Another new-to-us domestic offering, this time from Paso Robles' Midnight Cellars. I'm not sure what my other two colleagues are up to this week, as the slack chat has been rather quiet. So it may be a grab bag week with no particular theme of which to speak.
Nose: A bit closed off at first, but there's a rather large blast of blueberry which opens up after a few minutes. Earthy notes of tobacco leaf, rosemary and dried oregano emerge on later passes. This needs about 20-30 minutes to present itself properly, so plan accordingly.
Palate: Comes in with blueberry and a touch of blackberry. The sweetness is joined by notes of white pepper and rosemary. Eventually, balance is achieved between the sweet and savory. Medium-level acidity, grippy tannins and body.
Finish: Medium. The spice and fruit keep one another company for a while, with the fruit outlasting the pepper and rosemary. Just a faint bit of oak too towards the finish.
A decent, serviceable bottle with few flaws to speak of, but nothing to mark the occasion as memorable. I'm still concerned with the price point of malbec in the United States, as I am not fully convinced this is worth the cost per glass.
$52