Malbec-Cheese Pairings

A partial list for the best cheeses to pair with a Malbec:

• Cashel Blue

Cashel Blue is a semi-soft blue cows’ milk cheese. It is unique, as it is Ireland’s first farmhouse blue cheese. While some milk is purchased, the majority of the milk comes from the pedigree Friesian dairy herd on the farm. The cheese is made from pasteurised whole milk. Much of the cheese is sold young, while it is firm and crumbly, but for a fuller flavour it is best eaten at about three months of age, when it has a softer texture and more mature flavour.

• Ibérico

Queso Ibérico is a cheese that comes from Central Spain. It is a hard cheese made from the mixture of cow's, sheep's ot goat's milk and that is why the flavour has elements of all three. Sometimes Queso Iberico is mistaken for Manchego. The affinage usually takes from one to six months. According to its texture, it ranks among hard cheeses. It is a table cheese but could be perfectly used for grating and grilling.
I personally called this cheese a "poor man" manchego, it is usually cheaper and milder in taste. Good value.

• Manchego

Manchego, the famous Spanish sheep's milk cheese, is made exclusively from the milk of sheep grazing upon the plains of La Mancha, the land of Don Quixote. Manchego, which could be made from pasteurized or raw milk, is nutty, sweet, and tangy with a firm texture. It ranges from mild to sharp, depending on how long it is aged.
Alongside Parmegiano Reggiano, Manchego is the CHEESE.

• Taleggio

Taleggio is a semi-soft, washed-rind cheese from the Valtaleggio region in northern Italy, near Lombardy. It is characteristically aromatic yet mild in flavor and features tangy, meaty notes with a fruity finish. The texture of the cheese is moist-to-oozy with a very pleasant melt-in-your-mouth feel.

Mendoza: Wine Region of the Year

Very good news indeed for Mendoza: Wine Enthusiast just came out with its Special Annual Awards issue, and they have named Mendoza Wine Region of the Year:

"Mendoza, Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Wine Region of the Year, is the heart, mind and soul of the Argentine wine industry, which has been growing by leaps and bounds in the past few decades. Approximately 80% of all wine made in Argentina hails from Mendoza, a province that sits at the eastern base of the Andes Mountains, roughly 650 miles west of Buenos Aires. Mendoza’s terroir is high desert, with vital water coming from Andean snowmelt."

And what about our favorite grape:

"The signature wine of Mendoza is Malbec, a runaway winner in export markets across the globe...
...Today Mendoza is a wine region on par with many of the best in the world."

A very deserving award to say the least. Without a doubt Mendoza is producing some amazing wines, and also it's a great place to visit.
Also Chile's Casa Lapostolle keeps receiving awards: after getting the top position in the List for the Best Wines of '08, now Wine Enthusiast named them New World Winery of the Year. Congratulations.

A Wine Guide for Thanksgiving

Another holiday, and always the same question: which wine should I serve to family and friends?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution just published a fun hour-by-hour wine guide to Thanksgiving Day with a capital "V": for value, now that we have to stretch every dollar.

"1 p.m.

Hugs and kisses are one thing, but nothing says “Welcome to our home, please stay a while,” like a glass of bubbly.

Spanish cavas offer some of your best values. Names to look for include Segurida Viuda and Marques de Gelida. These wines are all under $15."

Get ready your glasses... here comes the Malbec tips:

"3 p.m.

... A gruner veltliner from Austria is made from a completely different grape, but also has scintillating acidity and bright fruit flavors. I recently had a lovely-but-oddly named version called Gmork. It goes for $15.

While at the wine shop, head to the Argentine section for a malbec. Gascon and Tamari are names to check out, both under $15.

Also try: White —- Huber, Schwarzbock, and Laurenz und Sophie, all from Austria and under $20 a bottle; Valle de la Puerta Torrontes from Argentina ($10). Red —- malbec by Alamos, under $15."

An important note: Alamos and Gascon are value wines made by Catena Zapata.

Keep reading this very amusing guide by Gil Kulers, a certified wine educator with the Society of Wine Educators.

Norton '05 Malbec Reserva VS Lurton '05 Malbec Reserva

Now that the Norton Malbec Reserva '06 is just coming out in the US market, it's a good time to enjoy this showdown between two wines of the '05 vintage. While I haven't tried the '06 yet, I must say that I did not enjoy the Norton Reserva 2005 that much. The 2004 was a little gem of a wine, and absolute delight for only $11.50 at Costco a year ago. Brian Freedman does a great job in explaining many characteristics of the noble malbec grape.
Salud!

One More Reason to Try Malbecs

And the praise keeps rolling in for our favorite grape.

"Argentina has been making a name for itself over the past few years with its malbec. This varietal in the past was known as one of the five grapes used in a French Bordeaux. Argentina's malbec is standing on its own and becoming one of the most sought-after and highly rated wines from this area."

More from the Ventura County Star in CA.

More Good News for Your Wallet: Los Cardos Malbec 2007

The '06 was the best wine under 6 bucks, but now the '07 vintage is out and the reviews start pouring in. From longtime wine journalist Richard Kinssies (Seattle Post-Intelligencer):

Malbec, along with zinfandel and often syrah, is a blue-collar grape. It's always a bit edgy, with a good grip of tannins that never let it become too polished or formal. Los Cardos makes a textbook version of this grape with loads of fresh, brambly, black-fruit aromas and flavors that are mingled in with notes of spices and herbs - plus just enough of those tannins to maintain an edge.

And why the terroir of Lujan de Cuyo is the star of Doña Paula wines:

This is especially important in the area of Lujan de Cuyo, which is high above the city at about 3,000 feet (about as high as Snoqualmie Pass) and annually receives about 8 inches of water. Malbec, the country's best red grape, thrives there and Doña Paula sources grapes for its Los Cardos malbec from there.

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He has it listed at $10, but I suspect that you should be able to find for at least under $8. Though I am sure that my favorite wine store in LA will have it for under 6 bucks.

How Malbec went to Argentina

Interesting story...

In 1868, Professor Pouget introduced Malbec cuttings from Bordeaux to Argentina as well as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. In the warm and dry climate of South America, Malbec thrived.

Over the years, Malbec was planted on 150,000 acres. In the 1980's, the Argentinians pulled out so much vines that only 10,000 acres of Malbec was left. It is now back to 60,241 acres producing a rich and complex wine.

Best wine ever under 6 bucks?

After the financial meltdown (thanks W. for everything!) and the state of the economy right now, many wine drinkers are going crazy looking for bargains. And the Holy Grail is to find wines that cost less than $10 but they seem to be more expensive when you actually drink it. And the best choice far and away (and one that it will never disappoint you) is Doña Paula Malbec Los Cardos Lujan de Cuyo. Two months ago I bought six bottles for $5.99 each. Yes, less than 6 bucks, for a very juicy wine, with blackberry, some quince and plenty of plum.
This wine of great varietal character stands out for its aromatic expression, reflecting the typical characteristics of an Argentine Malbec wine. On the nose it opens with notes of red berries and plum. On the palate the wine is soft and fresh, full-bodied and very delightful.
If you are looking for something different for the turkey this is it... Wine Spectator said of the '06 vintage:

"Juicy, with lots of cherry and red plum fruit layered with a red licorice note. Has a sweet, round finish. 88pts."

and Wine Enthusiast gave it 85pts:

"Big and fruity, and for the most part holds together and exhibits more good qualities than its faults. The flavor profile drives full-bodied black fruit and a finish that cuts out quietly. Not over the top in any way."

Now, look at the ratings since 2001 from WS:

'01 87pts
'02 86pts
'03 87pts
'04 82pts
'05 87pts
'06 88pts
'07 85pts (just released)

If you want to know more about Doña Paula.

Achaval-Ferrer Altamira 2006 a 98 pointer?

Rumor are flying that the Achaval-Ferrer Finca Altamira Malbec 2006 could get a 98 rating from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.
Achaval-Ferrer is without a doubt Mendoza's best boutique winery, and they have ample distribution in the USA. The wine is pricey but you can get it for $75-$80 in good stores like this one. They don't have yet, and I already asked for two bottles. These are real "terroir" wines, wines that you can actually start enjoying at least 3 years after the original release date. Don't ever think of corking these wines before that. I made that costly mistake twice.

This is what I wrote in the Wine Spectator blog about their 2000 Quimera, a wine that I opened just three months ago:

"Wow!. I just opened a bottle this past weekend (04/2008) with short ribs, flank steak cooked over charcoal. I can't believe that James M. missed the mark so much with this wine. It was delicious! People at the party were asking me where they could get this little gem. The wine was elegant, compact with delicious satin like tannins, alongside milk chocolate. This wine could last another 6 years easy! I still have three more bottles. "

And Wine Spectator said:

Editor's Note: Smells like a raspberry and Port reduction, with concentrated aromas and gutsy black fruit flavors. There's a lot here, but it's a bit compact in the end, and lacks the definition of the best reds from this region. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2002.

Obviously I didn't agree.

An Alternative Drinking Option for Thanksgiving

Under the title: "Give Expressive Malbec a Try", The Ledger's Richard DeAngelis (Lakeland, FL) gives us a very clear case of why Malbec is a great option for Thanksgiving:

The wines range in styles, but the principal characteristics of Malbec are mocha and spicy vanilla aromatics giving way to dark black cherry, black berry and black raspberry. For the most part the wines are quite expressive without being too "big," as in too much alcohol. Most of the bottlings are medium bodied, in the 13 percent alcohol content range. This translates to being a good companion to food.

Ana what about the price range...

There are plenty of solidly made Malbecs in the $10 to $15 price point. When you are looking for something a little special, your dollar goes a long way in Argentina. The midrange offerings are "Killer!" Be choosy, there are a couple of large grocery-sized producers in Argentina.

More here.

Forget Beaujolois, and try a Malbec...

Thanksgiving and Malbecs

Respected journalist and expert Paul Gregutt from the Seattle Times has some great tips for the best wines for this "economy":

Continuing on the theme of last week — planning your Thanksgiving wines — here is Rule No. 3: Keep your red-wine choices fresh, versatile and inexpensive. Fresh, because young red wines are full of juicy berry fruit flavors that complement the bounty of the harvest, which is, after all, the underlying theme for the holiday feast. Versatile, because there are so many flavors going on — in spices, sauces, stuffing and side dishes — that your wines need to be able to go with the flow. And inexpensive, because thrift fits the current economy. And as an added bonus, value wines are most likely to be fresh and, yes, versatile.

And here the recommendations:

Argentine malbec is surefire. Some favorites in the budget category: Alamos Malbec ($10), Altas Cumbres Malbec ($10), AltoSur Malbec ($10), Altos Las Hormigas Malbec ($10), Conquista Malbec ($8), Doña Paula Los Cardos Malbec ($9), Doña Paula Estate Malbec ($12), Fantelli Malbec ($8), Tilia Malbec ($10), Trumpeter Malbec ($9) and Zolo Malbec ($11).

Complete article:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/wineadviser/2008407722_winecol19.html

Be sure that you read the whole thing. Paul makes some interesting points.

Congratulations to Chile's Clos Apalta

In a surprise but deserving move, a wine from Chile got the top spot for Wine Spectator best wine of 2008:

Casa Lapostolle
Clos Apalta Colchagua Valley 2005

Link: http://top100.winespectator.com/wineOfTheYear-2008.html

This wine has been constantly getting rave reviews since 2001. It's good to see this recognition going to a wine from the New World. It will open the eyes of many consumers to the undiscovered wonders of the new regions.

5 Malbecs in Wine Spectator's 100 List for 2008

The long awaited Wine Spectator's 100 list for 2008 is finally out and 5 Malbecs made it.

No. 38 92pts $25 Bodega Colomé Malbec Calchaquí Valley 2006 (Salta, Northern Argentina)
N0. 64 96pts $112 Achával-Ferrer Malbec Mendoza Finca Altamira 2006
No. 53 90pts $18 François Pelissié Cahors Croix du Mayne 2005 (Southwest France)
No. 66 92pts $30 Altocedro Malbec La Consulta Reserva 2006 (Mendoza)
No. 82 93pts $35 Luca Malbec Uco Valley 2007 (Mendoza)

Here it's the link:
http://top100.winespectator.com/

I was surprised not to see a Catena made the list, despite the wonderful 2005 vintage, and to see a malbec from Cahors, France the only place outside Argentina where Malbec really shines.

Why Malbec?

I love wine. Any wine. Any grape. Any region. Period. But somehow I've fallen in love with the Malbec grape. I just don't think that there is another red grape so versatile, that you can either drink alone, or accompany with any food. Any food. And that's for me is what wine is all about: enjoy and seize the moment with family and friends sharing food and a table. And Malbec (with maybe the exception of Pinot Noir) is the wine that everyone will like. I am not an expert, nor work in the industry. I am just here to provide a forum and some information and guidance to the thousands of Americans consumers that are discovering these wines every day.


To My Mom, thanks for teaching me about food and the magic of sharing a home cooked meal with family and friends. Love you...