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Seven Hills Winery
www.sevenhillswinery.com
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Casey and Vicky McClellan, Proprietors
Casey and Vicky McClellan, Proprietors


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Seven Hills Winery Information Sheet
Seven Hills Winemaker Overview
Country of Origin: USA
Location: Walla Walla
People: Casey & Vicky McClellan, Owners | Casey McClellan, Winemaker


Casey McClellan cultivated his interest in wines while planting the first block of Seven Hills Vineyard in the early 1980's. He went on to earn a Master's degree from the University of California at Davis specializing in the study of wine yeast performance. In 1988, Casey returned to the Walla Walla Valley to join the vineyard's founding partners in establishing Seven Hills Winery. "My goal as winemaker for Seven Hills Winery is to make intensely structured, balanced wines expressing the distinct terroir of their vineyard origin. I believe the soil, climate and grapes in the northwest appellations afford the opportunity to make wines ranked among the best in their class. I have been fortunate in my many years as Seven Hills winemaker to have developed fruit sources where I harvest from the same rows-the same vines each year. This is a precious resource for us, knowing the vines and working closely with our growers, we can craft wines attaining the full potential of the grape." Casey McClellan.

Pentad, Walla Walla Valley since 2001: Through our belief in the grape quality of the Walla Walla Valley we envisioned Pentad many years before assembling the first vintage. Our intention with Pentad is change through time, shaping expansive flavor, complexity and creation of an evolving sensory experience, using 100% Walla Walla Valley fruit. Pentad is an ancient Greek word, meaning group of five. The Pentad is the number of justice and the gateway to change and regeneration in natural forms. We choose five Bordeaux varietals each vintage using our years of experience with vines in our Valley to draw the full expression of Walla Walla terroir and the essence of the vintage, creating a transcendent wine that is both collectible and enjoyable.

Ciel du Cheval Vineyard, Vintage Red Wine since 2001: Each year we create a wine that captures the brilliance of Ciel du Cheval Vineyard. We begin the process before harvest tasting the ripening grapes frequently, walking the rows, developing an understanding of the year's strengths. We pick the four varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot separately and take them through fermentation and barreling. After the first racking we begin tasting the separate lots and decide upon the blend for the vintage. The make up of this wine will change from year to year, but will always aspire to be the most eloquent expression of the site and vintage.

The Vineyard Designates are from sites with character and sense of terroir, a commitment to lower yields and an interest in producing high-quality, memorable wines. We buy from the exact same vineyard rows year after year, and have personal input into their management and cultivation during the growing season. The grapes are hand picked, and great care is taken at the winery to capture the specific character of the fruit and vintage. Vintage to vintage differences will be evident, while we hold winemaking techniques relatively constant.

Seven Hills Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon since 1988
Seven Hills Vineyard, Merlot since 1988
Klipsun Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon since 1990

Reserve wines from Seven Hillls are rarer wines. The wines are selected because they have a depth and complexity that exceed the vineyard designated or appellation level. They are not necessarily reserves based on sheer power, but rather they must have that extra range of flavors or intensity, and excellent aging potential.

Since 1988 we have declared five Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons. The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve, Red Mountain is our sixth.

Appellation Columbia Valley: Our Appellation designated Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are made to be lush and accessible upon release. These are varietal wines using multiple vineyard sites in different microclimates and sub-appellations. The flavor interactions and styles created range beyond single vineyard wines. They showcase the Northwest appellations' best attributes while revealing a broad sensory profile of the region. Our Columbia Valley white wines are pure expressions of varietal character. Desert conditions provide hot days and very cool nights allowing for full-fruit maturity and balanced acidity. Expert canopy management protects the fruit from the intensity of the sun while allowing the necessary light for flavor and color development.

Merlot, Columbia Valley since 1998
Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley since 1997
Viognier, Columbia Valley since 1999
Riesling, Columbia Valley since 1988

Seven Hills wines are vegetarian and vegan. No egg or fish products are used.
Items
Seven Hills Winery 2012 Pinot Gris, Oregon Net Price — — New!
Seven Hills Winery 2011 Riesling, Columbia Valley Net Price Reviews —
Seven Hills Winery 2010 Viognier, Columbia Valley Net Price Reviews —
Seven Hills Winery 2011 Viognier, Columbia Valley Net Price Reviews —
Seven Hills Winery 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley Net Price — —
Seven Hills Winery 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Seven Hills Vineyard Net Price Reviews —
Seven Hills Winery 2010 'Ciel du Cheval,' Red Mountain Net Price Reviews —
Seven Hills Winery 2009 Malbec, Walla Walla Valley Net Price — —
Seven Hills Winery 2011 Malbec, Walla Walla Valley Net Price — —
Seven Hills Winery 2010 Merlot, Columbia Valley Net Price Reviews —
Seven Hills Winery 2007 'Pentad' (Bordeaux Blend), Walla Walla Net Price Reviews —
Reviews
Seven Hills Winery 2007 'Pentad' (Bordeaux Blend), Walla Walla
Rating: 90

Firm in texture, with focused currant and black cherry flavors that course through the long and vivid finish, hinting at tobacco and spice. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Merlot and Carmenere. Best from 2013 through 2019. 214 cases made.

- The Wine Spectator (5/31/2012)

Seven Hills Winery 2010 'Ciel du Cheval,' Red Mountain
Rating: 93

(Cellar Selection) A blend of 33% Merlot (from the original 1976 block), 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Petit Verdot and 13% Cabernet Franc, this shows Euro-style refinement from fist sniff to last swallow. The alcohol has climbed up a bit without any sacrifice of detail. A mix of berries, cherries and cassis, the fruits are woven around tightly defined, perfectly ripened tannis with an underlayer of acid and mineral.

- The Wine Enthusiast (6/1/2013)

Seven Hills Winery 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Seven Hills Vineyard
Rating: 20

(Cellar Selection) Crafted from the oldest vines in one of the oldest vineyards in the Walla Walla Valley, this displays lovely aromatics of leaf, herb, earth and wild berry. Tight and contained, it opens into a focused, lively wine with great acidity. It has the potential to age well for a decade or more.

- The Wine Enthusiast (6/1/2013)

Seven Hills Winery 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Seven Hills Vineyard
Rating: 93

A veil of fine tannins wraps around a supple core of spicy, brown sugar-accented plum and currant fruit, lingering easily on the refined finish. Best from 2015 through 2020.

- The Wine Spectator (4/24/2013)

Seven Hills Winery 2010 Merlot, Columbia Valley
Rating: 91

(Editors' Choice) This is a terrific Merlot, offering structure and balance (hallmarks of all Seven Hills wines) along with rich fruits, accented with earth and herb. There is lovely density and texture at work here, plenty of black cherry fruit and a gentle hint of composed earth.

- The Wine Enthusiast (6/1/2013)

Seven Hills Winery 2010 Viognier, Columbia Valley
Rating: 89

Smooth and spicy, with lots of tobacco and root beer overtones to the pear flavors. The finish features a raw edge. Drink now through 2014

- The Wine Spectator (11/30/2011)

Seven Hills Winery 2011 Riesling, Columbia Valley
Rating: 88

Consistent from year to year, this fruity and generous Riesling mixes lime, apples and a dash of pineapple, complementing the ripe fruit with sappy acidity. Round, forward and persistent, it's a great all purpose food wine if you are enjoying Thai, Indian or spicy Asian fare.

- The Wine Enthusiast (6/1/2013)

Seven Hills Winery 2011 Viognier, Columbia Valley
Rating: 88

Fresh and spicy, this is tangy on balance with floral, lychee and apricot flavors displayed on a polished frame.

- The Wine Spectator (3/31/2013)