What: Seven Hills Winery Petit Verdot McClellan Estate Vineyard Walla Walla Valley 2013 $35

Where: Esquin Wine and Spirits, McCarthy and Schiering, Leschi Market, Downtown Spirits, Pete’s Wine Shop, Seattle Wine Co., DeLaurenti

Why: Seven Hills Winery is one of the Walla Walla Valley’s flagship wineries.

Fourth-generation farmer Casey McClellan founded Seven Hills with his wife Vicky in 1988, making it one of the oldest wineries in both the valley and in the state.

At Seven Hills, McClellan focuses on Bordeaux varieties and blends from the Walla Walla Valley and Red Mountain growing regions. Seven Hills wines are notable not just for their consistently high quality but also for their reasonable prices and track record for ageability. There’s not a weak link in the winery’s lineup, but the single vineyard/single variety bottles – such as their petit verdot – provide a rare opportunity to drill into a specific location.

Petit verdot can sometimes be a bruiser of a wine due to its high tannins and high acid. Not so for Seven Hills, which consistently crafts top quality offerings of this variety. The 2013 Seven Hills Winery Petit Verdot McClellan Vineyard Walla Walla Valley ($35) is no exception. It brings the floral, moist soil, and spice aromas that this variety is known for followed by a palate that is dense but never overbearing. The finish is lengthy. It drinks well by itself but will shine on the dinner table. Try it with steak.