Mt. Brave Malbec 2012
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Panel
Tasting -
Parker
Robert
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 98% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Deep ruby color; spicy berry nose; smooth and dense with black raspberry, cassis and plum; lush and ripe, balanced and rich with vanilla and sweet oak; bright and long.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2012 Malbec can compete with some of the big boys from Argentina. Aromas of coffee beans, blackberries, chocolate and vanilla jump from the glass of this opaque purple-colored wine. With exceptional intensity, sweet tannin and a long, rich, layered finish, this blend of 98% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in two-thirds new French oak should drink well for 8-12 years.
Other Vintages
2019-
Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert
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Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James
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Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James
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Parker
Robert
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Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb
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Parker
Robert
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Enthusiast
Wine
Mt. Brave is a tribute to the pioneering spirit of those who settled the rugged terrain of Mt. Veeder during the 1800s and an homage to the Wappo Indians, "the brave ones," who were the original inhabitants of this extraordinary place. The Mt. Brave Vineyard, once the Chateau Potelle Vineyard, was established decades ago at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 1,800 feet. While Mt. Veeder is cool, Mt. Brave sits above the fog line, with morning sun warming the grapes each day. Soils are a sparse, gravelly loam. Nutrients and minerals are scant, resulting in tiny berries with concentrated and complex flavors. At harvest, small lug boxes must be carefully moved up and down the steep slopes to protect both vines and vineyard workers.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.