Exploring Washington State’s emerging Malbec and Tempranillo varieties, Wine Spectator recently tasted through a selection of new submissions. In a Sept. 6 online story, Waterbrook’s 2010 Reserve Malbec was cited as a noteworthy wine and bestowed it a 91-point score.
Wine Spectator Editor Harvey Steiman wrote of the wine: “Soft and inviting, brimming with plum and currant fruit, with a major hit of black pepper, this comes together deftly as the finish lingers beautifully on the open texture. “
This is a subscriber-only story, called “11 Red Discoveries from Washington: New reviews of Malbec and Tempranillo from the Evergreen State.” http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/48881 Look for the review in November in print.
The vineyard source for the Waterbrook 2010 Reserve Malbec is owned by parent company Precept Wine’s 500-acre Canyon Vineyard Ranch, located in the Snipes Canyon area of the Yakima Valley AVA. This vineyard was once the site of prolific apple and cherry orchards; soil is sandy loam laced with basaltic fragments and volcanic ash. Another 15 acres of Malbec grapes were planted this year on the vineyard’s east blocks. Washington Malbec continues to gain production momentum, and Waterbrook Winery launched a core tier Malbec in 2012 in addition to its Reserve Malbec, launched in 2011. Last year, Wine Spectator bestowed the debuting 2009 Reserve Malbec with a 90-point score.
Congratulations to winemaker John Freeman on creating another award-winning Malbec! Cheers! -h