College Cellars is the working winery at Walla Walla Community College’s Center for Enology & Viticulture, and the faculty and students at the college are making some superb wine. Jeff Popick handles the viticulture side, while Tim Donahue is the enology instructor and winemaker. The 2011 vintage was small and cool, and fruit was difficult to come by, which is one reason just a barrel of Malbec was produced. But is it delicious and reasonably priced. This opens with aromas of President plum, saddle leather, herbes de Provence and chocolate. On the palate, it offers rich, gorgeous flavors of blackberry, boysenberry, huckleberry and even a hint of Milk Duds, all backed with an intriguing note of lavender, bright acidity and elegant tannins.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 28 cases
Alcohol: 13.9%
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