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malbec
2008 Achaval Ferrer Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)
2008 Achaval Ferrer Malbec (Mendoza) $19.99
“I was extremely impressed with this Mendoza youngin’ for its silky smooth texture, intense minerality and excellent depth. This 2008 Malbec spent 9 months in French oak before bottling without fining or filtration. Produced from Malbec sourced from vineyards located in Mayor Drummond, La Consulta and Medrano (sub-zones of Mendoza), this blend of distinctive terroirs is just one element of detail that distinguishes Achaval Ferrer’s Malbec from others. Deep purple with a bouquet of violets and savory flavors of black cherry, fig, spice and plum. Ideal wine for steak night!”
91 Points, Shannon Sprentall
Staff Selection, June 2010
- 91 Points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
- 91 Points, The Wine Spectator
Touts & Murmurs: The NYT on Susana Balbo
2007 Susana Balbo Signature Malbec $19.99
She’s a favorite of mine for both the Crios line and her grander bottles so I wasn‘t surprised when New York Times wine critic, Eric Asimov, tasted through Argentina’s malbecs, he gave props to hers as Best Value.
He tasted ten, half of them at $35 to $50; only two merited three stars.
Balbo’s 2007 Mendoza Signature, which he called “clean and fresh with flavors of dark fruit, spices and licorice” merited 2.5 stars.
The price that made it a bargain to Asimov was $23.
That’s New York. Come to B-21 in little ol’ Tarpon and that bottle is only $19.99.
- Chris Sherman, The Blogging Nibbler
Drink like you won the Masters: Achaval Ferrer
2007 Achaval Ferrer Finca Mirador $99.99
As a warm up to this year’s Masters at Augusta National, defending champion Argentina’s Angel Cabrera hosted the dinner for former champs and proved a master of wine too.
According to an excited email we received from our good friend Manuel Ferrer, Cabrera called up one of his country’s finest, the 2007 Achaval Ferrer from Finca Mirador, a big and rich high scorer. It matched an equally Argentine – and quite a meaty menu of ceviche chorizo and morcilla, empanadas and ribeye with mashed potatoes and malbec demi glace.
The Mirador ($99.99) is one of the top efforts of Achaval Ferrer, the young Argentine Italian partnership, making elegant wine frsom low-growth old vines in the Andes foothills. It scored 94 on Mr. Parker’s scorecard.
Next year’s host of course is Phil Mickelson. Picking a wine should not be hard. He’s won the honor twice before and he’s a Californian. Granted his patch of California is San Diego County where the vineyards aren’t yet tournament champs. But he could strike a blow for non-Napa vineyards and stay closer to home with something from Santas Barbara, Maria, Rita and Ynez. How about the 2005 El Corazon de Jonata, a syrah/cab blend of nifty Santa Ynez complexity from Jonata’s Matt Dees (he played on the courses at Staglin and Craggy Range).
FORE!
- Chris Sherman, The Blogging Nibbler
What were we drinking? Tango Italiano
The food Italian and the wine Argentine/French, not an unusual combination in Buenos Aires but rare on my table.
This night the pasta was husky rigatoni tubes (sneer not at dry pasta, imported artisan brands are worth an extra buck) with a frozen sauce holstered with fresh ground beef, and larded with ricotta salata cheese. Hearty and rustic as a dish from Puglia or Sicily.
The wine of course was malbec but with more than the usual French accent. In addition to the grape’s Bordeaux roots this malbec is from Monteviejo, the Andean sister of Chateau Le Gay in Pomerol, with the assistance of Michel Rolland.
2008 Festivo Malbec by Monteviejo (Mendoza) $12.99
This label, the 2008 Festivo, $12.99, is a stylish example of malbec, with plum and black cherry flavors and spices, to stand up to rigatoni and ricotta, and the elegance to tame them down.
This is not rough and ready pizza wine, but a clean wine of medium finish that would go just as well with a delicate filet mignon or a full parillada.
Having just been thrilled with the Petite Fleur from Monteviejo, I’m eager to try all I can from this Franco-Argentine winery and look forward to meeting Catherine Pere-Verge when she arrives with the Bordeaux entourage April 18. You should too.
- Chris Sherman, The Blogging Nibbler
O, Susana; Malbec the magnificent
2007 Susana Balbo Signature Malbec (Mendoza) 19.99
You know malbec, the black presence in Bordeaux blends, the grape of Bergerac, Cahors, and most notably Argentina.
But you don’t know how noble this wine is until you’ve had Susana Balbo’s Signature Malbec.
Balbo is best known for her hand-made Crios varietals, which are exceptionally crisp and classy for $12.99, which is all the more reason to taste what another $8 buys.
The 2007 Signature Malbec ($19.99) shows the grape at its best, juicy earthy flavors in a an elegant package. There are lots of blackberries and whiffs of vanilla, dark chocolate and smoke. It’s a plumy and rich drink but more civilized than a fruit bomb.
Balbo used 10% cabernet sauvignon to add structure, but the malbec is the polished star. You must try it if you want to understand the variety, Bordeaux blends or Argentina. Or if you want to meet a great pioneer among women winemakers.
B-21′s very own Andes Adventurer, Shannon Sprentall had the chance to visit and taste with Susana Balbo on her trip to Argentina in February. Click here to see pictures from her trip.
- Chris Sherman, The Blogging Nibbler
2007 Colome Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina)
2007 Colome Malbec Mendoza (Argentina) - A Top 100 Wine from Wine Spectator too! - $24.99
“The estate’s 250 acres of vines from old French cuttings hold the claim of being some of the highest altitude vineyards in the world, with the highest being a staggering 9891 feet above sea level. Bodegas Colomé farms some of the oldest vines in Argentina estimated about 150-year old pre-phylloxera. As if ancient vines and near alpine conditions weren’t enough to distinguish their grapes, Bodegas Colomé also farms their vineyards biodynamically. As for the wine itself, I love its sophisticated nose of black fruit, lavender, violets and spice. French oak is beautifully integrated extracting amazing toasty flavors as well. The balance is very well done.”
93 Points, Shannon Sprentall
Staff Selection, April 2010
From Pomerol to Mendoza: Petite Fleur grows in Argentina
2007 Monteviejo Petite Fleur (Mendoza) - 19.99
A delicious example of growing Old World-New World collaboration operation. Bodega Monteviejo and Chateau Le Gay are the properties of Catherine Pere-Verges. Petite Fleur brings the grapes and traditions together.
Malbec, Argentina’s signature grape is the chief ingredients (50 percent) balanced by Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a Rhonish intrusion of Syrah. The result is unexpected, neither Bordeaux Meritage or classic gaucho Malbec.
With the help of Michel Rolland, the Argentine grapes have been polished into a claret of deep, dignified character. The dark purple robes a savory mystery of plums and stewed fruits, hints of cinnamon and ginger, smoke and oak. This is a big, powerful wine, but once opened up is polished and lush with an endless finish.
- Chris Sherman, The Blogging Nibbler
2005 Bodegas Poesia Clos des Andes Reserva (Mendoza, Argentina
2005 Bodegas Poesia Clos des Andes Reserva - 19.99
“2005 Clos des Andes is the latest addition to the prestigious Bodega Poesia collection. This 100% Malbec is sourced from 80 year old vines from the Lujan de Cuyo region of Mendoza and aged to perfection in French oak for one year. Vibrant red in color, musky aromas of baked plum, cedar, violets and black cherry. Extremely elegant in depth and balance lengthened with subtle sweet flavors of berries and herbs. For the perfect Clos des Andes experience decant and serve at 64 degrees. A great representation of Malbec at an affordable price!”