Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Can anyone give Argentina a run for the money with Malbec? When I think of this grape variety, my palate always heads south of the equator, but the 2014 Shannon Ridge Reserve Malbec may just have turned my head to look north—way north. TASTING NOTES: This wine is generous from start to finish. Its beautiful aromas and flavors of black fruit and savory oak make me want to run to the nearest grill and plop a thick Porterhouse right onto it. (Tasted: April 27, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Enthusiast
Heavily toasted oak aromas precede spicy, black fruit flavors in this full-bodied, tannic wine. It fires on all cylinders, from its intense smoky, charred aromas to its concentrated blackberry flavors to its mouth-coating, fine-grained tannins that grip the palate and help the finish linger.
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.
Sitting on the northeast side of the Clear Lake appellation, this warm area boasts multiple soil types that allow growers a lot of flexibility and experimentation with grape varieties. While Sauvignon blanc is a mainstay, this zone excels with Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, as well as other less common varieties like Barbera and Tempranillo.