Malbec: A South American Delight

Malbec wines tend to have an inky dark color and robust tannins. Long known as one of the six grapes allowed in the blend of red Bordeaux wine, the French plantations of Malbec are now found primarily in Cahors in the South West France region. While acreage of Malbec is declining in France, in Argentina the grape is surging and has become a "national variety" of sort that is uniquely identified with Argentine wine around the world. Argentine Malbec doesn't have the tannic structure of a French Malbec, it being more plush in texture. Argentine Malbecs are inky red or violet, full-bodied wine with notes of spice and cassis. . The Mendoza region is the leading producer of Malbec in Argentina with plantings found throughout the country in places such as La Rioja, Salta, San Juan, Catamarca and Buenos Aires

The D.O.C, or Denominacion de Origen Controlada, is a title given in wine circles to the guarantee in Argentina that a wine came from a specific region in this case “Luján de Cuyo”. The D.O.C Luján de Cuyo was created in 1989 with the objective of protecting and regulating the farming and production techniques of the Malbec varietal, which is native of the Luján de Cuyo region in Mendoza. As it happens with the most demanding Denominations of the world, a wine with D.O.C Lujan de Cuyo certification must comply with a strict protocol that begins at the vineyard and finishes once the wine has been produced, after obtaining the approval of the Regulating Commission.

Luigi Bosca D.O.C Malbec 2005

Regular price €17.95 SLASHED TO €14.36 (SAVE 20%)

The “La Linda” Vineyard, from which this wine is sourced is located in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, as a result this wine is entitled to display the words D.O.C and the name Luján de Cuyo on the bottle. The wine shows an intense violet color and displays ripe cherry and plum aromas. Spiced, with hints of mocha and blackberries, this is a delicately perfumed wine with elegant sweetness.

William Cole Alto Vuelo Organic Malbec 2006

Price €12.95

Not to be out done by their South American neighbours the Chileans produce some fine examples of Malbec. This one from William Cole's Alto Vuelo range is 100% organically produced and is vibrant red in color. Notes of fruit of the forest and dark chocolate on the nose. The palate shows powerful flavors of dark berry fruit, cassis and pepper corn, softly integrated with smokey leather notes from its barrel aging.

Mad About Malbec

Over the last few weeks an increasing number of people have been asking in a hushed way about 'Malbec' and wines from Argentina like it is something to be shameful or embarrassing to be asking about. Well it's not. Malbecs are great red wines that can be found in nearly all wine producing countries.Malbec itself originally comes from Bordeaux in France and can still be found there, But it's Argentina that produces some of the worlds best Malbecs.

Malbec has characteristics that fall somewhere between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Argentinian Malbec can have an inky red or violet colour, a particular plum-like flavor, Delicious spicy and peppery notes and a velvety texture. Most of Argentina's great Malbecs come from the Mendoza region in the west of the country, which is in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. The Andes are important part of the viticulture in Mendoza with producer s such as Catena producing excellent wines at high altitudes.

The grapes selected for the Catena Malbec come from vines between 2,850 feet above sea level and 5,000 feet above sea level, this high altitude gives the Catena Malbec it's dark concentrated fruit aromas, and it's lovely rich and lush mouth feel. Catena is among Argentina's leading Malbec producers and the Catena Malbec is a fine example of this. This wine makes a fantastic partner with steak.

CATENA MALBEC 2006 (Argentina) Regular Price € 17.95 SLASHED TO €14.36 ( Save 20% )

Argento is also another great producer of Malbec, again from Mendoza but this time the vines don't go as high up the Andes. The Argento Reserva Malbec has a deep dark violet colour and aromas of plums and black cherries. Eight months of oak aging gives a rich fruit flavour, that will complement any roast beef dinner, or any barbecue for that matter.

ARGENTO MALBEC RESERVA 2007 (Argentina) Regular Price € 12.95 SLASHED TO €10.36 ( Save 20% )