Open Mike: Malbec from Argentina.

There seems to have been a fair amount of interest in Malbec this past week or so on WLDG so I have gathered up a possee and we appear set to go!!
I think Catena and Dona Paula would make for some enjoyable swishing and swirling, but if there is any other winery that drives you on, by all means taste. No rules, no time limit so enjoy.
I will try to google some informative websites and will post as time allows, so see you all here in the next few days/weeks!!

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malbec

Here are some brief tasting notes from a tasting I co-hosted the other week at a local winestore.

`04 Chakana Reserve Malbec (Mendoza).

Interesting label, the Chakana or "square cross" was a symbol of the universe for the ancient inhabitanats of the Andes. The nose was very peppery with some licorice, pepper and blackberry. Colour was quite intense with very little red showing. On the palate, I found it all quite tannic and sure needs time. The blackberry was enticing with hints of cocoa but oh so tight overall. Give this one 3 yrs in the cellar! Cost $22 Cdn.

In comparision, here is a Malbec from S France that I know a few forumites are keen on!

`03 Clos la Coutale (Cahors).

This is a blend of 70% malbec and 15% tannat. Think the tannat will give this wine the aging potential one can experience with Cahors.

Medium ruby colour, violet rim. General consensus about the nose-spicy, perfumed, floral typical terroir nuances! On the palate, not a silky-velvity wine, quite individual with big tannins (old barrels/earthy). I have a couple of earlier vintages in the cellar, probably ready about now. Cost these days $20 Cdn.

Broquel Malbec '04:

On the nose, raspberry jam and toast, not unlike a recently-tasted Carmenere. Hmmm. Some mulberry/blueberry and plummy notes on the palate, very "modern" style, fruit almost glossy in the mouth. Some chocolate and smoke on the finish, along with a quite Italianate bitterness. If it had been a bit less fruit-forward, it might have passed for a Barbera. Around $16.

Broquel is the "premium" label for Trapiche; according to Frederick Wildman, the fruit comes from a single vineyard, "Las Palmas," in the Maipu district of Mendoza.

I have to add that I am not a "believer" in Argentine Malbec. Robert Parker is on record as saying that Malbec will soon be recognized as a "noble" varietal. Personally, I can't see it. I have yet to taste an Argentine Malbec that was anything other than a solid "B." Nothing wrong with that, but not exactly taking the breath away, either.

Thanks for the notes Dave and I too have noticed some bitterness on a few finishes. Trapiche is a well established winery, your notes might indicate a more modern/accessible style?
Hopefully Alej will be along to add some comments for us.

Well, I cohosted a wine basics course downtown and a very enjoyable evening it was to! Took a bottle of the newly arrived `04 Catena Malbec to share with the staff at the Grill up the street.

WTN: `04 Catena Malbec, Mendoza.

Colour. Deep garnet with nice purple rim. Quite an intense centre here.

Nose. Brooding/earthy/savoury/leather/oak. Other comments include lead pencil/minerally. All were impressed! I thought there was some boysenberry here(?).

Palate. Ripe/plums/chocolate/oak. Supple tannin structure for a newer vintage/some bitterness/long spicy finish. One taster thought med bodied, nice depth but where`s the pepper?
Many not too familar with Malbec so they learnt something I hope! For me, quite enjoyable but I like a bit of age. I do have the `03 lined up along with a `99 Dona Paula.


Found another website of interest..................


http://www.welcomeargentina.com/vino/mendoza_i.html

Three weeks ago I stopped by VinoVino, a Tribeca wine store and wine bar, organized according to principles enunciated by Andrea Robinson. As I was leaving, I asked for a "nice wine" under screw cap. At first a very nice young lady thought I wanted an ice wine, but we sorted out that problem and she offered me a Laurel Glen 2003 "Terra Rosa" Mendoza Malbec Argentina for $12.00. U.S. importer: Laurel Glen Winery, Santa Rosa, Calif.

This was a lovely choice: Inky dark purple, deep hue, very aromatic scents of dark fruits, especially plums, and dark chocolate, just a hint of tar; very good fruit tastes with pepper and chocolate notes; good acidity; firm tannins but well balanced by the fruit and acidity; medium mouth feel; long, long finish with good fruit, spice and that lemony acidity. A great QPR, and a very nice wine with two slices of late night cheese pizza. Best of all as "Wine Enthusiast" says: "you'll never say "corchado" after opening it." Lovely now, but the stuffings to last for several years. 4*.

Notes:

Winery: While all of our Argentine Terra Rosa cabernets have been reinforced with a healthy measure of Malbec, this is our first actual Terra Rosa Malbec.

Why malbec?

It’s planted sixteen times more abundantly than cabernet in Mendoza.

We farm scores of hectares of 50+ year old vineyards.

It grows brilliantly in Mendoza’s sparse, mineral rich soils.

It’s truly delicious.

It’s time

Taste it: you expect a massive, bold wine, but it is surprisingly lilting on the palate. It’s not larded up with oak, although it has been raised in barrels for eighteen months to provide its frame and to round it out. The finish is long, with pure fruit flavors. The vineyards of Mendoza are irrigated with water straight from the Andes: the old timers swear you can taste the minerality of the rocks the water has eroded. In this wine, you can. Four descriptors: density, lightness, purity, minerality.

MALBEC IN 4 EASY LESSONS http://www.laurelglen.com/malbec_lessons.html

WINE ENTHUSIAST. Argentina's Top Internationally Influenced Wines - Pure and linear, without a spot of funk or wayward oak. The nose is beefed up with aromas of tar, smoke, leather and blackberry, yet the palate is a bit candied. Easygoing enough to rank as a top-shelf everyday wine. And you'll never say "corchado" after opening it; it's sealed with a screw cap." Best value of all the 12 wines to make the list.

STEVE TANZER. "Black raspberry, licorice, tobacco, leather and meat. Fat, dense and supple ....with brooding flavors of black fruits, leather and licorice lingering nicely on the finish. The tannins are sweet."

Excellent posting Bob!! Have to rush but will check in later.

One kinda neat sideline of your Open Mike, Bob, there's a sort of race to have the highest vineyard in the world among Argentine producers. Here's a short extract from Jancis Robinson:

Altitude has become the big status symbol among Mendoza's wine producers, each daring to plant slightly higher than his neighbour (there is hardly a female presence in this macho wine country). Vineyards are commonly higher than 3300 feet (in much of Europe 1600 feet is thought of as an upper limit to reliable ripening) and many vines are now being planted as high as 5000 feet. Precise altitudes are given on the labels of many a fine Argentine wine, and have even formed part of the names of the concentrated reds made by the LVMH/Chandon still wine subsidiary in Mendoza and sold as, for example, 'Terrazas de los Andes Gran Malbec 1997 Las Compuertos Vineyard 1076 metres' (3550 feet).

I'm not sure who claims the title now; and there are other contenders: see this note by Jamie Goode, for example:

http://www.wineanorak.com/blog/2006/06/ ... ghest.html

Claes Lofgren's website is always worth a visit; the pictures change often and are of a very professional character:

http://www.winepictures.com/

Regards, Bob

I recently read somewhere that some wineries are promoting their high locations on the back labels. Alej too has mentioned this, blending grapes from higher elevations with grapes from lower down the valley/whatever.
Will do a google to see who else produces malbec in California??

OK here is what I found.........

http://www.cawinemall.com/variety/malbec.html

One has to scroll down a little. There is also a Malbec from Clay Station, Lodi (Delicato).

I hope this link works. A classic tale from Manuel Cambor about a visit to BA.

http://www.wineloverspage.com/user_subm ... 50675.html

Lots of restaurant and wine stories during a stay in the city.

**** I have just opened a `99 Malbec from Dona Paula, the acidity seems to be taking over but there is some cigar box on the finish. I will post detailed notes within 24 hrs.

Broquel Malbec '04:

On the nose, raspberry jam and toast, not unlike a recently-tasted Carmenere. Hmmm. Some mulberry/blueberry and plummy notes on the palate, very "modern" style, fruit almost glossy in the mouth. Some chocolate and smoke on the finish, along with a quite Italianate bitterness. If it had been a bit less fruit-forward, it might have passed for a Barbera. Around $16.

Broquel is the "premium" label for Trapiche; according to Frederick Wildman, the fruit comes from a single vineyard, "Las Palmas," in the Maipu district of Mendoza.

I have to add that I am not a "believer" in Argentine Malbec. Robert Parker is on record as saying that Malbec will soon be recognized as a "noble" varietal. Personally, I can't see it. I have yet to taste an Argentine Malbec that was anything other than a solid "B." Nothing wrong with that, but not exactly taking the breath away, either.

Dave-- Broquel is not one of the premium wines from Trapiche. Its actually a label from its entry level offering. Just as a reference, its retail price in Buenos Aires is less than US$6. If you wish to sample some of the best wines made by Trapiche, I suggest you watch out for the Iscay (blend of Malbec and Merlot), or the Medalla (blend of Cabernet Malbec and Merlot).

Parker's enthusiasm for Malbec is based on some of the best wines made in Argentina. These are high end wines that are produced in small quantities, are mostly very highly rated and are expensive. Should you be interested in some of the wines in these segments, here are some names to look out for:

Catena Alta
Luca Malbec
Achaval Ferrer Finca Altamira
Achaval Ferrer Finca Mirador
Viña Cobos Malbec Marchiori Vineyard
Miguel Escorihuela Gascon

Thanks Alej, expect a flurry of tasting notes this weekend!! My next one, the `03 Catena after I have posted on the `99 Dona Paula

There seems to have been a fair amount of interest in Malbec this past week or so on WLDG so I have gathered up a possee and we appear set to go!!
I think Catena and Dona Paula would make for some enjoyable swishing and swirling, but if there is any other winery that drives you on, by all means taste. No rules, no time limit so enjoy.
I will try to google some informative websites and will post as time allows, so see you all here in the next few days/weeks!!

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malbec

Hey Bob,
Thanks for launching this open mike.
Like you I'm prepping for a malbec tasting note "flurry" of my own.
Talk to you later, Aaron.

This note is a little dated, Bob, but it has a personal value -- it helped me get comfortable on my first air flight after 9/11.

10/3/01 1999 Rutini Trumpeter Malbec Vistalba Argentina. Imported by Billington, Springfield VA. Continental's notes, cribbed I'm pretty sure from an earlier Parker note: deep ruby color with purple nuances. The nose offers up black raspberry and blackberry scents. There is medium body, excellent purity, and a silky texture, with light tannin in the finish. This offering is unlikely to win awards for complexity, but it is a competently made wine that delivers good fruit and pleasure for a sensible price.

My notes: Deep purple red color; limited aroma, a bit vinegary, but exceptional taste, rich and long lasting, medium mouth feel, light tannin – a very good airline wine. 3*.

[In my world, any "very good airline wine" is very high praise. The low humidity in modern cross country airliners makes it very hard for the wine to deliver aroma to the nose, and very hard for the nose to do its work well.]

Billington is still importing this wine, and the wine sounds like it is still a "very good airline wine."

Regards, Bob

Following up on the `99 posting by our good friend Bob Ross, I have just finished the `99 Dona Paula Malbec. On reflection, after seeing the comments and tasting notes on the `03`s etc, I wondered about an older wine from Mendoza.
Opened 5 hrs, not decanted and drunk over a two day period. 14.5% alc. Cost was around $16.00 Cdn.

WTN: `99 Dona Paula Malbec, Mendoza.

Color. Medium cherry/plum, tinges of watery purple on the rim. No sign of any bricking, good!

Nose. At first very restrained with a slight vegetal hint. Cherry and a hint of tar, maybe stewed prunes too. There is a definate hint of alcohol here.

Palate. I have never tasted an aged Malbec so feel somewhat intimidated! Some nice complexity and ripeness but seems to have some excess acidity with all the air. It is not hot despite a friends comment, plum cherry and no real sign of decline. It all seems a bit thin to one taster and has lost the tannic grip that was obviously there on release.I found it drinkable and smooth around the edges, found some blackberry and cigar box as the dregs were drained! No sediment noted.
Pretty confusing thoughts eh, hope Alej can help with some thoughts on aged Malbecs?

Very timely thread. I'm hosting another wine tasting in 3 weeks and I'm bringing a Malbec. I look forward to the recommendations.

While both the Rutini Trumpeter and the Doña Paula are good QPR wines, I dont think they are the best examples to test how Malbecs will age longer term in the cellar. Many less expensive Malbecs are unable to evolve from a basic fruit forward juice, and should not be expected to develop complexity. When these Malbecs lose most of their fruit, they lose a good portion of their appeal. I would not cellar the two above mentioned wines for longer than 4 years from release, these wines are better enjoyed young.

While both the Rutini Trumpeter and the Doña Paula are good QPR wines, I dont think they are the best examples to test how Malbecs will age longer term in the cellar. Many less expensive Malbecs are unable to evolve from a basic fruit forward juice, and should not be expected to develop complexity. When these Malbecs lose most of their fruit, they lose a good portion of their appeal. I would not cellar the two above mentioned wines for longer than 4 years from release, these wines are better enjoyed young.

Hola Alejandro, mi familia y yo vivimos en Villa Elisa por 6 meses en 2004. Es una lastima que solo probe un par de Malbecs durante nuestro tiempo alla. Tenes una recomendacion para un Malbec tipico que puedo encontrar facilmente aca?

Chau!

Well, I never did!! The Grill has the new winelist and I forgot the Flinders Bay Mayflower from Margaret River....Malbec/Merlot blend. Guess what I`m tasting tonite!!

Catena 2003 Malbec Mendoza

Cork Everthing looks/smells normal here. Nice, dark, typical stain at bottom. No indication of any leakage or cork failure.

Pour Wow, looks very deep, full and rich. Powerful, perhaps?

In the Glass Deep violet center with almost a little indigo, fading to a burgundy-ish outer rim.

Nose Hmm, slightly vegetal, definite oak, aromas of dark fruit, leather, earth.

In the Mouth Medium/full body, but not heavy on the palate. Firm tannis, but fruit and acidity do a great balancing act here. I taste blueberries, plums, blackberries, raspberry jam, with a little more earth and a bit of rawhide.


Finish Medium long, plenty of tannin, but not cloying or unpleasant. Alcahol is well hidden. Age seems very possible, 6 - 10 years, maybe more.

After 2hrs. Vegetal nose is fading, moving over for a little fruit.

After 24hrs. Smoothed out a bit but still a little tight. Vegetal nose all but dissipated.

Overall a great tasting. Way different than the Dona Paula Los Cardos as I've been told it would be. Stay tuned, there's more where this came from!

WTN: `03 Flinders Bay "Mayflower"-Margaret River, WA.

"The Mayflower" is named after a ship that went to ground in the rugged waters of Flinders Bay, an hour or so south of the township of Margaret River in Western Australia. This wine is a blend of 60% Malbec and 40% Merlot and has been selected for the widely acclaimed Australian Premium Wine Collection. In the USA, it is imported by Wine West Sausalito(see back label).

Opened one hour and not decanted. Cool climate area, believe winemakers from Vasse Felix (yum) are involved here? I was a bit dubious about this blend but as we are tasting malbec here goes!

Colour. Medium intense centre, thin pale purple tinges on the rim.

Nose. Black fruits gush out of the glass, cherry and some oak. Could be ripe? Oh, natural cork here. 13.5% alc.

Palate. Initial mouthfeel entry tells me dusty tannins, dry, oak dominate needs time. Blackberry, raspberry and curranty. Good balance but missing the Malbec influence here? Food would help this one, after a couple of hours some real changes develope. Mocha, spice and boysenberry with some brambleberry on the nose which is opening out nicely. Good fruits but all a tad tame and lacks real grip. Just the style I guess! Suspect the merlot is contributing the ripe tones here.

Cost was under $20 Cdn.

"While both the Rutini Trumpeter and the Doña Paula are good QPR wines, I dont think they are the best examples to test how Malbecs will age longer term in the cellar."

My post wasn't entirely clear, Alejandro. I had the 1999 Rutini Trumpeter in 2001 when it was still very young.

I'll post a couple of impressions of aged Malbec in a day or two.

Regards, Bob

Bob
As promised, the note I posted elsewhere on an NZ Malbec tasted a few days ago.


1998 Fromm Winery La Strada Malbec Reserve (New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough)
Still a very dark purple in colour. There's just a hint of age on the rim, but not much. The nose is peppery and floral (violets) with some restrained dark fruit in there. Noticeable legs on the glass. With some air the fruit starts to emerge.
The peppery blackberry fruit continues on the palate and there's quite a degree of austerity to the wine, with some herbal notes as well. Tannins are still strong for an 8 year old wine from NZ. The acidity is firm and the noticeably dry finish is a little austere but not unpleasant and it has a reasonable (and subtle) carry to it.

Quite where this is going I'm not sure. Those tannins could last quite a while and the fruit is still quite primary and is not about to fall over, but which will give way first, or will it be a 0-0 draw to it's conclusion?

I can see why Malbec makes a good blender! I've enjoyed this bottle, even despite it being very unresolved. I can see how this would be making more of a statement in a blend though.

regards

Ian

Those are some pretty good notes! Sounds like malbec to me, any blend in there Ian?