2016 Aruma Malbec

Happy Sunday! it's been a heck of a week, but now I have some time for a nice bottle of wine with my Sunday dinner.  Given my penchant for beef, tonight I've opened a bottle of 2016 Aruma Malbec that I purchased from Wine Till Sold Out. This wine is a 100% Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina, which is a classic region for this wine. So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Malbec.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, white pepper, cassis and earthy basalt.  Take a sip and you are awash in ripe cherry, blackberry and currant, that transitions easily to some ripe fruit notes, before easing into some dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are well structured, providing for a long, smooth dry finish that will have you reaching for another sip.

Overall. I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a classic steak friendly wine a a value price (I think I bought this one for under $20!).   This wine would pair well with almost any beef dish, as well as braised lamb, chili or steak tacos.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled T-bone steak, oven roasted candy stripe beets and broccolini.  Cheers!

2019 "The Pledge" Malbec

Happy Sunday!  It's the last Sunday of the month, which means it's "Dinner in the Diner" day, when I make a recipe from the golden age of passenger rail travel in the United States.  We'll get to that later, but first there is wine!  Tonight I've opened a bottle of wine I purchased recently from Costco, the 2019 "The Pledge" Malbec is an interesting wine made from fruit harvested from vineyards with vines that are more than a century old all throughout Mendoza, Argentina.  This seems to be an interesting concept, so I can't wait to try it!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, just as you'd expect from a nice Malbec.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of leather, black cherry, anise and hints of oak.  The first sip is a rush of ripe berries, black raspberry, blueberry and currant that dance around your palate before inviting some mineral notes of dusty limestone and white pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are smooth and understated, but they work the background to support the long, smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a very pleasant drinking Malbec, that like so many wines from Mendoza is also a terrific value at just $15 at Costco!  This wine would pair well with many classic gaucho meals, from grilled steaks and chops to classic Yankee pot roast.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with some home style beef stew based on the recipe from the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad.  The C&O wasn't as well known for famous named passenger trains, but their dining cars featured many recipes from the old south, including Maryland and Virginia.  And please don't worry, I cut down this recipe from the quantities listed to something more manageable, as I didn't have a full dining car to serve tonight!  Cheers!

2019 Decero Remolinos Vineyard Malbec

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy weekend, and always sad when it comes to the end and you're not exactly sure what you accomplished!  At any rate, I'm ending the weekend on a high note with a wonderful wine that is perfect for my Sunday dinner choice. The 2019 Decero Remolinos Vineyard Malbec was harvested from vineyards in the Agrelo sub-appellation of Mendoza, planted at an elevation of 3,500 feet.  So, let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect from a nice Malbec.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals wonderful aromatics of blackberry, leather and white pepper spice.  Take a sip and you're awash in ripe blueberry, blueberry and currant that transition easily to some earthy notes of basalt and green cedar.  The tannins are expertly structured, providing for a velvety smooth dry finish that lingers till your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's a wonderful expression of a Malbec that stands well above the standard fare of this varietal.  This wine was also a terrific value available at Costco for just $16!  This wine would pair well with a variety of hearty dishes, but practically begs to be paired with a gaucho served steak.  And tonight I'm in luck, enjoying this wine with a cowboy ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare with horseradish, roasted garlic and grilled asparagus.  Cheers! 

2018 Mi Terruño Reserve Malbec

 Happy Saturday!  I can freely admit there was a time when I was just not a fan of Malbec, but I confess it's really grown on me over the past six or seven years, particularly when it's served with some high quality beef!  So, tonight as I am contemplating a nice T-bone, I've opened a bottle of 2018 Mi Terruño Reserve Malbec that I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out.  Let's see how this wine is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, as you might expect from a Malbec from Mendoza.  Take a whiff and you're greeted with leather, green grass, and mineral notes blend with a variety of dark fruit, blueberries, blackberries and currant that just raise your expectation of the taste to come.  Take a sip and you're awash with ripe fruit and earthy flavors of tar, peat and graphite, even as you are drawn back to some wonderful oak and vanilla notes from the barrel aging.  The tannins are well structured and provide for a cascade of delightful earthy notes on the lingering, smooth dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as it's just a very pleasant wine that is perfect for steak!  Which is a good thing, as tonight I am enjoying this wine with a Cajun coffee rubbed T-bone steak along with some oven roasted fingering potatoes and some steamed asparagus with Hollandaise.  Cheers!

2020 Kirkland Signature Malbec

Well, tonight's blog post is made possible almost entirely by Costco!  Of course the main reason I went there today was to get some less expensive gas, since I was on the last orange bar, and about to get the warning light on my car.  But one thing led to another and I ended up with a cart full of meat, wine, coffee and snacks!  So, to celebrate, tonight I've opened a bottle of 2020 Kirkland Signature Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina.  So, let's see what this wine has to offer and what else Costco provided for this evening!

The wine is a classic Malbec, deep, inky purple in the glass with bright ruby along the edges.  A gentle swirl of the glass reveals aromas of prune, black cherry and charred oak, with some undertones of pipe tobacco.  Take a sip and you're greeted with a blast of tart cherry that gradually subsides to notes of plum, blackberry and currant, intermingled with some earthy mineral notes of basalt.  The tannins are bright and well structured, providing for a rounded finish that's dry with a reprise of acidity at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very solid Malbec and a terrific value for just $7 on sale, but it could use a year in the cellar to mellow a bit.  This wine was practically made to be enjoyed with a fatty steak, as the acidity would cut right through the richness of a prime steak.  And wouldn't you know it, Costco is a great source for prime beef, so I'm enjoying this wine with a prime tomahawk ribeye grilled Pittsburgh rare, along with some grilled leeks and asparagus and a big baked potato with sour cream and chives.  Cheers!

2018 Alamos Selección Malbec

Happy Sunday!  As another weekend comes to a rapid close, I've decided to have a nice bottle of Malbec with my Sunday dinner.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I just picked up from my local market yesterday as it was on sale, and bargain hunter that I am, how could I resist?  The 2018 Alamos Selección Malbec made with grapes selected from vineyards in the higher elevations of the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina.  I've become a much bigger fan of Malbec over the years, so let's see how this one is tasting!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center, with bright garnet along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Malbec.  A gentle swirl in the glass releases aromas of vanilla, blackberry, green grass and modest floral undertones.  The first sip reveals a surprising shift from those sweeter aromas to a rush of tart cherry, plum and black currant that transitions easily to some notes of dusty limestone and peppery spice midpalate.  The tannins are a bit tight, but ideal for the long and exceptionally dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very pleasant drinking Malbec and could be an everyday wine at the value price of just $15 at my local market.  This wine practically begs to be paired by a gaucho slicing whatever great beef he has grilled, from picanha to ribeye, filet to beef ribs.  Tonight I am taking that traditional route with a rare grilled New York strip along with some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts and garlic mashed potatoes.  Cheers!

2019 Chacabuco Malbec

 Happy New Year's Eve!  It's been a lackluster one to say the least and I along with many others are bidding a bon voyage to 2020 and desperately hoping that 2021 brings better tidings!  To help bid the old year nigh with a fond goodbye, I've decided to open another bottle of wine from the recent Wines Till Sold Out case sale.  The 2019 Chacabuco Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina was produced with grapes from the Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley, where some of the best and most affordable Malbec hails from.  So, let's see how this wine is tasting.

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, with garnet at the edges, just as you might expect from the varietal.  The nose is basket of ripe red fruit, cherry, currant and plum that exude a sweetness.  The taste is a rush of ripe cherry, currant and raspberry that eases into some notes of vanilla bean and toasted oak midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat soft at first, with a turn to sharpness for the long, dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant example of an Argentine Malbec at a price ($10) that makes this wine easy to sip.  This wine, like most Malbec would pair well with beef, steaks, roasts, chops, as well as hearty, earthy dishes like a wild mushroom risotto.  Tonight I am going the traditional route and enjoying this wine with some braised short ribs over mashed potatoes and some bacon roasted Brussels sprouts.  Cheers!

2017 Elodia El Manzano Don Arturo Estate Malbec

 Happy Birthday!  I mean yes, thank you!  It's my birthday today, which means that I went out on my annual hunting trip to get Christmas trees, and today I landed a couple of really nice white pines.  Then I came home, made out Christmas cards and made an apple pie and now it's time for some wine and dinner!  It didn't seem like I did much today, but now that I see the list I'm pretty impressed!  So tonight I've opened a bottle of 2017 Elodia El Manzano Don Arturo Estate single vineyard Malbec from the Uco Valley in Mendoza Argentina which I recently bought from Wines Till Sold Out, and you'll see why I've opened this wine when we get to the pairing.  So let's see how this wine is shaping up!

The wine is a deep inky indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from a nice Mendoza Malbec.  The nose presents aromas of cherry, blackberry, leather and pumice that shows the character of Argentina.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit that washes over your palate before transitioning to some wonderful earthy mineral notes midpalate.  The tannins are vibrant and youthful, but well structured, providing for a very smooth, dry finish that lingers for a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, as I think this is a new favorite Malbec (truth be told, I ordered four bottles of this one and enjoyed three of them before I got around to reviewing it!).  This wine is an ideal steak wine, which is ideal since I've decided to enjoy this wine this evening with a Brazilian steakhouse favorite of rare grilled picanha!  For those unfamiliar, picanha or sirloin cap, it's a delightfully tender steak, comparable to a filet, but with a lovely cap of fat to add incredible flavor.  Tonight I am grilling this with some bacon roasted brussels sprouts and a baked potato.  Cheers!

2013 Casa Natal Malbec Reserva

Good evening!  It's been a remarkably rainy week so far, and I just got back from the gym so I'm ready for a nice glass of wine with dinner.  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle that I bought from Wines Till Sold Out last fall, the 2013 Casa Natal Malbec Reserva from Mendoza Argentina, a blend of Malbec (90%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%).  We know many of the best Malbecs come from so let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a deep, inky indigo at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you might expect from the varietal.  The nose is a luxurious combination of leather, blueberry, violet and graphite that just makes you sit up and take notice.  The taste is a rush of blueberry, blackberry and plum, that transition to some notes of cocoa powder, oak and a reprise of candied plum on the finish.  The tannins are voluminous but well structured, providing for a pleasant, velvety dry finish that doesn't share the sharpness that can be found in Malbec.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a very pleasant drinking wine and a terrific value for only $15.  This wine practically stands like a gaucho ready to carve up a steak, so it would be perfect with almost any cut of steak, from filet to porterhouse, but tonight I'm taking a slightly different and decidedly old school approach and enjoying this wine with a pan seared veal loin chop along with parsley buttered red potatoes and some steamed asparagus.  Cheers!

2015 Catena Malbec

Hooray for Taco Tuesday!  I bet you'll never guess what I'm having for dinner, so to go with that marvelous food, I've opened a bottle of 2015 Catena Malbec that I bought at Costco last weekend.  Catena is a well regarded Malbec producer in Mendoza, Argentina, and this particular wine is sourced from the family vineyard in the foothills of the Andes.  So let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is an inky black at the center with bright garnet along the edges.  The nose is a wonderful combination of earthy leather, black cherry, mocha and dark chocolate with just a hint of lavender over the top.  The taste is a rush of ripe black fruit up front, blackberry and cherry that transition almost imperceptibly to some coarse mineral notes of dusty limestone midpalate.  There is a hint of tart cherry on the finish, as the well developed tannins provide the base for the long, smooth and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a remarkably smooth Malbec that meets my taste (I'm not a big Malbec fan so that's a big deal!) and it's a solid value at about $16.  This wine would pair with a variety of steaks, beef short ribs, or just about anything you can imagine a gaucho eating.  But given the day, I am enjoying this wine tonight with some chorizo and bean tacos with all the trimmings.  Cheers!

2017 Alamos Malbec

Ah, what a busy day spent in Chicago for a meeting, but the good news is that I had a chance to visit Eataly while I was there!  I love Eataly and especially in early fall when they have a big sale on so many things from limoncello to proscuitto to buffalo mozzarella, it was outstanding!  So tonight I arrived back late on the train, what with the hour time change and all, so I'm working on dinner feverishly, but still need some time for a wine decompression, and tonight it's with a relatively young wine, the 2017 Alamos Malbec from Mendoza Argentina.  Now given the different seasons down there, with harvest coming around the same time we have bud break, the '17 vintage is really more like a '16 vintage for northern hemisphere wines, which just helps me over the psychological barrier of drinking a red wine a year old!  So let's see how this one tastes.

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass.  The nose presents aromas of warm spice, green grass, blackberry and cherry.  The taste is quite a departure from the aromas, as you are hit with a rush of black cherry and blackberry right up front which transitions nicely to some warm spice and notes of mocha and caramel midpalate.  The finish is somewhat subdued as the youthful tannins are somewhat erratic but supportive of a smooth dry finish, that's a bit brief.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's not the most spectacular Malbec I've had, but it's a great everyday wine, and a good value.  I bought this bottle at Trader Joe's for about $10 if I remember correctly.  So the wine tonight is clearly in a supporting role with my dinner of a nice pan seared veal loin chop with some roasted giant mutant Brussels sprouts and a loaded baked potato (yes I didn't plate it perfectly, but give me a break I was starving!).  Cheers!

2016 Tall Dark Stranger Malbec

Well, this afternoon I was at the supermarket and I happened upon this wine, the 2016 Tall Dark Stranger Malbec, and it had such an interesting bottle, and it was on sale for $10, so I figured why not bring home a tall dark stranger for dinner?  I figured even though I'm probably not the exact demographic these wines are targeting, how could you really go wrong with a Malbec from Mendoza Argentina?  In any case, let's see how this wine tastes.

The wine is a bit lighter in color than many of the Argentine Malbecs I'm used to, not the dark brooding color that's so typical (perhaps this should have been a tall light stranger?).  The nose presents aromas of green grass, black cherry and violets, with just a hint of white pepper.  The taste is very fruit forward, with tart cherry, blackberry and blueberry that transitions to a bit of roast meat and green olive midpalate.  The tannins are young and tightly wound, providing for a sharp but very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a 7.5, as it's a decent drinking Malbec and not overpriced at $10.  This wine would pair well with just about anything a gaucho would eat in Mendoza, and tonight I am enjoying this wine with a new cut of steak I recently discovered from my butcher, the chuck eye steak.  This cut is from the area right between the ribeye and the chuck, making it what many call, "the poor man's ribeye."  The nice part is that it typically well marbled and very flavorful for a steak that routinely sells for $5-7 a pound.  Tonight, I've grilled the Angus chuck eye rare on a bed of grilled leeks along with grilled broccoli rabe and a baked potato with sour cream and scallions.  Cheers!

2015 Dona Paula Estate Malbec

TGIF!  It's been a long week, and tonight it's supposed to get down into the 50s which means that it's perfect patio campfire weather!  So of course with a nice campfire, we need to have a nice bottle of wine and tonight it's one I recently picked up at Costco, the 2015 Dona Paula Estate Malbec from the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina.  I have been a fan of Dona Paula for a while, and they make some exceptional Malbec at ridiculously bargain prices, so let's see what this wine has to offer.

The wine is a deep purple color at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, typical of the varietal.  The nose presents a lovely cascade of earthy aromas, green grass, earthy peat over ripe red fruit notes of cherry, raspberry and strawberry.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward, but somewhat subdued, with a rush of strawberry and cherry that transitions to some earthy notes of leather and tobacco intermingled with white pepper spice.  The tannins are well structured, providing a nice backbone for the long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a wonderful Argentine Malbec and a terrific value for just $10.  Like the Gauchos of Mendoza, this wine needs a steak, which is a good thing as I'm enjoying this one with a rare grilled prime ribcap, along with some grilled rainbow carrots and baby bok choy.  Cheers!

2015 Kirkland Signature Malbec

Happy Sunday!  I am about to start cooking my Sunday dinner and thought I'd open a bottle of wine I picked up at Costco yesterday, the 2015 Kirkland Signature Malbec from Mendoza Argentina.  Now I know that Malbecs are good value and Argentina is well know for the varietal, particularly Mendoza, so let's see how this one tastes!

The wine is a beautiful ruby color in the glass, not as dark as a Cabernet, classic for a Malbec.  The nose is chock full of ripe fruit, blackberry, raspberry, strawberry and plum over some wonderful spice notes of white pepper.  The taste is quite nice and easy going, with some lovely black fruit notes up front that transition easily to some notes of toasted oak, white pepper and smoke midpalate.  The finish is smooth, with youthful tannins and some bright acidity on the smooth, dry finish.

Overall, this wine is a classic Mendoza Malbec, easy drinking and ideal with a variety of foods, so I give this one a solid 8, particularly given what a terrific value this was at just $6!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled prime ribcap (to make the gauchos proud), along with grilled elephant garlic scapes, orange cauliflower and broccoli rabe.  This wine is ideal for a nice rich steak, cheers!

2009 Clos des Andes Malbec Riserva

Happy Tuesday!  I know it's supposed to be taco Tuesday, and I came close as I'm making fajitas for dinner, and what could be better with steak fajitas but a nice wine from Argentina?  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of our office wine club February selection, the 2009 Clos des Andes Malbec Riserva from Mendoza, Argentina, the heart of Malbec country that I bought from Wines Till Sold Out.  So let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine is a deep, inky purple color with bright garnet along the edges.  The nose is a lovely combination of leather, blackberry, mint and cassis.  The taste is a subdued bit of ripe black fruit up front, black plum and ripe berries that transition nicely to some notes of mint and dried herbs midpalate.  The tannins are somewhat tight, but still provide for a long, smooth and very dry finish that is classic Malbec.  

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a nice example of the varietal and a classic Mendoza Malbec and it was a good value at just $15.  This would of course pair well with any classic steak dish and tonight I'm enjoying it with some lovely steak fajitas with onions and peppers and a bit of corn, topped with lettuce, tomato and sour cream.  What a wonderful side trip from taco Tuesday!

2012 Bodega Norton Privada

Happy Friday evening!  I must admit it's seemed like a very short week since I've been on the road for much of it, but alas it's time to relax for the weekend!  And to get things started I've decided to open a bottle of surplus wine that my boss gave me, the 2012 Bodega Norton Privada, a blend of Malbec (40%), Merlot (30%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) from Mendoza Argentina.  So let's see it this is as good as it looks!

The wine is a deep purple color in the glass, classic for an Argentine Malbec.  The nose presents aromas of leather, green grass, dried herbs and black fruit.  The taste is really quite nice, with some lovely black fruit notes of plum and blackberry up front, intermingled with some vanilla bean notes.  Midpalate we have mineral notes of dusty limestone that fit will with the young, tightly wound tannins.  The finish brings a reprise of sweet blackberry amid the long, smooth and very dry finish that you want to keep going and going.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a pleasant drinking wine and a good value in the $25 price range.  This is a classic steak wine, which is a good thing since tonight I am pairing this one with a rare grilled New York strip, baked potato and haricots vert almondine.  Cheers!

2012 Sottano Malbec

Happy Sunday!  It's been a busy weekend, and now at long last, at the very end I have a chance to relax with a glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open a nice bottle I bought at a local wine store, the 2012 Sottano Malbec from Mendoza Argentina.  I'm not a big Malbec fan, but this one was inexpensive and from Argentina so let's see what it has to offer!

The wine is a nice inky black color at the center with bright ruby along the edges, just as you'd expect for the varietal.  The nose presents aromas of leather, blackberry and mint with some earthy undertones.  The taste is rather subdued with some modest fruit notes at the outset that transition to some mineral notes midpalate.  The black fruit makes a bit of a comeback at the finish, but it's still rather lackluster overall.

I'd rate this wine a 7, as it was a descent value at just $12, but even at that price point I think there are some better Argentine wines out there.  This would be easy to pair though, as like many Malbecs, this would be a good red meat wine, and tonight I'm pairing it with a rare grilled New York strip, along with some grilled leeks and Brussels sprouts and a baked potato.  Cheers!

2011 Alamos Malbec Seleccion

Happy Tuesday!  Today I had a most pleasant surprise when I arrived at the office, as my boss left me a case of wine!  Now granted it was his "reject" wines, various bottles that he's purchased and didn't really like, so I will happily be his waste bin!  Tonight I've opened one of the bottles he gave me, the 2011 Alamos Malbec Seleccion, a 100% Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina, so let's see how this reject wine does!

The wine has a classic Malbec look, with a deep inky center and bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents pleasant aromas of black plum and accents of leather and tar.  The taste is a rather subdued Argentine Malbec with just a bit if black fruit up front that transitions to some earthy mineral notes midpalate, only to have a reprise of ripe black fruit at the finish.  The wine expresses some bright acidity and relatively mellow tannins supporting a long, smooth, dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a pleasant drinking wine that would be ideal for a hearty steak.  And it just so happens I have one of those lying around, so tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled filet mignon with some grilled corn and steamed sugar snap peas that I picked up at a farmers market last week.  Cheers!

2011 Dona Paula Estate Malbec

Tonight I have a special treat, a Snooth virtual tasting of wines from the Dona Paula Estate in Argentina! I really have to offer a special word of appreciation and a hearty thank you to Snooth and Dona Paula Estate for providing me with some lovely samples to try this evening, the 2011 Torrontes (which I posted about yesterday) and the 2011 Malbec! Now I'll admit that I have not been the biggest fan of Malbec, though I think this is in part because of the recent surge in popularity of Malbec that resulted in a wave of imports that were not exactly the highest quality.  This one gives me some hope as it's a classic from the Uco Valley of Mendoza, so here's to hopefully trying Malbec with a new outlook!

The wine itself has a deep purple color and nice clarity in the glass.  The nose is classic Malbec, rich ripe red fruit, blackberries, cherries and plums, offset with distinct earthy tones of green grass, forest floor and some dusty granite.  The taste is quite remarkable, with some dark fruit up front, followed by some lovely spice notes midpalate, anise, mint and leather.  The finish is wonderful, as the firm tannins and balanced acidity provide ample support for the velvety mouthfeel and long, dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a really wonderful example of what a good Mendoza Malbec should be, ample black fruit and a lovely rustic earthiness that begs for a big hunk of meat!  Since I'm tasting tonight, I am enjoying this one with a simple plate of antipasti, but it would be perfect with a big rare grilled Angus steak and some fresh veggies, just like you might enjoy in the Andes of northern Argentina.  So if you can grab a bottle, enjoy it with dinner tonight!

2006 Andaluna Celebracion Reserve

It's been a busy week, but tonight I am opening up a bottle of wine from Mendoza, Argentina, the 2006 Andeluna Celebracion Reserve, a wine that's a blend of grapes grown in the foothills of the Andes, specifically 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.  Today isn't a particularly strong food day, but I'll freely admit to needing a glass of wine to unwind tonight!

The wine is a deep, inky purple in the glass, and the nose is a very complex blend of black fruit at first, but then as the air takes hold, notes of dried herbs, some mineral notes, which evolve into a combination of leather and pipe tobacco that reminds me of an old school smoking lounge. The taste is very fruit forward, with rich flavors of ripe cherry, plum and black currant that transitions effortlessly to some earthy mineral notes of limestone and smoke midpalate.  The tannins are mellow and sweet, giving this wine a long, supple finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's just a very pleasant drinking wine.  I could see myself relaxing on the patio and sipping this wine for an hour or two, come to think of it, I might just do that now!  As for pairings, this would be ideal with a nice steak, roast beef, or some hearty spicy foods, maybe some chimichurri (there's some irony for an Argentine wine, eh?), or even some grilled salmon.  But tonight I am enjoying this one with the most classic of Midwest American dishes, tuna casserole!  So here's to the weekend, may it come soon!