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Tasting Notes
Offering a distinctive wine each vintage, the 2018 Ne Cede Malis is elegant with incredible concentration and complexity. Revealing layers of blackberry, black cassis, and brambleberry fruit, delicately enhanced with savory notes of fresh chaparral herbs of mint, lavender, and sage, alongside an exotic black pepper spice. This single block blend is the purest expression of this extraordinary vineyard, exhibiting a multilayered full, mouth-coating, velvety-soft texture showcasing the age and character of the oldest vines on our estate. All finishing with incredible depth, plushness, and an alluring elusive character. Inviting in its youth but also meant for age-worthiness, decanting is suggested to allow the flavors to evolve and reveal the wine’s complexity, grace, and elegance.Technical Information
| Varietal | Petite Sirah |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Volume | 750mL |
| Blend | 85% Petite Sirah and 15% other varieties |
| Alcohol % | 14.1% |
| Enclosure Type | Cork |
| Case Production | 781 |
Scores & Accolades
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95“The 2018 Petite Sirah Ne Cede Malis is composed of 85% Petite Sirah and 15% other varieties. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs some coaxing to unlock notes of stewed black plums, fruitcake and fertile loam, with hints of truffles, tapenade and tar. Medium-bodied with a firm, tannic backbone and tons of freshness supporting the taut, muscular fruit, it finishes long and minerally. Give it a good five years in bottle, at least, then drink it over the next 20 years+.” - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate, November 30, 2021
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96“Really dark and smoky character here, with notes of ripe dark and blue fruit, wet earth, vanilla, pepper, chocolate and tar. Full-bodied, polished and tight. The viscous tannin structure holds on the palate, all the way through the firm finish, which ends with notes of walnuts and crushed stones. Try after 2024.” - James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2022
Winemaking
Taking a minimalist approach, Winemaker Christophe Paubert likes to say that he “guides” rather than “makes” Ne Cede Malis. The carefully tended head trained vines in this 5-acre single block include Petite Sirah, Carignane, Mourvédre, Grenache, Peloursin, Syrah, and even Muscat and Sauvignon Blanc, among others. After hand picking, the grapes were co-fermented, undergoing a short maceration prior to aging in American oak barrels (28% new) for 13 months. The oak’s spiciness, which could overwhelm a delicate wine, is easily handled and helps enhance the strength and depth of this powerful variety.Vintage
The Napa Valley region enjoyed a stunning, near picture-perfect 2018 growing season including good winter rains, mild spring weather, and steady temperatures throughout that allowed for even flowering and bud break. These ideal growing conditions were followed by a cool, even, and slow-paced harvest which allowed the winery to vinify wines at a gentle pace. The resulting 2018 wines are of very high quality with lower alcohol, concentrated flavors, color, and excellent acidity.Vineyard
Stags Leap AVA
