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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2013 and 2014 (based on 3 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 87 pts. and median of 87 pts. in 5 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by joraesque on 2/11/2013 & rated 88 points: Notes or rubber on the nose. Good acidity and round tannins on the palate, with notes of ripe pomegranate. Vibrant acidity on the finish. An excellent food wine at an outstanding price (even better on sale: $5 at the Redwood City Grocery Outlet!). Best after one hour upon opening. Drink 2013-2016. 87-88. (1135 views) | | | Tasted by mocamro on 3/18/2012: dry, purple color...lots of purple and black fruit flavors, along with a stone/rocks angle...red fruits and acidity are lingering in the background...I like it... (1673 views) | | | Tasted by Acucole on 2/29/2012 & rated 85 points: Cherry, pom, raspberry and a little musty on the nose. Berries, dark, rich, tannin that won't quit. It's only an 09. Give it a few years, and it's French. Been looking for a good non-south american malbec, and this might do in a few years. Might put a few bottles away. 85 for now, expecting upper 80's in a few years. (1446 views) | | | Tasted by Not647f on 2/15/2012 & rated 88 points: Argentinian Malbec does nothing for me. Blowsy, flabby, like warm pie filling, no structure. This, on the other hand, was interesting. Day one, it was like a cab franc from the Loire, more austere and acidic than a typical malbec. On day two, it was fruitier, not very commplex, and still a little acidic. Then, on day three, it came into balance. Dark fruits and plums came to the fore, but not the overripe stuff from SA. The acid still provided a backbone and the slightly leafy character of the cool weather fruit came through. Tasty stuff that might get me to explore more malbec, or cot as they call it in the Loire. (1419 views) |
| Domaine Roc de Chateauvieux Producer WEbsiteMalbec Varietal character (Appellation America)
One of the traditional “Bordeaux varietals”, Malbec has characteristics that fall somewhere between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. A midseason ripener, it can bring very deep color, ample tannin, and a particular plum-like flavor component to add complexity to claret blends. Malbec is a finicky vine whose fruit is prone to rot and mildew in the cool, damp coastal climate of Bordeaux. But ask a Bordelais grower why there’s no Malbec around, and you’ll more likely get a dismissive shrug and sniff than a viticultural analysis. It is known in much of France as Côt, and, in Cahors, also as Auxerrois. There are in fact hundreds of local synonyms, since Malbec at one time was widely planted all over the country. Sensitivity to frost and proclivity to shatter or coulure (a disease that results in premature fruit drop) is the primary reason that Malbec has become a decreasing factor in most of France. Although plantings in the Medoc have decreased by over twothirds since the mid-twentieth century, Malbec is now the dominant red varietal in the Cahors area. The Appellation Controlée regulations for Cahors require a minimum content of 70%. Malbec is also planted in Chile, and there’s relatively little and recent acreage in California and Australia. It is usually blended with other red varietals in these countries. But Malbec truly comes into its own in Argentina, where it is the major red varietal planted. Much of the Malbec vines there were transplanted from Europe prior to the outbreak of phylloxera and most is therefore ungrafted, on its own roots. Sadly, over the years the bug infested Argentina, too, and vineyards are being replanted on resistant rootstock. Happily, the vines thrive in the arid climate of the Mendoza region in the foothills of the Andes. Made in the context of this South American nation’s Spanish and Italian heritage, it produces a delicious wine that has almost nothing in common with Bordeaux except the color. Argentines often spell it “Malbeck” and make wines from it that are slightly similar in flavor to those made in Europe, but with softer, lusher structure, more like New World Merlot. Another difference is that where French examples are usually considered short-lived, Argentine Malbecs seem to age fairly well. Successful Argentine Malbec growers claim that, in order to develop full maturity and distinction, Malbec needs “hang time” even after sugar levels indicate ripeness. Otherwise, immature Malbec can be very “green” tasting, without its characteristic notes of plum and anise. Malbec in Argentina has come to be appreciated for a spicy white pepper characteristic, the aroma of violets, and sweet, jammy fruit. It is a seductive wine that is typically warm and generous in the mouth, with plenty of flesh, and very appealing when young. Almost always producing a ripe and fruity, even plummy wine, Malbec can take oak aging or show well without it; it’s juicy and quaffable when young but can benefit from aging, developing an intriguing complexity with time in the bottle. It can range in price from as little as $7 to more than $75. The true potential of Argentine Malbec, and indeed in the entire spectrum of Argentine wines, is demonstrated by the fact that many of the world’s most renowned winemakers have come to Argentina to make wine. Both the legendary California winemaker Paul Hobbs, and Michel Rolland of Bordeaux, one of the world’s most famous winemakers, have created very high-end Malbecs. It may be the Italian component in the country’s mixed Latin family tree that fosters the fact that Malbec is an exceptional companion with a broad range of food. Its well-balanced fruit-and-acid profile makes it a natural with rare beef (bear in mind that Argentina is cattle country), but it’s just as good with simple fare from burgers to fried chicken. With its natural balance, good pairings include: cajun cuisine, calzones, cannelloni with meat, poultry, vegetable couscous, steak creole, Greek cuisine, deviled eggs, hummus, Indian cuisine, leg of lamb, Mexican cuisine with meat, pâté, spinach soufflé, and hearty pasta. For cheeses, think of harder styles that are either waxed or oiled, such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Ricotta Salata, Romano, Asiago, Pont l’Eveque, Gruyere, Manchego, Cantal, Comte, old Gouda, old Cheddar, Baulderstone, Beaufort, Leicester, aged Chesire, Chevre Noir, Wensleydale, Tilsit, Iberico, Mahon, Roncal, and Mizithra.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comLoire Valley Vins du Val de Loire (Interprofession des Vins du Val de Loire)
Jancis Robinson vintage reports
Wine Spectator vintage reports
Wine Scholar Guild vintage reports
2016 vintage:
"Quality and concentration is good, with Chenin Blanc being particularly noteworthy in 2016 while Sancerre is thought to be the best of the Sauvignon Blanc appellations. Cabernet Franc is 'delicious, ripe and fruity' according to Loire courtier Chris Hardy." - Jancis Roninson
2017 vintage reports:
Jancis Robinson
Vinfolio
"2018 wines will not be typical of the Loire rather they will have the characteristics of wines from much further south" - Philippe Gilbert
2019 vintage:
Academie du Vin report
"the warm 2019 vintage is characterised by a surprising freshness" - Jim Budd
Vineyards on weinagen-infoTouraine Touraine (wikipedia)Touraine Touraine AOC (Interprofession des Vins du Val de Loire) |
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