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Malbec Makes the Scene
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You’re out on the Sac scene, wine-wending through the hours of conversation. Tongues and taste buds have gone bland with the usual Cabs, Zins and Merlots. Somebody speaks out and says it: they want to diversify. Grab the menu, and you see the word Malbec. Vin-dication.
For wine and wine bar neophytes, the word "Malbec" may seem as alien as something from an old “Star Trek” episode. But a wine drinker should feel anything but alienated from this exotic wine. For pseudo-aficionados that have grown weary of the usual red wine suspects, the spicy, full-bodied Malbec is a veritably refreshing variation.
The Malbec varietal (i.e. grape), though not a newcomer to California, can be a rarity on the shelves of one’s neighborhood grocery store. But it is quickly becoming a favorite in wine bars in Sacramento, Folsom and the Sierra Foothills, the Bay Area, and other wine oases in and around Northern California. Initially hailing from the Bordeaux region of Southern France (also the birthplace of the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc varietals), it’s a dense, robust, full-bodied wine that is suffused with a variation of different spices (pepper, cinnamon, pine). All Malbecs are rich, inky, and incredibly juicy. They burst with blackberry and plum, and have smooth lingering finish with low tannins.
Today, Malbecs are most popular in Argentina. The varietal was transplanted from France to Argentina during the ubiquitous phylloxera outbreak that decimated most of European and American vineyards during the late 19th century. Argentina is the biggest grower of the Malbec varietal: and it pairs well with most of the country’s fare, which is largely red meat-based. Try a Malbec with a steak or any other succulent red meat: its spicy quality will do a tango on the tongue you’re not likely to forget.
Napa, Sonoma, the Alexander Valley and Paso Robles are the biggest grower of Northern California Malbecs. However, many vintners in the Sierra Foothills and beyond have found that Malbecs grow well in higher elevations, and are beginning to make a splash in the wine scene. Once a blending grape, the Malbec is taking the spotlight as an independent wine. And it’s certainly a rising star.
Notable Sac bar Malbecs include 58 Degrees and Holding’s 2007 La Posta Cocina from Argentina, LoungeON20’s Ricardo Santos “Las Madras” (also from Argentina), and L Wine Lounge’s 2005 Berryessa Gap from nearby Yolo county. These Malbecs sport spine, spice and substance.
Cheers.
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58 Degrees and Holding Co ·
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Malbec
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