2018 Bismark Malbec 750ml
Vineyard: Our Bismark Mountain Ranch is in the Moon Mountain District Sonoma County appellation, high above the city of Sonoma and San Pablo Bay. Here on the southwestern flanks of the Mayacamas Mountains we grow eight acres of Malbec on terraces that follow the contours of the northwestern side of the ranch. We began planting in 1991 and continue to fine tune our mix of cultivars to this day. This is steep ground; shared with Creosote bush, Grey pine, coyote and mountain lion. Topographically it is similar to the Douro. Windy, sun drenched yet moderate in temperature, Bismark grudgingly produces grapes with an intense, deeply concentrated flavor. Bismark’s unique terroir is both fierce and alluring.
Vintage 2018: Adequate rainfall, no frost pressure and mild spring temperatures was a great start to the vintage. This continued with a temperate summer and early fall. October 1st rain provided some drama, but it dried quickly enough to be a blessing for everything but Chardonnay. Warm sunny days followed the rain, continuing the long even ripening, with harvest days continuing into November. The grapes for the Bismark Mountain Malbec were harvested from September 27 to November 6, 2018.
Winemaking: Our 2018 Bismark Malbec was sorted, destemmed and crushed to tank. The wine was pressed sweet, finished fermentation in tank, before a mid-Autumn barreling. Ageing was sur lie in a combination of 40% new Hungarian, and 40% new French Oak barrels.
Tasting Notes: Our 2018 Bismark Malbec is a saturated, light bending purple that bursts with aromas of blackberry galette, licorice, and lavender laced blueberry jam. Youthfully lithic by mouth, it melts into flavors of bittersweet chocolate, aurea sage, Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee and pomegranate syrup. (Tasted 7/28/21).
Variety
86% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyard Location
Bismark Mountain blocks 26 Malbec, Cab blocks 3 & 6. Moon Mountain District Sonoma County
Age of Vines
13-26 years
Alcohol
14.4%
pH
3.83
Titratable Acidity (TA)
0.50 g/100 mL
Residual Sugar
0.2%
Avg. Brix at Harvest 26.9o
Length/Type of Aging
25 months in barrel.
Oak Types
80% New French and Hungarian oak coopered by Trust and Boutes
Bottling Date
February 23. 2021
Number of Cases
120
Vegan