Developed for the cellars of his club members, founding winemaker Jean-François Pellet takes a Left Bank Bordeaux approach with the 2016 Seven Hills Vineyard by leading with Cabernet Sauvignon (52%) and Cabernet Franc (22%) then layers of Merlot (18%), Malbec (4%) and Petit Verdot. It’s a winning ratio that he hardly tweaked from his acclaimed 2015 version from this storied Salmon Safe site, down to the involvement of new French oak barrels (43%). A hedonistic nose of milk chocolate, roasted coffee, black fruit, rose hips and tobacco leads to a solid structure of dark blue fruit flavors akin to blackcurrant and juicy blueberry, backed by firm plum-skin tannins, allspice and bittersweet chocolate. Pellet notes that his bottling from the 2011 vintage will continue to benefit from aging, so expect this to evolve deliciously for the next decade.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 566 cases
Alcohol: 14.5%
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