Wine Review: A Malbec to Remember
Friday, June 26, 2009 by The Joggler
Everyone has their favorite grape varietals. For my wife, it's Shiraz and Chardonnay. I'm partial to Pinot Noir and Sangiovese. When I see a bottle of Malbec on the shelf at the wine store, it's not the first thing I reach for. It's not that I don't like it - I've just never been that impressed with the grape. But last night, I tried a Malbec that really struck a chord: the Catena 2006 Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina.
Plenty of pleasing aromas of licorice root and sweet plum float easily out of the glass. It's a very smooth, medium-bodied wine, full of brambly berries and oak. The wine trails off into a silky long finish that will have you reaching back for another sip right away.Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate both give this one a 91. I like it, but I’m going to go one lower at 90. Still, the Catena has given me a new appreciation for Malbec. Now, I'll be much more likely to grab a bottle the next time I'm at the wine shop.
Quaffability Rating: 90
Labels: Malbec, red wine review
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Michal Kapral, a senior editor at Captivate’s Canadian head office in Toronto, has been enjoying wine at home since way before he was of legal age. He spent a year writing wine reviews for Captivate in Canada, and now he’s thrilled to bring his unquenchable viniferous obsession to a North American audience. Kapral spent some time living in Italy as a teenager, further solidifying his appreciation for all things vino-related. In his days as a journalism student, he was likely one of the youngest – and poorest – subscribers to Wine Spectator magazine. In 1999, Kapral turned down a job at a winery to work at Captivate.