2003 Monte Cinco Malbec

1 Nov, 2009

For this Halloween, Sue and I decided to hibernate and watch scary movies while the neighbors braved the cold winds and the marauding masses of masked munchkins! To eswage our guilt we opened the last bottle of Malbec in our cellar!

I bought this bottle from David Breen at a tasting sometime last year. At the time, I didn’t know too much about the wine or the producer. What I did know, was that it was very good!

After doing a little research, I found that Michael Schachner at Wine Enthusiast Magazine reviewed this wine in November 2004 and gave it a 91 point rating. I also discovered that one of the importers, Cienega Imports, is also run by the owners of DeRose Vineyards, the maker of one of my favorite Zinfandels!

The Monte Cinco Vineyard was founded by the Italian winemaker Don Pedro Bertona in the later 1890′s. The Bertona family settled in Luján de Cuyo, near Mendoza, Argentina and has been making fine wines there ever since.

Monte Cinco’s vineyards are located high in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. The stony soils and continental climate (hot days and cool nights) work together to help produce exceptional fruit with just the right balance of ripeness and acidity. The winemakers ferment the juice in stainless steel to help retain the fruit character of the grapes. They then age the wine in French and American oak to add a level of complexity.

Sue and I found this to be a very good Malbec. The dark reddish-purple color followed with aromas of violets and blueberries. The slightly sweet flavors mirrored the aromas and carried through with a spicy, cocoa finish. I don’t normally subscribe to the “official” rating schemes for wines, but I have to agree with the Wine Enthusiast on this one!

2003 Monte Cinco Malbec ($29)

100% Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina
Get it from DeRose Vineyards (while it lasts! Only 500 cases produced)

Tagged Argentina, Luján de Cuyo, Malbec, Mendoza

Maipe Malbec 2007

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13 Sep, 2009

Jeff

Tasting Note

This little Argentine beauty was a pleasant surprise. Its deep purple color revealed fruity aromas with rich juicy dark fruits and a hint of cocoa. For a minute it felt like I was smelling a German Black Forest Cherry Torte! The rich cherry and plum flavors showed an almost creamy texture (perhaps some malolactic fermentation) with well rounded tannins. Paired well with the leftover steak from Saturday! Great wine at a very affordable price. Thank you Mendoza!