Beware With The '07 Flechas de Los Andes Gran Malbec

This is the kind of wine that it's available pretty much everywhere in the internet and, for example, at my Costco warehouse in Marina del Rey, CA. And because I don't want you to throw your money away (at Costco is less than U$ 15.00) or end up hating the wine, let's leave a couple of things clear about this malbec (which goes hand in hand with the previous post about decanting).

"Flechas de Los Andes' 2007 Gran Malbec spent 14 months in 33% new French oak, 33% second fill French oak, and 34% in stainless steel. Opaque purple-colored, it reveals a brooding bouquet of cedar, espresso, violets, and black cherry. Medium- to full-bodied, on the palate it borders on opulence, with layers of succulent fruit, a smooth texture, spicy flavors, and a lengthy finish. It admirably combines power and elegance. It also over delivers in a very big way. "
92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

What Parker's reviewers don't tell you if you read their notes at your local wine store, is this wine definitely needs decanting, and lots, lots of air if you are intending to uncork the bottle tonight. Look at what other people are saying:

This is one of those wines that takes a long time to become ready. This is a young wine that clearly in need of time and/or air. The nose on this dark garnet to black colored wine is screaming hot initially, after the heat dissipates, ripe plum, cherry, and cranberry fruit comes through, along with spice and pepper...

... However, once it gulps in enough air, like an oxygen starved diver, the wine turns into a balanced and mouth coating wine with cranberry, plum, and cherry flavors. The mid palate is still tannic, but not over the top, with balanced acidity, and mounds of spice. The finish is long and lingers on the palate after the wine is gone, with a cloud of dense cigar smoke, residual tannins, ripe plums, and distinct spice notes. Please, please open the bottle (...), and allow this wine to breathe for a good many hours. Otherwise, decant it and enjoy in a couple of hours. Either way, this wine can handle about anything you throw at it. This wine will not win an award for elegance or style. It is more of a leather bound brute, with an initial harsh attitude, that turns into a sweet smile... (Link)

More after the jump.

To Decant Or Not To Decant

Well known wine expert and writer Carolyn Evans Hammond gives a few excellent tips about decanting wines. Which wines should we decant?

"The short and probably surprising answer is, all red wines.  They’ll pretty much all improve and if they don’t, they’ll certainly not be any worse off.  And for good reason.

Decanting is quite simply pouring wine from the bottle to another vessel—be it a fancy decanter, regular glass jug, or another clean wine bottle.  And it’s done to either (a) separate the liquid from the sediment of old reds, or (b) to expose it to oxygen to release more flavour.  Sediment free and nicely-aerated mean better wine."

And what about young wines?

"The other reason to decant is to aerate wine.  It’s generally accepted among wine professionals all young reds improve with decanting—cheap or expensive...

... But aeration is a good thing with red wines and the best way to achieve it through decanting. To see for yourself, taste any of the newly released, totally underpriced bottles listed below before and after decanting.  I think you’ll be surprised..."

While we are here, Carolyn also drops a few notes about the Catena's '08 Alamos Malbec. Always a best buy. A perennial favorite.

"Alamos Malbec 2008, Mendoza, Argentina (LCBO#0467951 $13.95) Here is a brilliant version of Malbec at an incredible price. With dense notes of plum purée, black licorice, black pepper, tar, leather, and roses on the nose and palate, it is complex and smooth with firm, ripe tannins on the finish. Served with roasted meat, it’s hard to beat—especially decanted. Full-bodied with 13.5% alc."

Link to the story here.