2013 Lagier Meredith Malbec - USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder (9/29/2016)
First impression was of the most deeply purple wine I had seen in a long time - it was such a deep purple it was almost black. That "colored" my initial impression, and I was looking for overripe, dense fruit. After about two sips I realized that I was not going to find that, and the color was a bit of a red herring. The fruit was indeed ripe, but not in a raisined or macerated sense, just at the peak of ripeness, where fruit straight off the vine is ready to go right then and there. Blackberry and blueberry notes were prevalent, along with a meaty, iron-rich core that spoke of real varietal typicity. A little air brought more nuance, with some fresher, brighter elements poking in, and a very pleasing rosemary/pine note added complexity. The balance was very good, and despite the initial impression of an overripe wine there was not intrusion by alcohol, and no thick or heavy palate impression. It was quite a surprising wine, in a very good way.