A Malbec from Argentina Too Good To Resist

2015 Colomé Estate Malbec from Argentina

Wine of the Week with Annette Tomei

Malbec is a grape originally from Cahors in southwestern France. But was possibly best known as one of the Bordeaux blending varietals. That is, until it hit the big time in Argentina. The popularity of Malbec from Argentina, (specifically Mendoza), essentially established Argentina as a world-class wine producing country.
Malbec is a black-skinned grape that is especially sensitive to its terroir (climate, geography, geology, etc.). Skin thickness, phenolic ripeness, acidity, and aromatic composition can vary greatly.

Here’s Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Malbec Wine

One of the most impactful variables for Argentine Malbec is the altitude of the vineyards. Lower elevations produce thinner-skinned grapes, lighter-bodied wines, and decent rosés. From the higher the elevations, one can expect thicker-skinned fruit, yielding fuller bodied, often higher quality wines.

RELATED: High Altitude Wines

The Salta region is the home of Argentina’s highest altitude vineyards. It is also the northern-most wine growing region in the country.

This combination of high altitude and low latitude (closer to the equator) create a distinct terroir. Closer to the equator means more direct sunlight. High in the mountains means cooler climate. Together, they create evenly ripening, thick-skin fruit with well-balanced acidity. The wines are full-bodied, ripe with dark fruit characteristics, and enough acidity to support the intensity of the flavors as the wines age.

Colomé was founded in 1831 and is one of the oldest estates in the region with some of the oldest vines. It also holds the distinction of being the highest-altitude vineyards in the world, at over 10,000 feet above sea level. Colomé Estate Malbec is a blend of grapes from four of the estate vineyards from four elevations, each contributing specific characteristics to the blend.

My Colomé Malbec tasting notes

The color of this wine is so deep and inky that it is nearly black and completely opaque with a rich red-violet meniscus.

Initial aromas of ash, currant, and plum seem to hover on back notes of ginger blossoms and redwood forest.

On the palate ripe juicy blackberries dominate with some dark cherry and a hint of cocoa. The wood characteristics from 15 months barrel aging are well integrated. The tannins are initially tight, but open in the glass to silky smoothness. The acidity is perceived as juicy berries, it provides structure and is well integrated.

This big, lush Malbec from Argentina deserves an equally substantial meal.

What to serve with this Argentine Malbec

My first wish is for braised lamb over creamy polenta, though I’m sure it will be equally pleasing with herb-roasted lamb chops or a perfectly prepared steak. Vegetarians: seek out hearty wild mushrooms, porcini especially, prepare whole like a steak on the grill, or as a ragout over the aforementioned creamy polenta.

Explore Argentina beyond Mendoza. You can start with this wonderful example of Malbec from Salta. You’ll also be able to say you tasted the wine made from the grapes grown in the highest elevation in the world.

Certainly worth the $25/bottle. It’s how I’m celebrating International Malbec Day 2018!

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Annette Tomei

Chef, Wine Educator & Culinary Consultant at Wander, Eat and Tell

Annette Tomei is a chef, educator, writer, and cultural tourism consultant. She has a Master’s of Arts in Gastronomy and extensive education in wine and spirits including Italian Wine Scholar with Highest Honors. She is a classically trained chef and former restaurant owner. As a sought-after cooking instructor, she has created popular Port to Table cooking classes for Holland America and has contributed to several food books including Culinary Careers for Dummies. She currently works as a food, wine and spirits educator and consultant though her company, Wander, Eat and Tell.

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