I had tasted a couple of wines from Charleston Peak Winery (formerly Pahrump Winery) only once, and very briefly, at a party. Fast forward to last month, when I visited the winery on assignment for City Lifestyle magazine to cover their chocolate and wine pairings – look for that in all three Las Vegas issues this coming February. While I was there I got to talking with General Manager Jennifer Sela Bowen, and learned a few things about the winery – one being that one of their vineyards is 45 minutes north of Pahrump and there is a another that they also manage; and second they are owned by the same people that own Amari Italian Kitchen in Uncommons so they have a nice menu from Amari to enjoy with their wine. After my interview concluded, Jennifer ended up sending me home with two bottles for review: Symphony and Malbec.
The tech sheets I received were nicely done. So, I’ve included them below for our wine geek readers, with slight abbreviations, just before my tasting notes.
2023 Symphony, $30
Name of Wine – Symphony Peak Label
Vintage – 2023
Region – Amargosa, NV
Appellation – Nevada
Vineyard – School Lane
Cases produced – 1250
Grape variety or blend – Symphony
Harvest date – 8/30/23
Vineyard location – Amargosa, NV
Vineyard elevation – 2395 ft
Vineyard size – 4 acres
Yields – 33 tons
Climate – Desert
Soil type – Sandy
Vine age – 2016
Trellising – cordon, spur pruned
Pressing (whole cluster, destemmed) – destemmed
Press type – bladder press
Fermentation Vessel – SS tank
Length of primary ferm – 20 days
ML – None
Barrel size, origin, etc. – None
Time in wood/tank – 6 mo
ABV – 13.3%
RS – 0.06%
Growing season – In 2023, the growing season for grapes in Amargosa Valley, Nevada, showcased a delicate balance between the harsh desert climate and the resilience of the vineyards. With its hot, arid conditions, the region presented challenges, yet vintners carefully managed irrigation to sustain the grapevines through the scorching summers. Despite the adversity, diligent cultivation practices and innovative techniques yielded promising results, fostering anticipation for a unique vintage reflective of the valley’s distinct terroir.
Food & wine pairing suggestions – salmon Florentine, chicken chow mein, a Pahrump sunset.
Tasting notes – bone dry, light in body, long finish, fruity and floral, complex, light spritz on finish.
EB: The first time I had a Symphony wine was with Alex Guarachi of TGIC, then an importer of mostly Chilean wines, and now has grown quite large under the name Guarachi Wine Partners, and he also has his own label, Guarachi Family Wines. I recall it being somewhat sweet with nice fresh fruit notes. That was a sweeter version; the one we are reviewing today was described as dry. Let’s see now it was: The wine was clean, clear and the color of pale straw. The aromas reminded me of honey, sweet lemonade, lime hard candy, peach, and wet river rock rich with minerals. There was an abundance of floral notes, making me feel as if I were walking through a botanical garden in the Spring. On the taste I noted a tingly mouthfeel, followed by lemon-lime soda, fresh fruit cocktail, lemon spritz cocktail, with that tingly quality lasting through to the end to give the wine a nice long finish. If you like your wine sweet or dry, this one hit both marks. Very pleasant.
2023 Malbec, $60
Name of Wine – Malbec Peak Label
Vintage – 2023
Region – Dyer, NV
Appellation – Nevada
Vineyard – Queensland Vineyard
Cases produced – 66 cases
Grape variety or blend – 97% Malbec, 1% Syrah, 2% Ruby Cab
Harvest date – 10/6/23
Brix – 22.5
Vineyard location – Dyer, NV
Vineyard elevation – 4849 ft
Vineyard size – 5 acres (1 acre of Malbec)
Yields – 1.18 tons
Climate – Desert
Soil type – Sandy
Trellising – Bilateral Cordon, spur pruning
Pressing (whole cluster, destemmed) – destemmed, whole berry
Press type – Pellanc Bladder
Yeast type – BDX
Fermentation Vessel – Stainless Steel tank
Fermentation technique (punch down, delestage, carbonic mac) – pumpovers
Length of primary ferm – 31 days
ML – Yes
Time in wood/tank – 1 year 8 months
ABV – 12.9%
RS – 1.6g/L
Growing season – Warm, sunny days and cool nights defined the 2023 season, with an average diurnal shift of about 25–30 °F. Moderate daytime heat and refreshing evenings allowed grapes to ripen steadily, developing rich color and aromatics while retaining natural acidity. Dry conditions kept disease pressure low, though careful irrigation was essential for balanced vine growth and fruit quality.
Food & wine pairing suggestions – juicy medium-rare ribeye, stews, Mediterranean food, hearty cheese and meat platter.
Tasting notes – Rich blue fruits like blueberries, plums and blackberries, vanilla and spice, with a deep midpalate, velvety tannins and a lingering finish.
EB: I have always enjoyed a good Malbec. I consider it a food wine but also look forward to sampling and judging a Malbec on its own merits, without a meal. I was intrigued by having this one made in Nevada, as opposed to Napa or where it’s most common: Argentina. So, let’s see how this one did: Very dark purple color and completely opaque. Lots of berry notes on the nose as well as tree bark, earth, and grape soda. On the mouth I felt a tingly and slightly drying quality, an abundance of dark fruit, and a mild amount of spice. I decanted for almost thirty minutes and there was no discernible change. Tried with food later, a pepperoni pizza at home, and the wine, remarkably, by then smelled and tasted like a Nouveau Beaujolais. Interesting as this all was, for me, I didn’t get a Malbec feeling from the wine though it had no faults.
https://www.charlestonpeakwinery.com/
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards, Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. Follow on Instagram and Facebook.
