 
The Pursuit of a Dream
Seven of Hearts is about exploring different vineyards, appellations and varietals within Oregon's Willamette Valley and neighboring regions,and making wines that tell a story about where they were grown and the conditions under which they were grown. Using traditional winemaking methods, our goal is small production wines of great purity, complexity, and elegance.
 (Photo of Luminous Hills Vineyard courtesy of Joshua Chang)
This was unquestionably the most challenging and exciting of vintages we've experienced here in Oregon, but ultimately quite satisfying and highly promising. We've never before harvested in November, but this year we brought in nearly half our fruit at the beginning of this month. The cool climate varietals, Pinot noir and Chardonnay, were the primary hold-outs, but the final weeks brought about tremendous flavor development and wonderful quality, if small yields. When these wines are released, you will see some new and very special wines from sites in the Dundee Hills and Yamhill-Carlton.
The warmer climate varietals from the Columbia Valley (both Oregon and Washington) were late and with great character as well, a bit more arriving in late October. This year we brought in our first Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to be used in a blend along with the Cabernet Franc from a site that we started with a year ago. These will all be released under the new Chateau Figareaux label that will see its introduction this spring with the 2010 Cabernet Franc.
While the Rose' (Pinot noir) and whites (Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Viognier & Roussanne) are all settled in tank and barrel, all of the Pinot noirs and big reds are approaching or just starting primary fermentation. Just where we want to see them at this stage...
Press Highlights from the Past Year
Recognition for three Luminous Hills wines in the September issue of Portland Monthly Magazine's article "Oregon's 50 Best Wines".
 The Prince of Pinot reviews the current releases of Seven of Hearts and Luminous Hills Pinot noirs in Volume 8, Issue 42 of the PinotFile. My favorite part was his description of the 2009 Astra: "...A carnival of charming black cherry and black raspberry fruit floods the palate and brings it to attention. This is one of those wines that you taste and then just look at the glass, astonished that such flavor could originate from the liquid in the glass..."
One of my favorite blogs Northwest Whites, by Ryan Reichert, looks at a vertical of Seven ofHearts Chardonnays (the '06 is still very tasty) in the article "Seven of Hearts, Blend ofInnovationand Tradition."
 July 18 Wine Press Northwest Fresh Press Spotlight on Seven of Hearts Wine.Outstanding ratings for 2009 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and 2010 Rosé of Pinot Noir. Excellent rating for 2009 Chardonnay in the August 8 issue. Plus recommendations of five additional Seven of Hearts wines in both issues. Here's what they said about the 2009 Pinot Noir: "Outstanding! Seven of Hearts 2009 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, $20. Accessible fruit and an enjoyable structure make Byron Dooley’s tasty blend offive vineyards — including Crawford Beck, Cost and the estate Luminous Hills — one to cherish. The aromatics are not limited to black cherry, black raspberry, ripe watermelon and blueberry, as they also include blood orange, toffee, earthiness and strips ofcedar. There’s a reward of cherry and more blood orange on the palate with great acidity and little in the way of tannin. Notes of strawberry and earthiness meld well in the mouth. This wine can be from bottle or at restaurants in Portland via the tap program at St. Jack as well as Irving Street Kitchen in the Pearl District."
Jul/Aug 2011 by Josh Raynolds
2009 Pinot Noir Crawford Beck Vineyard - 90
2009 Pinot Noir Special Reserve - 91
2009 Pinot Noir Coupe's Cuvee Dessert Wine - 92
2009 Luminous Hills Pinot Noir Estate Grown - 90
2009 Luminous Hills Pinot Noir Estate Grown Lux - 90
2009 Luminous Hills Pinot Noir Estate Grown Astra - 91
(Read reviews here.)
 LuminousHills Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton District 2009 - 91 points
Velvety, subtle and distinctive for the mint and savory spice accentsaround a lovely bead of redcurrant and raspberry fruit, persisting delicately on the long finish. Drink now through 2019.—H.S.
August 2011 Issue of The Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Seven of Hearts 2009 Chardonnay Crawford Beck Vineyard - 92 Editors’ Choice
An elegant, compelling Chardonnay, its fruitaccented with lemon, honey and lime. Low cropping ofDijon clone 76 has concentrated the flavors (and the alcohol - a surprising 15.7%) without turningthewine into an overblown fat boy. Nuanced and long, it is one of the most satisfying Chardonnays to come out of Oregon in recent memory. — Paul Gregutt
Eating & Dining (6/22/11): A Rosy Outlook Seven of Hearts’ Pinot Noir rosé gushing with flavor
Another lovely write-up on Luminous Hills the wonderful blog
VIVACIOUS GOURMAND in the article Oregon Pinot Noir Plus – Seven of Hearts / Luminous Hills Makes Great Juice (May 31, 2011)
 Very thoughtful and well articulated write-up in the great new blog Northwest Wine Anthem aboutLuminous Hills and the concept around it: A Match Made in Pinot, Soil meets Clone in Luminous Hills
 The Northwest Wine Summit announced their 2011 awards, with 11 medals for Seven of Hearts and Luminous Hills Wines, including a Gold (highest award) for the 2009 Seven of Hearts Pinot Noir Special Reserve. 
The Oregon Wine Awards announced their 2011 selections, with six awards to Seven of Hearts and Luminous Hills wines, including a Double Gold for the 2009 Luminous Hills Estate Grown Pinot Noir LUX.
 2009 Seven of Hearts Pinot Noir Willamette Valley - Value Pick, Oregon Wine Press, May 2011 "Pinot for Pleasure's Sake"
Both the Luminous Hills Astra and LUX receive Excellent ratings and the regular Estate   bottling (silver label) is recommended in the March 14, 2011 edition of Wine Press Northwest Pinot Noir: Familiar producers win honors along with rising stars By Andy Perdue.
 Northwest Palate Magazine (March/April 2011) HighlyRecommends the 2009 Luminous Hills Pinot Noir Lux Yamhill-Carlton: "Attractive aromas of rose petals and red cherries combine with notes of dried tobacco and mushroom to create a sweet-savory nose. Lean in the mouth with a silky texture, upon first sip the wine delivers punchy flavors of tasty candied red cherries with a forest floor foundation. Additional sips show the fruit to have an appealing additional quality of dried roses and a nutty note of almond pit. The whole is quite elegant, with polished tannins, ample acidity, and a rousing finish that lingers well. Still a baby, this is a wine to cellar for 2-3 years to gain even more integration."
I just love seeing something like this: an obscure small production wine shows up in a Southern California blog. Check out The Best of Wines notes on the 2007 Seven of Hearts Pinot Noir the Cost Vineyard. These guys get it.
Check out another thoughful posting by Vincent Fritzsche on his blog
élevage: 2008 Seven of Hearts Pinot Noir Willamette Valley.
 In the article December 22, 2010 article "Mom-and-pop operation doubles down", Cleve Twitchell shares his experiences with Luminous Hills and Seven of Hearts wines.
On
Northwest Whites (www.nwwhites.com), wine writer Ryan Reichert includes Seven of Hearts Chardonnay and Viognier-Roussanne as some of his favorite white wines of 2010 in "Revisiting the White Wines of 2010".
In Northwest Palate's November/December 2010 issue, our 2009 Chatte d'AvignonRoussanne Columbia Valley Oregon makes the cut in the article "Top Northwest Wines of 2010" as an Old World wine grape variety that is new to the Northwest.
The Northwest Food and Wind Festival awarded one of only eleven Gold Medals to our 2009 Chatte d'Avignon Viognier & Roussanne Columbia Valley Oregon.
In the article "Oregon's '08 Pinots have a vintage year. Really." by Jon
Bonné (September 26 Edition of the San Francisco Chronicle), the Seven of Hearts Willamette Valley Pinot Noir was recommended along with a selection of standout Oregon Pinots.
Coming Events
Holiday Tastings and New Releases
Join us in our tasting room in Carlton during the month of December as we pour our six new 2010 releases:
2010 Luminous Hills Estate Grown Pinot noir (silver label)
2010 Luminous Hills Estate Grown Pinot noir Lux
2010 Seven of Hearts Pinot noir Lia's Vineyard Chehalem Mountains
2010 Seven of Hearts Pinot noir Armstrong Vineyard Ribbon Ridge
2010 Coupe's Cuvee Pinot noir Dessert Wine Willamette Valley
2010 Chatte d'Avignon Viognier & Roussanne Columbia Valley Oregon
 
As always, we will be pouring a full line-up of wines, including two pairings with two custom made chocolates by Honest Chocolates.
Early Bird Special: It can get quite busy as the afternoon progresses on the weekends. As an extra incentive to encourage earlier visits and tasting, for the first two hours on Saturday and Sunday, until 2pm, we will have several cases of some special wines (last few cases) out on the floor with special discounts.
Seven of Hearts Tasting Room in Carlton
 217 West Main Street, Carlton (Get Directions)
Thursday - Monday,
Noon - 5pm (6pm, by request). Special event hours (e.g., Thanksgiving weekend) are 11am - 5pm.
Custom
wine-tasting chocolates from Honest
Chocolates
For private tastings and special appointments, call 971-241-6548
 
Seven of Hearts Tasting Room & Honest Chocolates Kitchen
Now Pouring:
2010 Chatte d'Avignon Viognier & Roussanne
201 Pinot Gris Oregon
2009
Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
2009 Pinot Noir Crawford Beck Vineyard
2010 Pinot Noir Lia's Vineyard
2010 Pinot Noir Armstrong Vineyard
2010 Luminous Hills Estate Grown Pinot Noir
2010 Luminous Hills Estate Grown Pinot Noir Lux
2009 Pinot Noir Special Reserve
Paired with Raspberry-Pinot Ganache
2010 Coupe's Cuvee Pinot Noir Dessert Wine
Paired with Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Toffee Bark
     
Seven of Hearts Wine Club
 Designed for the loyal followers of our wines, the Seven of Hearts Wine Club was created as a way to obtain our limited production wines at significant discounts, as well as other club benefits. Wine Club members receive two annual packages in early May and early November, ahead of the public release of the wines.
Starting in Spring 2010, we added more flexibility to our Wine Club program. While still offering a standard selection of newly released wines, we also provide the opportunity for members to make their wine club selections from an a la carte menu of the new releases, and can include any favorites from prior releases if still available. It's about getting you the wines that you want.
From the Heart
Our "From the Heart" musings have been moved to a blog. To go to the blog, click here or on the BLOG menu item on right side of the navigation bar at the top or bottom of the page. Add your comments and join the discussion!
Terry Peasley Pen & Ink Drawing - Luminous Hills Vineyard
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