In reading Leslie Sbrocco's book Wine For Women, Malbec is a traditional component in the blends of red Bordeaux and is famous as part of the “black wine” of France’s Cahors region (though rarely found in this country). Save for a few brave Californian and Chilean winemakers, Malbec is rarely bottled alone outside of Argentina.
Argentina’s top wine-growing regions are essentially high deserts with rocky soils, loads of sunshine, and dramatic differences in day and night temperatures. Malbec flourishes in these conditions, getting ultra ripe but maintaining vibrant levels of acidity and developing smooth, almost sweet tannins.
Malbec is like a cross between the intensity of Syrah and the finesse and brightness of Sangiovese. Its natural companion is beef, but it is found that Malbec is easily paired with duck, various cheeses and olives, pasta, pizza and other tomato based dishes like chicken cacciatore.
Tonight was a smaller gang and Andrew was the only guy who was able to make it (way to hang with the ladies, Andrew!). We missed all of the regulars but had a wonderful evening filled with good food, wonderful people, great conversation and of course, amazing wines!
Here are the wines in order of what we liked the most to the least (although it was difficult choosing because we enjoyed all of them very much!):
* Courtney Benham – Santa Ynez Valley – 2006 – California (Andrew) $15.99
* Atrium Georges Vigouroux – Vintage 2006 - Appellation Cahors Controlee – France (Erika) $11.99
* Cruz Alta – Reserve 2008 – Mendoza, Argentina (Erica) $12.99
I think it was a unanimous vote that there was not one bad bottle of wine in the bunch. With the coolness of the night and subtle sounds of the rain outside, it was an enjoyable evening learning all about Malbec.
Argentina’s top wine-growing regions are essentially high deserts with rocky soils, loads of sunshine, and dramatic differences in day and night temperatures. Malbec flourishes in these conditions, getting ultra ripe but maintaining vibrant levels of acidity and developing smooth, almost sweet tannins.
Malbec is like a cross between the intensity of Syrah and the finesse and brightness of Sangiovese. Its natural companion is beef, but it is found that Malbec is easily paired with duck, various cheeses and olives, pasta, pizza and other tomato based dishes like chicken cacciatore.
Tonight was a smaller gang and Andrew was the only guy who was able to make it (way to hang with the ladies, Andrew!). We missed all of the regulars but had a wonderful evening filled with good food, wonderful people, great conversation and of course, amazing wines!
Here are the wines in order of what we liked the most to the least (although it was difficult choosing because we enjoyed all of them very much!):
* Courtney Benham – Santa Ynez Valley – 2006 – California (Andrew) $15.99
* Atrium Georges Vigouroux – Vintage 2006 - Appellation Cahors Controlee – France (Erika) $11.99
* Cruz Alta – Reserve 2008 – Mendoza, Argentina (Erica) $12.99
I think it was a unanimous vote that there was not one bad bottle of wine in the bunch. With the coolness of the night and subtle sounds of the rain outside, it was an enjoyable evening learning all about Malbec.
