOTES: We have been dedicated to Bordeaux's "other" noble grape since we first planted Merlot in 1982 in the Walla Walla Valley. Since then, we feel Washington's Columbia Valley has become one of the best places in the New World to grow Merlot. Our perfect combination of warm days and cool nights creates a full, generous Merlot with ample structure and vibrancy. This wine is drawn from small, select, hand-farmed vineyards in Walla Walla Valley, Red Mountain, and Wahluke Slope AVAs.

After careful vinification in small, open top fermenters, the wine was aged for I6 months in a selection of French, American, Hungarian and Russian oaks resulting in a wine with spice box-like complexity. It is supple and generous with loads of raspberry, red currant, cherry, vanilla, toffee, and spice character. This wine is already drinking beautifully at release, but will age well for 5-7 years past vintage date. - Casey McClellan, Winemaker

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