WTN: Idaho Malbec

Huston Vineyards Malbec, Snake River Valley, Idaho, 2014
This delicious medium-to-full-bodied red lies between the softer Argentine version and the darker, more massively concentrated French iterations. That is a very happy median to maintain, and Melanie Krause is adept at coaxing out the essence of the excellent Huston fruit.

The oak treatment is interesting; with the use of 70% Hungarian oak abetted by 30% American, the wine is enhanced but not overwhelmed by vanillins.

There are sufficient acids and tannins to maintain solid structure without becoming too intense, Profuse fruits, especially blueberries, dried cranberries, and solid meaty plum, are enhanced by a lovely lifted spice note for added charm, somewhere in the allspice/clove zone. They all combine seamlessly.


Nicely crafted, well balanced, and highly expressive without being austere (which Malbec can easily be), this is a restrained and elegant bottle of juicy red wine from what is becoming an impressive wine region.

[Jenise]

Isn't Melanie Krause also the winemaker at Cinder? The name is very familiar.

I like your characterization of this malbec, which pretty much applies to a lot of the Washington malbecs I'm seeing too. More substantive than the Argentines, more fruit and complexity than a Cahors.

Isn't Melanie Krause also the winemaker at Cinder? The name is very familiar.

I like your characterization of this malbec, which pretty much applies to a lot of the Washington malbecs I'm seeing too. More substantive than the Argentines, more fruit and complexity than a Cahors.

Yes, Melanie Krause is the winemaker (and co-owner) of Cinder Wine. Third wine I have tasted from her, and I am across the board impressed.

I realize that I am skimming the cream off the top with these Idaho wines---but it sure is tasty cream. Some of the wines I've tried easily stand up to the highest standards. I'm hoping to get back to the Sunnyslope/SRV in the not too distant, this time to sample the regular fare, the stuff that keeps the door open.

[Jenise]

I have a case and a half of Cinder sitting in the garage awaiting me having the time and urge to do more sampling. Will be fun to invite a few friends over for an evening of tasting them--and several courses of potato-based treats. Just got back from vacation and am a bit under the weather so it will have to wait, but do know that your reccos have not fallen on deaf ears.