Nose
The 2014 Ladera Malbec opens with aromas of rich blackberry compote, cocoa powder, gently followed by clove and sweet oak spice.
Palate
The palate is true to the aromas, also offering fresh black fruits, the silky tannins bring it all together with a plump yet lively texture. This wine is powerful yet elegant, suitable for aging or perfect for today.
Growing Conditions
The 2014 Ladera Malbec fruit is sourced exclusively from our Howell Mountain vineyard. Rooted in decomposed volcanic ash and red clay soils, the vines produce intensely flavored berries with great balance and inherit structure. The bountiful 2014 vintage was one of great success. An early spring and endless summer provided idyllic growing conditions, producing ripe, flavorful fruit, delivering the full expression of its mountain origins.
Carefully selected barrels make up this 100% Malbec comprised from the most promising lots of the vintage. The grapes were harvested at night to preserve the fresh fruit characters, then hand sorted and gently de-stemmed to small open-top fermenters. After a five day cold-soak, gentle maceration techniques were employed throughout the fermentation to insure proper extraction was reached.
Aging
The wine was then drained without pressing and aged in 77% new French oak barrels for 17 months.
