Total Wine & More

~ Our blog for all things wine, beer, spirits, cigars … and more!

Total Wine & More

Tag Archives: Argentina

Why You Should Try Malbec

17 Wednesday Apr 2013

Posted by in Wine

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Argentina, France, Malbec, Wine

Argentina’s Malbec grape is a “seriously thrilling star” that consumers embrace for its “damsony,” soft and juicy profile, says Oz Clarke in Grapes and Wines. Indeed, it’s big enough to enjoy with a charred steak or hearty stew, but it’s also silky and approachable enough to appreciate on its own or with lighter fare.

Once a major component of great Bordeaux blends, Malbec now thrives on a far-off continent thanks to a series of both unfortunate and serendipitous events. In the mid-19th century, Malbec vines found their way to vineyards in Mendoza, Argentina, not too long before phylloxera—a root-eating aphid that attacks grape vines—arrived in Europe on imported American vines in the late 1800s. The unadapted European grape vines—Malbec included—began to die out around France until farmers grafted them to phylloxera-resistant American rootstock.andes_malbec

Argentine winemaker Laura Catena of Bodgas Catena Zapata explains in her book, Vino Argentino, that Malbec performed poorly on American rootstock because it produced overly vigorous plants whose fruit did not ripen well. Thanks to the isolated nature of Andes Mountain vineyards, phylloxera never developed in Argentina, allowing Malbec there to thrive on its own roots. Today, these high-altitude vineyards, with their relatively cool but exceedingly sunny weather, provide the ideal environment for producing opulent Malbec wines that possess soft, ripe tannins with plum and black fruit profiles suitable for either oak or stainless steel aging.

While Bordelaise winemakers mostly abandoned the grape, other French winemakers southeast of Bordeaux in Cahors mastered the art of growing grafted Malbec. Today, their wines offer drinkers a more rustic style with chalky tannins that Cahors winemakers note typically exhibit “violet, black currant, cherry, licorice, vanilla, menthol and truffle.” In addition, Malbec grows in France’s Loire Valley, where winemakers, who call it “Cot,” blend it with other grape varieties.

iStock_000001887937Medium

Consumers will find many value-priced and premium Malbec wines within the large Total Wine & More selection. The more affordable versions are perfect for everyday sipping and enjoyment with simple meals such as pizza, pasta and burgers, whereas the premium, often oak-aged versions offer a superb match with hearty beef, lamb, stews and other rich dishes. Check out Laura Catena’s food pairing advice on her Web site MalbecLife.com as well as food pairing suggestions at CahorsMalbec.com.

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • June 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • May 2018
  • January 2018
  • September 2017
  • July 2017
  • March 2017
  • December 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • February 2012
  • October 2011
  • September 2011

Categories

  • & More
  • American Craft Beer Week
  • Anniversary
  • Beer
  • Bow Tie Diaries
  • Brunch
  • California Trip 2012
  • California Wine Experience 2013
  • Champagne
  • Cider
  • Class
  • Cocktails
  • Earth Day
  • Educational Class
  • father's day
  • Food
  • Galentine's Day
  • Gifts
  • Grand Opening
  • Grand Openings
  • holiday
    • Cinco de Mayo
  • Independence Day
  • Intern Jean-Hubert
  • Interviews
  • Live
  • Memorial Day
  • Miscellaneous
  • New Product
  • New Year's Eve
  • Promotions
  • Recipe
  • Seltzer
  • Spirits
    • Gin
    • Rum
    • Tequila
    • Vodka
    • Whiskey
  • St. Patrick's Day
  • summer entertaining
  • Tailgating
  • Tastings and events
  • Thanksgiving
  • Total Discovery Exclusive Content
  • Uncategorized
  • Valentine's Day
  • VinExpo
  • Vinitaly
  • Wine

Meta

  • Log in

Powered by WordPress.com.

 

Loading Comments...