Malbec, Silas 'The Optimist'

Each year Silas ends their wine-making journey by curating The Optimist, where they bring together grape varieties that wouldn't normally find themselves in the same bottle. There's always a bit of positive thinking involved - hence the name - but the result is a unique wine you won't find anywhere else. In 2015, they wedded nine parts Malbec from sunny Southern Oregon to one part Viognier from the Columbia Gorge. It's a technique they borrowed from French winemakers in Côte-Rôtie where they mix Viognier with Syrah to keep its color. The 2015 Optimist is a smooth, velvety Malbec with notes of rich blue fruits, along with a floral, perfumy element. Less tannic than South American Malbecs, you can pair it with much more than red meat.