Shotwell Vineyard

The 2021 vintage in Paso Robles, and most of California, delivered unparalleled quality. Despite generous January rainfall, the following winter and spring months were extremely dry. The dry conditions led to small but concentrated berries, typical of drought years in Paso Robles. However, the consistent mild daytime temperatures and cool nights allowed for patience in harvesting grapes at optimal ripeness. As a result, the extractable anthocyanin content from red grapes in Paso Robles reached an all-time high in 2021, producing wines that surpassed the color density levels of acclaimed vintages like 2007, 2013, and 2019. We’ve coined the term “friendly blender” for our Paso Robles Malbec because its approachable, high-tone red fruit flavor and soft texture give it the ability to blend with and elevate the quality of many other grape varietals. With this bottling, we are excited to let one of our favorite blocks of Malbec shine on its own. The wine was aged in water-bent French oak barrels that have low oak aroma impact - allowing for full expression of varietal character from our carefully farmed Malbec vines.