Originally from France, the Malbec grape was introduced from France to Argentina in the mid-1800s. Once widespread, its use in France has declined over the years and it has found a new home in the New World - particularly in Argentina. It is a powerful grape which is often added to blended wines, contributing rich fruit flavours, tannin and deep colour. It is a sun-loving variety and with the right growing conditions, can produce stylish, robust, fruit-driven wine. Malbec is now the most widely planted grape variety in Argentina, from which wineries are producing high quality varietal wines.
Appearance: Inky dark purple with an orange tinge.
Aroma: Vanilla-oak and iron.
Flavour: Striking acid attack. Bloody and briny with heavy, tangly tannins stranded on the tongue. Complex nonetheless with plenty to think about: damsons, dates, raisins, blood and ivy.
This wine is very good. Though it's more than drinkable right now, it's a little unsettled and boisterous and with a year or so of cellaring, I think it should settle down into a serious, even better wine - well worth the phenomenal £5.00 price tag if you can wait. Buy a couple!
Wine Name: Finest Mendoza MalbecProducer: Tesco own-brand
Grape/Blend: Malbec Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 14%
Country: Argentina
Bought at: Tesco
Price: £5.00 (2 for £10 deal)
Value for money: ♦♦♦♦ Very Good
Over all rating: ♦♦♦ Good
