2021 Winemaker Series Malbec

ABOUT WINEMAKER SERIES MALBEC

This Malbec is dark and dense in color with aromas of blackberry, plums, candied cherries, creme brulée, pie crust, and blackberry compote. This full-bodied Malbec has a rich texture with concentrated flavors of blackberry and boysenberry on the lasting finish.

VINEYARDS & WINEMAKING

Malbec is one of the five main Bordeaux varietals, along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  Dark ink in color with a juicy core of plum fruit and ample tannins, Malbec is usually used in small amounts when blended with Cabernet Sauvignon.  In 2021, Winemaker Marcus Notaro selected 89% Malbec from our Twin Creeks Vineyard in Wooden Valley and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon from Battuello Vineyard in St. Helena and Surber Vineyard in Calistoga to craft this wine.  

The wine was fermented for seven days on the skins including two days of continuous pump-over, where fermenting juice is pumped over the skins non-stop to extract flavor and color. After fermentation, the wine was aged for 21 months in 67% new French oak. 

VINTAGE

The 2021 growing season will be remembered for being the second consecutive year of very dry conditions during winter and spring and for challenging weather during bloom and heat, cold, wind, and rain during flowering. This resulted in a reduction in yield and more variability on the clusters themselves. We had classic Napa Valley weather during the heart of the growing season with moderate temperatures and cool sea breezes in the afternoon and evening all summer. Early September saw a mini heat wave that pushed ripeness along, then a return to beautiful weather for the remainder of harvest. Berries were a little smaller than usual with loose clusters. Overall, this may be the best vintage for quality yet!