by Ramir Camu
This past week we were treated to a classic rivalry between two South American powerhouses, Chile vs Argentina, and no, I’m not talking about soccer. A wine tasting to remember held at Salum, the fantastic Uptown staple headed by Chef/Owner Abraham Salum, featured wines from a Father and Son team of Montes Wines from Chile and Kaiken Wines from Argentina. Continue reading
Filed under Crave, Ramir Camu
by Andrew Chalk
The Argentine winery Don Miguel Gascon (known mainly as just ‘Gascon’ in the U.S.) has established a devoted following for its malbec and Malbec Reserve. Now the winery has stepped out of the pure Malbec model to release a new wine that is a blend of Malbec with four other varieties. ‘Colosal’, as the blend is named, is 61% Malbec, 16% Bonarda, 13% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Last week, Gascon winemaker Ernesto Bajda, came through town and tasted me on the new wine, the 2011.
Much like a Bordeaux is a blend of up to five grapes that make the whole more than the sum of its parts, so the Mendoza-sourced Colosal takes Malbec as its core but adds other grapes to produce a more complex and unusual wine. Bonarda contributes dark color and fruit without requiring high alcohol. Syrah adds to the complexity through earthy notes and spices. Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine structure. Continue reading
Filed under Andrew Chalk
by Andrew Chalk
Argentina has redefined the consumer perception of Malbec over the last decade. Sales have boomed as consumers discovered Malbec was fruit driven and red meat friendly. A leading winery in that movement has been Trapiche, based in the center of Argentine wine making, Mendoza.
The importer sent me a bottle of the 2011 Malbec ‘Oak Cask’, one of several Malbecs in the Trapiche product line. It spends nine month in a combination of French and American oak. The result of the vinification and ageing is a wine that is ruby in color and clear in clarity. The nose has notes of cedar, wood and coffee. The taste has a perceptible residual sweetness, strawberry fruit flavors and cinnamon.
Retail price: $10-$12
Filed under Andrew Chalk
