2013 Malk Family Vineyards Pinot Noir

Malk Family Vineyards was started in 1997 when Brian and Nancy Malk bought hillside acreage in the Stags Leap District. They planted vineyards and their first commercial release was a 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon. Though he has lived in the U.S. since the 1970s, Brian Malk is from South Africa and his grandfather owned a vineyard near Capetown. The couple hired Robbie Meyer as winemaker. Meyer has worked with Peter Michael Winery, Lewis Cellars and has two of his own labels, L’Angevin and Peirson Meyer Wines. Malk’s flagship wine is its Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, though it also makes Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. The drawing of a Straffordshire Bull Terrier on every label is an homage to the Malks’ beloved bull terrier.

Sonoma County is not an AVA, but it is a commonly used informal designation for wines made outside of more specific AVAs within Sonoma, which is a large wine producing region just west of Napa Valley. Though Sonoma is often overshadowed by its glamorous neighbor Napa Valley, it has a long history of wine production. The area specialized in jug wine until the mid-20th century, when Sonoma producers took a cue from Napa and started improving quality. Unlike Napa, where Cabernet Sauvignon is king, Sonoma specialized in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, though excellent Cabs are produced too. There are at present 16 AVAs within Sonoma County, and, like much of the West Coast of the United States, new AVAs are created in Sonoma County with regularity. Some Sonoma appellations, such as the Russian River Valley, are renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.