World Malbec Day – Tomorrow!

Tomorrow, April 17^th is the third installment of “Malbec World Day”, a day dedicated to the production of the Malbec grape in Argentina and coincides with the first day that the then Argentine President decided to transform Argentina’s wine industry way back in 1853.

It is a celebration of a grape that has become the flagship grape for Argentina, and although its origins are in France, it’s a varietal that the Argentines have made their own by making it in their own style, putting their own stamp on it and making fantastic terroir driven wines in classical wine making regions in the country.

The first Malbec World Day was in 2011 where 36 countries held events to celebrate the grape, whist the popularity of the parties grew to 43 countries in 2012. There will be many parties, world-wide again this year, including Hong Kong where Argentina’s favourite grape is drunk, appreciated and honoured – I will be heading off to drink Malbec with the Consul General of Argentina this year.

Look out for special events taking place in some of the Argentine specific restaurants in the city (I can only think of two off the top of my head – Tango on Wyndham Street and La Pampa in Soho). If you are not planning to head out or want to save the celebration until the weekend, here are five Malbecs we recommend that are available in the city so head out, pick yourself up a nice, big, fat, juicy steak and enjoy the complexities of the Malbec grape which seems almost designed to go with medium rare red meat.

Trapiche Malbec Single Vineyard Jorges Miralles ($351 from www.wineshopasia.com)

The wine itself is an esteemed wine coming from a single vineyard from world renowned producer Trapiche. This wine, one of three single vineyard productions has been scored 96 by influential critic Robert Parker and has flavours of plums and cherries interlinking with the typical black fruits usually found in Malbec. There are plenty of sweet vanillin notes and coffee and chocolate on the palate. Recommended foods (other than the big steak) include “game meats, cheese and cold cuts”.

Bodegas Mendel Malbec ($195 from www.pontiwinecellars.com.hk)

Mendel is a winery making some fantastic Malbecs in the heart of Argentina’s wine producing region of Mendoza. Their winemaker, Roberto de la Mota is one of the country’s most respected wine makers and this wine shows some great value for money. It too is highly rated by critic Robert Parker who gave it 93 points. The wine itself is very easy and smooth on the palate with cherry and plum flavours evident too. One for either drinking young or holding onto for a couple of years, the Mendel Malbec is a versatile wine.

Argento Malbec Reserva ($100 from www.victoriawines.com.hk)

Argento has been long established in the Hong Kong wine market and offers exceptional value for money. The wine is easy drinking in style but leaves a nice finish to allow for some contemplation. This is certainly one that can be quaffed alongside your meaty steak and shows plenty of black berry fruit on the palate. Simple but robustly elegant, this wine has the potential to become a staple home drinking wine as it’s just great with or without food.

Catena Mendoza Malbec ($165 from www.watsonswine.com)

Catena Mendoza wines are the entry level wines made by legendary Argentina wine producer Catena Zapata – some of whose wines sell for up to $1000 a bottle. This wine has 91 points from Robert Parker and is an approachable but full bodied red wine. Certainly one that could do with a little breathing before drinking so get it into that decanter whilst you prepare the steaks! Also will work, as with other Malbec, with the cheese course at the end of the meal.

Fabre Montmayou Malbec Gran Reserva ($190 from Merit Wines visonwong@meritwine.com.hk )

Fabre Montmayou may not be one of those names that slips easily off the tongue but the quality of their wines well make up for that! These wines are also made in the Mendoza region of Argentina and are full bodied, dense wines with plenty of fruit and have a powerful structure to them. Robert Parker gives this wine 91 points and, personally, what I like about the wine is the soft and silky, almost velvety, nature of the tannins which makes it nice and easy to drink.