Markham The Altruist Red Blend

Markham The Altruist Red Blend is a Merlot-dominant, Bordeaux-style red blend from Napa Valley, California, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2023 vintage earned 93 points from James Suckling, who praised its velvety texture, soft tannins, and baked black-fruit richness, while the 2019 vintage also received 93 points from Wine Enthusiast for its classic structure and aging potential through 2035.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Napa Valley, California  |  Bordeaux-Style Red Blend  |  Producer: Markham Vineyards

Production & Heritage

Markham Vineyards has long positioned Merlot as its flagship varietal, drawing from 260 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards across multiple Napa Valley AVAs. The Altruist follows a right-bank Bordeaux blueprint: Merlot forms the juicy, velvety core — typically composing 60–85% of the blend depending on vintage — supported by Cabernet Sauvignon for weight, Cabernet Franc for floral lift, Malbec for boysenberry fruit, and Petit Verdot for color and structure. Under winemaker Kimberlee Nicholls, the wine spends 15 months aging in a combination of French and American oak barrels, which contributes layers of vanilla, toast, and cedar without overwhelming the fruit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark plum and blackberry jam lead the nose, followed by waves of cola, vanilla, and toasty oak. Beneath those primary notes, hints of sandalwood, tobacco leaf, and a light thread of licorice add complexity.

Taste: The entry is plush and immediately fruit-forward, with ripe black currant and cherry jam coating the palate. Mid-palate, baked black-fruit flavors deepen alongside dark chocolate, pencil lead, and moderate oak spice. Tannins are soft and velvety rather than grippy, giving the wine an accessible, mouthfilling texture that belies its structural backbone.

Finish: Medium-long and warmly spiced, with cocoa, cassis, and cedary wood lingering on a smooth, rounded close. A subtle olive and earthy note emerges at the tail end, keeping the finish savory and balanced.

How to Drink The Altruist

This wine drinks beautifully at cellar temperature (60–65°F) with 20–30 minutes of decanting to open up its layered aromatics. It also stands up well slightly chilled in warmer months, and the 2019 vintage in particular has been noted as a strong candidate for mid-term cellaring. For cocktail-adjacent applications, The Altruist's rich profile makes it an excellent base for a Kalimotxo, where its dark fruit and soft tannins balance the bitterness of cola; a red wine sangria, where the plum and cherry core carries well alongside citrus and brandy; and a classic Bishop cocktail, in which its chocolate and spice notes pair naturally with orange juice and sugar.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners where you want Napa Valley quality without a reserve-level commitment
• Gifting a Merlot enthusiast who appreciates Bordeaux-style blending
• Building a short-term cellar — the 2019 vintage is rated for drinking through 2035
• Hosting a blind tasting comparing right-bank and left-bank blending philosophies

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Altruist taste like? The Altruist delivers rich dark plum, blackberry jam, and dark chocolate flavors framed by soft, velvety tannins and moderate oak spice. Cola, vanilla, and a hint of pencil lead add savory complexity to the fruit-forward core.

How does The Altruist compare to Markham's Napa Valley Merlot? Both wines showcase Markham's strength with Merlot and Napa Valley fruit, but The Altruist incorporates four additional Bordeaux varietals — Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot — creating a more layered, structured wine. The straight Merlot bottling tends to emphasize pure varietal character, while The Altruist aims for blending complexity in the right-bank Bordeaux tradition.

Is The Altruist good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its soft tannins, plush fruit, and 15 months of oak aging give it enough depth and texture to stand alone without food. A brief decant helps the aromas fully develop.

Where is The Altruist made? The Altruist is produced by Markham Vineyards in Napa Valley, California. The fruit is sourced from the estate's 260 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards spread across several Napa Valley sub-appellations.

What foods pair well with The Altruist? Braised short ribs complement the wine's dark fruit and oak spice. Mushroom risotto echoes its earthy, savory undertones. A charcuterie board with aged cheddar and dark chocolate mirrors the cocoa and plum notes. Herb-crusted lamb chops match the wine's medium body and soft tannins. Eggplant parmesan works well with its ripe fruit and moderate acidity.

What sizes does The Altruist come in? Markham The Altruist Red Blend is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is The Altruist worth the price? The Altruist positions as a mid-range Napa Valley red blend, and with dual 93-point scores from James Suckling and Wine Enthusiast across different vintages, it punches above its weight in critical recognition. For a five-varietal Bordeaux-style blend aged 15 months in oak with 100% Napa Valley fruit, it represents strong value within its tier.

Why The Altruist?

What separates The Altruist from the crowded field of California red blends is its commitment to a true right-bank Bordeaux architecture — Merlot dominant, five varietals deep, all sourced from Napa Valley. The 15-month oak program in both French and American barrels adds nuance without masking the fruit, and the wine has shown impressive consistency across vintages, earning 93 points from two different major publications. Under Kimberlee Nicholls' direction, Markham has built its identity around Merlot excellence, and The Altruist serves as the fullest expression of that philosophy — a blend designed to show what Napa Merlot can achieve when given the right supporting cast.