If you haven’t sampled an Argentine malbec recently, you’re really missing out on a unique wine experience. It shouldn’t be any surprise that a country that produces so much juice – Argentina currently ranks 5th in global wine production – should be able to produce high quality wines across every price range. But the quality of Argentina wines has only been a recent phenomenon, due in large part to their increased emphasis on exports. They now rank right behind Chile among South American wine exports, and this has had a significant impact on the quality of their wines.
When you think of wine from Argentina, you think first of malbec. Malbec is the most prominent vine in cultivation, and some of the best comes from the Mendoza region. To give you a sense of how important and prominent the Mendoza region is, consider that Mendoza has more acreage under planting then some other prominent wine producing nations like New Zealand and Australia. But quantity doesn’t guarantee quality.
Doña Paula Estate’s 2009 malbec comes with the right credentials. A malbec from Mendoza, it originates from the Lujàn De Cuyo sub-region, the first sub-region in Mendoza to receive appellation status. Doña Paula Estate claims that the majority of their juice comes from more adult vineyards planted at elevation. The first sampling of the wine certainly supported this claim as the wine offers a nice lushness and concentration that I think belies its price.
On the nose, the wine initially offers intense black fruit and hints of vanilla, turning herbaceous with cedar notes and black licorice. On the palate the wine reveals black cherry and plum, lush cedary tannins, along with more herbal notes and more black licorice. I particularly enjoyed how balanced this wine was on the palate, offering a good breadth and depth with a lush, lingering finish. To some the wine may seem a little dry (tannic), but it’s nothing that a hunk of Parmigiano Reggiano can’t mitigate. That’s exactly what I did, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. In fact I recommend enjoying this wine with a nice steak topped with Gorgonzola. A little more forward fruit would make this wine an absolute steal.
A Salute!
Wine: Doña Paula Estate
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 14%
Rating: 88
Price: $17.00
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Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.