Review: 2019 Cuda Ridge Malbec

I had the opportunity to visit Cuda Ridge (in Livermore, California) on a recent pre-flooding trip out west while some travelling companions had a book an appointment at Dante Robere prior to my joining the trip. Not wanting to waste a day in the hotel room, I found myself left to my own devices and scheduled a visit here. Well worth the effort. I picked up a few bottles, which will be certainly reviewed at a later date (including some non-Malbec efforts). But for now, we steady on with the vineyard's 2019 offering.

Nose: Heavy with dark fruit (surprise, surprise), but more blueberry pie filling than blackberry or cherry. With time there's some blackberry, the sweetness of the blueberry becomes less intense as it sits. Not offensive, but for a wine aged 19 months in oak, I was expecting some savory influence. 

Palate: Comes in the blackberry leading and sweeter fruit (blueberry, plum) coming from behind. Very well structured, with medium acidity and tannins which never cut through too hard. The oak from the barrel aging becomes much more pronounced with additional sips. 

Finish: Medium-to-Long in length. The oak dominates at first, but notes of milk chocolate and blackberry push their way through to deliver a sense of balance.

I'm glad I had the chance to make the best of a rather odd situation with this wine. It's a bit steep at $38, and I'm not entirely sure it would rank amongst my favorite US Malbecs, but it's still a decent bottle to splurge on while enjoying a mini-vacation. 

$38

Cuda Ridge