Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A stunner from this vineyard, made entirely varietal, and aged 20 months in new French oak. Floral and herbal, the wine is thick, dense and concentrated, still youthful in intensity. Smoked pepper accents meat and game, as rose petals come into play on the nose. Fully expressive in these savory characteristics, it ends in a burst of succulent blueberry and smoke.
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Wine Spectator
A supple, graceful effort marked by gentle creamy oak, elegant dark berry, herb and spice notes, gaining depth and richness, and ending impressively, with a long, persistent aftertaste. Drink now through 2032. Tasted twice, with consistent notes
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James Suckling
A big and fruit-forward malbec with chocolate and dark berry character. Hints of rose petal and stem. Full body, round and velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Fresh at the end. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Very deep purple-black colored, the 2014 Malbec has an alluring nose of crushed black cherries and dark chocolate with hints of warm plums, baking spices and black pepper plus a waft of violets. Full-bodied with taut, muscular fruit in the mouth, it has a firm backbone of ripe tannins and great freshness in the finish. It really needs 1-2 more years in bottle to be at its best and should cellar for 15-20+.
Celebrated for its bold flavors and supple texture, Malbec has enjoyed runaway success in Argentina since the late 20th century. The grape originated in Bordeaux, France, where it historically contributed color and tannin to blends. A French agronomist, who saw great potential for the variety in Mendoza’s hot, high-altitude landscape, brought Malbec to Argentina in 1868. Somm Secret—If you’re trying to please a crowd, Malbec is generally a safe bet with its combination of dense fruit and soft tannins.
Nearly a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is Sonoma County’s hottest AVA. But the Russian River, which runs through the valley, creates cooler pockets and its soft, alluvial soil is ideal for grape growing, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, some believe that Alexander Valley Cabernets truly rival the best from Napa Valley and many of the heavy-hitter producers have largely invested here.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 50% of plantings, Merlot and old vine Zinfandel thrive here. Ample, fleshy Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate white wine production. Some old-vine plantings of Grenache have also been discovered and more recent experiments with Sangiovese and Barbera show great promise.