Nose
On the nose, aromas of spice, currant and coffee bean lead into the complex palate.
Palate
Juicy fruit flavors of blueberry and raspberry accent earthy hints of forest floor and dried leaves on the finish. The smaller berry size produced in this vintage makes for a more intense and concentrated flavor profile.
Growing Conditions
The Alexander Valley is located north of the town of Healdsburg in Sonoma County. It is one of the warmer AVAs in the region making it the perfect spot for red Bordeaux grapes. The majority of the fruit in this 2015 Malbec came from Lyon Vineyards in Cloverdale. These blocks are gravelly, well-drained sites located nearby the Russian River. A small percentage of Malbec from Mission Vineyard was added to the final blend.
Harvest
2015 was a fantastic vintage in Alexander Valley. It began with an earlier than average bud break and warm temperatures in the spring and summer which accelerated maturity. This resulted in small berry sizes and high flavor concentration. Overall the 2015 fruit is exceptional in quality with mild acid, moderate to low alcohol and intense aromatics across all varieties.
Bottling
Bottling Date January 2017.
Winemaking
After harvest, we cold soaked the fruit prior to fermentation. Once complete, the wine was racked off the lees and put into a combination of French and Hungarian oak barrels for 12 months of aging. A careful assemblage was carried out to seamlessly marry the lots. The ratio of new and used oak treatment was intended to showcase the exceptional fruit quality from 2015.
Aging
12 months in Hungarian oak barrels (34% new) and two-year-old French oak.
Appearance
Beautiful purple and ruby hues fill the glass.
Food Pairing
Pair this Malbec with tomato-based pastas or stews.
