2006 Seven Hills Vineyard Designate

Cabernets and Merlots are the focal point here at Pepper Bridge, but we do make a couple of special gems that are Bordeaux blends. Our winemaker, Jean-François, makes two special wines for our wine club members that are vineyard designate blends. Depending on the year, our Cabs and Merlots are usually made up of a 50/50 blend of the two vineyards. Our two vineyards, Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills, are only about 10 miles apart but the differences are dramatic. Pepper Bridge Vineyard, which surrounds the winery is typically the more masculine, with bigger tannins and bolder fruit flavor. On the flip side, the Seven Hills Vineyard, on the Oregon side of the valley is the feminine, with more minerality, softer fruit, and an earthy quality that Jean-François likes to describe as dusty malt. The vineyard designate blends are a fun way to taste the vineyard differences. For the 2006 vintage, the Pepper Bridge Vineyard is a Merlot based blend, a first for Jean-François. It is a big wine and shows off the power of Walla Walla Merlot. The 06 Seven Hills Vineyard is a blend of 50% Cab, 40% Merlot, and 10% Cab Franc. 2006 vintage is the first time that Jean-François has had Cabernet Franc from the estate vineyard for the blend and you can smell and taste its influence on the wine. Loads of spice, currants, cherries, plums, with that earthy note that is so distinctly Seven Hills Vineyard. This wine is smooth and delicious and Wine & Spirits Magazine agrees. The August issue gives the 2006 Seven Hills Vineyard a 94. Of course the only catch is that we craft this wine for our Bridge Club members only. So if you want some of this wine you can join the club or bribe a club member friend to get some for you.