Saturday – Wine driving the food – Part3

Click here for Part 1

The other Malbec was a 2005 Luigi Bosca Malbec which I’d just picked up the day before. The weight of the glass on this bottle was a shock; very heavy, usually this type of bottle is used for wines at a much higher price point.

"Now that is a salad!"

The nose on this wine consisted of smoke, leather, dried cherry and anchovy like aroma. This wine was completely opposite to the French one in taste; fruity, big bodied mouth-feel, blueberries and coffee flavours running throughout. It was also nicely balanced and smooth when compared to the French. This one was a better pairing with the food as well.

"Heavy bottle"

Here is the LCBO Information on this wine –

Luigi Bosca Rerserva Malbec 2005
Vintages 79293
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 17.95
Wine, Red Wine,
14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : D
Made in: Argentina, Argentina
By: Leoncio Arizu S.A.
Release Date: Aug 30, 2008

Description - This wine earned an Editors' Choice nod with a score of 91 points in the February 2008 issue of Wine Enthusiast.

Tasting Note - A big, broad-shouldered wine, with muscular layers of black fig, coffee, bittersweet cocoa and dark licorice piled on top of hefty cedar-tinged tannins. A bit of a brute in style, but cellaring should soften its edges enough. Drink now through 2010. Smart Buy. Score - 91. (James Molesworth, www.winespectator.com, Feb.29, 2008)

Here is the group rating for the wine -Mick – 89, Mark – 89, Kathy – 85, Amy – 86, Overall – 87.

As you can tell by the 85 rating on both by Kathy and the 85/86 rating on two wines by Amy that neither of the ladies were a big fan of Malbec. I suspect there is a reason why Malbec is used in blends more than as a stand alone varietal, as the wine on its own just seems to be missing something.

It was fun to take a different direction for the evening as usually the food is what determines the wine rather than tonight’s approach of the wine driving the food. The new Steak recipe was good and I’m glad I tried it. Also that Blue Cheese recipe will be one that I’ll be using again. So maybe when planning your next dinner, try picking the wine first and see where it leads you, you maybe pleasantly surprised with the results.

Cheers!

Mark