It appears as if we are well underway here trying to assess Malbecs without the mental crutch of a score or grade and things seem to be faring pretty well, even if our web traffic argues to the contrary. I have been trying to figure out if there’s a particular region or vinter that could be defined as a profile or baseline from which we could all agree. No dice. Everyone takes a different position or has a different taste. If there’s one constant in the chaos affirming we are travelling the right direction, this would be the clue.
We are still in the embryonic stages of how this site will unfold. Maturity is
ten zillion light years away. Very few rookies enter a league and dominate from
the onset. Maybe we will even resort to a scoring system. Presently, I’m more
concerned with getting this bottle profiled.
I’ve never been there but judging from a press photo Salentein’s visitor
center, with the mountains in the backdrop, could also double as a Bond villain
hideout, or an abandoned relic from a long-forgotten war. They’re also one of
the top exporters of wine in the country and it’s easy to see why: this is a
lovely little vintage: earthy at first
with a bit of minerality and tobacco leaf that slowly balances with blackberry
and a mild undertone of lavender. It’s bold and flavorful, but not overly
tannic, and probably needs a solid hour out in the open before drinking. This
was listed as one of the value malbecs out there in a recent post, and it is
very easy to understand why.
Rating: Ten Zillion Stars
$17 USD