2Hawk Darow Series Malbec Rogue Valley 2017

The Data

Country USA

Appellation Rogue Valley

Varietal Malbec

Retail Price $49

ABV 13.9%

Score 4.5 Stars/95 points

In the Glass

Appearance

Brilliant, deep scarlet color.

Aromatics

The aromatics are very intense offering scents of cassis and black plum with supporting notes of boysenberry, cardamon, leather, mocha, and white truffle.

Flavor

The palate echoes the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of blackberry, graphite, pomegranate, and forest floor. The finish is long and lingering with firm tannins with silky oak accents.

Intensity & Texture

Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a voluptuous and chewy texture.

Cool Factor

We have learned in 2020 that the wines from 2Hawk are absolutely cool. We have a love-hate relationship with Malbec at BevX. When it's right — it's beautiful like this 2Hawk Darow series Malbec.

Value Grade

At $49 a bottle it's certainly beyond many wine drinkers weeknight budget but considering the pedigree and the fact that this wine will age very gracefully we recommend it.

Analysis

This wine shows us how Malbec can be and should be. It's balanced, nuanced, with loads of earth and spice acting as the perfect companion to the dense black fruits. If your only experience with Malbec is a dense, fruit-bomb that is more redolent of Port than Cahors try this wine! In the Rogue Valley the growing season followed a record snowfall from the winter before. A rather normal spring flowed into a warm summer through mid-July. In August cool temperatures returned allowing the fruit to develop and ripen slowly. Fall continued the cool trend and harvest began on September 8 with the last of the fruit coming in on November 2. This wine was rested in French oak — 50% new, 21% two-years old, and 29% neutral — for a period of 20 months. A real beauty.

How to Enjoy

Serve now or rest in your cellar for up to a decade. When you do drink this lovely wine please decant it and serve with grilled beef or anything with wild mushrooms.