The thick skin of Malbec grapes yields wine with a beautiful, nearly opaque, deep purple-red color. The wine shows signature aromas and flavors of dark fruit, raspberry, mocha, and tobacco. Full-bodied with moderate tannins, it is enjoyable by the glass or with food.
The fruit for our 2017 Malbec was sourced from four prestigious appellations within the Napa Valley: Carneros, Stags Leap District, Rutherford, and Oakville. Carneros and Stags Leap District provide ideal conditions for producing juicy acidity.
The season began with rain that refilled reservoirs and replenished soils, a welcome relief after an extended drought. Harvest started early at a normal pace in many regions and then progressed rapidly during a heat wave in late August and early September. Cooling temperatures in mid-September slowed the harvest and allowed red grapes to ripen gradually.
The grapes were hand harvested at night, carefully sorted in the vineyard, then brought to the cellar and destemmed. After the grapes were given a cold soak, fermentation occurred at a high temperature to ensure maximum extraction was achieved before the wine was racked to 30 percent new French oak barrels. The wine was aged in barrel for a total of 18 months before bottling.
