I am not a fan of Malbec. Ok, that is an understatement. Especially from South America, I find it to taste excessively dirty with no brightest or lift. It always reminds be of accidentally getting mud in my mouth while gardening. I went to a Malbec trade tasting 18 years ago and tried about 45 different malbecs. There was one that was marginally OK, but at $90 in 2007, it was overpriced.
Others of you have expressed similar opinions. Prove that I am wrong by recommending a South Amereican Malbec that deserves great praise. I have had a few that are OK from Cahors, but there is a reason why malbec is the sixth grape out of five that are permitted in Bordeaux.
Why do you care? It’s okay to dislike a wine or region or grape. I see no need whatsover to actively try and change that opinion. It’s not like you need Malbec for some reason, or that disliking malbec is intrinsically offensive or bigotted. If you happen to run across something that appeals, then how nice! But to feel like you have to go search for something in the category to change your mind doesn’t make any sense to me. If you don’t like the color orange, there’s no reason to search for a specific shade that might change your mind. If you are a straight man, there’s no need to…well, you get the point.
What if he needs a transfusion to get the wine in his bloodstream to the proper level and only Malbec is available? He NEEDS to know an acceptable Malbec response in case of a crisis!
Limited experience here - but the one that I might try now is Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Mundus Bacillus Terrae. They also make a river bottling that looks interesting.
Brazos imports it and has pretty good national distribution. Will depend on local distributors as to who actually carries it. Bowler has or had it in NY. I also see Skurnik listing it although not sure if they have it for NY. The Inseperable is ‘only’ about $50. They make another one that’s more.
No South American Malbec for me please, but Loire Côt? Now we’re talking. Should have saved you some of that Clos Roche Blanche from our tasting in NYC May 1st. They’re sharp while I find Malbec from other continents to be clumsy.
Interesting, hadn’t looked in a while. Inseparable is their entry level, and it’s really good. The Jubileus and La Craie are incredible, but are priced well above $300… for me personally it’s worth it.
If ONLY Malbec is available what are the odds it’s one of the Unicorns that he tolerates?
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I think that, while there is no need to like every grape or region, it may be worth checking that one has tasted the best exemplars. Take Italian Pinot Grigio for example. Until I ran across Alto Adige I was pretty dismissive, and then my opinion changed.
Last night I had a 2010 Bodegas Monteviejo Lindaflor La Violeta Malbec and it was by far the best South American Malbec I have ever had. Truly sublime. A bit pricey at $110 a bottle but WOW!! Floral notes with some dark cherry and vanilla notes. Big but smooth and balanced.
Finca Adalgisa - small production, high elevation (3,000 ft), old vine, very elegant wines, and released with bottle age. 2017 vintage should be current release. Should be around $55.
