Mt. Brave Malbec 2015
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Robert
Parker
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The wine offers aromas of dark raspberry mingle with huckleberry and hints of espresso bean on the palate to create a lush middle body and juicy finish.
Vegan
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Inky purple-black colored, the 2015 Malbec Mt. Veeder gives up a very unusual (in a good way!) savory/meaty nose over a core of black currants and blackberries with touches of Indian spices, chargrill and sautéed herbs. Full-bodied, very firm and very fresh in the mouth, the rock solid, muscular black fruit is tautly framed, finishing long and savory. Give it another 2-3 years in bottle and drink it over the next 25+.
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Wine
Enthusiast
Mt. Brave is a tribute to the pioneering spirit of those who settled the rugged terrain of Mt. Veeder during the 1800s and an homage to the Wappo Indians, "the brave ones," who were the original inhabitants of this extraordinary place. The Mt. Brave Vineyard, once the Chateau Potelle Vineyard, was established decades ago at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 1,800 feet. While Mt. Veeder is cool, Mt. Brave sits above the fog line, with morning sun warming the grapes each day. Soils are a sparse, gravelly loam. Nutrients and minerals are scant, resulting in tiny berries with concentrated and complex flavors. At harvest, small lug boxes must be carefully moved up and down the steep slopes to protect both vines and vineyard workers.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.