Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Malbec Farrow Ranch is a little mute to begin, giving way to a rock-star nose of crème de cassis, blueberry pie and baked cherries with nuances of plum pudding and Christmas cake plus touches of potpourri and espresso. Very big, full-bodied and jam-packed with generous fruit, it has a built-like-a-brick-house structure and finishes with epic length. Forget this for 5-6 years and drink it over the next 20+.
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James Suckling
Aromas of pumice, blackberries, violets and blueberries follow through to a full body. Yet, it's tight and polished. Bright and refined, too. An extremely long finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
From the oldest block of a dry-farmed, hillside site, this bold, beautiful red is a celebratory expression of crushed rock, dusty soil and floral teases of rose and lavender. Hearty, thick and rich in its youth, it offers a wealth of blue fruit, leather and brown sugar. The oak is integrated and the tannins are grippy yet beginning to show polish.
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.