Farrow Ranch Malbec

Stellar. Thought this was way more approachable than the 2015. Both are stellar, this one just showed nicely quicker

First time trying these Malbecs from Jesse Katz and Devil Proof. Thanks Lauren for cracking these for us! Dark purplish red with some garnet too. Loads of spices on the nose intermixed with red berries and some blue fruit. Medium plus tannins (7.5/10) and full body. Rich and a touch dry on the palate with layers of black currants, dirt, herbs, black dried fruits, bark and almost a touch of cola. A bit spicy too leading into the long finish. Drink till 2036. (93+)

Wow. This is the second best Malbec, just bet out by its new younger sibling - the Rockpile Ridge. This is made up of 100% Malbec from a single block (Block #17) on the Farrow Ranch vineyard which was planted back in 2002 with Clone 4 and Clone 595 Malbec. It is aged in 100% new French oak barrels similar to the Rockpile Ridge.

First stop (Aperture Cellars and Devil Proof Vineyards) on our very first trip to Sonoma, and we were not dissappointed. The wines made by Jesse Katz have a ton of finesse, power and character, but the wines under his Devil Proof Label are at another level. Definitely a Malbec that needs to be on any wine collector's radar. The photo for the label was taken by Andy Katz, Jesse's father, back when he was commissed by the Cuban Government to take photos of their way of life. We love the saying for the label "Live well, drink well, and the devil can't get you". We do not know about you but we will follow her lead and hopefully become a little bit Devil Proof.

I am a big fan of Malbecs. I describe them as being a “fuller” Merlot (bear with me and my non-technical descriptions). I find Malbecs to be brooding, seductive, and complex. I like that I can enjoy a glass with or without food. Kudos to Jesse Katz on producing such a gem. I am also giving myself credit for exercising patience and letting this one get a little bottle age before opening.

First off, the label on this bottle is everything! You can’t help but smile with the lady while you are enjoying this wine.

Details: 100% Malbec. Single vineyard. This wine comes from the Alexander Valley hillsides in Northern Sonoma County. The wine is described as being both elegant and powerful. 14.6% ABV (but doesn’t come across that high). Only 325 cases were made.

It is worth repeating that my best wine experiences always involve sharing wine with friends and last night proved no different. Halloween costume shenanigans and Devil Proof’s Farrow Ranch helped make for a memorable night. It should go without saying that this wine wine should be paired with friends, laughter, and costumes. @55Seventy

So this is what Malbec tastes like. Get your shit together, Argentina, et al. She’s super inky, ultra extracted, velvety weight on the tongue. Blackest blackberry, mulberry, boysenberry. A desk drawer of fresh pencil shavings and a little hardwood dust. Boozy perfumes of dark petaled flowers. It glides along on wheels of the lightest hickory smoke and bacon fat. Pepper, pepper, pepper, and perhaps, a faint but determined whiff of curry. Holy shit, this stuff is otherworldly. Get yours before word really gets out.

Kristen had this 5 years ago