2013 is the inaugural vintage for the PATEL Napa Valley Malbec.  Sourced from a vineyard that borders South East Yountville and North East Oak Knoll AVA, this wine is evocative of Malbec produced in the Cahors region of Southwest France.  Inky, blue-black in the glass with bluebell floral aromas, this wine delights the palate with layered flavors of deep black cherry and coffee bean.  Lush, polished tannins round out the long finish.

Opaque purple in the glass, this wine smells of smoky blueberry and black cherry.  In the mouth, blueberry and black cherry flavors have a lovely juicy brightness to them even as muscuar tannins start to grip the palate...
~ Score: around 9 - Alder Yarrow, Vinography.com

VINTAGE:   The 2013 vintage in Napa Valley was one of the earliest in recent history with above average yields.  A warm dry spring brought early bud break.  With the exception of one heat spike, temperatures were optimal, resulting in notably healthy vines through veraison and ripening. Following mid-September rains, sunny, breezy weather dried out the vines.  Cooler, sunny weather throughout October extended the hang time, allowing sugar levels to remain steady while flavors continued to mature.

VINIFICATION:  Arriving in small picking lugs from the vineyards, the clusters were hand sorted, de-stemmed and hand sorted again, berry by berry. A two day cold soak was followed by primary fermentation in small, open-top stainless steel tanks.  The fruit was gently pressed after an extended maceration and the wine was moved to barrel for secondary fermentation. The wine was aged for 19 months in rare 100% New French Artisan Oak barrels with minimal racking.  Multiple blending trials determined the final blend, which was bottled unfined and unfiltered.