Gilbert Cellars, Malbec 2019, Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, WA

Full, inky, sophisticated, and complex: the 2019 Malbec has it all. A nose of dark berries, dried herbs, and graphite is complemented by a tactile palate of Bing cherry and currant

COUNTRY: USA

STATE: WA

APPELLATION (AVA): Horse Heaven Hills

REGION: Columbia Valley

VINEYARDS: Chukar Vineyard

VINTAGE: 2019

GRAPES:  Malbec

SOIL: Volcanic

PRACTICE: Sustainable

VINIFICATION: Pre-fermentation maceration 72 hours of de-stemmed and lightly crushed grapes, selected yeast, raised 16 months in neutral French oak, malolactic

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Deep purple

BODY: Full (9-10)

TASTE: Dry

PRIMARY AROMAS: Brambly plum and mulberry, light minerality, dark plum, dried herbs

FLAVOR: Succulent and juicy, bing cherry, currant, subtle caramel fine tannins, lengthy finish

FORMAT: 750 ml

ALCOHOL: 14.7%

SERVICE AND SUGGESTION: Pair with grilled steak and richer sauces

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: 
Gilbert Cellars is a family-run winery in Yakima, Washington, focusing on handcrafted, small batches of authentic Washington wines, with a strong sense of community and hospitality. With a deep, five generations-old connection to the Yakima Valley farming land (and its own 8,200-foot Gilbert Peak!), the Gilbert family and their partners dedicate their energies and skills to create wines that celebrate the terroir and the communities in it. Gloria and Charlie Gilbert, Le Cordon Bleu alumni and world-class hospitality masters, partnered with Justin Neufeld, a Washington winemaking veteran with a deep knowledge of the terroir diversities in Columbia Valley, to bottle the best expressions of Yakima Valley vintage after vintage.

Justin Neufeld, Winemaker

Justin showcases the flavors of the vineyards through each step of the growing and production process. Our resident wine geek, Justin has a degree in molecular biology, but outdoor pursuits (backpacking, climbing)—and a serendipitous introduction to noted Washington winemaker Doug Gore—drove him out of the lab and into the vineyards. He finessed his skills at Chateau St. Michelle, Silver Lake, and Glen Fiona before joining Gilbert Cellars in 2007.

ABOUT THE VINEYARDS: 
A stone’s throw from the Columbia River, Nine Canyons Vineyard is tucked amid 250 acres of cherry and apple orchards, just south of the thriving city of Kennewick. Curtiss Gilbert planted its deeply terraced hillsides with grapes in 2009. Pinot Noir lines the vineyard’s north-facing slope, while Malbec, Chardonnay, and Carménère fill out its much warmer south-facing slope.