Good Mendoza wine not too far away
During the past few years, we’ve begun to drink wine the way Europeans do.
Not with a lot of knowledge, necessarily, but with lots of enthusiasm.
We’ve worked our way through various Tuscan reds, a number of Australian shirazes and some select California and Oregon pinot noirs. Occasionally, we would mix in a South African Pinotage.
We’ve done all of this, rookies that we are, while seldom if ever writing down our favorites.
Most recently, we’ve become infatuated with Malbec, the premier varietal from the northwestern Argentine wine-growing region set above the ancient city of Mendoza, which dates back to 1561. We’ve enjoyed both the good quality and reasonable prices.
During a recent two-week stay in Buenos Aires, we further refined our taste for Malbec, which apparently thrives in the Andean altitude and climate. We could hardly avoid doing so: The various labels bearing its name are ubiquitous in the city’s many restaurants and wine bars.
Our Malbec tastings ranged from high-end offerings at upscale eateries to the dirt-cheap stuff we scored at street-corner bodegas. Though the vintages bottled in 1999, then again in 2002 and 2003, are considered the best, Malbecs in general are touted as the perfect complement to grilled red meats, especially beef and lamb. But we discovered that they are tasty to sip alone or paired with many different types of cheese.
Our Malbec enthusiasm whetted – and our palates wetted – we decided to check out the availability of Malbecs in the Pacific Northwest. And, for once, we promised to keep track of the wines we enjoyed.
Our initial efforts to locate Malbecs in Spokane were a tad disappointing, so we expanded our search to Seattle. Then we discovered that the featured wines for July at Cost Plus World Market (including the Spokane store on North Division) were none other than, yep, wines from Argentina.
In any event, Internet availability has removed geography as a barrier to enjoying the wines you want. So with that in mind, here are a few wines from Mendoza that we particularly liked:
Bodega Norton (2003) – A nice little wine with a price to match. Deep berry flavors cascade with a little spice lurking in the background. Readily available (around $8).
Kaiken (2002) – Named after the Patagonian word for “wild goose,” this Malbec was a big hit at a recent dinner party. The rich plum taste offers a touch of sweetness tempered with anise. Found at QFC on Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood ($13).
Altos Las Hormigas (2002) – This new-world offering from a group of Italian winemakers carries a dark hue and “frutti di bosco” flavors (blackberry, etc., with a woodsy overlay and a whiff of … is that cocoa?), making it impossible to keep on the shelves during a recent sale. Found at QFC on Capitol Hill ($10).
Bodega Norton Reserve (2002) – This critical favorite received a 90-point rating from the Wine Spectator and was well-received at a recent backyard cookout where one appreciative imbiber dubbed it “eminently drinkable.” A medium, full-bodied wine with a creamy smooth texture and long finish, its slight peppery taste adds complexity to signature dark fruit (plum and blackberry) and cassis flavors. Should cellar nicely for a year or two. Available at Cost Plus World Market, 6125 N. Division St. ($16).
Lo Tengo (2003) – In Spanish this means “I’ve got it,” which might be an appropriate response after tasting this Bodega Norton offering with its unique, ridged black-and-white “lenticular” wine label (which functions similar to a hologram, with a design of dancing feet that move and change depending on your viewing angle). Dry, fruity flavor that is slighty tart. Available at Cost Plus World Market ($9).
Don Miguel Gascon (2003) – This one’s a personal favorite in our household with its hearty dark fruit flavor, a little spice and soft, velvety finish. We snagged the last bottle on display at World Market but look forward to stocking up when it again becomes available ($10).