ChangeMe
Grape Sorter
Posts:398
 | | 06/04/2003 4:24 AM |
| I've maybe had one or two Argentinian Malbec's ever, and not for quite some time at that. I've heard that quality is improving with every vintage and would like to find out more about this varietal.....including characteristics, reputable producers, regions(Mendoza?) etc....
also is this a cellar worthy grape, as you can see i'm starting from square zero, any insight would be very much appreciated.  | | | |
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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 06/04/2003 5:14 AM |
| Okay thats a big question.
Malbec is one of the big five grapes in the diverse and large cabernet family. The other four being Merlot, Cab Franc, Cab Sav and Petit Verdot.
Grown through out Bordeaux to blend with merlot and cabernet sav, the wine is made into more pure wine in Argentina (as you know) but also Cahors. Also known as Cot, Malbeck, Auxerrois, and Pressac. However there are over 400 names for this varietal throughout France and northern Spain making it very hard to always recognise that you're drinking Malbec.
Now grown throughout the world because of its excellent pairing with merlot (if only in limited amounts.) it does however appear to be receding in popularity because it suffers all the problems of merlot without the typical forward fruit.
Malbec produces highly coloured wine, with moderate aromatic characters. The flavours are focused on the fore and back palate areas- ironically almost exactly the opposite of merlot (mid palate focused wine.)
If you want mroe detail just ask. | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 06/04/2003 5:26 AM |
| | While it is one of the "big five" grapes of Bordeaux I believe it has pretty much been ripped out of most vineyards in Bordeaux. It is a late ripening grape so if your Malbec got ripe then you had ripe grapes of the other varieties (which typically means you had a good year in Bordeaux). | | | |
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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 06/04/2003 5:28 AM |
| | No it is still used throughout Bordeaux as of 98 but not in huge quantities (it would be one of the least planted along with Petit Verdot of the big five.). | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 06/04/2003 5:31 AM |
| | Are you sure about this? I haven't seen it listed in a classified growth (particularly the 1st growths) in several years. I suspect while it may be grown it doesn't seem to be used much. | | | |
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Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 06/04/2003 5:55 AM |
| The stats are from Oz Clarke so they should be pretty accurate. You may be right about it not being used to much in 1st growths.
According to "Wine" by Andre Domine- the Medoc has the greatest plantings of Malbec, although far out wayed by cab sav and merlot, but planted more regularly and commonly than Petit verdot.
St Julien has the least planted according to the book with less than
%5 planted with malbec- this may have changed as this info is 4 years old.
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 06/04/2003 6:20 AM |
| | I find it difficult to believe that there is that much malbec planted as in most years it doesn't get warm enough (or more accurately there aren't enough sunlight hours). If a Chateau isn't using the grape in its blends I suspect they wouldn't want to grow the grape as it takes up valuable real estate they could use to grow cab sauv, merlot, cab franc, or petite verdot which do get used (especially the first two). | | | |
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Dave Mci
Hudson, OH
Grape Fermenter
Posts:696
| | 06/04/2003 11:50 AM |
| Jump:
Catena makes a nice Malbec from the Lunluta vineyard. It should be available for around $20 or so. I believe they also make a higher-end bottling, but the name escapes me. | | | |
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| | 06/04/2003 12:14 PM |
| | Had an Argentinian Malbec last nite -- Trapiche 2001. Very nice, chewy -- lots of fruit, chocolate, berries. | | | |
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dinwiddie
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2155
| | 06/04/2003 12:28 PM |
| As stated by others, Malbec has almost disappeared from Bordeaux but is a star in Argentina. At its best it can produce some stunning wines. The most common discriptors associated with these wines are rasberry, blackberry, coffee, and spices.
The malbecs from Bodegas Esmeralda and Catena Zapata tend to lead the pack, but there are several excellent producers. Bodegas Caro, a joint venture between Catena and Rothschild just started producing a Bordeaux blend of 70% Cabernet Sauv. and 30% Malbec that is excellent. | | | |
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jaimetown
DC area
Wine Bottler
Posts:3411
| | 06/04/2003 1:04 PM |
| | The malbec that DaveMCI is referring to is the Catena Alta bottling. I've tried the '97 and it was very good. The Lunata vineyard bottling is good too, though Catena now makes a non-vineyard designated Malbec which is nowhere as good as the Lunata bottling. | | | |
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ttepper
Barrel Filler
Posts:1309
| | 06/04/2003 1:12 PM |
| | We had a small offliner a few months back where we had a 1977 Bodega y Cavas de Weinert Malbec Mendoza Estrella. Very interesting stuff...I'm sure there are Tn's..do a search... | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13660
| | 06/04/2003 1:29 PM |
| I'm glad Jump brought this up. I have **never** had a Malbec. I have been scared off by some horror stories of a wine buddy of mine and other bizarro TNs.
Any I loony for not trying this stuff?
What should I try to change my mind?  | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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Dr_Tannin
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2498
| | 06/04/2003 2:16 PM |
| Dave-
I believe the higher end bottling is the Angelica | | | |
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dinwiddie
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2155
| | 06/04/2003 2:57 PM |
| TJ,
Instead of going crazy trying to find the top Malbecs, try something that should be fairly easy to find and will give you an idea of the character of the grape. I'd suggest the Malbec Mendoza Don Miguel Gascón from Bodegas Escorihuela. (they also make on called Malbec Mendoza Alamos that is inexpensive and not at all bad for the type.) The 99s and 00s were quite good and ran about $10-12. I enjoy Malbec with a steak going with the assumption that you should try a wine with the foods that are indigenous to the region and Argentina is famous for it's beef. | | | |
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Dave Mci
Hudson, OH
Grape Fermenter
Posts:696
| | 06/04/2003 7:17 PM |
| | I believe the Doc is correct. Jaime, I believe the Alta is the higher-end Cabernet. More questions - Isn't Bodegas Esmeralda and Catena Zapata one in the same? I believe Esmeralda changed their name to Catena Zapata due to confusion over the name(s), but am not sure. We need to hear from Mr. Malbec himself, Kybo (Kybeaux). I believe he surfs more on WS than here. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Destemmer
Posts:88
| | 06/04/2003 8:36 PM |
| | Other pretty easy ones to find are Bodega Norton and Bodega Lurton. Both should be in the $10-$12 range. | | | |
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jaimetown
DC area
Wine Bottler
Posts:3411
| | 06/04/2003 8:49 PM |
| | More on Catena's wines can be foundhere - Dr. T and I were talking about the same wine - Angelica is the name of the vineyard the wine comes from - The 'Alta' bottling is a trio of Cab, Malbec, and Chards. | | | |
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Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11833
| | 06/04/2003 9:00 PM |
| Dave,
I believe you're on the money. Catena was formerly known as
Bodegas Esmerelda. The last time I looked, he has three levels of
offerigs. The 'alta' is the highest. The 'alamos' is the lowest.
Me, I tend to buy the ones in the middle!
His 97 chardonnay (around $15) was a real eye-opener for me.
I always keep a few of his chard, cabs and malbecs in the cellar. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Sorter
Posts:398
| | 06/04/2003 9:26 PM |
| | Great responses....................A big thanks to everyone who contributed, I've got a great starting point now. Will be following up with TN's......I'll keep you posted | | | |
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