Much like we consider cabernet sauvignon to be the king of California wines, many consider malbec to be the national varietal of Argentina. Malbec has a very interesting history, beginning as a blending grape for French Bordeaux wine. But in the past decade, it has become a major player in the wine world as a popular stand-alone varietal.
Malbec's original purpose as a Bordeaux blending varietal was to lend rich color and fruit flavor to the wines produced in this very famous region of France. In 1854, cuttings of malbec from France were planted in Argentina, and there are currently more than 76,000 acres of malbec in Argentina. This is an astonishing 85 percent of all malbec planted worldwide. In fact, the malbec of Argentina is considered the only original malbec vines of true French heritage — most of the malbec vines in France were killed off in 1956 during a massive frost.
One of my favorite malbecs is the Catena Zapata Malbec from Argentina. Vintner Nicolas Catena is considered the pioneer of high-altitude growing and was the first, in 1994, to plant a malbec vineyard at 5,000 feet above sea level in the Mendoza region. His family is also credited with making world-class wines and giving status to the wines of Argentina. Wine Spectator has rated his 2011 Catena Zapata Malbec an astonishing 92 points. This is amazing for a malbec under $25!
The Catena Malbec is wonderfully aromatic with notes of baked plums and a hint of coffee. It is dark and jammy but with enough acidity to cut through the richness of the fruit. There is a subtle flavor of smoke and spice, making it a perfect pairing for rich, red meats. The finish seems to go on forever and just begs for another sip.
The Catena's vision has been to uncover areas in Argentina that offer the purest expression of the land on which to grow grapes. Once the vineyards have been planted and the vines begin to show exceptional quality, they are tied with a red sash to show their prominence in the vineyard, and great care is taken with these individual vines. The grapes that are hand harvested from these vines go into their highest quality wines.
Another new malbec created from grapes grown between 3,500 and 5,000 feet above sea level is Vista del Sur High Note Elevated Malbec. Grapes grown in the Uco Valley of Mendoza are also hand harvested from different vineyards at various times to achieve certain aromas and flavors. It is interesting to note that Laura Catena, Nicolas' daughter, is an investing partner with Vista del Sur.
According to the High Note website, their malbec grapes are distinctively influenced by the environment in which they are grown. The vineyards, high in the Andes foothills of Mendoza, enjoy the perfect combination of elements, including intense sunlight, cool temperatures and dry conditions. This allows for the fruit to slowly mature until handpicked for optimal flavor.
This wine is very flowery upon first sniff, with hints of violet and jasmine. Ripe red fruit and plum lead on the flavor, but there are hints of baking spices and toffee. Soft tannins make this a really easy wine to drink, and again, pair it with juicy red meat. This is a great wine all on its own and does fine without food. Since it is under $20, it is a great bargain for a really wonderful malbec.