Mt. Brave Malbec 2019
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Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
This is Mt. Brave Malbec at its finest. The nose is gorgeous with notes of pepper, blueberry and cassis while the mouthfeel is silky with bright acidity and soft tannins that frame a beautiful finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Loads of ink and tar on the nose with incense and spices. Inky. Full-bodied and firm with velvety tannins that spread across the palate, thanks to the Napa mountain vineyards. Unique malbec. Big wine, but agile.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Malbec sports a dense purple, almost blue color and a great nose of ripe cassis and blueberry fruits as well as violets, peppery herbs, and graphite. I love its balance, and it has terrific purity, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Give it a few years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Malbec Mt. Veeder features almost candied blackberries and black cherries on the nose, yet there's also a loam-like earthiness to steer the wine toward savory. Medium to full-bodied, with a silky texture, this bottling isn't that long or complex, but it offers something a bit different and fun.
Other Vintages
2018-
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James
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Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
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Parker
Robert
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Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb
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Parker
Robert
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Panel
Tasting -
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.