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What's
not to like about Malbec?
Rick's Picks - October
2009
by Rick
VanSickle
It's a bold red wine that's big
in flavour, has soft tannins, rich
spice and is one of the most affordable
wines in the world today —
especially those made in Argentina.
The
French grow a fair amount of this
grape. It's one of only five grapes
permitted in Bordeaux wines but
it's used sparingly and usually
for structure because of its toughness
when grown in a cool climate.
Argentina
has made Malbec its defining grape
with over 70% of the world's supply
produced in this country. And even
though it's been grown in Argentina
since the mid-1800s, it is just
now showing explosive growth in
the export markets including Canada
and the U.S.
It's
easy to see why. North American
palates love the soft feel and fruit-forward
style of these affordable wines.
Toss a bottle of Argentinean Malbec
on the table at a dinner party and
it's the first to go.
We
see a lot of Malbecs in Canada and
most are reliable and delicious.
Here are three that are highly recommended:
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Alamos
Malbec 2007
($14 LCBO)
Made
by the large Catena
Zapata winery, this
entry level Malbec has
showy fruit notes on
the nose of plums, blackberry,
cassis and sweet spices.
The palate reveals sweet
wild raspberry fruit,
herbs, pepper and soft
mouth feel.
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Catena
Malbec 2007
($19 Vintages)
A
gorgeous nose of currants,
mocha, cherry, leather
and all spice. There
is an abundance of red
fruits on the palate
to go with cassis, vanilla
and soft tannins.
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Luigi
Bosca Malbec Reserva
2006
($18 Vintages)
A
more earthy offering
with black pepper, gamy
notes, red berries,
smoky bacon and swirling
spices on the nose.
This is what Malbec
is all about. Muscular
and broad on the palate
with notes of tar, licorice,
currants, exotic spice
and ripe red fruits.
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Some
other highly recommended wines:
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Rosemount
Diamond Label
Pinot Grigio 2007
($14
LCBO)
A
ready to drink white
from Down Under with
pear and citrus aromas.
The mouth is pure and
refreshing with lemon,
lime and grapefruit
flavours.
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Rosemount
Diamond Label
Shiraz 2007
($16
LCBO)
Ripe
berry-cherry, plum and
cracked black pepper
aromas. This is a nice,
affordable Shiraz from
a reliable producer
with juicy ripe fruits,
balanced spice notes
and smooth tannins.
A sipper for Sunday
afternoons watching
the NFL.
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Rosemount
Diamond Label
Pinot Noir 2008
($16
LCBO)
Earthy
cherry-strawberry preserves
on the nose with a touch
of spice and herbs.
Charred oak and a mixed
red fruit basket on
the palate. A bold Pinot
from the land of Oz.
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Wente
Morning Fog
Chardonnay 2008
($16 LCBO)
From
the Livermore Valley
in California, and home
to a Greg Norman-designed
golf course, Wente combines
wine and music with
a new promotion that
matches their wines
to a series of musicians
and down loadable music
on the Wente site.
The wine comes with
a bottleneck tag that
explains what music
goes with each wine.
This Chardonnay shows
generous butterscotch
and tropical-pear fruits.
It's richly spiced on
the palate but the fruit
does shine through.
Match with Jesse Dayton
and Brennen Leigh's
duet "We Hung the
Moon."
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Wente
Southern Hill
Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
($16 LCBO)
A
blackberry and plum
nose to go with mocha
spice and just a hint
of mint. Nice sweet
cherry flavours on the
palate with added plum
and currants. Very smooth
on the finish. Pair
with Hopewell's "Beautiful
Targets" featuring
Mercury Rev.
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