Shinn Estates Vineyard, Malbec, 2007
There is a lot that could be written about Shinn, but as I have done that recently I just point you to my article 'You can't make red wine on Long Island' - Shinn Estate Vineyards, making local wine in a global world. For now just let me say that I bought this Malbec at a recent visit to a beautiful estate on Long Island that is currently being transformed to biodynamic production. Interestingly, the Shinn Malbec comes in a half-litre bottle - they only make Malbec in good years and in 2007 there was only enough for 1344 of those small bottles (selling at $35 each).
In order to avoid any bias I might have had from being welcomed so warmly at Shinn, I figured the wine would have to be tasted blind. So I took it with me to a recent Wine Rambler full committee meeting in Munich and wrapped it properly to hide its identity.
What I presented to the panel was a wine of beautiful shiny colour. The nose featured an interesting conversation of fruity elements (cherry, strawberry, blueberry and reduced berries), a more robust leathery earthiness and bread dough aromas with a hint of vanilla. The audience was reminded of a rich red fruit/cherry jelly with vanilla custard - in a very fresh and enticing way.
Cherry made its return on the tongue too where it was very juicy - not overly sweet though, more like a 'respectable cherry juice' as Sabine put it. Flavours of cherry, spice, almond and fresh herbs come together in a wine that, thanks to its acidity, is very lively - robust, yes, but by no means heavy. You can taste the oak, for instance in the medium to long chocolate/cocoa finish, but it is not too strong. The tannins are well integrated too. The Shinn Malbec is a well made, round and very drinkable wine.