"The aromas enchant, with notes of dried herb, black currant, red apple, cocoa and spice. Broad, palate coating fruit flavors follow, showing depth, texture and dimension. A firm coil of tightly wound tannins ties it together. It’s a very classy, sophisticated wine that needs time in the cellar to show its stuff. It only picks up steam the longer it’s open. Best after 2027 and will shine a good decade-plus beyond that. - Sean Sullivan"
- Wine Enthusiast (June 2020), 93 pts - Cellar Selection
"Robustly structured, yet refined and polished, with expressive blackberry, smoky sage and licorice flavors that build tension toward fine-grained tannins. Best from 2021 through 2030. - Tim Fish"
- Wine Spectator (August 2020), 93 pts
"This wine reveals a deep purple hue as well as beautiful floral, lavender, and spice-driven aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness, ripe, silky tannins, and just terrific balance, it’s another gorgeous wine from this team that can be drunk today or cellared for 15 years or more."
- Jeb Dunnuck (April 2020), 94 pts
"Bright ruby-red. Aromas of blue and black fruits and licorice are lifted by floral and herbal nuances. A very stylish, silky Cabernet Sauvignon with terrific inner-mouth violet lift and sexy oak tones to its fine-grained flavors of dark berries and cocoa powder. Concentrated, savory and very long; more pliant than the 2016 version owing to its nobility of tannins. Very classy juice--and showing brilliantly today. (14.7% alcohol; two-thirds from Seven Hills and one-third from a 1996 planting at Pepper Bridge) - Stephen Tanzer"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (December 2019), 94 pts
"Starting with a rocky minerality that shines through on the nose, the 2017 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon shows a good core of red and black fruit that highlights the Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills vineyards. The dark red fruit lingers over the palate with a rocky and softly savory spiced tension, giving way to structured tannins that build on the back end of the mid-palate. The wine is focused on the well-framed finish, with blackcurrant and black raspberry jus sprinkled with a rustic and rocky tension. It's a nicely made wine that drinks well. I want a second sip. - Anthony Muller"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue# 246, December 2019), 94 pts
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (December 2020), 94 pts
