Black pepper aromas entwined with dark berry fruit provide a prelude to a palate dusted with black forest cake and pomegranate.
Vineyard Notes
At 2,000-2,200 feet above sea level, the Volcano Ridge Vineyard is located on the steep slopes of an extinct cinder cone volcano better known as Round Mountain Volcano. The pure volcanic soils, or “tephra”, are extremely well-drained and are ideal for vine stress and restricting crop yields, resulting in concentrated and complex wines with opulent fruit flavors.
Production Notes
At Brassfield Estate, our winemaking emphasizes quality and the use of traditional handcrafted techniques, which create wines that have both power and finesse. Our Volcano Ridge Malbec was processed gently to create a whole-berry fermentation. After a 3-5 day cold soak, the grapes underwent native yeast fermentation, creating more complex aromatics, richer flavors, and enhanced mouthfeel perception. After fermentation, we had an extended maceration on the must that gently extracted more color and flavor for the wine. The wine was then sent to 65% new French oak and 35% neutral French oak to undergo a naturally occurring malolactic fermentation in barrel. The wine was stirred monthly on its lees to achieve body and texture. After 18 months in barrel, our 2014 Malbec was lightly fined and bottled without filtration.
Winemaker Notes
100% Malbec
Food Pairing Notes
This wine’s sturdy backbone will hold up well over the years and provide pairing opportunities with grilled meats, sausages, and soft cheeses.