Wine Composition
100% Malbec
Winemakers Comments
"The 2020 Paul Wallace Black Dog Malbec is the eleventh vintage made from grapes produced on our own farm, Wallovale Vineyards. It is named after Jake, Paul’s beefy black shadow, a cross Labrador/Rottweiler, who was a puppy when we bought the farm in 2003. Jake is sadly no longer with us but two black labs, Angus and Becky, continue the legacy. The Malbec grape is also known as the Black Grape and it is this characteristic that has been incorporated into the name"
Much like the dog the wine is dark in color, well- muscled intense and full of character. The Black Dog Malbec presents with an intriguing somewhat exotic nose, conjuring up hints of blue berries, black berries, black currants and juicy red plums. The entry onto the palate is a satisfying fruit-filled mouthful of both red and black fruits linked by a thread of spice and held together with silky tannins – just enough to contribute to food friendliness. The Black Dog Malbec is a truly memorable wine which reflects the natural elegance we have come to expect from Elgin wines.
Awards
Platter | 4.5 stars
Technical Analysis
Alcohol Percentage
13.86%
TA
5.6 g/l
RS
2.2 g/l
pH
3.54
Vinification
The three individual blocks that comprise our Malbec plantings each have their own unique profile due to different row direction and training systems. Each block was harvested separately, each contributing it’s own unique building block. Left on the skins, post fermentation before being transferred into 225 and 300 lit French oak barriques, where MLF took place. The wine spent approximately 20 months in wood with a 20% new wood component. 15% was matured in a concrete egg, contributing towards the fruit driven
profile and adding yet another building block to the final compilation.
Winemaker
Paul Wallace
Winery
Paul and Nicky Wallace purchased their 25 hectare farm in September 2003 and immediately set out to create their own little piece of heaven. It has long been Paul's belief that the cool-climate region of Elgin, previously best known for its apples and pears, is one of the most exciting developing wine regions within the South African wine industry and indeed internationally.
The Golden Delicious and Granny Smith orchards have been replaced by plantings of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Malbec and Cabernet Franc, changing the face of the farm entirely. The area under vines is currently 12.5 hectares. What is planted on the remaining four hectares of arable land is still hotly debated at the dinner table.
This is a small family business where Paul oversees the vineyards and Nicky, with her commercial retail background, is the glue that holds the admin, sales and marketing together. Their youngest winemaker son Bobby, has recently joined the team and will be adding polish to their wines and developing further local and domestic markets
Surrounded by vineyards, natural dams with abundant bird life and unparalleled sunsets, Wallovale Vineyards, the Home of Paul Wallace Wines, is a little piece of paradise.
+1 888 812 2543