01 Oct, 2006
Trapiche 2004 Oak Cask Malbec Mendoza
FINALLY!!!!!!
This is part two of tonight's malbec double header with beef roast, and THIS is more like it! THIS is what I've heard malbec will deliver AND THEN SOME. Dark purple in the glass (we are using Metrokane Rabbit glasses these days instead of our Reidels. Just don't go for their RED wine glasses - they're monster HUGE and ugly, whereas the white glasses are VERY beautiful and simply stunning - PLUS they are large enough for red wines and with their up-turned curved lip, are GREAT for sticking one's nose into a RED wine and are dishwasher safe!) with a very interesting collection of DARK red fruit nose. I usually prefer BRIGHT red fruit, but this DARK red fruit nose and palate is simply interesting and wonderful. Also on the palate (besides the dark red fruit and plum) I get raspberry, blueberry and vanilla. For a wine having a name of OAK CASK, I don't get hardly ANY oak spice - what I get from the oak barrels are sweet vanilla hints. It's OFF-DRY, but very nice, TRANQUIL (HOW APPROPRIATE!) and peaceful. It paired nicely with the beef. And, at less than $10 ($7-$8 many places) this really is a TRUE BARGAIN! I thinks we needs us some MORE RESEARCH! We finally tasted a true malbec varietal. And we likee!!!
Rating: 8.75 out of 10
*note- I let this breathe for over an hour. It is SO gentle and subtle, that next time, we'll go for 30 minutes or less. This really IS halfway between a pinot noir and a cabernet. :)