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2012 Malk Sauvignon Blanc We haven’t been this excited about a white wine in a long time. The 2012 Sauvignon Blanc is the best showing ever of this varietal from Malk Family Vineyards. In fact, it redefines the category. Stunningly complex and balanced, the wine delights both nose and palate with a continuous evolution of yellow fruits, blended harmoniously with intermittent notes of bitter-sweet minerality. The nose opens to a spray of rich ripe peach, with hints of cantaloupe, apricot and tangerine. The palate launches with equal pleasure, as taste buds are engaged in a parade of brightly nuanced fruit flavors, framed with a pleasantly tart and tangy acidity. Opening to peach, the symphony of savors moves through apricot to a tropical mélange, highlighted with delicious pineapple. Then comes the most wonderful of surprises – just when one might expect a Sauvignon Blanc to simply end, an astonishing finish begins instead, as if Merlin himself were stirring the brew afresh, bringing up delicate sedimentary tidbits of sweet slate and bright rocky trimmings to embellish the experience and create an entirely new moment in the wine’s delivery. The finish is amazingly long, complex and enchanting. We enjoyed this wine at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmer than traditional temperature seemed to suit it, and certainly, its treasures opened lushly. What a sumptuous summertime pleasure! -Winefire, May 30, 2013
Malk Family Vineyards 2009 Malk Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap, by Don Gillette This deeply rich Cabernet has a juicy-ripe nose dominated by blackberries and Cassis, over notes of mocha, sweet tobacco and baking spices. It is fleshy and luxurious on the palate, where black cherry takes the lead over the darker fruits and vanilla, mocha, tobacco, date molasses and baking-spice notes all come on strong. The finish is sweet-natured and lingering, but always fruit-forward despite all the oaky richness. Expect this already delicious wine to get steadily better for five years or more.
2009 Malk Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap, by Gary Prior Since its first release in 2004, Malk Family Vineyards in the Stags Leap District of Napa has created a distinguished history of blockbuster cabs of such character and excellence that the problem now is getting them before they're sold out, usually within months of each new release. Time is no doubt running out on the 2009 Cabernet as it did on its predecessors, and the best chance to get a bottle is straight from the winery. The nose on the powerful 2009 Malk Cabernet opens with a flare. Scents abound at pouring, with raspberry and black cherry dominating an enticing blend of fruit fragrances. Herbal notes of thyme and oregano mix with wafts of moist autumn leaves and humus to frame the array of fruity aromas with an earthy background. Over the first hour, smoky oak, vanilla, leather and graphite emerge to add variety and depth. Cherry and cassis keep fruit in the forefront during the second hour. The palate launches slightly tannic and tight, with raspberry, cherry, blackberry and cassis breaking through with fruit medleys that give ample intimations of what will come. The wine's promise begins to be fulfilled as tannins soften and smooth out over an hour and a half, with white pepper and spice adding zest to the rich long finish. With complexity and resonance increasing, the wine migrates toward a jammy explosion of ripe fruit, laced with licorice, coffee/expresso, tobacco, rhubarb and cedar. Fragrant notes of floral, including honeysuckle and rose (a staple on the nose of Malk Cabernets over the past six or seven years), emerge at two hours. Dark chocolate and leather make their appearance on the nose at this stage and remain through three hours. In the third hour, tannins become velvety on the palate, and the blend of flavors evolves to include blueberry in the spread of fruits, plus coffee, dark chocolate, oak, leather and a variety of spices. The evolution of this cab in the glass suggests that time is its friend and that a year or more of bottle aging will make it even better. -Gary Prior (03/13)
2009 Malk Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap, by WallingB Although very young, this 2009 is a full bodied, big red Cabernet with a bold first taste and lengthy finish. Decant it for a couple of hours before drinking and serve 60-65 degrees and you can enjoy it even now. Cellar it for at least a few years and it will be even better. Truly, one of the best of the Napa Stags Leap Sauvignon -WallingB (04/23/13) cellartracker.com
2009 Malk Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap, by La Cave D'Argent This is a hefty, opaque crimson Cab with intense aromas of cassis, plum, vanilla, and allspice. Round and ripe on the palate, it hides its lofty 15.1% alcoholrelatively well (until the end). The wine has ample sweet tannins and flavors wich mirror the nose. Solid in the middle, the flavors build on a lengthy finish but are marred by a whiff of heat. My taste was at 65-70 degrees Farenheit and the alcoholic heat issues would have definitely been mitigated (or eliminated) by appropriately serving the wine at 60-65 degrees. -La Cave D'Argent (04/19/13) cellartracker.com
If you would like to provide your comments and reviews for any of our wines, please visit http://www.snooth.com/winery/malk-family-vineyards-napa-valley/ and leave your review.
Malk Family Vineyards 2008 Malk Cabernet Sauvignon by James Suckling "Love the rich and opulent nose with chocolate and meat undertones. Full body, with velvety tannins and a soft and velvety finish. Hint of toasted oak and cappuccino. Why wait? $$" -COUNTRY: United States, SUB REGION: Napa Valley, SCORE: 91 2008 Malk Cabernet Sauvignon by Don Gillette This is an intense and immediately impressive Cabernet that opens with varietally focused and beautifully ripened aromatics. The nose pours forth in a wave of Cassis, blackberry, blueberry, dark earth and tobacconist-shop spice. On the palate, everything is as plush and concentrated as expected and although the tannic structure is boldly outlined, any impression of coarseness is pushed out of the way by the wines cascade of bright fruit, baking spice and sweet tobacco flavors. With airing a deeper core of rich cherry and mocha is revealed. The finish shows lovely clarity, richness, a supple texture and fine length, and the lingering impressions are of satisfying richness and future promise. Certain to grow in depth and class over the next five years, it could also prove to be long-lived. 2008 Malk Cabernet Sauvignon by Lone Star Lady I do have just one complaint about the 2008 Malk Cabernet Sauvignon . . . when the bottle is empty, it leaves you wondering where the next sip would have taken you. This complex and exciting wine is not to be ignored or forgotten. Buy it and let it entertain you for an entire enchanting evening as it takes you through rose gardens, vanilla fields, chocolate kisses (just sweet enough but not too sweet), then rosemary . . . lavender . . . blackberry . . . the magic scents of the forest . . . and more. More!. 2008 Malk Cabernet Sauvignon by Winefire The 2008 Malk Cab is a stunning achievement. After a stellar 2007, many 2008 Cabs were less complex and powerful. Not this one. The 2007 Malk was a blockbuster, but the 2008 is even better. Its nose opens to an enchanting floral bouquet with wafts of rose, honeysuckle, rosemary and lavender. Gusts of sea breeze, ripe raspberry and blackberry, along with scents of forest fern, mushroom, vanilla and dark chocolate add interest and depth. The palate awakens to radiant, robust tannins, which brush the mouth with plush velvet, creating instant readiness for a parade of flavors. Cherry and dark berries enter first, accompanied by lively pepper on the top, heralding a scrumptious array of bright fruit, featuring blackberry, cassis, dried fig, and raspberry. The fruit medley sustains as the palate gently dries, leading to a long, satisfying finish. At three hours, drafts of roses, oats and crème brûlée refresh and expand the aromatics, and the palate is enriched with refrains of chocolate-covered cherries, caramel, bacon, mushrooms and earthy savors that emerge to enhance complexity and balance. The only down side is that the secret is out. In just its sixth year, this limited edition beauty is sure to be gone quickly. 95+ pts. Articles About Our Wine • "1 Wine Dude Serious Wine Talk" 2007 Malk Cabernet Sauvignon • "Sign On San Diego" Malk Wines • "Snooth" Wine Review and Article 2007 Malk Cabernet Sauvignon
Malk Family Vineyards 2011 Malk Sauvignon Blanc by Golden Gate Wine Cellars I rarely, if ever conduct blind tastings of Sauvignon Blancs, but decided to give it a try when a bunch of Francophiles challenged me to go head-to-head with California. A few of my “French” friends provided “their” wines and I sourced the local market. As you know I don’t stock the big names, I wanted to include some in this tasting to see how they would do against the French and small, boutique producers. Since Brian Malk is from South Africa, I decided to include a well-rated white from there as well. –Golden Gate Wine Cellars (9/2012)
TASTING NOTES –Napa Valley Wine Exchange (6/21/2012)
2011 Malk Sauvignon Blanc, by La Cave D'Argent on winecellar.com (04/24/13) I rarely record notes about wines from this varietal, as they are typically meant to be consumed young and a note's value is accordingly fleeting. That said, this offering is similar to the outstanding bottlings of Merry Edwards with respect to its relevance. Straw-Colored and sporting a beautiful nose of passion fruit, minerals and exotic spices, it follows with a crisp palate of the same flavors, in a light to medium bodies frame with seamless alcohol. The middle palate is solid and the flavors built on the lengthy, fresh finish. This is more than a run-of-the-mill Sauvignon Blanc. It should drink nicely (and may even improve) over the next three years. 2011 Malk Sauvignon Blanc, by James Mossman on Snooth.com (10/15/12) I put together a Sauvignon Blanc tasting to highlight/contrast the differences between Malk 2011 S.B., Girgich Hills 2007 Fume Blanc, and Joesph Mellot 2011 Sancere. These are all wonderful wines and I chose to pair them with a Cambodian charred catfish dish with mango slaw.
Malk Family Vineyards –Winefire (5/18/2011)
Reviews by James Suckling of Malk Family Vineyards 2006 & 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Malk Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Malk Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Customer Comments & Reviews:
Nose: At 15 minutes, the nose opens to cherry and soft herbs, with hints of blueberry and honey. At an hour, the nose broadens to include blackberry, mulberry, raisin, sage, smoked asparagus, moss, sweet pipe tobacco, licorice and caramel. At two hours, scents of honey and French vanilla coffee bean, along with a softer vanilla in the background, float in a woodsy, floral haze, providing a perfect milieu for staccato bursts of plum, black cherry, pepper, cocoa, coffee, pine shavings, jasmine, lilac, honeysuckle and deep red rose. These aromas come and go, remixing over four hours into countless medleys of enchanting sparkle and hybrid harmonies.
Reviews: This beautiful Cabernet announces its Stag’s Leap heritage with its distinctive aromatic profile of milk chocolate, cherry licorice, sweet plums, vanilla and dried tobacco leaves. The wine is even more clearly Stag’s Leap on the palate, where rich flavors of red cherry, red currant and milk chocolate rise on a delightfully supple, palate-coating wave. The finish is long and already extremely satisfying and the tannins are buried under layers of mocha and Cassis. Certain to improve for a few years, this one is so attractive now as to make waiting seem pointless.
When you think of the Stag's Leap District you know the fruit is intense with solid, firm tannins. This Cabernet Sauvignon is an outstanding representation of a GREAT Stag's Leap Cab .... and, I mean GREAT! The aromas of cassis, black cherry, and spice give a positive first impression on the nose. The rich and sophisticated fruit is well-balanced with notes of vanilla and gentle cedar. The wine shows off full body with rich, pleasing tannins that allows it to be enjoyed now, but it should age beautifully for 10 or more years to come. This wine does not need food.....just an armchair and a friend to enjoy it together! 93 pts.
Black olive, black currant, intensely aromatic, milk chocolate, roast beef, lots of paprika and coriander spices. Like velvet on entry, good acidy very well concealed tannins, tons of plush, vanilla and cinnamon scented fruit. This is super refined, very fresh and a fruit bomb without the fat and weight of most fruit bombs. This is very easy to drink with a broadly appealing style and a structure that is soft enough to allow this to be enjoyed on it’s own but substantial enough to benefit from food. Really nice length on the fruity, spicy finish. 94pts Snooth.com Article, December 18, 2009 "2009 Cabernet & Merlot Round Up" by Gregory Dal Piaz http://www.snooth.com/articles/2009-cebernet-and-merlot-round-up/ Produced under the watchful eye of winemaker Robbie Meyer (Peter Michael Winery, Lewis Cellars, L’Angevin, and Sage) Brian Malk's goal is to produce red wines that reflect the vineyard and district; wines approachable in their youth with ripe fruit, but which are supported with full body and rich tannins that are a signature of Stags Leap wines. Griffin, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier whose image graces the bottle, would be proud! Only 235 cases made. Drink now-2020.WSI – 94 pts. Blogs: Napa Valley Wine Exchange (http://nvwe.com/blog/things_to_be_greatfull_for_in.php) on “Things to Be Grateful For in 2009”
Comments & Updates:
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Customer Comments: It is now 4 ½ hours since we opened our last bottle of 2005 Malk Cabernet, and I am writing on behalf of our little group of devoted fans in Texas to say “thank you” again for letting us have the three bottles of this special vintage three months ago. Four of us – my son, my wife, a dear friend, and I actually had the discipline to savor your incredible nectar over one hour, two hours, three and four hours – a few ounces at a time. The last sip is now history. My . . . oh my.
Reviews by Winefire of Malk Family Cabernets, ‘04, ’05, ’06, and ’07, tasted on October 16, 2010
Customer Comments: I am almost embarrassed to tell you how much we love your wines. But I’ll get over it. They’re all wonderful. Oh my. It was our extraordinary pleasure to review a 4-bottle vertical of Malk Family Cabernets on a recent October evening between 4:00 and 8:00. A shared recognition, besides “triumphant”, was the presence of vanilla and honey, along with lilac and red rose, on the nose of each wine beyond about an hour after uncorking – providing a gorgeous and ubiquitous bouquet we have found nowhere else. From there, the uniqueness of each vintage provided delightful variety, but also evidence that the genius of Malk is solid in its achievement of stunning cabernets marked by ever-evolving combinations of fruit, spice, caramel, herb, flower and earth – in wines that last not only through the long, succulent finish of each sip, but over hours of satisfying discovery.
Customer Comments: Nose: Wow! This is an astonishing and unique cabernet. At opening, the nose fills with the scent of brandy, accompanied by a wonderful cast of rich fruits in the center, including cherry, prunes and blueberry, along with fresh spring grass and spicy notes of cloves, white pepper and caramel. Wafts of honey, lemongrass, blackberry, vanilla, and butterscotch add to this wonderfully dynamic array. At one hour, plum and melon converge and join the medley. At two hours, the nose opens even more, and aromas include vanilla, tobacco, sweet red pepper, dark cherry, toast, chocolate, and red rose, highlighted by bright fruit notes which emerge from a creamy, buttery lattice. At three hours, this wine has the most sensuous nose of its journey - sweet breezes of plum, raisin and cassis intermingling with floral (including red rose) and honey to create an aromatic opus. Palate: The complex nose leads to an early openness on the palate, with a brandy/cognac overture on the top and back, supported by a fruity center of cherry, blueberry, cassis, and raisin. At an hour, woodsy flavors intermingle with the dark fruits, bringing notes of cedar chest, freshly cut grass, cloves and vanilla to the composition. Acids and tannins are perfectly organized, adding spice and a slightly peppery zest to the finish, along with a pleasant tartness. At two hours, floral chimes of red rose, cumin, honeysuckle, and rosemary dance through the palate as well as the nose, joined by black cherry, hazelnut and orange peel in the middle, with honey added on the finish. When sweet bell and red pepper join the mix at four hours, along with hints of almond, ginger, honey and crème brûlée, the wine’s complexity reaches its height of interest and enjoyment. The 2004 is a romantic wine, producing rich, seductive combinations of fruit and spice that circle a brandy-style core, which sustains beautifully as the rest of the arrangement changes all around it.
2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Customer Comments: I recently had your 2003 that was represented in the SLD Appellation Collection, and found it to be one of the finest wines I had the pleasure of serving. Tom
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