2022 Malbec

2022 Malbec

Year:                   2022

Varietals:             100% Malbec

Appellation:          Walla Walla Valley

Vineyard:             Les Collines Vineyard

Winemaker:         Dave Stephenson

Alcohol:               14.5%

Date bottled:        September 2024

Price:                  $51

Production:         118 cases

The inky purple of this Malbec gives you the first clue of the rich flavors to come. Immediately you are hit with fresh pipe tobacco smoke, fresh-tilled dark earth, roasted hazelnuts, brown butter, and baking spices. There’s a hint of rose water in there too that shows a bit more as the wine opens up. That tobacco smoke morphs into campfire smoke, but like at the end of the evening when the whole campsite is dousing their fires to head into the tent for the night.

Supple red fruits like plum, currant, and dried cherries lighten up the darker flavors a bit. There’s even a touch of super-ripe, fresh, juicy peach sneaking in there. The contrast of the dark notes in with the bright, fresh flavors, has created a complex wine which I cannot wait to see how it ages. But for now, I’d strongly suggest pairing it with a big ole bowl of dirty rice, topped with a jerk-spiced duck breast. Or maybe hoisin-coated sticky ribs with the best potato salad you’ve ever had. Or take it to that campfire with some expensive chocolate, burn the marshmallows, and smores it up!