PalateMatch

Today I am tasting the 2009 Maipe Malbec from Proviva S.R.L. in Mendoza, Argentina. This 100% Malbec wine was purchased for under $9 and is partially aged (10%) in oak for 3 months. I previously have tasted the 2008 Maipe Malbec and I really liked the complexity on the palate.

Color

In the glass this wine is an attractive dark purple in color.

Aroma

I love the strong nose of this wine. It has some funky earthy notes when first opened. After breathing there are notes of raspberry and mint showing. Solid nose of a Malbec.

Flavor

The palate starts with a sweet attack of raspberry and blackberry. This is followed by black cherry on the mid-palate with a great cherry note in the 3rd quarter. It finishes just a tad hot with some red fruit. I don’t find this wine to be oaky and I enjoyed the finish. The tannins are mild, but the fruit doesn’t come across as a heavy syrup style. I found it to be a medium bodied wine. Although it doesn’t strike me as being a complete fruit bomb, this wine is certainly New World.

Rating

I enjoyed this wine and recommend it as an easy to drink red wine with some complexity. I rate it 89 points.

Have you tried it? What flavors and aromas did you detect? Interestingly, I didn’t enjoy the 2009 as much as when I tried the 2008 in the past. I don’t believe the vintages differed that much, so I suspect my palate is changing. Have you noted any change in your palate through the years?

Today I am tasting the 2008 Tilia Malbec from the Mendoza region of Argentina. This 100% Malbec varietal is detailed at the Billington Wines site and I found it for under $8. This vineyard touts its product as being sustainably farmed. Another plus is that it has a screw cap. It has been aged for 6 months in oak.

Color

The color is the glass is a dark purple.

Aroma

Blackberries, black currants, and black pepper dominate the nose. This wine is aromatic and full of dark fruits.

Flavor

The blackberries on the nose show up on the palate at the start along with some black cherries. The mid-palate shows more cherries and some vanilla. The finish is long with a little oak but dark fruit. This is not a complex wine, but it is very smooth and the fruit is consistent. I think this will pair great with beef and tomato-based pasta sauce dishes.

Rating

If you enjoy red wine and love fruit bombs, then I think you will be pleased with this Malbec. It is not too exciting but brings good value to the table. I rate it 88 points.

Today I am tasting the 2008 Reserva Malbec by Mendoza Station in Argentina. I found this 100% Malbec varietal for under $6. Although Malbec has a long history as one of the six grape varietals used in Bordeaux, it is now frequently thought of as the Argentine varietal.

Color

The color is a appealing dark purple but a little thinner than other Malbecs in my glass.

Aroma

This wine is not the most aromatic. It does show some plum and blackberries on the nose. There is also a little smoke at the end.

Flavor

Sweet fruit greets you on the attack. Plum and cherry is present. The finish is nice with some hint of spice. Overall it is basically a smooth, fruit-driven wine which won’t last long on the palate. It is very easy to drink but lacking in any complex flavor. Given the price, it is not bad. I recommend pairing it with pasta and sausage.

Rating

This wine is very drinkable. It would be a good pizza wine. I rate it 86 points.

Today I am tasting the 2008 Maipe Malbec from Proviva S.R.L. in Mendoza, Argentina. I found this wine on sale for under $9 and have been told it is good.

Color

The color is a nice dark purple. Completely opaque.

Aroma

Nice dark fruit on the nose. I detect blackberries, black cherries and just a hint of bell pepper.

Flavor

This is definitely not a shy wine. It has a immediate upfront fruit flavor of strawberry and plum. The middle is characterized by cherries and the finish is very long with excellent tannins and spice. This is a surprisingly complex wine. In fact your own palate may pick out many other flavors and I’d love to know what you find. Please leave comments if you get the chance to try it. I think it is pretty widely available. This would pair very well with pasta dishes.

Rating

I highly recommend giving this a try. It is a strong effort for the price. I rate it 90 points.

Have you tried it yet?

Today I am tasting the 2007 Cruz Alta Reserve Malbec from Bodega La Rural in Mendoza, Argentina. Malbec is one of the 6 grape varietals blended in red Bordeaux wine. This 100% Malbec varietal wine is aged for 8 months in oak and I found it for under $13.

Color

This wine has a deep purple color. It seems a bit thinner than I expected.

Aroma

The aromatic aspect is definitely dark fruit driven. There is plum and blueberry along with some subtle oak on the nose.

Flavor

The attack is full of dark fruit. Black currant, blackberries, and black cherries are evident. The mid-palate has sour cherries and the finish is very long with a combination of spices and charred oak. This is a very smooth wine, but not quite velvety smooth. I think it is very fruit heavy in the New World style. I like it and would pair it with some gamey meats.

Rating

I like this wine. It is a very smooth wine and makes a nice introduction to the malbec grape varietal. I score it at 88 points.