Malbec

Since the early 1990s, Paraduxx has created blended red wine to show off the Napa Valley. A bit larger and more macerated than previous vintages, it is still nonetheless an enjoyable, solid wine. The tannins are a little more aggressive here with the fruit being both expressive but still subdued. The more noticeable element is the oak; an 18-month program of both French and Hungarian, with 40% of the barrels being brand new. The composition is 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, then diminishing proportions of Zinfandel, Malbec, Merlot, Syrah and Petit Sirah, in that order.

It’s not that Malbec is a forgotten grape, it’s that it doesn’t get the love it deserves, and too often wineries seem to want it to taste like Cabernet. Enter Whitehall Lane, who makes this impressive Malbec that you will love - a Malbec that tastes like a Malbec should. The fruit is supported by a tannic structure that provides an earthiness and rusticity to it. Blackberry brambleberry, huckleberry and boysenberry all work together to create a rich wine that’s not over the top but not subdued either. The mid-palate reveals the wines’ acidity with notes of sandalwood and cocoa powder.

Most wineries, like Acumen, love fruit grown on hilly terrain. The grapes have proper drainage, the addition of breezes keeps the leafy vines healthier and soils are richer in nutrients. Therefore, this Mountainside Cabernet has everything going for it. This wine requires a little bit of patience however, and decanting this for a few hours will be well worth your time. This shows the obvious black cherry, blueberry, boysenberry, and huckleberry notes that Cabernet typically has.

This wine is consistently an excellent value in Malbec.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has plums, attic dust, and spice.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, plums with some spice.  This is deep.  Long finish.  Very nice on its own, this would be a great choice with a mid-week pizza.  Drink over the next five years.  

This is 100% Malbec grown on its own roots.  The wine is aged 10 months in tank and ten months in bottle and sees no oak.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has plums, black cherries, cloves, and cherries.  Full bodied.  Lush texture.  Firm tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this is concentrated with lots of depth.  Flavors of plums and black raspberries.  Long finish.  It kept opening up all evening as I sampled it.  This really needs a few more years in the cellar but will be worth the weight.  Hold for three to five years and drink for ten to fifteen after that.  Ni

Inky purple in color, opaque and slightly flat.  The nose is tight initially, but opens with air to show boysenberries, roasted herbs and spices.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, there are black cherry flavors along with some spice.  With air, plums come out.  An interesting root beer note on the finish.  Also, some warmth.  This is young but delicious now.  No harm opening now, but it should improve with a couple years in the cellar.  Drink over the next ten years.  This would go well with stuffed acorn squash and of course, meat dishes.  

This is a blend of 60% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, and 10% Merlot grown at 4,125 feet at the certified Organic Estate vineyard of Domaine Bousquet.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is ripe with plums, black cherries, raisins, spice and char.

One of the better Malbec's I have tasted.  It is named for one of the owners of  Domaine Bousquet.  This is 100% Malbec from the Domaine Bousquet home (certified Organic) vineyard grown at 4,125 feet.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is powerful with plums, black raspberries, slight coffee, and spice.  Full bodied.  Medium tannins.  Good acidity.  On the palate, this has a velvety texture.  Dry but a perception of ripeness.  Flavors of plums, black raspberries and underlying char.  Long finish.  This is young but very tasty.  Drink over the next eight to twelve years.  This wo

In just a few short years of production the Canvasback Cabernet Sauvignon has become one of the de facto wines from the Red Mountain AVA in Washington state. Having reviewed this wine from multiple vintages, there is a clear consistency to its quality. Like most Cabernet you will find the requisite black cherry, blueberry, blackberry notes, but this adds huckleberry, boysenberry into the mix along with dusty tannins and a light mocha quality. But Red Mountain fruit also offers an earthiness and minerality with richer fruit.

It should be no surprise that this wine is a stunner. Chappellet has long delivered quality wines that exceed the status quo; nearly 60 years in fact. The fruit for this wine comes from Pritchard Hill, a well-know parcel that produces exceptional grapes. A classic old-school Cabernet, this offers blackberry, blueberry, huckleberry, boysenberry and black cherry notes with back notes of vanilla, sage, tight tannins, good acidity and the one thing that makes a wine sing – balance. Comprised of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, there are small amounts of Petite Verdot, Malbec and Merlot added in.