Argentine malbec has become so popular recently that I get the impression that a lot of consumers assume that all malbec comes from Argentina. But not so. Malbec is actually actually one of the six Bordeaux varietals, although its popularity in Bordeaux has faded significantly in the past 50-some years. It is, however, very popular in Cahors, France. And with the popularity Argentine malbec has seen in recent years, other parts of the world are trying out this varietal more and more. The malbec we’re reviewing today comes from the Colchagua Valley in Chile.
In general, Chilean malbec has a tendency to be more tannic than Argentine. But this one wasn’t overly tannic and most importantly, it was good.
Sometimes when I taste a wine, I’ll visualize musical notes from the aromas, or perhaps tones is a better description, like bass, midrange and treble. I guess it’s just a good analogy as certain scents seem to have a particular frequency. And when a wine is balanced, the musical tones seem harmonious. This wine is just that, harmonious. When I smell the wine I get some blackberry aromas in the bass range, plum in the midrange and vanilla overtones in the treble. And what makes them harmonious is that they complement each other with a perfect balance of each.
The palate offers some plum and blackberry flavors, but it lacks some of the depth I was hoping for based on the nose. The tannins are slightly dry, giving some texture to the mouthfeel. And the acidity is spot on, adding a little brightness to the finish. While it’s not the richest malbec out there, it’s a decent wine for $12.
Wine: Calcu
Variety: Malbec
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 85
Price: $12.00
Find Calcu Malbec with Snooth
Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.