***RECENTLY BOTTLED WINE, SHIPPING BEGINS NEXT WEEK***
We select just a handful of Malbecs for our program every year, which means only our absolute favorites make the cut. Today’s release ranks among the finest domestic Malbecs we’ve ever come across (and that’s not a claim we make lightly). Unabashedly bold and expressive yet impressively refined, it channels the elegance of Reserva-tier offerings from Argentina’s greatest estates. But as you know, quality alone isn’t enough – we insist on value, too. And this one delivers in spades: over 80% OFF!
It hails from the Chalk Hill AVA – an often overlooked but quietly exceptional region. Like its more famous Alexander Valley neighbor to the north, Chalk Hill produces some of the finest Bordelaise varietals in Sonoma. Its inland location and hilly topography keep vineyards out of the fog, awash in warm sunshine throughout the growing season. Nestled within this terrain are some absolute gems – one of which we’re thrilled to share with you today.
Lot 544 is a 100% block-select, single-vineyard, no-expense-spared Malbec from a Sonoma producer that has garnered a cult following for crafting small batches of extremely high-caliber reds. With productions tiny and distribution nonexistent, this is definitely one of those “if you know, you know” releases that’s adored by collectors since it doesn’t hit the open market. When we got word that they were open to a deal for some of their gorgeous 2023 vintage, we jumped at the opportunity. Sold direct from the winery for $80/bottle, we’ve bypassed the velvet rope for you and made this stellar Malbec available with just a click for under $15/bottle!
Our price: $179/case DELIVERED, $14+/bottle TO YOUR DOOR!
The vineyard sits in the appellation’s thermal belt – a climatic zone in which cold air settles in the low-lying areas, keeping a band of warm air on top and resulting in unusually warm nights that ensure the grapes reach peak ripeness. The vines are rooted to Chalk Hill’s signature soil, which is not actually chalk, but a chalky volcanic ash – prized dirt known for its low fertility, excellent drainage, and most importantly, for producing fruit with a distinct minerality. Thanks to 2023’s consistent conditions, the grapes had a few extra weeks of hang time, allowing this thick-skinned varietal to achieve a rare level of phenolic maturity. To match its innate power, the wine was aged 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels of the finest cooperage – an elite treatment that underscores the wine’s pedigree and depth.
Reminiscent of Argentina’s finest Reserva-tier Malbecs, the nose opens with a plush medley of blackberry, sugar plum, and a flicker of red chili flake underpinned by mocha. The palate boasts exceptional structure and a deft balance of barrel-driven sweet tobacco and chocolate, which coalesce with concentrated dark fruit. Barrel spice and medium acidity lends lift and precision. The deeply satisfying finish is long and robust, with layers of barrel-influenced baking spices and vanilla unfurling to reveal dark cherries and blackberry underneath (an enticing preview of what’s to come with some bottle age) before returning to an umami vanilla blossom.
