Malbec
A few quick post-holiday wine reviews, one a Carménère from Chile, the other a Malbec from Washington state.
I’ve been tasting a lot of Carménère’s lately, partly in thanks to Wines of Chile. I like the varietal, with its smokey and peppery notes, but I don’t think it’s for everyone. The Odfjell is the first one that I think is truly accessible to a large group of wine drinkers. Easily the most balanced and easy drinking of the dozen or so I’ve tried, this one is 100% Carménère, with blackberry, plum, tobacco, smoke and white pepper. Remarkably nice acidity, allowing the wine to slice directly through the palate, but balanced with a nice, long finish and a quick, broad mouth feel.
What you should do: BUY IT! This varietal is worth a try and, without a doubt, this is the one to experiment with.
My rating: 89
2007 Townshend Malbec
This wine was brought to my attention by my father-in-law. He is a Malbec loyalist and responsible for me exploring the Malbec varietal by introducing 
me to a great Terra Blanca Malbec a few years back. The Townshend is a nice fruit -forward Malbec, with dark cherry, fig and white pepper on the nose. Remarkably well balanced and full palate, especially for a wine this young. It’s big and broad on the palate and then narrows into a lasting finish. All in all, this is a fantastic Malbec from Washington.
What you should do: Buy it, if you can find it. The winery does have plenty of the 2007 on hand, in the mid-$20’s, so you can get it there, but I wasn’t able to find it anywhere else. This may be a case wine for me – would love to have some bottles around the house.
My rating: 88
NOTE: The Odfjell was provided to me as a free sample.
Continue reading about Quick fire wine review – Odfjell and Townshend
For those of you who don’t have access to, don’t care about or don’t even know what Twitter is, I’ve compiled my tasting notes from the last few weeks. Enjoy! Would love to hear if you have had any of these and, if so, what you think.- 2006 andrew will ciel du cheval vineyard red mountain – stunning…dark cherry, meaty, spicy, well balanced with a HUGE finish…
- 2008 poet’s leap riesling – a stunningly complex riesling, with just enough sweetness and a monstrous finish. best riesling I’ve had in ‘09.
- ‘07 quivira wine creek ranch petite sirah – the color of squid ink, but from a squid that grew up in a barnyard. big, bold and chewy.
- drinking ‘06 spring valley walla walla uriah-currant cigar goodness, w/ a dash of powdered cocoa. a bit tight, but still my wine of the week
- charles smith’s 2006 the honorable cabernet sauvignon. $15 & drinks like a big, fat $30 CA cab. definitely on my list to get more, but oakey
- turns out the 2004 la loggia barolo from trader joe’s is better on the 2nd night. very nice barolo for under $20, good qpr
- picked up a 2004 la loggia barolo at trader joe’s. barolo under $20? crazy. extremely tight, but will make a final judgement tomorrow night
- had pride mountain vineyards 2006 cab franc last night at a holiday party – a rich, dark tobacco cannoli, dipped in dark chocolate…yum
- 2002 chateau villhardy. tart cherry, chalky chocolate coffee. solid grand cru, but would like a little more finish http://yfrog.com/37424ij
- 2008 layer cake malbec – dark berry fruit, pepper and spice…but like a great first date that’s great because there won’t be a second date
Price: $3.99 @ Trader Joe’s imported by Americal Beverage Group
What They Said:
Per the bottle “The vineyards of Finca La Celia lie in the foothills of the Argentine Andes. Stunning purple color. Its bouquet is intense, rich in blackcurrant, vanilla and spices. On the palate the soft and succulent ripe fruits follow through [...]
Price: $9.99 @ Pasternak Wines imported by Pasternak Wine
What They Said:
Per wine.com “Inky and dense with attractive berry aromas and a touch of cinnamon and sweet spice. A fully, fruity wine, with excellent body, intense tannins, flavors of cherry, blackberry, boysenberry and plum intermingled with hints of cardamom and pepper, and a long, full [...]