SHOP / 2020 Red Willow Malbec
Varietal
Malbec
Appellation
Yakima Valley AVA
Aging
Drink now or age 5-12 years
Vineyard
Red Willow
2020 Red Willow Malbec
Yakima Valley AVA
The 2020 Red Willow Malbec comes from a single block that was planted in 2000. This wine really does show nicely in its youth, with aromas of black cherry, tar, new leather and dark chocolate. The palate is more opulent than previous vintages and shows hints of black plum, raspberry leaf and pine needle. The tannins are polished and on the softer side, showing its typicity. 50% new French oak offers a medley of warm baking spices and enhances the fruit beautifully.
94+ Points
— Robert Parker
94+ Points
Bold, generous and fresh, the 2020 Red Willow Vineyard Malbec is broad-shouldered with a juicy and fruity frame that emanates with a firm plummy essence and damson flowers that sway with notes of Christmas spice and nutmeg. Full-bodied, the wine is tight before giving way to fine-grained tannins that will take another year to fill out. It ends with a food-friendly and tannic finish. This spent 20 months in all French oak, 50% new. Enjoy with food.
May 2023
Additional Scores:
94
Wine Enthusiast
94
James Suckling
93
Owen Bargreen
Behind the Wine
2020 Red Willow Malbec
Our single-vineyard Malbec is crafted with fruit from one of our original and oldest partners, Red Willow Vineyard. Malbec, one of the five original Bordeaux-style blending varietals, famously thrives in many climates, showcasing characteristics unique to the place it is planted. The Malbec grapes grown on the Red Willow hillsides offer notes of leafy black fruits, blueberries and plum unique to the site, paired with plush, ripe tannins characteristic of Washington Malbec.
Vineyards
Red Willow, one of Washington’s most renowned vineyards, was founded in 1971.
Winemaking
Cold-soaked 24-36 hours, fermented for 14-16 days on skin, with partial native yeast, and aged 20 months in 100% French oak (40% new).