Kettle Valley

Naramata Bench Malbec

8.97 ratings
-no pro ratings
Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
Malbec
Tomato-Based, Beef, Potato, Venison, White Rice, Pork, Chili & Hot Spicy, Pungent Cheese, Salami & Prosciutto, Mushrooms, Pasta, Hard Cheese, Lamb, Onion, Shallot, Garlic
Top Notes For
Steven Beishuizen

To be honest, the Malbec seems to be the least consistent of Kettle Valley's expressions. I find the variation wild between vintages of this stuff. The 2011 eight years after vintage has some graphite going on with perhaps some under-ripeness of fruit making an appearance, but the brambly blackberry fruit quickly gives way to a wave of blueberry here that works ok with the heavy dose of wood. It's weird to say, but would you say this is missing a tar note?

To be honest, the Malbec seems to be the least consistent of Kettle Valley's expressions. I find the variation wild between vintages of this stuff. The 2011 eight years after vintage has some graphite going on with perhaps some under-ripeness of fruit making an appearance, but the brambly blackberry fruit quickly gives way to a wave of blueberry here that works ok with the heavy dose of wood. It's weird to say, but would you say this is missing a tar note?

Oct 16th, 2019
Drew Tostenson

Appearance: Clear, M+/ Deep plum core to a pink rim. Light legs
Nose: Clean, M, Blackberry, split cedar, liquorice, stewed plum
Palette: M, M/-, BlackBerry, blueberry, currant, cassis, under-ripened strawberry, rosemary

Time has mellowed our this deep, powerful Malbec. The malolactic fermentation compliments the French oak maturation to give it a pleasantly black fruit forward, juicy character. Not overwhelming and not dependent on food neither.

Appearance: Clear, M+/ Deep plum core to a pink rim. Light legs
Nose: Clean, M, Blackberry, split cedar, liquorice, stewed plum
Palette: M, M/-, BlackBerry, blueberry, currant, cassis, under-ripened strawberry, rosemary

Time has mellowed our this deep, powerful Malbec. The malolactic fermentation compliments the French oak maturation to give it a pleasantly black fruit forward, juicy character. Not overwhelming and not dependent on food neither.

Feb 6th, 2018
Steven Beishuizen

Lingering and focused blackberry and wood. A very nice accompaniment to our pepper steak tonight. A good backbone here several years after the vintage.

Lingering and focused blackberry and wood. A very nice accompaniment to our pepper steak tonight. A good backbone here several years after the vintage.

Apr 11th, 2016
Karen Doolan

Karen had this 7 years ago

Karen had this 7 years ago

Dec 11th, 2016
Gary Rice

Gary had this 8 years ago

Gary had this 8 years ago

May 5th, 2016
Jim Larson

Jim had this 10 years ago

Jim had this 10 years ago

Oct 16th, 2013
Jackie Setoguchi

Jackie had this 11 years ago

Jackie had this 11 years ago

Jul 1st, 2013