Malbec Tasting

Tasted Saturday, April 28, 2012 by K is for Kate with 440 views

Introduction

A tasting of 8 Malbecs I happened to have in my cellar.

Flight 1 (8 Notes)

  • 2005 Monteviejo Malbec altitude 1050

    Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco

    After being open for only an hour or so, this was my favourite Malbec of 8 tasted blind (though still only questionably crossing the 90-point threshold). It came across very fruity with beautiful fresh raspberries and cranberries, though lighter bodied and without much tannic structure. There was a particular pleasure to be had in drinking it that I really didn't get from the others. However, by the next night it had lost all of its freshness and a lot of its fruit and without that it was boring and no longer enjoyable.

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  • 2008 Durigutti Malbec

    Argentina, Mendoza

    Enjoyable and even a little bit interesting. In a blind tasting of 8 Malbecs it was in the top half of the pack for everyone. It was the favourite for a couple of my guests, but in about 3rd place for me as I thought it lacked a little excitement. However, for the price point it's a solid value. The nose had an appealing earthiness with the fruit that none of the others really had, though it was a little reticent. My notes on the taste were "bright and dusky, smooth, tangy backend". This bottle was a gift, but I could see buying more recent vintages of this based on my experience.

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  • 2008 Luigi Bosca Malbec Reserva

    Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo

    This was reasonably enjoyable with food, but not one I'd like to drink on its own. The nose was meh, and I found the tannins aggressive. Perhaps some more time in the cellar would improve this.

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  • 2009 Achával-Ferrer Malbec Mendoza

    Argentina, Mendoza

    Very dark colour and beautiful nose (my note just reads "ohhhhhh", as it was the last wine of the night). Not as fruity as the rest of the Malbecs at the tasting, but the style was tasty. It came across as well made, but definitely seemed like a characteristic style of the winery coming through more than the fruit. A little hot on the back end. A few years in the cellar would probably improve it and I wonder if the fruit would come through more once the oak has more time to integrate. If I could find another bottle for $20 or under I would pick it up to try it in a few more years.

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  • 2009 Bodega Colomé Malbec Estate 88 Points

    Argentina, Valles Calchaquíes, Salta, Calchaquies

    Definitely in the top half of the pack at a blind tasting of 8 Malbecs and I think it has some potential to improve with a little more age. Fruity baked goods on the nose and the palate comes on somewhat sweet as well, but it has the acid and tannin structure and spice to round that out.

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  • 2007 Monteviejo Malbec Lindaflor

    Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco

    After being open for only an hour or so, I found this almost un-drinkable. It came across oaky and hot with very little to redeem it. I poured half of my taste out. However, the second night it had changed completely and reminded me strongly of cran-raspberry juice cocktail. It was still not particularly complex or interesting, but was much more pleasant to drink. On the third night it had lost the fruitiness again and was just boring. Decanting is definitely the way to go with this and I wish I had. Overall, though, I'd recommend just finding some good cranberry juice instead. You could even add a shot of vodka and it would be less harsh than this was on opening.

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  • 2001 Viña Alicia Malbec Special Harvest

    Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo

    This seemed over the hill to me. Sweetness on the nose with no off odors, but just didn't seem to be much there on the palate. Two of my guests at the tasting thought it seemed medicinal, which I wasn't picking up on, but it's possible it could have been a flawed bottle.

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  • 2008 Conquista Malbec

    Argentina, Mendoza, San Rafael

    This is about what I expected for the price: sweet and watery. It was easy to pick out as the really cheap bottle even with a couple of $12-$15 bottles in the mix.

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Closing

None of these really excited me, so I will continue to keep the levels of Malbec in my cellar low.

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