2017 Devil Proof Malbec Rockpile Ridge
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Malbec Rockpile Ridge Vineyard is more extracted than the Farrow Ranch this vintage, opaque ruby-purple and scented of cassis and blueberry jam with accents of mint chocolate, pepper and lilac. Medium to full-bodied, the lush palate is a touch less concentrated and intense than its 2016 counterpart, grainy and fresh with a very long, floral finish. There will be much less of the Rockpile Ridge available this year due to the Labor Day heatwave. It's a beautiful wine that's approachable now.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
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Similarly dense purple-hued, the 2017 Malbec Rockpile Ridge offers more base notes of blackcurrants, chocolate, roasted herbs, graphite, and crushed stone-like minerality. It's a bigger, richer wine than the Farrow Ranch and has a stacked mid-palate, an expansive, layered texture, loads of structure, and a great finish. Brought up in 80% new French oak, it needs 3-5 years of bottle age but will be very long-lived. I continue to believe winemaker Jesse Katz produces some of the best Malbec coming out of the United States. The 2017 vintage was challenging for the entire north coast, but these are brilliant wines.