Last year was my first time judging at the WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada. I was first involved as a volunteer about ten years ago when WineAlign had just taken over the competition from Wine Access (RIP). It's more fun being on the other side of the table as a judge, though I miss walking away with cases upon cases of wine.
One of the highlights is discovering new wineries. This Malbec was the highlight of the flight for me, and I was eager to look at my notes at the end of the competition to find out the producer.
It was Fox & Archer. It turns out they're more of a Pinot Noir specialist – and their Pinots are definitely worth seeking out. But we included the Malbec in this shipment because, well, I just really love it.
There’s something special and underrated about Okanagan Malbec – or, in this case, Naramata Malbec in particular. The wines are distinctive and unique, with a combination of bright, juicy fruit and stunning floral aromatics. This is easily one of the top expressions.
And Diane Fox and Tyson Archer (get the winery name now?) do it all from their garage.
-GM
Tasting Note
An opulent, lifted nose that exudes pure Malbec character with dark berries and violets. Medium-full bodied, this is densely concentrated with supple, silky tannins. Seamlessly balanced and structured
Food Pairing
Charcoal grilled burgers with bacon jam