This week we are staying in Argentina (surprise surprise) but straying away from the usual haunts of Mendoza, heading south to Patagonia. It's an area that produces a scant percentage of Argentina's overall production, but that number is growing. It is also an area that is one of the most southern in latitude/longitude and therefore has the most extreme variations in climate and soil.
To get even more in detail there are three main regions of Patagonia producing wine:
- Neuquén (southwest of Mendoza)
- La Pampa (southeast of Mendoza)
- Río Negro (south of both Neuquén and La Pampa)
Today's selection comes from Rio Negro, so let's get to it.
Nose: A nice mix of plum, gooseberry, and blackberry with a very savory quality. The blackberry becomes more pronounced on the second and third sniffs, and there's a bit of cinnamon too. As it sits the cinnamon fades out and a bit of oak arrives.
Palate: Comes in with bright acidity and fruit in the lead. Easy drinking and approachable with a bit more spice and dark chocolate with subsequent sips. With a bit more time black pepper cuts through the fruit and the oak influence presents itself in greater volume. Very ripe tannins.
Palate: Comes in with bright acidity and fruit in the lead. Easy drinking and approachable with a bit more spice and dark chocolate with subsequent sips. With a bit more time black pepper cuts through the fruit and the oak influence presents itself in greater volume. Very ripe tannins.
Finish: Long and delightful. The fruit cuts through the acid and the tannins, with wonderful notes of chocolate and oak in the background. A very bold Argentinian Malbec that amplifies all of the wonderful elements on display.
I know we just published last week a list of quality Malbecs under $20. But if I had opened this before we clicked "publish" on that article, this would certainly hold its place upon those mentioned. It's hard to believe this is only $20. Unreal.
$20