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The 2022 growing season got off to a late start, with bud break occurring around mid-April. Both April and May were marked by cooler temperatures and steady rainfall, setting the season on course for one of the lowest Growing Degree Days (GDD) ever recorded. Fortunately, July and August brought warmer, sunnier weather, helping GDD levels return closer to the long-term average. The warm trend continued well into September and October, allowing the grapes to ripen at an ideal pace for harvest. We began picking Merlot on October 10th, and the season wrapped up with our final harvest of Carménère on November 3rd.
As the final grapes are gathered and the cellar doors close on another harvest, we reflect on what has been a beautiful and rewarding 2024 growing season. From the first whites to the final reds, this year’s vintage promises to reflect the balance, intensity, and dedication that make each bottle from Seven Hills something special.
This year began with a wet winter, providing our vines with the moisture they needed for full canopies and healthy growth. Temperatures throughout the season stayed between average to slightly warm, fostering excellent ripening conditions. Even with severe freezes last winter across Washington, our estates showed resilience and still managed to deliver decent yields—a tribute to both the land and the care of our team.
With the grapes now safely tucked away in the winery, we turn our focus to the art of winemaking. Early signs suggest the 2024 vintage will offer a remarkable balance of structure, elegance, and intensity. Expect vibrant Sauvignon Blanc that captures the freshness of a well-timed harvest, and reds with depth and strength, thanks to the extended hang time offered by the cooler autumn weather.
As we enter the holiday season, we’re excited to introduce three new releases that are perfect companions for the cooler months. The 2022 Pentad is a harmonious blend showcasing the power and complexity of the Walla Walla Valley. Our Founding Vineyard Merlot reflects the vineyard that started it all, with deep fruit, soft tannins, and elegance. Finally, our 2022 Ciel du Cheval from the renowned Red Mountain vineyard offers bold character and structure with a refined finish.
Thank you for being part of the Seven Hills family. Your passion for wine and support for our craft mean the world to us. As we head into the holiday season, we hope our wines will find their way to your table, bringing warmth and joy to gatherings both big and small.
Here’s to celebrating the moments that matter, and to enjoying great wine with good company. From all of us at Seven Hills Winery, we wish you a wonderful holiday season filled with cheer, good food, and, of course, excellent wine.
Bobby Richards
2022 Pentad $85 retail
Walla Walla Valley
Within Washington State lies the Walla Walla Valley AVA, with its Bordeaux varietal-friendly climate and soils, along with just the right amount of warmth and varying elevations, all of which make for unique factors that provide excellent sites for growing Bordeaux varietals. Selecting from diverse terroirs within the Walla Walla Valley AVA, we use Cabernet Sauvignon from higher elevation shallow soil on top of fractured basalt along with our 1980 Cabernet vines which provides structure. Our Merlot comes from the deep soils of the Blue Mountain foothills presenting lush fruit characters. Fan trained Malbec and Petit Verdot from McClellan estate offer complexity and depth, and Carménère offers earth aromas and bright red fruit flavors. The grapes are gently destemmed and crushed into stainless and oak tanks. Alcoholic fermentation last 8-14 days, then the wine is pressed from the skins and barreled. Each varietal is fermented individually and then 5 of the 6 are blended in the Spring and aged for 20 months in 50% new French oak. Our Pentad is Vegan, with a minimal amount of SO2 added.
Deep ruby in color with pronounced aromas of black forest cake, plum, mocha with subtle aromas of cigar box, cracked pink peppercorn, cardamom pods and all spice. Robust body with a lush texture and depth of flavors are led by flavors of black raspberries and black cherries with intertwined notes of currant, chocolate ganache and vanilla bean. Firm tannins are carried throughout the wine with supported acidity bringing great length to the mouthfeel. Ideal drinking is 3 – 15 years.
Pair with richer dishes like roasted leg of lamb over roasted vegetables or walnut-lentil Bolognese.
2022 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard $65 retail
Red Mountain
Planted in 1975 on sandy loam and calcareous soils, Ciel du Cheval is rooted in the core of the esteemed Red Mountain AVA, Washington’s smallest and warmest AVA. This wine reflects the power, elegance and age ability inherent to the storied appellation, a site that offers refreshing contrast to the Walla Walla AVA.
100% sourced from Ciel du Cheval Vineyard on Red Mountain. The blend consists of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 21% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 20 months in 50% new French oak, this wine is unfined, 1-micron filtered, and 100% vegan.
This wine pours a deep garnet hue, releasing aromas reminiscent of a cedar box filled with ripe black cherries, raspberries, and leather, accented by subtle hints of iron and fresh sage. On the palate, it offers impressive texture and a supple body, with rustic, well-integrated tannins supporting flavors of black cherry, raspberry, and tobacco leaf, layered with notes of dried herbs and black pepper. Built for longevity, this wine will evolve beautifully over the next several years. Cellar for up to 15 years. Enjoy with a grilled T-bone steak and summer vegetables, braised short ribs, or savory stuffed mushrooms.
2022 Founding Vineyard Merlot $55 retail
Walla Walla Valley
The Walla Walla Valley has become an oasis for the classic Bordeaux varietal, offering a unique environment that reliably turns out the fruit that’s teeming with elegance, structure, and personality. The resulting wines not only demonstrate an intriguing element of discovery but solidify our beloved home turf as a premiere New World appellation for Merlot.
100% Merlot from our Founding Vineyard, the heart of Seven Hills Winery. Open-top fermented and aged for 20 months in 45% new French oak barrels, this wine is lightly filtered and 100% vegan
Medium ruby in color, this wine opens with bold aromas of blackberries and blackcap raspberries, layered with hints of cedar, dark chocolate, and damp earth. The palate is both plush and structured, with bright acidity enhancing flavors of dried black raspberries, marionberries, and subtle notes of cocoa dust, black pepper, and leather. Thanks to its medium body and balanced acidity, this wine pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes. Enjoy it with classic beef bourguignon or a perfectly seared New York strip steak. For a vegetarian option, try it with roasted acorn squash stuffed with wild rice. For a sweet ending, savor it alongside 60% dark chocolate.
For more information or to reorder these wines:
Please contact us at INFO@SEVENHILLSWINERY.COM or 509-593-6226