On the southern edge of Walla Walla Valley is the 21-acre Seven Hills Founding Vineyards Merlot planted by the McClellan’s in the 1980’s. This Merlot is planted at 1,000 feet of elevation in sub-soils of deep, silt loam. The Founding Vineyards is one of the first vineyards of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon planted in Walla Walla.

This deeply ruby wine is more serious than the Walla Walla bottling with more concentration and purity of flavors. Within is a potpourri of fruitcake spices and wild berries. The entry greets you with warmed fruits of mulberries and boysenberries intertwined with black pepper and a dusting of mocha. The wine has a medium-bodied mouth-feel with an expansive core. True to Washington styled Merlots there is a long thread of fresh acidity and finely grained tannins throughout the wine. This is the benchmark of a well-crafted Washington Merlot.

By W Peter Hoyne