2013 Caldwell Vineyards Caldwell Vineyard Clone 595 Malbec

Caldwell Winery is in Napa. The 123-acre Caldwell Vineyard is a grape source for such vintners as Merus, Pahlmeyer, Joseph Phelps, Patz & Hall and other artisanal Napa producers. The estate grows numerous grapes, from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay to Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Carmenere, among others. The estate was founded and is still owned by John Caldwell, a Napa Valley legend for having planted grape clones from Bordeaux on his land in 1984. No one else was experimenting with French clones at the time, and though he was a shoe store owner and developer, completely lacking in formal agriculture or winemaking education, Caldwell’s imported clones thrived. He later went into the business of importing them. His vineyards still grow primarily French clones. Cadwell focused on growing high quality grapes until the late 1990s, when he started making wine under his own label.

Coombsville AVA is one of Napa Valley’s newer appellations, having received its official designation only in 2011. Tucked just to the northeast of Los Carneros and a few minutes’ drive east of downtown Napa, the Coombsville appellation is relatively large at a total of 11,000 acres. The elevation varies from 100 to 1,000 feet, and the climate is moderated by marine breezes from the San Pablo Bay. The main grape varieties here are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot Noir.

This grape produces a dark red wine with plenty of tannins. It is one of the six grapes allowed for blending red Bordeaux wines. Malbec is also the flagship variety of Argentina. The grape needs a lot of sun and heat to mature. It adds complexity and intensity to blends.