The previous vintage for this white Bordeaux blend leaned more toward Sèmillon, but winemaker Mike Sharon’s latest offering is 50/50 with Sauvignon Blanc. All of it comes off one of the Northwest’s premier plantings, the 230-acre Seven Hills Vineyard, planted in 1981 and partially owned by Marty Clubb. A four-month program of neutral French oak and 30 percent malolactic fermentation yields aromas of fresh fig, cardamom and ripe Golden Delicious apple with touches of honeysuckle and minerality. The rich and round entry features fig, caramel and melon, which is followed by lime acidity to create a wonderful mouth feel with great complexity and good length. For the second straight year, this grabbed a gold medal at the Walla Walla Valley Wine Competition, an annual judging that funds scholarships for students at Walla Walla Community College’s Center for Enology & Viticulture.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 1,350 cases
Alcohol: 14.5%
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