Resistance Wine Company came out of the gates in 2017, and the 2018 Malbec is their inaugural Malbec vintage. Not bad for “rookies” Kimberly Drake, chief winemaker and introvert, and husband Kirk Drake, chief extrovert. The Malbec is a deep scarlet, pretty in the glass. I got blue and black fruit aromas with fresh tobacco on the nose and a spiciness like vanilla and cinnamon. The wine is characteristic of the malbec variety, full-bodied with medium acidity and tannins. This is an excellent wine from these relative newcomers to Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon.
We drank the Malbec with a red onion, garlic, and red pepper frittata and couldn’t have been more pleased. It was hard to sip, bite, and savor as the flavors paired so inherently well. Malbecs are versatile food-pairing wines and so is this one. Any roasted meats would be welcome and pair well. The wine is so drinkable now that you’ll be challenged to put it away for 3-5 years, but your patience will be rewarded with those extra bottles.
Read Kirk’s interview and why he chose the 2018 Malbec as their emblematic wine.