Wine Portfolio

Denis Malbec

Winemaker, Acumen

Denis Malbec was born at Chateau Latour, which means he not only learnt to walk in between barrels and bike in between the vines but also learnt vineyard and winery management early on with his father, Jean-Noel Malbec, who worked 47 years at Ch??teau Latour from 1947 to 1994 and was Cellar Master from 1969 to 1993 and his grandfather, Camille Malbec, who worked in the vineyard from the 1920???s till the end of the 1970???s.
Denis first studied viticulture and enology in Bordeaux and later in Reims, Champagne. He completed his studies with a ???Tour de France??? of the vineyards with work at Ch??teau Haut-Brion - 1988 -, Ch??teau Lagrange - 1988 -, the Pugnac Cooperative - 1989 - in C??te de Bourg, L??on Viollant - 1990 -, owner and wine merchant in C??te de Beaune, Duval Leroy - 1990 & 1991 - in the C??te des Blancs in Champagne and at Calvet - 1992 -, negociant in Bordeaux.
He started at Ch??teau Latour as one of the cellar workers in 1993 and took the position as Enologist and Cellar Master at Ch??teau Latour in 1994 and made the vintages from 1994 to 1999.
In 2000, Denis and his wife May-Britt decided to leave the property and start their own wine consulting company that would allow them to express our knowledge and philosophy of wine in a personal and also more diversified way.
In addition to their work at Acumen, they consult for a number of boutique wineries in and around the Napa Valley; among them we find Kapcs??ndy Family Winery and Blankiet Estate in Yountville, Sodaro in Coomsville. In Lake County they also have a few projects with their Ali??nor label and they make Xurus. In the past, they also participated in making Anderson???s Conn Valley, WH Smith, Capt??re, Paradise View, and Respite in Sonoma. They also have made their own brand called Notre Vin since 2003.

Country born: France

Education: Denis Malbec is a graduate in oenology with degrees from the Universities of Bordeaux and Reims. Denis apprenticed at Chateau Haut-Brion and Duval-Leroy in Champagne. He then was in charge of winemaking at Chateau Latour until 1999 when he and his wife May-Britt, a distinguished sommelier on her own, moved to the Napa Valley in 2000 and added a few 100 Parker point wines to their pedigree.

Years in the wine industry: 30+ years

Winemaking Philosophy:
Remember what I learned from my forbearers, make wine with passion and be respectful of the land.