The Malbec is grown on the Matchbook Vineyard in the Dunnigan Hills where the warm weather and gravel soils promote juicy red and black berry flavors, cherry notes and touch of earthiness. Barrel aging adds aromas of toasted oak, apple pie and vanilla and flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg. This medium bodied red is layered with delightful flavors that pair nicely with appetizers of fig and goat cheese or lavender honey on Gorgonzola. A fun wine with pizza and pasta, too.
Blend: 775% Malbec, 14% Syrah, 11% Petit Verdot
Production: 3,700 cases
2010 was our best vintage ever out here in the Dunnigan Hills AVA. Cooler than normal temperatures and very little wind allowed us to ripen our grapes slowly, promoting maximum flavor and intensity.
The malbec grown at our Matchbook Vineyard was harvested September 13 and October 1. 10% of the juice was bled off after crushing to concentrate flavors before fermenting with Montrachet and ES488 yeast. We pressed off the skins at dryness and barrel aged the wine for 16 months in French and American oak barrels. We added petite verdot and Dunnigan Hills syrah to increase richness and depth.
