Merlot
Released: May 2003
Variety: 100% Seven Hills Vineyard
80% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc.
Winemaker Comment: "With vine age now over 12 years, this consistently rich and flavorful Merlot from Seven Hills shows elegance and finesse, yet wonderful complexity and length on the finish."
Harvest: The single word descriptor for the 2001 vintage is "consistency". A mild spring led into near ideal fruit set in June. Warm temperatures remained consistent throughout July and August, without any adverse heat (above 100degrees). As a result, veraison came on earlier than expected based on heat units, and we plunged into harvest in early September. We processed about half of our total production in the two weeks starting September 7th. Milder temperatures slowed the remaining harvest, with some varieties hanging on until the last week of October.
Technical: Harvest commenced September 10th with the 1989 Merlot block G3 at Seven Hills Vineyard and continued over the course of the next eight days. Average Merlot ripeness was 24.9% Brix, 3.60 pH, and 0.63 grams/100 ml acidity. Bottled 1,338 cases February 28th, 2003; pH 3.65, acid 0.68 g/100ml, 13.9% alcohol by volume, <0.2% residual sugar.
Description: This vineyards' characteristic cedary blackberry fruit shows elegant mint and floral aromas, with gripping flavors of blueberry, black cherry, mocha, and vanilla on a long lingering finish.
Vinification: Each lot was hand harvested ripe and gently crushed into one-ton stainless steel fermenters. The must was inoculated with yeast and punched down by hand during fermentation to maximize fruit extraction. When fermentation as complete the must was gravity fed into press. After a gentle pressing, the wine was racked to tank and allowed to settle. The wine was then racked to 100% small oak barrels, with approximately 60% new oak and was barrel aged 18 months with five rackings. The final blend was bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve its natural flavors.
Craig's Comments
Awards and Acclaims:Wine & SpiritsWine & Spirits Top 12 Merlots of the Year (June 2004) Score: 92 points
Date Reviewed: January/February 2004
"Grown in one of Walla Walla's premier sites, this silky merlot is soft as a down pillow, with tannins that show the fineness typical of the region. The flavors are not long, just exotic, spicy and heady while they last. Oak age leads the fruit toward browner tones of Worcestershire and the charry edge of roast beef, a natural match for this dense and supple wine."
Wine Spectator Score: 91 points
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2003
"Firm, but fleshy enough to show off its cherry, exotic spice, bay leaf and touch of dried apricot as the flavors linger. Best from 2004 through 2010."