Wow, this was a nice find.

My wife decided to surprise me and stop and pick up dinner today, even though it was her 40th birthday. After stopping for the food, she stopped into the little wine store next door, looking for a matching wine. Of course, she had to tell the owner that I am a wine snob, so it better be good. It was.

I can probably count on one hand the number of Malbecs I have had in my life. To make it even more interesting, this is a blend of 60% Bonarda (huh?) and 40% Malbec. Price paid was $25. Upon advice, decanted for one hour before serving.

Paired with a beef tritip, marimated in Jack Daniels, garlic and black peppercorn sauce.

Apparently, all of the Malbecs I had prior were of the Old World variety. This one is definitely New World in style. On the nose, black and red fruits, with dark, toasty oak. In the glass, the fruits are revealed to me as blackberry and raspberry with hints of spice and a rather large dose of oak. Medium to long finish, where the fine tannins rear their head.

Normally I am not a big fan of this much oak, but this seemed so well put together that I overlooked that. This is defintely a fruit bomb, and cut through the marinade on the tritip quite nicely. The glass I had after the meal, without the meat, had the tannins a little more forward, but still very enjoyable.

I "really" enjoyed this wine. Without much experience, I cannot say if it is true to its varietals, but I will rate it at 90 points. Based on the tannin levels and noticeable, but not overpowering, acidity I think this will have a few more years of life, though it is drinking very well right now. Because of my lack of experience taking this advice is at your own risk, but this wine does have Mrs. mbansek's seal of approval for more purchases, and I would not want to disappoint her. Guess I will have to make sure at least one remains buried for a few years, to see if the oak integrates.

Mike

Mike,
If your wife finds out that you blurted out the fact of the big four oh in a public forum, you may find that there's going to be a liquidation sale in your cellar!

budman:

Just another reason to keep her off this site, and keep her from looking over my shoulder.

Yesterday was bad enough, when I asked her "how does it feel to be forty?" Then there was this morning. Note to self: just because I am awake, does not mean my brain is.

Today I asked her "how does it fell to be in your forties?" Somehow, that is even worse. I will be paying for that one all weekend, which was going to be expensive anyway. A weekend in Keystone with another couple, golf at the River course, at least two meals planned. And now, maybe jewelry. "sigh."

Let's hope Harlan is late sending their mailer out this year.

Mike

Mike...


PLEASE don't remind her that as of her fortieth birthday, she's in her forty-first year!!

I am more awake now, so that is not likely to happen!

Mike

Mike,

Since Jill isn't allowed to read this post anyway ... is there anything I can pick up for you atThe Party Source, which is a GREAT source for German riesling among other things (David Schildknicht (sp?), the noted German critic and non-Germanic importer, used to work at this store. He still lives and works in the area and has close ties to the shop). Note that the price INCLUDES tax and you'll get a 5% discount past the price posted due to my ... errr ... volume purchase.

I've already lined up a case of '01 Darting Rieslaner, '02 Merkelbach UrzWurz Spatlese, some '02 Leitz wines in general, and a few other things.

So, what can I add to your two bottles of 2000 LLC?

Woooohooo! Jill can't see this! HAH!

So Stemor you found some more Darting Rieslaner. I thought GATC had cleaned out the USA of that wine. I guess just the western USA.

Zachy's has it for $24/750 mL if you or anyone else would like some.

Word from The Party Source (ignore their listing on Wine-Searcher, since it's now been removed from inventory ) agrees with what GATC is hearing ... more of this juice is coming available in October.

Stemor:

A list will be coming your way, once I get a chance to check it out. And now, you make me go shopping at Lukas tomorrow for the Shirvington.

Don't let Jill find out, or you will be persona non grata around these parts...

Mike

Had this tonight with some lovely grilled steaks. I could not concur more with Mikes TN at the top of the page. Really thick legs. Black and Red fruits. Quite a bit of tannin if not paired with bites of dinner. I caught a good amount of spice and not too much oak. medium to long finish sounds right. Really fruit forward.

I really enjoyed this wine. Another fine pickup from a davidn dump. Thanks again. 90 pts.

Is the 01 Corazon the same wine as the 02 Patriota?

I had a bottle of the 1999 Tikal Corazon last night. 65% Bonarda and 35% Malbec. It tasted a lot like the 2001 Tikal sounds like. A massive fruit bomb.

I am definitely going to try to get my hands on some more Tikal.