Cinnabar 2014 Malbec (Red Hills)

95 Points Cellar Selection

Combining hyper-concentrated fruit flavors with enticing, sophisticated oak nuances, this wine is a gentle giant. The first thing to notice is the lightly spicy, toasted-baguette aroma, and then the palate floods with saturated, ripe and delicious blackberry and black-cherry flavors, while notes of dark chocolate and black pepper kick in on the finish. This wine ranks with the best yet from Lake County. Best after 2020.

Price

$50, Buy Now
Variety

Malbec
Appellation

Red Hills, Lake County, California, US
Winery

Cinnabar

Print a Shelf Talker Label

Alcohol

14.8%
Bottle Size

750 ml
Category

Red
Date Published

3/1/2018
User Avg Rating

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Jim Gordon

@gordone_cellars

Contributing Editor

Reviews wines from California.

Jim Gordon has been covering the wine industry as an editor and reporter for more than 30 years. In 2006 he became editor of Wines & Vines, the media company for North American winemakers and grape growers. He directs the editorial content of Wines & Vines in the monthly print magazine, digital and social media. Gordon is also a contributing editor for Wine Enthusiast magazine and past director of the annual Symposium for Professional Wine Writers at Meadowood Napa Valley. He was editor in chief for two books by publisher Dorling Kindersley of London: Opus Vino, and 1000 Great Everyday Wines. Gordon was managing editor of Wine Spectator for 12 years, and editor in chief of Wine Country Living magazine for four, during which time he helped create Wine Country Living TV for NBC station KNTV in San Jose. He lives in Napa, California. Email: jgordon@wineenthusiast.net.

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All tastings reported in the Buying Guide are performed blind. Typically, products are tasted in peer-group flights of from 5–8 samples. Reviewers may know general information about a flight to provide context—vintage, variety or appellation—but never the producer or retail price of any given selection. When possible, products considered flawed or uncustomary are retasted.

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Ratings reflect what our editors felt about a particular product. Beyond the rating, we encourage you to read the accompanying tasting note to learn about a product’s special characteristics.

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- Classic
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- Superb
- A great achievement.
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- Excellent
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- 87–89
- Very Good
- Often good value; well recommended.
- 83–86
- Good
- Suitable for everyday consumption; often good value.
- 80–82
- Acceptable
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Special Designations

Editors' Choice wines are those that offer excellent quality at a price above our Best Buy range, or a wine at any price with unique qualities that merit special attention.

Cellar Selections are wines deemed highly collectible and/or requiring time in a temperature-controlled wine cellar to reach their maximum potential. A Cellar Selection designation does not mean that a wine must be stored to be enjoyed, but that cellaring will probably result in a more enjoyable bottle. In general, an optimum time for cellaring will be indicated.

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