Malbec (2016)
The 2016 Napa Valley Malbec is a bold and commanding expression of the varietal, offering deep concentration and layered complexity. Its dark, inky color hints at the intensity within, while the aroma unfolds with ripe black currants, sage, and a touch of salted caramel. Notes of dark chocolate add richness, and the presence of the season’s first and last blackberries provides a unique contrast between freshness and deep maturity. On the palate, the wine is thick and structured, with dusty tannins and a weighty presence that lingers long after each sip.
This Malbec captures the seriousness of the vintage with its weight and intensity, offering a robust and contemplative experience perfect for an evening of slow appreciation.
Notes: sage, salted caramel, dark chocolate
Pairings: blackberry glazed duck, cured meats, dark chocolate molé, charcoal grilled portobello mushrooms
The 2016 Napa Valley Malbec is a bold and commanding expression of the varietal, offering deep concentration and layered complexity. Its dark, inky color hints at the intensity within, while the aroma unfolds with ripe black currants, sage, and a touch of salted caramel. Notes of dark chocolate add richness, and the presence of the season’s first and last blackberries provides a unique contrast between freshness and deep maturity. On the palate, the wine is thick and structured, with dusty tannins and a weighty presence that lingers long after each sip.
This Malbec captures the seriousness of the vintage with its weight and intensity, offering a robust and contemplative experience perfect for an evening of slow appreciation.
Notes: sage, salted caramel, dark chocolate
Pairings: blackberry glazed duck, cured meats, dark chocolate molé, charcoal grilled portobello mushrooms
The 2016 Napa Valley Malbec is a bold and commanding expression of the varietal, offering deep concentration and layered complexity. Its dark, inky color hints at the intensity within, while the aroma unfolds with ripe black currants, sage, and a touch of salted caramel. Notes of dark chocolate add richness, and the presence of the season’s first and last blackberries provides a unique contrast between freshness and deep maturity. On the palate, the wine is thick and structured, with dusty tannins and a weighty presence that lingers long after each sip.
This Malbec captures the seriousness of the vintage with its weight and intensity, offering a robust and contemplative experience perfect for an evening of slow appreciation.
Notes: sage, salted caramel, dark chocolate
Pairings: blackberry glazed duck, cured meats, dark chocolate molé, charcoal grilled portobello mushrooms
Region: Napa Valley
Napa Valley is one of the world's premier wine-growing regions, renowned for its diverse microclimates, well-drained soils, and ideal growing conditions. Spanning just 30 miles in length, the valley features a range of elevations, from the fog-cooled Carneros region in the south to the rugged, high-altitude vineyards of Howell Mountain and Atlas Peak. The Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and cool evenings, allows for slow, even ripening, preserving acidity while developing rich, concentrated flavors. Volcanic, alluvial, and loamy soils impart distinct characteristics—volcanic soils often lend structure and minerality, while gravelly or sandy soils enhance drainage, resulting in smaller, more intensely flavored berries. This combination of climate and terroir produces wines with depth, complexity, and balance, whether it’s the bold tannins of a mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon or the bright red fruit and floral notes of a valley-floor Grenache.
2016 Growing Season Insights
The 2016 vintage in Napa Valley benefited from near-ideal conditions that contributed to the wine’s depth and balance. Early-season rainfall replenished the soils after years of drought, setting the vines up for strong, even growth. A warm but steady summer allowed the fruit to ripen at a gradual pace, developing rich flavors while maintaining acidity. The lack of extreme heat waves resulted in refined tannins and a well-structured profile, making this vintage particularly expressive and long-lived.