Terrazas de los Andes, Malbec 2009
Now that we are well into the autumn, I am sure I am not alone in making a notable switch in choice of beverage! A beefy red wine that has been allowed to breathe properly can lift the soul as a relaxing drink, while a serious red grape variety as an accompaniment to a meal is especially rewarding. I have to confess that I am still very much in the learning process with, both wines from Argentina and the Malbec grape. Both can be a memorable experience. I have to say that I was thoroughly spoiled when my daughter presented me with a 2007 Bodegas Salentein Primus Malbec from the Uco Valley in Argentina, this was an experience all right! For a price of around £50, I would regard this wine as a real treat.
The Malbec grape is becoming more widely known due to the superior wines arriving on the shelves of UK supermarkets and wine stores. It originated in France and is also known by the name of Auxerrois in the Cahors region. It is also one of the six grape varieties allowed in the blend of red Bordeaux wine. However, I am highlighting the grape as it is grown in the Mendoza region in Argentina. The grape was first introduced here in the mid-nineteenth century but now it can safely be stated that Malbec is identified with Argentinian wines. As a grape, Malbec is thin-skinned and needs more sun and heat than, for example, Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to mature. A Malbec wine can be recognised by its deep colour and intense fruity flavours with a velvety texture, look out for the violet aromas and ripe tannins. The Mendoza region is the leading producer of Malbec in the country with wines produced from high altitudes up to 1500m in the foothills of the Andes.
My recommendation is the Terrazas de los Andes, Malbec 2009, available from Tesco at £12.99 or £77.94 per case of 6
“rich and ripe with a dense, dark fruit flavours and a gorgeous hint of vanilla”
I would thoroughly recommend this wine as an accompaniment to a “Duchy of Cornwall” Rib-eye steak with brussels sprouts and mashed potato