Celebrating Malbec World Day

Malbec World Day, which for me actually turned out to be more like Malbec World Week, is an annual happening created by Wines of Argentina that takes place on April 17.  For one 24 hour period, wine enthusiasts around the world pop the cork on a bottle (or bottles) of Malbec and celebrate this multi-layered varietal that is chock full of character.  It’s inky dark purple in color and typically displays aromas and flavors of berries, dark cherries, plums, chocolate, pepper and sometimes a little earth.  Most are notably acidic, making them food friendly, and tannins are usually quite prominent.

Malbec, also known as Côt or Auxerrois (in Cahor, France), has found it’s perfect terroir – not in France, however, but rather in Argentina.  What was originally planted in the Bordeaux and Cahor regions of France, Malbec was gradually replaced by Cabernet Sauvignon.  Although Malbec is still found in Cahor, very little is in Bordeaux.  Most Malbec is found in Argentina, which was brought into the country from France and Northern Italy, by European immigrants, before phylloxera wiped out most of Europe’s vineyards in the late 19th century.  Argentine’s soil, climate and dedicated passion of the regions wine growers and wine makers have come together wholly to create a haven for the Malbec varietal. 

Several days before the actual Malbec World Day took place, I joined Snooth’s Editor in Chief, Gregory Dal Piaz, and Nora Z. Favelukes, a representative from Wines of Argentina, for a live virtual tasting of four featured award-winning Argentine Malbecs.  Trivento Bodegas: Trivento Reserve 2012, Finca Flichman: Dedicado 2009, Michel Torino: Altimus 2010 and Terrazas de los Andes: Terrazas Single Vineyard Las Compuertas Malbec 2010.

Although I sampled just two of the wines that were featured, the entire virtual tasting (which is really informative and quite fun) can be viewed on Snooth.

• Finca Flichman, Dedicado 2009: Pouring from the heaviest 750ml wine bottle I’ve ever held, this wasn’t as dark in color as most Malbecs I’ve tasted – it was inky, but more of a dark red ink instead of purple. The aromas were rich, vibrant and full of red and black fruits with hints of leather, fresh tobacco and oak. As rich on the palate as it was in aromas, this blend of 70% Malbec, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Syrah was rounded out by supple tannins that only ended after a long lasting finish. I immediately wanted food, and was happy to have a mozzarella and prosciutto roll on hand, which was excellent with the Malbec.
  
• Terrazas Single Vineyard Las Compuertas Malbec 2010: This is one of the best Malbecs I’ve had to date. True to the varietal, it was inky and dark purple in the glass. Alluring aromas of baked blackberry cobbler and vanilla totally grabbed my attention at first whiff. Flavors of cherries, dark berries, spice and earth were well balanced by a solid acidic backbone and beautiful fine grained tannins. A silky mouthfeel and smooth, lush finish added elegance to a varietal that I very rarely describe as elegant. I was impressed.

On Malbec World Day, April 17, some friends and I gathered for a Malbec Tweet-Up at a local tavern.  We had three different Malbecs to sample and tweet about.  From Argentina, we had the Graffigna Centenario Reserve 2011 and the Alamos (the wines of Catena) 2012.  The third wine was from France, Domaine Baron Côt Les Vieilles Vignes 2008.  All three displayed the expected red and dark fruit aromas with the French Côt offering stand-out violet and vanilla characteristics.  Although the Côt was the favorite among our group, I kept going back to the Graffigna because of it’s intensity and richness.

• Graffigna Centenario Reserve 2011: This 100% Malbec from the San Juan region of Argentina was used to christen my new Riedel Malbec glass, and for good reason. Graffigna together with world-renowned Riedel created a glass with a shape and size designed to highlight the alluring characteristics found in Malbecs. As you all know, I’m an avid and admitted wine glass snob, and I’m a firm believer that the correct stemware will highlight the desirable flavors and aromas of wine. Rich and intense on the nose and palate, aromas and flavors of baked blackberries, cherries and violets were followed by bold, gripping tannins, heightened acid and a long complex finish. With a side by side sample of the Graffigna in my new Riedel glass and some in a glass from the bar, the differences were amazing – all of the pleasing qualities were highlighted in the Riedel. Although I knew my new glass would no doubt be beneficial, others with me were stunned by the difference.

What was left of the Graffigna was brought home and placed inside my Skybar One Wine System.  Last night, two full days after popping the cork, I used my Riedel Malbec glass again.  The tannins and acid had softened, creating a more lush and round mouthfeel, but the berry flavors remained intense and rich –  I love it when a wine evolves beautifully over a few days.

Did you celebrate Malbec World Day? According to WinesofArgentina.org, more than 70 events were to be held in 60 cities around the world in celebration of their flagship varietal – and that’s not counting the mini celebrations like the one we had in Eugene, Oregon.  I’m thinking a lot of Malbec was recognized, consumed and appreciated around the globe in that one 24 hour period.

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Read how some my wine writing friends celebrated Malbec World Day:

Graffigna Centenario Reserve Malbec 2010 –  A Must-Have Malbec (The Reverse Wine Snob)

Malbec World Day (VineSleuth Uncorked)