Pompous Twits
Malbec Tasting Notes
from May 19, 2001, hosted by Paul Marshall
by Bryan Gros

Editor's Note:  Bryan first posted these notes on the West Coast Wine Network at http://www.westcoastwine.net/forum/read.php?f=13&i=328171&t=328171
 

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 Our tasting group (the Pompous Twits) hosted a Malbec tasting. Why? Just because we could, I suppose. I have certainly never had a designated Malbec before.

These were opened just before the tasting, and probably served a bit warmer than ideal.

  • 1999 Viu Manent, Colchagua Valley, Chile. ($5, 13.5% alc). Nose of bright fruit, but hot. Palate also hot with dark fruit, cocoa, tobacco, tar. Harsh finish. weird.

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  • 2000 Montes, Colchagua Valley, Chile. ($7, 13.5% alc).Aromas of dark fruit, but mostly closed. Also tasted hot. Good blackberry flavors, with oak, vanilla, and smoky notes. Pretty good complexity, medium finish.

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  • 1998 Elsa Valentin Binachi, San Rafael, Argentina. ($9, 13.5% alc).Light body, hot, little depth, muted fruit. dumped it.

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  • 1998 Bodega Norton, Mendoza, Argentina.($7, 13% alc). Nice nose of plums, blueberry. Some fruit on the palate, but also smoky, tobacco, cocoa. Light body, long hot finish. Not bad, but disjointed.

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  • 1998 Trapiche, Mendoza, Argentina. ($7, 12.5% alc). Petroleum nose. Fruity on the tongue, good plum/blackberry flavors. Soft tannins, medium finish.

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  • 1997 Evoluna, Mendoza, Argentina. ($5, 12.5% alc). Grapes shipped to Graton in Sonoma Co. Might be a Trader Joe's brand. Bright strawberry/raspberry flavors, medium, tart finish, mild tannins.

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  • 1996 Correas, Mendoza, Argentina ($3, 12.5% alc). Herbal, cabage nose. Dark fruit, blueberry, cocoa, some sturdy tannins and a medium-long finish. 

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  • 1999 Alamos-Nicolas Catena, Mendoza, Argentina ($10, 13.5% alc).Bright cherry/raspberry nose, and also in the flavor. Gives way to chocolate, oak, medium tannin. A little hot.

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  • 1999 Terrazas de Los Andes, Mendoza, Argentina ($8, 13% alc).Initially bright, but instantly turns dark and brooding. Not bad, but weird...

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  • 1996 Yorkville Cellars, Mendocino, CA ($10, 13.5% alc)Nose of eucalyptus, herbal, a little sulfur. Sweet candied cherry flavors, little tannins, medium finish. Unusual.

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  • 1997 Edgewood Estates, Napa ($18, 13% alc)Dark blackberry, cinnamon, oak. Spicy, Medium finish. Nice blended flavors.

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  • 1997 Geyser Peak, Alexander Valley ($20, 13.4% alc)Good fruit: cherry/raspberry/blackberry. Soft oak, medium finish, smooth balance.
Interesting group of wines, especially the third flight (Trapiche, Evoluna, Correas). These three were totally different from each other.

Fairly consistent voting that the Edgewood and Geyser Peak were the favorites, followed by the Montes. I wonder if we all have California palates and so liked the CA wines better? For the prices, though (which weren't revealed until later), they should have been preferable.

These were all pretty young. I wouldn't seek out any, but most were pleasant or better. Not sure why many seemed so hot with the alcohol.

After Cab Franc and Malbec, I guess Petit Verdot is next!