2015 Devil Proof Vineyards Malbec Farrow Ranch
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.
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 for 24 months 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.
2018 till 2036.
Price Point:
$$$ - Tasted at the tasting studio in downtown Healdsburg. Release price is $125.00.