Isenhower Cellars “À Bloc” Malbec
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Isenhower À Bloc is sourced from their established and experienced grower in Horse Heaven Hills, Champoux Vineyard.
- Champoux Vineyard is recognized as one of Washington’s best vineyards and a source of 100-point wines!
Variety: 100% Malbec
Elaboration: Hand harvested. 100% destemmed, and 8% saignèe to concentrate the juice. The grapes fermented in open-top bins with Tango yeast and organic yeast nutrients. The cap was punched down twice a day for nine days until pressing. The Malbec was aged in 100% French Oak 300-liter barrels (20% new) for 20 months before bottling unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Notes: The À Bloc is deeply purple with a red rim. Aromas leap from the glass and include dark cherry, plum, peppercorn, vanilla, and leather. The mouthfeel is filling and rich. Flavors include blueberry, dark cherry, black pepper, roasted meat, and a hint of tobacco. The finish is long and terrific. Enjoy with leaner cuts of beef, lamb shanks with mint, or stuffed peppers.
PRESS
2019 – 92 Wine Advocate | 91 James Suckling
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Isenhower Cellars was founded in 1999 by Denise and Brett Isenhower and was the 18th winery in the Walla Walla area. The Isenhower’s, both Pharmacists, chose to leave their Colorado surroundings and corporate healthcare to follow Brett’s dream of winemaking and Denise’s dream of moving back to Washington, where they first met. Today, Denise is the General Manager and Brett is the Winemaker. For Brett, Walla Walla was an easy choice because of its beauty and the wide-open, entrepreneurial nature of the wine industry there. Isenhower Cellars is one of the few medium-sized Washington wineries that is 100% husband and wife owned and operated.
The Isenhower’s built their winery in 2002 and opened the Woodinville tasting room in 2009. They source their grapes from experienced, established growers ranging from Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills, Walla Walla, Yakima Valley, Red Mountain, and Oregon to the Wahluke Slope. These high-elevation farms produce beautiful juice from old vines all the way to experimental clones.
Isenhower Cellars and their growers follow a minimalist philosophy and more natural winemaking process, including low pesticides, light intervention and sustainable farming methods to achieve depth of character, lightness of touch, and an array of fresh, interesting wines.