Review: 2020 DeLille Cellars Red Willow Malbec
A 100% Malbec from Washington’s Yakima Valley, one of the numerous vineyards owned by DeLille.
Similar to other Malbecs from the region, this tends to favor the traditional French profile at first, leading with classic notes of raspberry and cherry on the nose, oscillating back and forth until earthy aromas of leather and mushroom make an appearance after a few minutes in the glass. However, on the palate, things quickly shift to a profile consistent with what you may discover sipping on a glass of Malbec from Argentina’s Uco Valley, with notes of roasted plum and pine needles working their way around a delightful core of blackberry and pepper leading to the lengthy finish framed by mild acidity and tannins.
Finding an exemplary Malbec stateside can be a cumbersome slog, with quality varying from year to year. This bottle certainly delivers the goods and will most likely continue to do so if kept hidden from plain view over the next few years.
A- / $65 / delillecellars.com
2020 DeLille Cellars Red Willow Malbec
$65
