When you think of Malbec, you probably think of Argentina, right? Did you know that Malbec originated in France? There, it was used mostly as a blending grape, but it’s surely found its home in Argentina. Typically, Argentinian Malbecs are mouth-coating and voluptuous, with ripe plum, dark berry and mocha flavors and noticeable tannins. Sounds good, right? I think the best thing about Malbecs from Argentina is the cheap price tag – you can usually get a good Malbec for less than $20! Why? Because of Argentina’s inexpensive land and good exchange rates. Hooray for affordable wines!
Last night for Wine Wednesday (it’s an official day of the week in my house), I opened a bottle of the 2011 Fabre Montmayou Malbec Reserva ($15). It had nice aromas of boysenberry pie, pepper, fennel and oak. It was earthy, with spicy black fruits, leather, and a hint of smoke on the palate. I thought it had big (yet not overwhelming) tannins and a nice long finish. A great weekday wine! Side note – I recommend having this wine at home amongst friends because it’s pretty high on the purple teeth meter. ;)
If you’re a meat eater, this is the wine for you. I had it with grilled meat and kalamata olive bread and it was a great match. Remember, think regionally when trying to pair wines with food… and you know what they eat in Argentina? A whole lot of grilled meats and spicy foods – ie, steak, chorizo, and chimichurri sauce. I think this would go great with any type of grilled meat (steak, sausage, lamb), meat pasta sauce, and even earthy veggies like mushrooms. Perfect for a chill Wednesday night meal!
**Wine Notes**
Producer: Fabre Montmayou
Region: Mendoza, Argentina
Varietal: Malbec
Vintage: 2011
Alcohol: 14.5%
Price Point: $14-16
Fun Facts: Most Argentinian Malbecs come from the Mendoza region, which accounts for over 70% of the Country’s wine production!
The owner of Fabre Montmayou was born in Bordeaux, France.
