Uco Valley Malbec
And a Belgian Golden Ale fermented with Chilean Viognier Grapes
Argentine Malbec
Any wine drinker knows that black fruit forward, bold, silky finish of the Argentine Malbec. Malbec originally hails from France but has made quite a home for itself in the hills of Argentina. It is the flagship grape variety of the South American country and Argentina boasts the most plantings of Malbec worldwide.
Most of the Argentine wine regions are situated in the high hills, far above sea level, east of the Andes and basically in the desert (properly irrigated, of course.) The best vineyards are defined by altitude and they cover all the way from Salta in the North to Patagonia in the South. Most of the vineyards were planted in the pergola system due to the heat so the grapes are off of the ground and even get a bit of shade below the leaf canopy. Recently, many vineyards are now planted with vertical trellises.
Irrigation techniques for these vines get creative. Switching from flood to drip irrigation and utilizing the water flowing down from the mountains or local aquifers is standard practice. Not a lot of rainfall next to the Andes.
Many vineyards in the Mendoza region are netted due to the heavy summer hailstorms. The only thing that doesn’t plague the winegrower here is humidity and therefore, mildew or rot.
Now on to the wine style—inky, deeply colored, and full of luxuriously smooth tannins. Argentine Malbecs are brimming with black fruit flavors and aromas as well as sweet tobacco and cocoa. The high-quality Malbecs see new oak and get a little spicy note as a consequence. There are definitely regional differences as the higher altitude vines produce a fresher, more floral style whereas the lower altitude wines will have that full-bodied, rich black fruit signature.
The Mendoza province is the largest winemaking region in Argentina and it is here where we find the 5 divisions that include our wine of the week’s region in Uco Valley. These regions, in addition to Uco, are Northern, Eastern, Central, and Southern. Uco Valley is southwest of Mendoza and has the highest vineyards in the entire province. High-quality wines are produced here with fresh fruit flavors and high acidity due to the cool nights.
Argentine Malbecs can be found at great value. Typically, they run from $10-$15 and a high-quality style may be $20-$25. You should expect full body, medium to deep purple colors, medium to high alcohol, a touch of sweetness, medium to high acidity, and some medium to high smooth and silky tannins. Decant for about 30 minutes just to let it get some air and these can easily cellar for 5-10 years.
Pairing: melted blue cheese, red meats—even the leaner red meats, and roasted root vegetables (potatoes, squash), BBQ, mole sauce, and dishes with sage, rosemary, and cumin
This Malbec
Wine details:
Esperando a los Barbaros Malbec 2022
$21 and 13.5% ABV (high alcohol and full but slightly leaner body than expected)
Deep, inky purple color
Blackberry, plum, black cherry, spice, cocoa, and leather on the nose and palate with high acid but smooth, silky tannins
Serve at room temperature and let it breathe for 20-30 minutes
Drink now or age another 3-7 years; see pairing suggestions above 😊
Wine geek details:
Biodynamic viticulture utilized
Produced by one of the most radical winemakers in Argentina dubbed the “Green Michelini”
Belgian Golden Ale
This was a purchase for use on Thanksgiving but as always, I purchased 2 so that I could taste test it before the holiday. Sleepy Golden Storm is an 8% ABV Belgian Golden Ale brewed by Odd Bird Brewing in Stockton.
Very wine forward as the brewer describes and super easy to drink. To me, this is the best of both the wine world and the beer world AND the cheer world since it is a little strong.
The brew bill consisted of Weyerman Extra Pale Pils Malt with some local comet hops and a Belle Saison yeast. It was fermented with Chilean Viognier grapes and Viognier is the go-to white wine alternative to Chardonnay at my annual Thanksgiving so I couldn’t resist.
Strong gold color with a large white head and great head retention. Dry yet sweet at the same time. Typical style aromas of fruity esters and spice. Huge whiffs of peach, honeysuckle, and mango intermingled with the Belgian spicey base (due to the white wine grapes.) Medium body and warm on the finish. Floral, perfumy and just exquisite all around.
I paired it with some Alpine cheese but it’s good to go by itself or with spicy foods and fatty meats. High acid but perfectly balanced.