I love Rosé. There’s something about this style of wine, when it’s well done that appeals to me on a deep level. Of course I consume more of it in warm weather months than in fall and winter. However I do find time and desire to drink it in the colder months, particularly if it’s a little bit bigger and bolder a style of Rosé. Today I’ll look at an example from Argentina that fits perfectly into the profile of the sort of Rosé I enjoy while I’m waiting for the weather to warm back up.
The Michael Torino 2011 Malbec Rosé was produced from fruit sourced in the Cafayate Valley of Argentina. All of the vineyards utilized sit between 3,000 and 5,000 feet above sea level. This selection is 100% Malbec. After a short period of skin contact this wine is fermented and vinified utilizing the same practices employed for their white wines. A short period of aging, roughly five months, takes place prior to release. This wine is widely available for right around $12.
Aromas of red cherry and flowers are prominent on the nose of this Rosé. Tons of wild strawberry, cherry and bits of pepper are apparent through the full flavored and fruit forward palate. The bright fruit flavors continue through the finish along with a hint of vanilla bean. This wine is very refreshing with good acidity. This Malbec Rosé is made to be paired with food. It has a bit of extra heft allowing it to stand up to a wider array of cuisines than the average Rosé. If you’re drinking this in the cooler months, I’d recommend only putting a slight chill on it.
Malbec is the great red grape of Argentina. Certainly Cabernet Sauvignon and other red varietals flourish there as well; however the Malbecs are what most of us get really excited about. There’s a good reason for that; Argentina does Malbec the way Burgundy does Pinot Noir; better than anyone else. That said the styles vary greatly as do the intents of those wines. Today I’ll look a current release Malbec that is intended for everyday consumption.
Malbec comes in all shapes and sizes. Some are incredibly fruit forward and others are more classically styled and structured. Today I’ll look at one that’s very reasonably priced from Bodega del Tupun, a Mendoza based producer. The family has their roots in Spain and has been making wines in Argentina under their own label since the mid 1990’s.
With summer almost over it’s time to get friends and family together for a few more BBQ’s before the weather turns cool. Large gatherings mean lots of mouths to feed and plenty of thirsts to quench. Historically a lot of jokes have been made about boxed wine. And for many years the commentary, criticism and humor were warranted. However in the last 5 years things have taken a pretty dramatic turn for the better. There are a number of producers now putting quality wine out in boxes. This is often referred to as the bag in the box. More often than not these are 3 Liter containers which equates to four standard size bottles. These wines generally sell for right around $20 give or take a couple of dollars based on brand and where you’re shopping. If you were purchasing these as stand alone bottles you could expect to pay somewhere from $6- $9 per bottle. In addition to saving some money with the three liter format a few other advantages are part of things as well. Eschewing glass makes them more environmentally friendly. Additionally if you don’t finish them up no worries as the bag in a box concept keeps the wine fresh for approximately 30 days. Make no mistake there are still plenty of anonymous boxed wines you’ll want to avoid, but now there are also some very solid go to choices. Today I’ll look at three that I recommend.
The Folonari 2009 Fresh Cask Pinot Noir was made from fruit sourced in the Veneto. This Italian wine is 100% Pinot Noir. After fermentation 80% of the wine was aged for roughly 6 months in stainless steel, the remaining 20% in French oak barriques. This Pinot is available in 750 ml bottles, 1.5 liter bottles and 3 Liter boxes. The 3 Liter Box has a suggested retail price of $19.99.
The Zuccardi Family in Argentina has been making wine since 1963 and they have more than 2,800 acres under vine. They’re committed to sustainable farming practices and making natural wines. Their latest project is the Santa Julia + line. These are budget priced offerings that sell for around $10. Today I’ll look at two wines in this line.
The Trapiche 2008 Oak Cask Malbec was produced using fruit from the Mendoza region of Argentina. Some of the fruit is from estate vineyards and some from other Mendoza vineyards. This wine is 100% Malbec. Fruit was hand picked and fermented in temperature controlled vats. Each lot of wine was separately aged in a combination of French and American oak over a period of twelve months. Prior to bottling the lots are blended and undergo a light filtration. This wine sells for right around $10.
The 
Sprint is here and it’s time to head out to the grill and Barbecue. With the grilling season upon us you’ll want to find wines that pair well with that style of cooking. Malbec is an excellent choice for that, particularly if you’re cooking meats on your grill. Today I’ll look at one from Michael Torino.
As I continue to take an occasional look at Malbec this spring it’s time to shift away from Argentina for a moment. There’s no question that Malbec really thrives there and many fine examples exist. However you can usually find a little bit of Malbec wherever Cabernet Sauvignon and the other Bordeaux varietals are grown. The trouble is outside of Argentina not many folks are bottling it as a single varietal. It’s too bad because the ones crafted with care often make for interesting wines. Today I’ll look at a current release of California Malbec from Alexander Valley’s 
One of the great things about Malbec is that you can often get a reasonable example of it for a pretty decent price. Like everything else though there are also Malbecs at higher than entry level price points. In fact these days a good wine shop stocks Malbecs at almost any conceivable price. Today I’m going to look at a single vineyard effort that falls into the super premium category.
