2021 Assiduous Malbec 'Black Ridge Vineyard'

Santa Cruz Mountains, California

This is 100% organic Malbec from the Black Ridge Vineyard, 80 pristine acres overlooking Lexington Reservoir and only three miles outside of downtown Los Gatos. Vineyard manager Bill Brosseau is best known for his family's incredible estate vineyard in the Chalone AVA and for being Testarossa Winery's head winemaker.

SCM Malbec is rare- this might be the only vineyard growing it- and its only 2.7 miles away from the shop as the crow flies. Only native yeasts were used for fermentation, and the wine was aged in 20% new French oak for 18 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

What we get is medium-full bodied, low alcohol, structured, juicy, fresh wine. Bright purple hue. Black cherry, plum, and tobacco aromatically define this Malbec, with secondary notes of cassis and leather.The palate sensation begins with bright acidity followed by a savory mid palate and a tannic finish. Overall this wine has that signature Santa Cruz Mountains acidity and an old world feel. 

About Assiduous Wines
Winemaker and vineyard manager Keegan Mayo was born in Hawai’i and raised in Santa Cruz, and produces minimal intervention, food friendly wines with a real sense of place. His first introduction into the wine industry was working for a few summers at Split Rail Vineyard in Corralitos. He graduated from UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Program in 2008. While attending school he spent a harvest with Mumm in Napa as a cellar hand and grape sampler.  In 2009, he spent the vintage with Church Road Winery in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, before settling into a nearly nine year tenure with Testarossa Winery, where he eventually became the Assistant Winemaker. He only produces wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains.