Open Mike: Malbec from Argentina.

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

They are named by the grower, the 04's here in NB, which are actually $40.43 I see, are:
Carlos Gei Berra
Pedro Gonzalez
Victorio Coletto

In 05 it is 3 different growers. I think you can see them at the Trapiche site.

Craig, at this rate you will soon qualify to be a true Malbec Hound!! Keep the interest going!

Craig, if you like the Bonarda/Malbec blend.... I suggest you try to seek out the Siesta en el Tahuantinsuyu Bonarda Malbec... its made by Ernesto Catena at a producer called Tikal.

Jose Blanco was one of the producers selected for the 2003 vintage.... (re. the Trapiche Single Vineyards).

Dona Paula Los Cardos, Malbec - Rose, 2007 Mendoza Argentina, 13.5%alc.

This was the Thanksgiving star!
Beautiful ruby/pink color. Fabulously fruity nose has a little yeasty note that i like. It reminds me of a fruit & custard tart as it blends through with the fruit notes. On the palate, light but not fleeting, dry but fruity although it was a little outweighed by the slightly sharp acidity. Bright red fruits here- strawberries galore, tart cherries, watermelon and some kiwi fruit thrown in (I know, that one's not red but it's there). Finishes is medium short-- no big surprise there (just got to take another swig quick thats all).
Paired great with all the savory dishes--turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes 'n' gravy etc. Would not have paired well with the candied yams (that's why I didn't have any).
All in all, great Thanksgiving quaffer that goes down easy and often. A great value too at under 10 bucks.
Later, dudes!

You Malbec Hound you!! With winter now here, what could be better!
Oooops, here come the others to put us in our place. Ah well besides...I have a Balbo all lined up.

2002 Martino (Mendoza) Vibrant purple color, no real bricking. Somewhat lifted nose. Plenty of fruit, but to my palate a very high toned character. Not very good description-I wonder if this is well past its prime? Others liked it much more. 84?

2002 Martino (Mendoza) Vibrant purple color, no real bricking. Somewhat lifted nose. Plenty of fruit, but to my palate a very high toned character. Not very good description-I wonder if this is well past its prime? Others liked it much more. 84?

Hey Brian,
What are you referring to as "bricking"?

[David M. Bueker]

Aaron,

I'm not Brian, but bricking is the frequently used term to refer to some changing of the wine's color near the edge of the glass. Normally bricking would lead to the wine appearing to be sort of a brownish red (i.e. the color of brick) at the edge. With more age a wine may be that color all through.

As to whether or not one should expect to see bricking in a 2002 - that's open to interpretation.

Aaron,

I'm not Brian, but bricking is the frequently used term to refer to some changing of the wine's color near the edge of the glass. Normally bricking would lead to the wine appearing to be sort of a brownish red (i.e. the color of brick) at the edge. With more age a wine may be that color all through.

As to whether or not one should expect to see bricking in a 2002 - that's open to interpretation.

You're right. I shouldn't expect bricking in a 2002.

Which brings me to the core question: Ageability of Argentine Malbec? I thought this wine tasted a little tired, despite the vibrant color. It was purchased at the "nice" local supermarket (Nugget Market) but was not given any special storage (i.e., off the shelf)

Is a six year old under $20 Malbec verging on "old"?

[David M. Bueker]

Is a six year old under $20 Malbec verging on "old"?

If I were a guessing man...yes.

Is a six year old under $20 Malbec verging on "old"?

If I were a guessing man...yes.

Then the 2002 Catena basic bottling was properly culled this week!

[David M. Bueker]

I have been to a few focused Argentinian Malbec tastings & the one year older wines (i.e. we have the current and prior vintage of a particular wine) always show significant development. It's so rapid that I can't see many lasting more than a few years.

I have been to a few focused Argentinian Malbec tastings & the one year older wines (i.e. we have the current and prior vintage of a particular wine) always show significant development. It's so rapid that I can't see many lasting more than a few years.

Eek. I have a couple of 2004s I need to put in line!

This question was raised in other posts: the fruit forward, high alcohol, velvety malbecs made from very ripe grapes are built to deliver (for fans of the style) earlier but may age poorly whereas older style malbecs with lower alcohol and higher tannin (and made from grapes picked at an earlier, more traditionally European, point of maturity) may take longer to come around but will last longer. The great majority of malbecs these days are the former.

Oswaldo: Are you familiar at all with Luigi Bosca? They didn't seem particularly fruit-bomby to me when I tried them the other month, but...

Oswaldo: Are you familiar at all with Luigi Bosca? They didn't seem particularly fruit-bomby to me when I tried them the other month, but...

I tried the 05 Reserva and it was pretty jammy, but the regular may not be, just as the Terrazas Reserva is very jammy and the regular isn't.

Eric Asimov was, I think, onto something when he suggested that the regulars may be more interesting, at least for near term drinking.

All you Malbec Hounds are doing a great job here!! Buy yourselves an inscripted T-Shirt....like mine!

THINK ARGENTINA
DRINK MALBEC.

Aaron,

I'm not Brian, but bricking is the frequently used term to refer to some changing of the wine's color near the edge of the glass. Normally bricking would lead to the wine appearing to be sort of a brownish red (i.e. the color of brick) at the edge. With more age a wine may be that color all through.

As to whether or not one should expect to see bricking in a 2002 - that's open to interpretation.

Thanks David.

I was in the Grill this evening and had a chance to taste a glass of the `05 Naiara Malbec. I was not impressed with this big burly tannic monster and have to wonder what the wine selection committee was thinking! Not a name I am familiar with so imput welcome. The Senetier I tasted down the street at DeVines at the tasting bar was a much better wine. They also make a nice sparkler btw.

I was in the Grill this evening and had a chance to taste a glass of the `05 Naiara Malbec. I was not impressed with this big burly tannic monster and have to wonder what the wine selection committee was thinking! Not a name I am familiar with so imput welcome. The Senetier I tasted down the street at DeVines at the tasting bar was a much better wine. They also make a nice sparkler btw.

Never heard of the Naiara either... I'm getting the impression, increasingly, that 2002/3 were watershed vintages in Mendoza, when some of the bigger wines began to get very high scores in WS and WA, pushing every new producer, as well as many of the traditional ones, in that direction, inevitably generating some heavy-handed examples.

In case anybody missed it: Beginning in January, Catena's Alamos wines will be distributed in the US by Gallo. My understanding is that if the arrangement works out, Gallo will move up to purchasing the Alamos name and winemaking operations, and may eventually buy all of Catena. Gallo's long suit is distribution, and we can probably expect to see Alamos wines sold in more places. The obvious question is whether the Alamos operations can maintain quality while increasing volume. Gallo seems to have done well with some other recent projects (Louis Martini comes to mind), but who knows?

I was in the Grill this evening and had a chance to taste a glass of the `05 Naiara Malbec. I was not impressed with this big burly tannic monster and have to wonder what the wine selection committee was thinking! Not a name I am familiar with so imput welcome. The Senetier I tasted down the street at DeVines at the tasting bar was a much better wine. They also make a nice sparkler btw.

Never heard of the Naiara either... I'm getting the impression, increasingly, that 2002/3 were watershed vintages in Mendoza, when some of the bigger wines began to get very high scores in WS and WA, pushing every new producer, as well as many of the traditional ones, in that direction, inevitably generating some heavy-handed examples.

Yup, that is why I am sticking with the producers I know and respect!

As an aside, am sitting on some `04-`07 Achaval- Ferrer. Not the fancy high price ones I might add!! Never quite sure where to go with these? Cellar-tracker notes not much help either.

In case anybody missed it: Beginning in January, Catena's Alamos wines will be distributed in the US by Gallo. My understanding is that if the arrangement works out, Gallo will move up to purchasing the Alamos name and winemaking operations, and may eventually buy all of Catena. Gallo's long suit is distribution, and we can probably expect to see Alamos wines sold in more places. The obvious question is whether the Alamos operations can maintain quality while increasing volume. Gallo seems to have done well with some other recent projects (Louis Martini comes to mind), but who knows?

Catena has maintained a long and solid track record for maintaining quality despite the increases in volume. They have continued to invest in production capacity and their product portfolio is as strong as ever. Alamos is already a strong global brand, so added distribution in large markets will help raise the profile of Argentine wines and should allow for other producers to jump on these coat-tails...

Catena has also been reorganizing its Conglomerate, dividing it more clearly into different divisions, so while a sale of Alamos to Gallo may be in the books, Im not sure that the entire Catena operation would be up for sale... but then again, I guess only the principals know what is really going on.