Mt. Brave - Malbec 2021 (750ml)

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Price: $130.99

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Producer	Mt. Brave
Country	United States
Region	California
Subregion	Mount Veeder
Varietal	Malbec
Vintage	2021
Sku	123729
Size	750ml
ABV	15.20%

Mt. Brave Description

RNDC

2021 MALBEC
HISTORY
Mt. Brave Vineyard sits high atop Mt. Veeder at an elevation of 1,400 to 1,800 feet. Mt. Veeder has been planted with winegrapes since the early 1860s by winemaking pioneers such as Charles Krug, Agoston Haraszthy, Frederick Hess and William S. Keyes. Wines from Mt. Veeder achieved recognition as early as the Paris Exposition of 1900. The parcel that became the Mt. Brave Vineyard, in the northern reaches of the Mt. Veeder American Viticultural Area, was originally purchased in 1841 before the Gold Rush and the Civil War.
VINEYARD AND ORGANIC FARMING
High-elevation winegrowing requires a painstaking, labor-intensive approach. Mt. Brave Vineyard’s thin, rocky soils and steep slopes make water retention a challenge and erosion a threat, but the vines benefit from the struggle and produce concentrated flavors. The high altitude keeps midday temperatures cooler than those in the valley below, while the position above the fog line gives grapes longer daily exposure to sunlight. This regularly extends the growing season into November, and the increased hang-time results in peak ripeness and full varietal complexity. Mt. Brave Vineyard was certified organic in 2023 after a five-year transition. Not only has the fruit reached a new level of excellence, the vines are more resilient without artificial treatments. We are now approaching regenerative accreditation. We are proud to farm with methods that contribute to a better global climate, healthier land, and more compelling wines.
WINEMAKING
We hand-harvested grapes during cool morning hours as the fog blanketed the valley below. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and then underwent native malolactic fermentation in barrels to round acidity and softly integrate the vanillin character of French oak (43% new). After barrel aging for 22 months, the wine was bottled without fining or filtration.
WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS
The 2021 vintage started with just a little rain in winter and spring, followed by a moderate summer and cooler fall. The absence of heat spikes and moisture as the clusters finished ripening meant we could pick exactly when we felt the fruit was at its peak. Grown on the slopes of Mount Veeder, this is Malbec operating at a high level. Minerality intelligently accents the mouth-filling juiciness of ripe blueberry and spiced rhubarb-cherry pie, while soft tannins create an elegant, generous frame.
ACCLAIM
97 Points – James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, November 2023
TECHNICAL NOTES
composition 100% Malbec
harvest dates September 10
fermentation Native yeast fermentation
maceration 20 days
barrel aging 22 months in French oak (43% new)
alc. by vol. 15.2%
wine ph 3.89
wine acidity 0.6g/100ml
vineyard Mt. Brave Vineyard