2020 À Bloc Malbec
100% Malbec from Champoux Vineyard. À Bloc is a cycling term that means "to go all out, even beyond the point of recovery" (do not forget the diacritical mark above the À, it sounds like "ahhh"). It is also a metaphor for the winemaking at Isenhower Cellars.
The À Bloc is deeply purple with a red rim. Aromas leap from the glass and include dark cherry, plum, peppercorn, vanilla, and leather. The mouthfeel is filling and rich. Flavors include blueberry, dark cherry, black pepper, roasted meat, and a hint of tobacco. The finish is long and terrific. Enjoy with leaner cuts of beef, lamb shanks with mint, or stuffed peppers.
The À Bloc is comprised of 100% Malbec from Champoux Vineyard, recognized as one of Washington's best vineyards and a source of 100-point wines. All the grapes were hand-harvested on October 5th, 100% destemmed, and 8% saignèe to concentrate the juice. The grapes were fermented in open-top bins with Tango yeasts and organic yeast nutrients. The cap was punched down twice a day for nine days until pressing. The malbec was aged in 100% French Oak 300-liter barrels (20% new) for 20 months before bottling unfined and unfiltered.
INGREDIENTS: Malbec grapes, yeast, organic yeast nutrients, tartaric acid, and 35mg/L of Free SO2 at bottling.
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Varietal | Malbec |
| Varietal Composition | 100% Malbec |
| Appellation | Horse Heaven Hills |
| Vineyard | Champoux Vineyard |
| Acid | 6.2 g/L |
| PH | 3.51 |
| Residual Sugar | < 0/1 g/liter |
| Alcohol | 14.20% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Bottling Date | 07/26/2022 |
| Cases Produced | 317 |
100% Champoux Vineyard Malbec
