Hope & Grace Wines

Hundreds of winemakers use Malbec as a blending grape to round out Cabernet Sauvignon, and it features frequently in Bordeaux blends such Opus One and Cain Five. Only in Argentina, in Mendoza in particular, has the grape on its own taken a stronghold. There, vineyards are planted at high altitudes in the Andes Foothills, mitigating the extreme UV factor and producing superbly ripened and balanced fruit.

Now veteran winemaker Charles Hendricks, whose clients include Viader, Barnett, Regusci, Paoletti and Bacio Divino, has released 160 cases of a Malbec priced at $60, under the label he created in honor of his daughters, Hope and Grace. He joins less than a dozen California wineries, most notably Arrowood, Edgewood, Geyser Peak, Guenoc, Rancho Sisquoc, Reverie, and Yorkville Cellars, who produce a commercial Malbec.

Deeply saturated purple as one would expect, and fairly viscous, the wine has immediately inviting aromas of plum, cherry, tobacco, and black licorice. Like the better Argentine versions (heavy oak use aside), the texture is round and supple and the fruit is ripe but not sweet. Underlying tart acids give the wine a gentle bite, which is very appealing when enjoying it at the table.

Reviewed August 31, 2007 by Catherine Fallis.