Winemaker Notes
Rich notes of toasted oak and vanilla kiss your nose as you're treated to delightful hints of tart cherries and spiced cola. A luxury best enjoyed in sweet company.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Over the last two decades, Malbec has advanced to the big stage. Once mostly found in France (mainly in Cahors and a bit in Bordeaux), this grape is now a worldwide phenomenon. The 2017 Fableist Owl and the Birds stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all others in quality. TASTING NOTES: This wine abounds with delicious fruit and is bright in the aftertaste. Its aromas and flavors of deep black fruit and cassis should pair it famously with a well-marbled steak. (Tasted: June 12, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
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.
The largest and perhaps most varied of California’s wine-growing regions, the Central Coast produces a good majority of the state's wine. This vast California wine district stretches from San Francisco all the way to Santa Barbara along the coast, and reaches inland nearly all the way to the Central Valley.
Encompassing an extremely diverse array of climates, soil types and wine styles, it contains many smaller sub-AVAs, including San Francisco Bay, Monterey, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles, Edna Valley, Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley.
While the Central Coast California wine region could probably support almost any major grape varietiy, it is famous for a few Central Coast reds and whites. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are among the major ones. The Central Coast is home to many of the state's small, artisanal wineries crafting unique, high-quality wines, as well as larger producers also making exceptional wines.