Wautoma Springs 'Lil Inky' Malbec, Wahluke Slope,

Blueberry and violet emerge from an intensely dark-fruited core, followed by a chocolate-covered espresso bean and a cool, wet-stone mineral note. The 2021 Wautoma Springs 'Lil Inky' Malbec is made entirely from Malbec grown at StoneTree Vineyard, with 57% new French and American oak adding depth to an already concentrated expression. Produced in a tiny 162-case lot, it embodies winemaker Jessica Munnell and grape grower Tom Merkle's deliberately powerful interpretation of Washington Malbec, favoring richness, intensity, and a long, velvety finish over a lighter fruit-driven style.

Product Details:

• Winemaker & Co-Owner: Jessica Munnell
• Grape Grower & Co-Owner: Tom Merkle
• Grape Variety: 100% Malbec
• Vineyard: StoneTree Vineyard
• Oak Aging: 57% new French and American oak
• ABV: 14.5%
• pH: 3.58
• Total Acidity: 0.57
• Case Production: 162 cases

Sensory Description:

Blueberry leads the aromatic profile, joined by violet and the darker roasted character of chocolate-covered espresso beans. A wet-stone mineral note provides a cool counterpoint to the wine's concentrated fruit and oak-influenced richness. The palate is full and deeply flavored, with a velvety, rounded texture carrying the dark fruit and espresso tones through a rich, persistent finish.

Winemaker’s Background:

Wautoma Springs is the partnership of winemaker Jessica Munnell and second-generation grape grower Tom Merkle, whose complementary backgrounds connect vineyard management directly with small-lot winemaking. Munnell began her career in viticulture before moving into winemaking, building experience in Washington and abroad, while Merkle has spent decades growing and managing vineyards across Washington wine country. Their wines are shaped by that close relationship between grower and winemaker, with individual sites and varieties guiding each bottling rather than a single house style. Inky demonstrates the more powerful side of that philosophy: Wautoma Springs intentionally conceived its Malbec as a dark, concentrated alternative to lighter examples of the variety, and the name is a playful nod to the wine's deeply staining color and to its cephalopod-inspired label artwork. For the 2021 vintage, fruit from StoneTree Vineyard and substantial new French and American oak produce one of the winery's smallest releases, with only 162 cases made.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at approximately 16 to 18 degrees Celsius in a generous red wine glass. A decant of 30 to 60 minutes can help the blueberry, violet, espresso, mineral, and oak-derived notes unfold. The producer specifically recommends rich cuts of meat, making pork belly, rib eye, and lamb chops natural partners; braised beef, grilled short ribs, smoked brisket, roasted mushrooms, and aged hard cheeses will also complement the wine's concentrated fruit and velvety structure.