2018 Devil Proof Malbec Farrow Ranch
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2018 Malbec Farrow Ranch Vineyard Block 17 is outrageously beautiful. Ultra-pure, rich, polished blue/black fruit opens into a velvety, supremely finessed, full-bodied framework. Sensual and suave, the 2018 is just a baby, but it’s a beautiful wine in every way. Super-fine cocoa powder tannins frame the finish, unfurling gradually with an array of rose petal tones, high-cocoa dark chocolate and resinous herbs. Utterly singular, totally seamless, and a testament to what Malbec can be in California.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Full bottle an unnecessary 1,735 g so the empty bottle weighs almost a kilo! Dark purplish crimson. Heady berries on the nose have a certain freshness and almost buttery/oily smoothness but the sweetness is pretty marked, even if not as marked as on the Aperture Alexander Valley Cabernet 2018. Good lift on the end though. Well made despite the high alcohol. (JR)
Slightly deeper and richer, with more blackcurrant fruits as well as tobacco, lead pencil, spice box, graphite, and dried flower-like nuances, the 2018 Malbec Farrow Ranch is a beauty, hitting the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, multi-dimensional texture, building tannins, and a stunning finish that carries remarkable minerality as well as freshness. Malbec doesn't get any better, and this magical wine will evolve for 20 years or more. It’s the finest Malbec I’ve ever tasted and hats off to winemaker Jesse Katz.
The 2018 Malbec Farrow Ranch from Devil Proof is the best example of 100% Malbec I've ever tasted. Opaque purple-black in color, the nose explodes to pure, kaleidoscopic aromas of blueberry preserves and dark cherries, milk chocolate, dried lavender, pencil shavings and wild mint. The palate is spectacular with a velvet-like texture and bursts of freshness elevating its pure floral perfume. It's fragrant, layered and seamless, the last drop better than the first, and it leaves you wanting just one more sip! Only 375 cases were made.