Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Malbec 2008

During one of our recent tasting club evenings, we were discussing themes for future events. Someone mentioned Malbec, and I pompously dismissed it as plonky. You see, I've had too many plonky Malbecs, and Argentine Malbec seems to be one of those wines that non-wine lovers like, so how can it be any good?

I was at Sainsbury's on the weekend looking for something that would go with a BBQ. I have to say, Sainsbury's wine selection is going, or has gone, straight downhill, at least in my local newly-revamped branch. It's so mediocre that it took me 10 minutes to decide what to buy, and I settled on this Malbec. The reasons I did buy this are all clichés - Malbec is good with BBQ, cheap (2 for £10), fancy, heavy bottle, etc. The one reason that's not cliché is that it is a Taste the Difference wine, and I think TTD wines are usually good quality.

In this case I was right. I was frankly surprised at how good this was. Sure, it's oaky and high in alcohol, but it also has quite good depth and complexity. My teeth were fuzzy by the end of the bottle due to the pronounced but welcome tannins. It also has a nice, gravelly finish. The oak, acid, tannin and fruit are so strong that I wonder if a couple of years of bottle age wouldn't go amiss. Not necessary mind you - this is the style.

Sainsbury's

Taste the Difference Malbec 2008

Mendoza, Argentina

Sainsbury's

2 for £5 (£6.99)

3.5/5

Casillero del Diablo Malbec 2008

We all know that Malbec is Argentina's (or Bordeaux's) grape, but why not try a Chilean one? That was the rationale for buying this (just kidding, it was on offer). The Cabernet is also on offer, which is often touted as the best value Cabernet that ever existed.

I guess these wines are good value if you actually like them. I did buy the Cabernet as well, and although very drinkable, it tasted like oak. The Malbec is worse - it doesn't have the structure that the Cabernet has.

I would gladly sit around and quaff these wines - don't get me wrong, but they are the epitome of dullness.

Casillero del Diablo

Malbec 2008

Rapel Valley, Chile

Waitrose

£5.49 (£6.99)

2.5/5

O Fournier Urban Malbec 2007

This may be too little too late for this post.  I had bought this wine from Oddbins because I had a 20% off Argentina wines voucher, and the shop assistant chose this for me, saying it was the best one they had for that price (£6.99).

Unfortunately, I was greeted with the sight of this bottle, opened and uncovered, on the kitchen counter on Easter Monday morning.  Someone had opened it late the night before, had a glass, and forgotten to seal it.  In a panic I shoved a seal into the top of the bottle.

I still tried it later on though, and it was a very rich, full, grapey, almost port-like wine.  I'm not sure if the grapey character was a result of it being left open all night, or was just an indication of its concentrated fruit-flavours.  Either way, it seemed pretty impressive.

I stopped by Oddbins tonight hoping to get another bottle but they were sold out and weren't expecting any in for "a few weeks".  Crap.

O Fournier is one of the names I always see mentioned as being a top producer in Argentina, and I didn't realise they produced this wine until I inspected the fine print on the label on the back of the bottle.  I'll leave it to one of the experts, Jancis Robinson, to fill you in a little more about this wine.

O Fournier

Urban Malbec 2007

Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

Oddbins

£6.99

4/5

Clos Triguendina Le Malbec du Clos, Cahors 2006

Cahors is an appellation in South-West France that specializes in the Malbec grape. The winemaker that produces this wine, Jean-Luc Baldes, is apparently one of the more prominent figures in the area, and someone who is interested in carrying on the old wine making traditions of Cahors (i.e. the "black wines" of Cahors). See the website at the bottom of this post for more info.

The Le Malbec du Clos is made from 100% Malbec, and seems to be an entry-level wine. It's briefly mentioned on the website but there is no more information about it. I liked the wine, it is a dark red, almost purple colour with a fairly strong cherry-fruit, tarry nose. It's not terribly complex, but pleasant enough. A good food wine.

I can't remember exactly what I paid for it, I think it was around £6 on offer, marked down from about £8. A decent choice, but it's left me curious about what else this producer has to offer.

Jean-Luc Baldes

Clos Triguendina Le Malbec du Clos Cahors 2006

Cahors, France

Waitrose

3/5

Carte Noir Cahors 2006

This wine was obtained from Tesco for something like £2.80 a bottle. It's a Cahors, which to generalize, is French Malbec (as opposed to the more well-known Argentinean version).

Cahors is currently out of fashion. I'm not sure why. I think I've read about it, but I've forgot. I suspect it's because of wines like this. That's not really fair actually. There are plenty of French wines like this that cost a lot more.

I have to be honest. Everyone hated this wine. I did open it at a bad time though, because I was gagging to try it. I opened it after we'd eaten, late at night, and it went over like a lead balloon. I understand why, it's not terribly fruity, it's acidic and it's just not much fun. But I would be perfectly happy to sip it with my beef stew on a cold winter evening, or whittle away on a glass as I played my guitar, even if it took all night.

But only because it cost £2.80.

I think this is produced by a co-op. Reunis.

Carte Noir Cahors 2007
Cahors, France
Tesco
< £3
2/5