Alamos Malbec Speaks Very Good Italian

James Laube (Wine Spectator) finds an Alamos Malbec 2008 in an Italian Restaurant near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and he really enjoys it:

"...The list had about 50 wines, with the selection anchored by some nice Argentine reds. I opted for the recently released Alamos Malbec 2008, from the Luján de Cuyo area of Mendoza, for 365 pesos, or about $33; Wine Spectator has reviewed previous vintages of Alamos wines, owned by the Catena family, quite favorably. The Malbec added just the right touch of richness, spice and complexity to give the dinner another dimension. I rated it 90 points, non-blind, and drank another glass the next day for lunch with a slice of leftover lasgana. It held up nicely..."

Catena's Alamos is a consistent performer in every vintage. Whether you tried their Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda or even the Pinot Noir, you'll never be dissappointed. Very good value, indeed!

Wall Street Journal's List of The Best Values For '09

The Wall Street Journal just came out with their list of the Best Values for 2009. And once again Argentinian Malbec is topping the list, with Altos Las Hormigas '07 and Trapiche Oak Cask '06.

"...In our tasting, we found that most Malbecs retain their distinctive, meaty tastes. We described them as "interesting wines, with spicy, black-pepper tastes, some blackberries, good acidity and crisp edges. The good ones taste like ripe fruit and earth, maybe with some sage or rosemary. Excellent with beef and grilled vegetables..."

What worries me is this:

"...More bottles than we would have guessed tasted like bulk wines, without enough character, so it's time to raise a little bit of a yellow flag."

Malbec is one the hottest wines around. No question about it. But consumers need to be careful and do some research before buying a bottle. Or go with a trusted producer. Some of the negociants, importers and argentine producers are just chasing a quick buck and you can get cheated. Be careful and read the labels. Just because the words Mendoza, Argentina or Malbec appeared on the bottle, it is not a good enough reason to buy the wine.
Link to the story here. 

An Amarone Like Malbec

The Enamore 2007 is a one of a kind wine: an Amarone-style Malbec. This is a red wine made from naturally dried grapes using the appassimento technique. It is a joint venture between the renowned amarone producer Italien Allegrini and ReNacer of Mendoza.

The wine is a blend of 50% Malbec, 25% Syrah, 22% Bonarda, and 3% Cabernet Franc. The wine was aged in French oak barriques for 12 months. The grapes were from Perdriel, 900 metres with medium soils, Medrano, 800 metres with rich soils, and Rivadavia, 600 metres with poor soils. The vineyards are more than 50 years old and yield less than 5 tonnes per hectare. The grapes were hand harvested and dried by exposing them to the dry winds of the Andean foothills until they lost about a third of their weight. The must was macerated for ten days and native yeasts were used for fermentation for 90 days in stainless steel tanks which were kept between 27 and 29 degrees.
It retails for about U$ 30 a bottle. Jay Miller from the Wine Advocate said:

"... A glass-staining opaque purple, it offers up a fragrant perfume of cedar, spice box, lavender, damp earth, and black cherry. Opulent on the palate, it is dense and sweetly-fruited with complex black fruit flavors, plenty of spice, ripe tannin, and a lengthy finish. Cellar it for 2-3 years and drink it from 2011 to 2019. (92 pts)"

Malbec Quickies

Our malbec world news round up:

-Malbec is now coming in 1L Tetra Pak and the critics are liking it.

"...Made from organic grapes, this Malbec will not only stand up to heavier foods, but it’s incredibly convenient and has the bonus of having two more glasses of wine in it versus a regular glass bottle making it perfect for larger groups..."

-Malbec as Viagra? Very funny book review about Jennifer Rosen's "The Cork Jester's Guide To Wine."

-In Baltimore, Malbec is a sensation. It is the most demanded wine-by-the-glass across the restaurants.

-A Malbec from Patagonia and a white Catena's Alamos Torrentes 2008, two good choices for Christmas Eve dinner. And all for less than U$ 10.

Do You Know Of Any Other Grape That Has A Band?

Well, I certainly never heard of The Cabernet's, or The Mellow Merlot's. Ladies and Gentlemen, the malbec grape doesn't stop gaining admiration from fans. People just love the grape and its juice. Here is Malbec, the Band:

Pablo Signori is the heart and soul of this L.A. based Band, which plays a mix of rock-hip-hop-pop music and it was formed in 2003.
And why the name?

Where did you guys come up with the name Malbec?
Truthfully we were having a difficult time coming up with a name.  I mean we tried hundreds of names with nothing we could agree on.  Pablo had just gotten back from Argentina at the time and suggested the name Malbec, the “national” wine of Argentina.  His cousin owns a Bodega down there.  We felt it not only sounded cool but also represented a part of some of the members heritage.  Pablo’s parents are from Argentina as well as part of Sam’s family.

Do you drink Malbec wine?
Definitely. Pablo more than the rest of us.  Coincidentally we found out the term “Malbec mouth” refers to the purple shade ones teeth turns when drinking wine.

Their music has been featured in movies and commercials, and they seem to have quite a following. You can download a couple of songs for free from their website.
More info about the band here.
Interview with the band here.

Six Grapes Together After More Than 50 Years

The six noble grapes of Bordeaux are together for this first time in many years. Yorkville Cellars (Mendocino County, CA) just announced the release of six varietal wines planted in the same vineyard from the same vintage year (2006). It is believed to be the first time ever that a winery produces bottles of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenere, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
From owner Edward Wallo: “As far as we have been able to determine, Yorkville is the only vineyard where all six of these classic grapes are grown side by side and bottled as individual varietal wines. This allows one to compare the unique qualities of each varietal while not being influenced by different growing conditions, regions, or wine-making techniques.” 
More info here.

Best Red Wine Under U$20

Men's Health magazine lists the 125 Best Grocery Foods. And in the category Best Red Wine Under U$20 the award goes to...:

"Salentein Malbec Reserve 2006
This succulent South American red pairs well with a nice slab of red meat."
Only 97 calories per 4 fl oz.

And the good news keep coming for Bodega Salentein. The same malbec is listed as one of the Top 5 Holiday Gift Ideas for Executives.

Malbec Quickies

Our malbec world news roundup:

-Turkey dinner? Try malbec says wine blogger PaulG. And a good list of Washington malbecs and argentinian ones

-Review of the 2006 Tierra Secreta Malbec (link)

-An afternoon at Bodegas Finca Flichman in Mendoza by blogger Eleuthera (link). I talked about Finca Flichman before, and here you have some very interesting comments from the Chief Winemaker of this Portuguese owned winery Luis Cabral de Almeida (a "pretty hot man" in the words of the writer):

Several years ago a friend tried to tell me how great the Argentinian (and Chilean) Malbecs were, but I wouldn't even taste them. However, the grape I knew from living in Bordeaux was a far cry from the one I finally tasted in South America: Malbecs from Argentina are rich, jammy, and luscious with some surprising complexity. Malbec thrives in Argentina, Luis explained, because of the low humidity. This explains their ability to get the delightful jammy qualities which I thoroughly enjoy.

Malbec Finds A Cozy Home In Washington State

After reading that their malbec got some some awards at a Pacific Northwest Competition, I was curious enough to get in contact with the owner/winemaker of Upland Winery Todd Newhouse. He was kind enough to send me a response and I wanted to share a couple of points with you, the reader.
I believe that in every aspect our world is a better place when there is diversity.  Diversity is what makes this country a place I love and respect. Diversity is what makes our life a little more interesting and enjoyable. Diversity is the key of a better future, both socially and economically.
I love malbec not matter where it comes from. Diversity is so much fun with malbec because it's very easy to tell the difference between Mendoza, or the Valle of Cafayate (Salta), or Patagonia, or Cahors in the SW of France, or Chile, or now Washington State (I haven't tried one from there). From a grape that fail so miserably in Bordeaux is quite an accomplishment.
There is no doubt in my mind that malbec is the grape of the future. It's the only red grape (with maybe Pinot Noir, but its wines are more expensive) that men and women alike can enjoy together at the same time. And doesn't matter if you are a beginner or an old wine connoisseur, with malbec wines there is always something for everyone. You could say it is a very "democratic wine". It appeals to everyone, and it is affordable. A pair of short ribs (U$ 4.50 a pound ), a tomato salad (U$ 1 a pound) and a Malbec for let's say U$15- U$20 and you have an unforgettable dinner.
But going back to Upland Winery's Todd Newhouse and his Washington State Malbec:

"...Our Malbec has a thick, fruity nose with so much going on that it is hard to pin-point but definately has plum, blackberry, and hints of coffee and chocolate which also translates to the palate. The tannins are definately there, but very well managed. Color is inky/dark. I can only compare it with a couple Mendoza wines that I have had and I think our Malbec is not quite as "big" as those (probably lower alcohol) but has more complexity with numerous stages from start to finish, and the finish on our Malbec is more elegant..."

The vineyards are located in a section of the Yakima Valley known as Snipes Mountain (elevation between 750 and 1300 feet) and Upland is the only grape growing winery in the area. 

"...Washington is absolutely perfect for Malbec.  No rainfall during the growing season and very hot summers.  You will be hearing a lot more about Malbecs from Washington in the future, I'm sure..."

Todd is very much optimistic about their future. Our best wishes to him and we hope to get soon Washington malbecs here in Southern Cal.  Salud Todd!

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Malbec Quickies

Welcome to our world news roundup:
-New York Times Style Magazine (link here) goes deep into the most historic Buenos Aires' barrios (neighborhoods) and gives us very good tips not found in mainstream travel books.  If you like photography don't miss some truly great pictures.

"...Forget the martini bars and sushi joints. The real Buenos Aires resides in its bodegones, neighborhood restaurants steeped in what it means to be argentine..." (or "porteño" I would add). 

Wine reviews:
-2006 Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec
-Chakana Yaguareté Collection Malbec 2009
-Chakana Reserva Malbec 2008, Chakana Yaguaraté Collection Bonarda 2009, and Patagonia Pinot Noir by Familia Schroeder. After my post yesterday about argentinian bonarda take a look at the review for the Chakana Bonarda. From Michael Pinkus, the Grape Guy.