Judith Henderson’s Wine & Country Living

Weather Report: a day of heat and evening deliciously cool; in the summer this is what we live by on the high desert. The weather played beautifully during the annual Paws and Claws Summer Barbecue held this Sunday evening in Walla Walla in a pet advo- cate's vegetable garden.

I am happy to announce the donations taken over the past year's dinners has exceeded the number Paws and Claws will need to hire a professional grant writer to write the purposed papers allowing the expense for veterinarians from around the country to come to our valley and work a free spay and neuter clinic. Thanks to all who participated, updates will follow.

The Wine: During the Paws and Claws Barbecue, several bottles of Seven Hills 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley were poured and became the perfect pairing with the clean beef and organic salads lining the dinner table. This vintage of cabernet is scrumptious -- I recommend everyone give the $25 dollar bottle a try. The '09 is a well balanced, medium bodied cab' fragrant in the glass with swooshing pomegranate and cassis and an intrigu- ing vanilla ribbon tickling the tongues of drinkers to a smooth and polished ending.

The Winemakers: Casey McClellan, founder and winemaker at Seven Hills, is a friendly and most knowledgeable winemaker. Wine structure and grace is Casey's winemaking signature. He has mastered the restrain of oak in his Bordeaux-styled varietals. His partner and wife Vicky McClellan, also a respected wine special- ist, creates the backbone in this Walla Walla winery. She brings to the cellar both aesthetics and a personal approach to the making of Seven Hills wines and will treat you to friendly conversation during your visit. Seven Hills Winery is located at 212 North 3rd, Walla Walla.

Wine Honors: Casey and Vicki, because you have the sixth sense to create wines of distinct pleasure and consideration to ones pocketbook, yours truly, Judith Henderson of Wine and Country Living, honors you with 98 points of Wine Perfection for the Seven Hills 2009, Cabernet Sauvignon. Congratulations Team Seven Hills!

Readers, until next week, "Eat Art, Drink Imagination! "

Barbecue Hobo Packets

4 squares of aluminum foil

4 skinless boneless breast of chicken

4 cups sliced mushrooms

4 tablespoons mayonnaise

4 sprigs of thyme

Method:

Prepare grill. On squares of foil lay mushrooms, chicken, dol-

lop of mayo and a good pinch of minced fresh garlic and freshthyme. Fold aluminum foil to enclose foods; grill packets 15 min-

utes. Pair Chicken with Seven Hills 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Hear Judith's food and wine commentary at www.chefjudith- henderson.com. Go to recipes and click the red box!