Winery: Karen Birmingham

Vintage: 2017

Wine Name/Vineyard: Malbec

Wine Category: Malbec

Grape blend: 100% Malbec

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Lodi

State or country: California

Price: $12

ABV: 14%

Cases produced: N/A

The Barrel Cellar Score:  87 points

Review date: June 17, 2019

About the Winemaker: Former Mondavi Winemaker Karen Bingham Produced this textbook Malbec from an 18-year-old vineyard in Lodi California.  Lodi is a region known for its rolling hills and warm and plentiful sunshine.  Produced for Nakedwines.com this wine provides benefits to wine drinkers in the form of a high-quality wine at an exceptional value and allows independent winemakers to produce wines under their own label. 

Color:  Deep Purple

Nose:  Cherry, smoke, and oak

Taste: Plum, berries, vanilla, smoke, black pepper and oak Finish: lots of spice

Assessment: Full bodied, bold, jammy, and dry. The balance is nice in this wine.  It’s a great example of a fruit forward California Malbec.  This is a great wine for grilling, BBQ, or a day in the sun.  Will continue to evolve with further aging and could stand a couple more years in the bottle if cellared, but it is ready to drink now.

This value of this wine exceeds the price when purchased from nakedwines.com I found it being sold other places on the web for a much higher price.

Pairing recommendation:  BBQ, other grilled meat, or dark chocolate

Karen Bingham 2017 Malbec is a good wine.  87 points. Buy here.