Dark, Powerful & Red Velvet Malbecs

[Margi Cintrano]

Buon Giorno, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The extraordinaire expression of the Argentinian Malbec grape variety was not an instant success in Argentina. Old vines were grubbed up to make room for Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It was the result of adaption to the environment and terrior which is in high altitude which has brought out this flavorful dark, powerful and velvety red. The grape is originally from France, however, it is used in Multi Varietals. In Argentina, it is predominately employed as a Mono Varietal. Here are some which I believe are exported to the USA ... and the UK ...

Is anybody a fan of Argentinian Reds ? Would love to hear your feedback.

argentinian malbec red recommendations

1) LUCA MALBEC - UCO VALLEY : espresso and spice notes, with boysenberry and shiso leaf aromas

2) TIKAL MALBEC MENDOZA NATURAL : ripe plum and blackberry mature fruit and licorise hints with a long finish

3) VIÑA COBOS MALBEC - UCO VALLEY BRAMARE : This unique red possesses a cocoa infused finish and dark plum and boysenberry notes

4) POESIA CLOS DES ANDES RESERVA MENDOZA 2006 : this blackberry bouquet with tannins that frame finish and linger with a subtle licorise is just what one would enjoy with a prime rib or filet mignon ...

5) DOMINIO DEL PLATA - MALBEC MENDOZA BEN MARCO 2009 : Framed with a subtle woodsy finish, this ripe black fruit Malbec is luscious.

6) ARGENTO MALBEC SAINSBURY : Produced by Catena Winery who is a pioneer of the single varietal Malbec in Argentina. This wine possesses a hint of cocoa and spice in the finish.

7) SAINSBURY FINCA FLICHMAN MISTERIO MALBEC : Intense black violet in hue, with a kiss of vanilla, and loaded with ripe fruit, is a lovely wine with your beef.

8) TERRAZAS DE LOS ANDES RESERVA MALBEC : This wine had been produced 1.000 metres above sea level in the Andean foothills of Argentina. A well structured silky mouthfeel red, with cocoa that wraps itself around the luscious red cherry fragrant fruit.

Would love to discuss Argentinian Malbec Wines ...

Ciao, and a lovely Sunday to all,
Margi.

 

[Steve Kroll]

I tend to stick with producers I find to be consistently good from year to year. A few of my favorites are Achával-Ferrer, Bodega Colomé, and Altos Las Hormigas. All make excellent Malbec, including several priced in the under $20 range.

For simple and inexpensive everyday table wine, Trapiche and Alamos are pretty decent as well. They can also be found virtually anywhere.

 

[Margi Cintrano]

Steve: Always Appreciate Your Knowledge

Buonasera Steve,

Thank you for your feedback and as always, I truly appreciate your wine savvy.

Yes, in Spain or Italia, I tend to purchase wines as you do, with knowledge of the winery and / or oenologist.

However, with the amount of importing Spain does with Argentina, it is quite small, however, excellent harvest qualification years, and thus, the prices are a bit steep in comparison to same qualification of Spanish varieties. I happen to truly enjoy the Malbec Mono Varietal none the less.

The most reasonable priced one we shared was from CONCHA Y TORO and furthermore, I have heard the Malbec Grape is doing quite well in Chile ...

Any news on Chile producing Malbec Mono Varietals to date ?

Ciao,
Margi.
Kind regards.
Margi.

 

[Steve Kroll]

Hi Margi,

Good question. Two years ago, I purchased 250 pounds of Malbec grapes that were grown in Chile (our grape distributor ships in Chilean wine grapes in the spring - Cab Sauv, Merlot, Carménère) and made some of my own. So, yes, I know they grow Malbec in Chile, but strangely enough, I can't recall ever tasting a commercially produced Chilean Malbec wine. I'll have to keep my eyes open.

We like Concha y Toro, too. They are another good value producer.

Steve

 

[Margi Cintrano]

Hi Steve,

Thanks so much for your feedback. Yes, Toro y Concha is a good standard value.

It is amazing that you are able to create artisanial wines in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where the weather can be quite bitterly cold, prone to blizzards and wet ...

The Concha y Toro I had tasted was made in Chile, not Argentina: Single Lot Malbec Oddbins and the enologist is Marcello Papa. It shows promise ... Though, the ones I had when we lived in Buenos Aries were phenomenal ... The ones I have tasted here in Madrid are pricey, however, exemplary.

The Vet ( Filippo ) is a specialist in Cattle Medicine and Birthing Defects.

Thus, we had lived in Punta de Este, Uruguay long before it had become the Santa Barbara of Uruguay, Sao Paulo, Brazil and Buenos Aries ... ( 3 years ).

Here in the Mediterranean, harvest time is usually September October ... though some Appellations, have late August harvests depending on climate.

When are your grapes ready for harvest and what do you have planted ?

T.U. for your feedback.
Ciao,
Margi.

 

[Steve Kroll]

I grow three varieties of black grapes: Frontenac, Marquette, and Petite Pearl. All are French-American hybrids. Our climate here in the northern US is too cold for most pure European grape varieties. Some, like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, can be grown, but they require a great deal of protection to survive winter freezes.

Below is a photo of my youngest vines, the Petite Pearls. They are four years old and this year will be the first harvest. Petite Pearl is a new grape variety. It's a hybrid of Pinot Noir, but bred with cold climate varieties to survive severe winters. I have some of the first vines of this variety ever released to the public.

We harvest in September/October, same as you.

 

[Margi Cintrano]

Steve,

Thanks so much for posting your beautiful Petite Pearls ... Wonderful ... I wish you all the best for an exemplary harvest.

You´ll have to send over a bottle !

Kind Regards.
Margi

 

[Margi Cintrano]

Steve,

I have also created a Chilean Wine Thread ... However, due to so many members posting today, it is not showing on active discussions yet.

Have nice evening.
Margi.

 

[Sir_Loin_of_Beef]

I have had several very good Argentine Malbecs, as well as some very good Argentine Torrontés, but I never wrote down the names. One Argentine wine brand that comes to mind is Doña Paula, because I have a bottle in my cellar. Malbec is my go-to wine for heavy beef dishes such as steak or roast beef.

What I can say is, in my opinion, the Malbecs from Mendoza are better than the Malbecs from Salta, while the opposite is true for Torrontés. The 7,000 ft elevation makes a big difference in the crispness of the Torrontés.

I understand Red Rock Winery in Sonoma County California makes a Malbec, but I have yet to find one in any wine shop I frequent or at any of the wine festavils I have attended. I just may have to order a bottle on line.

 

[Margi Cintrano]

Sir Lion of Beef.

Thanks so much for your feedback.

Have a lovely 4th July.
Margi.

 

[Sir_Loin_of_Beef]

Eureka! I finally found a bottle of California Malbec. It's a Reserve 2010 Red Rock Sonoma Malbec, and of all places to find it, it was in my regular groshree store!

I'm going to wait until I have a dinner heavily invested in beef to open it. Maybe I'll pick up a beef roast next time I go shopping.

 

[Margi Cintrano]

Sir Lion of Beef,

I have always been quite an explorer, and you maybe surprised what one can find in a tiny Grocer´s or small Deli ... Stuff that they do not even know the value of and / or what they may of forgotten, as they have so many clients to deal with ...

California is like Penedès, in Catalonia, as it produces uncountable grape varieties ...

Enjoy and Happy 4th,
Margi.

 

[Steve Kroll]

California doesn't grow a lot of Malbec, and most of it ends up in their Meritage blends. But there are several wineries that bottle it as a varietal. One of the Sonoma vineyards that I've purchased grapes from in the past, Windsor Oaks, has a block of Malbec vines. Their 2008 Malbec took a gold medal in the San Francisco Chronicle competition last year.

 

[Margi Cintrano]

Steve,

Thanks for your feedback.

Pleased to hear the good news on the California Appellation 2008 Gold Medal Award in San Francisco.

I agree that both France and California usually employ the Malbec Grapes in a Varietal verses Argentina. The Argentinians have been producing 100% Malbec in Mendoza. Furthermore, they too have been growing other varieties in the high plateaus of the Andes ... With so much climatic change, wine growers are adapting new agricultural and oenological methods ...

As I know you are aware living in Minnesota ... Cold winters ...

As I had mentioned to you in an earlier thread, Chile is growing Malbec and Gerwütraminer ! See Chile Thread ...

Kind regards,
Ciao, Happy 4th,
Margi.

 

[Sir_Loin_of_Beef]

Today is the day!

Sunday Dinner will be grilled rib eye steaks; twice baked potatoes stuffed with sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon and chives; maple orange glazed carrots; and my brand new best friend, the 2010 Red Rock Winery California Malbec Reserve.

I'll let you know how it compares to the Argentine Malbecs.

 

[Margi Cintrano]

Sir Lion Of Beef: How did the Malbec pair ?

Hope your dinner was very special ... How did the Malbec pair ?

Would enjoy hearing your viewpoint ?

Ciao, Have nice Tuesday.
Kind regards,
Margi.

 

[Sir_Loin_of_Beef]

The California Malbec was excellent! It was a deep purple, and the initial taste was acidic, with a silkiness in the mouth missing from a cabernet sauvignon or a pinot noir. There were hints of deep red fruit such as blackberry and plum, well rounded tanins, and a chocolatey finish. I won't hesitate to buy another bottle and I'll be proud to cellar it with my Argentine Malbecs.

So now I will have to go out and hunt down a Chilean Malbec to compare with both the Argentine and the California examples.

 

[Margi Cintrano]

Sir Lion Of Beef: Thanks so much for the wine review

Truly appreciate your wine review ... Sounds wonderful. I jotted down the name of the Californian Malbec, and shall check with my wine distributor contacts.

I shall look forward to hearing about Chilean Malbec Reds too ...

Kind regards,
Ciao. Margaux.

 

[Janet H]

I LOVE malbecs and here in Washington state they are rapidly gaining traction with local vintners. One of my favorites is made by Barnard Griffin and loaded with berry flavors. You just want to lick the glass out to get the very last bit.

 

[Margi Cintrano]

Janet H. : Thanks so much for your Recommendation

Janet, Buonasera,

Firstly, thanks so much for your recommendation and feedback.

When I visit the USA, I always look for Washington State wines ... I have had many that are absolutely wonderful.

They are quite scant on this side of the blue pond, however, I know numerous Wine Distributors in the restaurant and bar biz, so it never hurts to ask ... Lavinia ( www.lavinia.es ) is a French Retail wine market, with a California, Washington & Oregon section as well as Canadian Ice Wines, so I also shall have a look when I return from Puglia.

I am leaving for Puglia tomorrow ... And shall return to Madrid at end of August.

Have lovely summer.
Margi. Ciao.