Open Mike: Malbec from Argentina.

Looking forward to your notes...... my guess is that you will go 2 for 3 on this selection....

Opening my Alta Vista and letting it breathe, just took a sip. Guess I have found odd man out already!! Will give it a chance to show its stuff ah hum.

WTN: `05 Alta Vista Malbec Premium, La Casa del Rey.

Winery is owned by Patrick d`Aulan who used to control Piper-Heidsieck. He was also part of the initial Clos de la Siete set-up. Wide range of malbecs produced here, maybe Alej can assist with further info.

Good natural cork, opened and decanted for an hour (not enough).14.5% alc, 6 mths in oak, $17 Cdn.

C. Medium ruby w. tinges of crimson on the rim. Medium intense centre.

N. Blackberry, oak, savoury. Hints of cherry, currants and spice as it opens but no big change over-night.

P. Initial mouthfeel entry is tannic, woodsy, redcurrant, cherry. Bit unbalanced in its youth (?), but has good acidity. I think this still needs some time, tight and on the hard side. Will it ever come around? Bought in grapes I imagine, no appellation on label.
After 2 hours, some blackberry and brief hint of sweetness but then closes. No fruit bomb here, jammy-seekers look elsewhere! Next day some cocoa and blackcurrant but that`s it.

Will be interesting to try the Corte C which goes for around $35. When will that be ready, Malbec Hounds?

2005 TRAPICHE Oak Cask Malbec Mendoza 13.5% alc.


This is what makes enjoying wine just that much more tremendously exhilarating!
A find like this under $10 with this kind of enjoyment factor is, well, -----anyone that’s done it knows EXACTLY what I mean!! And that probably includes almost everyone on the forum. This Q.P.R is second to none. This seriously rivals my Salentein of yore.

Intense, almost florescent, violet/black color. A nose to die for– a malbec prototypification (is that even a word?). Beautiful plummy, jammy fruit on the nose, but not syrupy like port. Uplifted by some freshness that is a little pepper spice and rose petals. On the palate it’s a near mirror of the nose only more so. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, black plums, black pepper, toasty vanilla, an indication to me of very well integrated oak.The acid lifts the weighty fruit and coats the palate. The finish is silky and long. One word– Beautiful!

Way to go Argentina!! Keep it up and the world will begin to be filled with “Malbec Hounds”! And that’s fine by me.

Asta La Vista Baby!


P.S. Hey Bob P., this puppy's almost reached the 100,000 views mark, WHEW!! Nothing outlasts the energizer bunny that is Argentinian value driven wines, right?! Not to mention their ever increasing ability to produce high-end bombs that are beginning to compete with the big boys of Calif. and Bordx. GREAT STUFF, Later

Aaron, you are a true Malbec Hound!!! Did you notice any overnight change?

Everyone should look out for price increases. The Wine Advocate has just posted notes on Argentina and there are some high marks as expected. I do not subscribe but feel sure some here do.

I read this news on the UK wine forum this morning.

Bob.... you are spot on. The Wine Advocate's Jay Miller has written a dedicated piece on Argentina and its wines... and the scores have been quite high indeed. Top honors went to wines made by Paul Hobbs (at Vinia Cobos), Achaval Ferrer and various of the top wines made by Catena Zapata (and its related wineries). There are a few others in the top group with 95 and more points, but the bulk of the high honors are concentrated in the three groups I mention above.

I think that this will cause price adjustments over the next few months, although it may take somewhat longer for consumers to feel the increases unless retailers decide they want to hold onto stocks and construct verticals... this will depend on each retailer. What I think that is already happening is that discounts on these wines are being tightened, and thats the first step of future price adjustments.

Another important factor that comes into play with these wines is that they are (for the most part) produced in very very small quantities. With the added press coverage and new interest from additional importers, distrubutors and retailers, there will be less wine to go around. Most of the high rated wines have been on a strict allocation basis here in Argentina... just to site an example, my allocation of the 98 point rated Vinia Cobos Unico 2005 was 5 (five) cases...

As Ive said before... for those of you that like the style of Argentine Malbecs, I suggest you buy the wines you like now, as they will benefit from additional time in the cellar and prices will not stay at current levels for long.

I recently returned from Mendoza after a brief 4 day visit there and I found the following wines outstanding (I have tasting notes if anybody wants them)
Salentein Reserve Malbec, Andeluna Malbec, Andeluna Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Salentein Primus Malbec, Salentein Reserve Pinot Noir, Andeluna Pasionado

We visited several wineries and tasted a multitude of malbecs, most of which I found delicious, especially at the lower price end. There are plenty of producers who have got on the the heavy bottle, modern label thing and they charge top money for their malbec but the wines often didn't stack up. It was our visit to the Uco Vally where we found the most impressive fine wines - an agricultural goldmine with a sloping valley leading right up to the foot of the Andes. There's a range of altitudes so wineries are able to make fantastic pinot and Bordeaux styles. So much foreign investment has gone into this place it's incredible. Salentein for example has a state of the art winery with a capacity for 8 million litres and it's all gravity fed - no pumping - the only other winery i've seen with that feature is Felton Road in New Zealand and its tiny.
The Argentinians are hanging their wine hats on Malbec but I often found the best premium examples were often blended or part of blends. Much in the same way as Chilean Carmenere.

Hi Paul, welcome to the forum. Lots of great people here..and a few talk malbec! We are studying Malbec on Wine Focus here next month.

The Malbec Hounds would love to go through any tasting notes you have so post away. We looooove TNS here!

I'm still looking for my notes on the malbecs mentioned before but here are a few others I tried - small producers tasted at a place called The Vines in Mendoza city.

2005 SOTTANO MALBEC - Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza - A vibrant palate with firm tannins and a subtle oak influence. No fruit to speak of at first though some cherry and coffee appearing later.

2005 QARAMY PACHAHUASI (MALBEC 61%, CAB 23%, SYRAH 16%) - Uco Valley, Mendoza, - Intense black fruits, massive chocolatey palate and a velvet texture. Slight herbal finish but a cracker.

2006 MAIRENA MALBEC - Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza - Plum, black fruit, tobacco hints and a warm palate. Low tannins and fairly simple - oak staves were used in the process. Slight eartiness and a chewy finish. Good easy drinking style.
(I tried their bonarda also - light and fresh like a cheapy Valpolicella)

2004 PRODIGO MALBEC - Uco Valley, Mendoza - Blackcurrant, sweet black cherry, peppery spice - a soft supple palate - aged in oak for 4 months. Unfiltered.

2004 TAYMENTE MALBEC - Maipu, Mendoza - Sweet confectionary fruit on the front palate following with cooked figs - slightly port but with green edges. A bit messy really. Good tannins but cheap oak.

2004 TRAZOS DE AUTOR - Uco Valley?, Mendoza - Deep colour with black fruits, hot earth, juicy fruits. A touch of heat and a bit of chemical on the nose but with a silky, rounded texture.

2004 LORCA POETICE (85% Malbec, 10%Cab, 5% Syrah)- Mendoza - This one was so loaded with V.A. I didn't write a note.

2004 ENRIQUE FOSTER RESERVA MALBEC - Mendoza - my notes tell me that this is the only gravity flow winery in the world to produce soleley Malbec. Sweet plum and black cherry, blackcurrant and violets. Vanilla flavours follow with plent of silky texture - they are really into their glycerol here!!!

Overall I was really impressed by the appearance of most of the Mendoza Malbecs - some of the brightest wines I've seen.

Here's one from NZ I tried recently.

2006 Newton Forrest Malbec, Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay - Purple flush and intense inky colour - obvious high alcohol. Massive blue fruit, plum and mulberry on the nose with spice cupboard and a yeasty note. Huge fruit driven palate with sweet fruit leading to a slight gap and a then long tanninc finish. Drank over 3 days it was best on the second - beautifully balanced and the tannins had settled down. Medium term cellaring potential. More obvious tannic structure than the Mendoza style.

We are studying Malbec on Wine Focus here next month.

We are? I always miss my chance by a month. I'll be visiting Argentina in March.

Bill. Do you have some winery visits lined up? Maybe Alej can help you out eh.

Paul. Thanks very much for your TNS, some names there new to me for sure. Have some Taymente lined up here, hope it shows better than your sample (wink grin).

Bill, if you need any assistance, please drop me an email and I will be glad to try to help you out.

.... The Wine Advocate's Jay Miller has written a dedicated piece on Argentina and its wines... and the scores have been quite high indeed. Top honors went to wines made by Paul Hobbs (at Vinia Cobos), Achaval Ferrer and various of the top wines made by Catena Zapata (and its related wineries). There are a few others in the top group with 95 and more points, but the bulk of the high honors are concentrated in the three groups I mention above.

Hi Alejandro,
I noticed in a list that was published somewhere that the wines of Chanarmuyo were absent from the WA piece. I have been quite impressed with Chanarmuyo's Malbec and Petit Verdot. I'm wondering why the wines did not make the WA's 85 point cut off, so all I can think is they do not go into the US, and therefore were not included into the WA tasting.
What do you know about this producer?

Here's a TN from last year ....

Chanarmuyo Malbec 2005 (14.% alc, NZ$19)
Strikingly coloured with an inky crimson purple depth, the voluptuous aromas and flavours of cherries, berries, raisins, mint, charry oak and ripe, smooth tannins make it pretty darn easy to drink. 'Gutsy' is a one word description. Excellent with a big juicy steak.

Cheers,
Sue

Hello Sue..

My initial guess would be that they are either not exported to the USA, or if they are sold in the States maybe the producer is not a member of any of the large trade organizations, and therefore was not listed in the tasting event. To be honest with you, Ive never heard of this name before.... maybe its a white label brand that is owned by an exporter that sends it to AustralAsia...?

Let me see what I can dig up over on this end, but Im pretty sure these wines are not available in the domestic (Argentine) market.

Cheers,
Alejandro

Hello Sue..

My initial guess would be that they are either not exported to the USA, or if they are sold in the States maybe the producer is not a member of any of the large trade organizations, and therefore was not listed in the tasting event. To be honest with you, Ive never heard of this name before.... maybe its a white label brand that is owned by an exporter that sends it to AustralAsia...?

Let me see what I can dig up over on this end, but Im pretty sure these wines are not available in the domestic (Argentine) market.

Cheers,
Alejandro

They also go to the UK. There is a website http://www.chanarmuyo.com.ar.
Cheers,
Sue

So.... I was wrong, this is not a white label brand but what appears to be a well established producer in La Rioja. Seems like they are strongly oriented towards the export markets... for details, please see their website:

http://www.madg.com.ar/chanarmuyo/home_in.htm

Alej, I have seen the `06 Kaiken on the shelf. Have often wondered...is the Ultra a step up in quality? Think I am going to open the `05 Kaiken, my last bottle.

At a portfolio tasting, I came across Paul Hobbs Vina Cobos Bramare Malbec. I think it sells for around $70 but have to say I was not impressed. Found it way too hot but guess needs time to settle down. The Hobbs Cab Sauv from Calif. was a terrific wine btw.

A few months back, there was some debate about the `03 Trivento Malbec Golden Reserve. Tasters were not too impressed so it was with trepidation when I opened the `05 the other night.
The owner of DeVines winestore here in town visited Argentina last autumn and "had a very good tasting at Trivento..this was superb, Bob. That is why I bought it in".

WTN: `05 Malbec Golden Reserve Trivento, Mendoza.

Synthetic cork, opened and decanted one hour. No sediment noted.14 % alc, $26 Cdn. If one likes reading back labels, good luck trying to read this one!! Faint and small lettering.

Color. Huge opaque centre with just a thin rim of purple. Huge!

Nose. Very big black fruit aromatics here. Blueberry, blackberry, raspberry. No noted heat.

Palate. Initial entry thoughts are puckery tannins, black berries, good acidity and big fruit concentration.
Dry at first, licorice, chocolate, savory, no pepper. More cassis as it opens and great with lamb rack. Big wine forumites.
**** saved half bottle for 2 days in the cooler. Finish is much better, sweet ripe fruit and a good deal smoother. Nice!

Thanks for the post, Bob. I opened half a dozen bottles of the 2004 Golden Reserve over the last year, after tasting it at an Argentinian wine event here in São Paulo. At the tasting, it was the wine I liked the most. The first time I served it to friends, in New York, it came out tops too, but I found it too "hot." I haven't bought anymore because I experienced pretty much what you wrote, and found that to be too powerful and over-the-top for my taste. The basic Achaval-Ferrer malbec is, in my opinion, a much better buy at this price range.

Interesting Oswaldo. Always find your imput of much use.
Think matters have turned around at Trivento, that is if there was a problem in the first place!
Feel all Malbec Hounds should keep an eye on releases from this winery!

The thread that will not die: I have another Malbec tasting to report on.

Back to the barbeque tonight with hamburgers so I pulled a Malbec.

Ruby red wine with violet overtones. Big nose of black fruit especially blackberry. Midpalate of black and red fruit, bright acidity and smooth tannins with a slightly rustic edge. A medium to long fruity tannic finish. A well-balanced, medium-bodied wine.

The slightly edgy tannins matched nicely with grillled burger taste. Also a nice sipper.

Wine: Finca Urquiza Mendoza Malbec Reserve 2005. 14% abv.

We expect all Malbec Hounds to keep posting the good news. Woof, Woof!

Just popped a bottle of Sur de los Andes Gran Reserve Malbec 2004.... this wine is made by Guillermo Banfi - at a winery not related to Cinco Tierras. Super dark deep color with vibrant notes of purple that scream tipicity..... inviting note of berry mouse and some violets that announces the imposing attack.... lost of initial fireworks from this Malbec, with a good & chewey mid-palata that is followed by a good although perhaps not too long finish. The oak is well integrated... the almost two years Ive had this in the cellar has done well for the wine. Very interesting stuff... I think this is available in the US through an importer in South Florida.

I had the three 2005 Single Vineyard Malbec's from Trapiche when I was down there last month. They are awesome. Different growers compete to be a part of this - they select 3 each year, and the winemaking is the same for each. Terroir/vineyard management makes these 3 wines VERY different. We have the 2004 series here in New Brunswick for around $35 a bottle. I'll use one in my upcoming Argentina event at happinez winebar. I'll also pour Mora Negra, the premium Malbec/Bonarda (my new fave grape) blend from Las Moras, in San Juan.

http://www.happinezwinebar.com - see events - there is a pic of me on a horse from my Argentina trip. I am the opposite of a horse rider.

Quite the gaucho! What are the names of these three single vineyard Trapiches so I can look for them here?