Malbec week is upon us again, terrible I know! I have selected five wines for you to try, so you can really make the most of it! Each wine has it’s own character and shows how diverse Malbec can be.
The 5 wineries and their (rough) location in Mendoza.
Familia Blanco, Mairena Malbec Reserve - Ugarteche, Mendoza
There are many people that believe that Malbec is the jokey, fun, easy-going one in the wine gang. “He will never amount to much” they say. Well, these negative folk need to try Mairena Malbec Reserve from Familia Blanco. This is a full-bodied, complex Malbec with potential to age 8, 9, 10 years, if not more.
Mairena Mabec Reserve 2013
Coming from the Family’s own vineyards in Ugarteche in the southern point of Lujan de Cuyo. The grapes are hand harvested into small boxes to prevent damage. They are then taken to the winery where they are fermented in concrete vats at a low temperature, before being aged for 12 months in French Oak Barrels.
As a result of the care given, Familia Blanco have created a rich, but elegant and sophisticated Malbec.
Los Haroldos Reserva de la Familia - Uco Valley, Mendoza
Los Haroldos is a large family owned winery based in San Martin, east of the city of Mendoza. However the grapes for the Reserva Malbec come from the Uco Valley. The winery is known for its high quality, affordable wines. Unlike other wines on this list, Los Haroldos export a lot of their wines, making them much easier to find outside of Argentina.
This Malbec is made in a modern style, medium-full body, a little spice from the oak, but tons of aromatic violet notes, fresh and wonderful to drink with or without food.
Aromatic and Fresh
Altamillo, Terra d’ Amics - El Cepillo, Mendoza
This is a favourite that we often show at our tastings. It is made by a boutique winery based in El Cepillo, in the southern part of the Uco Valley, Mendoza.
Terra d’Amics means ‘Land of friends’ in Catalan, and we have dubbed this wine as “the perfect dinner party bottle” Why? A complex Malbec, with appealing dried fruit and toasty oak notes. Great value for money and combine that with a smart looking label,- Take it to a dinner party and everyone will assume you paid twice its retail price!
Drink with friends and Argentinean Folk Music
Pueblo Dormido - Icabod - Tunuyán, Mendoza
The spookiest of all our wines! Pueblo Dormido is the creation of Federico Crowe - Wine lover and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow fanatic. So passionate is he about the book, he named his winery Sleepy Hollow (Pueblo Dormido in Spanish) and his wines after the two main characters - Icabod (Ichabod Crane, the lanky protagonist) and Jinete Sin Cabeza (The Headless Horseman). He currently produces just 2 wines from 2 hectares of vineyard in Tunuyan in the centre of the Uco Valley.
Icabod - Not just for Halloween
Trapezio, Petit Bobo, Blend, 2013
Another Wine Discovery favourite. This is in fact a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and only 20% Malbec. Although it is most common. to see Malbec as a single varietal (100% Malbec) it works very well in a blend. Trapezio have blended it with the same varieties they use in France to make the world renowned Bordeaux. The winery has less than 10 hectares of vines in Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo. This is a bold, intense wine that benefits from being decanted at least 30 minutes before drinking. Drink now or if you are patient within the next 10 years.
Big Bobo Blend!