Recently I was encouraged to reconsider malbec as a more nuanced wine than previously thought. Not all malbecs are grown and made the same, so why would we expect them to taste the same? And why hadn’t I thought of this before? My geology and wine loving friends and I got together to explore four diverse malbecs from Chile and Argentina, on both sides of the Andes Mountains. A horizontal tasting of sorts. Here’s what we tasted with some notes from the wine producers (including geologic setting, which we found most interesting because all of us in attendance that day are geologists):
- Casillero del Diablo Malbec Reserva 2016 from Chile
- Gran Reserva Malbec 2016 from Chile
- Trivento Reserve Malbec 2016 from Argentina
- Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec 2015 from Argentina
Casillero del Diablo Malbec Reserva 2016*
Central Valley, Chile
$12 (750ml)
Soil: Riverbench associated soils
Aroma: Delicious aromas of black fruit such as berries, plums and cherries, followed by pepper and subtle touches of vanilla and black chocolate. All very well balanced.
Palate: The beginning is marked by the dark plums and spices making this wine very generous in taste. The final structure is wide and round thanks to the presence of the barrels that has been excellently integrated. The after taste is long and elegant.
Food Pairing: Harmonizes perfectly with all types of barbecues, ripe cheeses and sweet-and-sour sauces. Stews and herbs are another partner for this wine.
*Sheila’s favorite that day
Colchagua Valley, Chile
$17 (750ml)
Vineyards: Palo Santo Vineyard, in Marchigüe within the Colchagua Valley, Chile. Colluvial with granitic deposits, gentle slopes and terraces created by the Tinguiririca River.
Winemaking: The grapes are harvested mid to late April. The wine is aged for 13 months in a combination of new and used French and American oak barrels.
Tasting Notes: Deep, purple-red hue with intense aromas of black plum, blueberries and dark chocolate. Concentrated black fruit flavors on the palate show good structure, with soft, sweet tannins and a rich full body.
Food Pairing: Gran Reserva Serie Riberas Malbec is a great red for firm cheeses, steak, lamb, and spicy dishes.
Mendoza, Argentina
$11 (750ml)
Vineyards: Mendoza, Argentina. Grapes primarily sourced from the Luján de Cuyo and surrounding areas. Alluvial soil.
Winemaking: The wine is harvested in April by hand, aged in French oak barrels for 6 months and then aged for an additional 5 months in bottle prior to release.
Tasting Notes: Deep red and violet in color, with powerful aromas of ripe red fruits, strawberries and cherries, with hints of coffee and chocolate from the oak. Good body and fleshy tannins with a long, lingering finish.
Food Pairing: Trivento Reserve Malbec is an ideal match to full-flavored foods and barbequed meats.
Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec 2015*
Luján de Cuyo, Argentina
$21 (750ml)
Vineyards: Agrelo y Vistalba (Luján de Cuyo), Mendoza, Argentina. Stony alluvial soil.
Winemaking: The grapes are harvested by hand in mid-April. The grapes are cold macerated prior to fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Natural malolactic fermentation follows. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels for 12 months, with an additional 12 months bottle aging prior to release.
Tasting Notes: Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec is purple red with deep violet tones. It has a bouquet of berry fruits, plum jam, coffee and tobacco notes. The wine is elegant and powerful on the palate with velvety tannins.
Food Pairing: Enjoy with steaks, roasts, pasta dishes with robust sauces, and cheeses.
*Group favorite that day
And like the responsible adults that we are, we proceeded to roller skate down the street in dinosaur costumes after the tasting. *shrugs* It was a great day!