A Wine Review: Layer Cake Malbec 2007

Argentina
13.9% abv
750ml bottle

Here are the tasting notes that I found from their web site: “Pure, rich and very elegant; a powerhouse of lush black fruit, silky cocoa, black spice and cream, wrapped around blackberry, cherry and ripe plum. Layered and complex with a nose to linger over, a finish that never ends. Sweet anise, hints of tobacco, black chocolate, more cherries and exotic spices, layers of jam. This wine will stand and perform anytime you think of a Cabernet and want something just a little more exotic. Born at the base of the Andes and fed by the purest spring waters…I love this wine.”

This wine is packed with the dark fruits. The blackberry and dark cherry notes are flavorful. There is a slight sweetness underneath the earthy profile and spices which are thick and lush. This is a very good complex Malbec and a must buy.

Here are the links to the other Malbec wines reviewed this past month
Terraza Malbec 06
Cigar Box Malbec 09
Peirano Malbec 06
Catena Malbec 08
Luigi Bosca 08

A Wine Review: Luigi Bosca Reserva Malbec 2008

14.3% abv
Luigi Bosca


Mendoza, Argentina
My Strength Rating: 4.5


This wine has a nice ruby appearance and a dark berry with some red berries on the nose with a whiff of white pepper. The taste has a tart red berry with some plum and sweet cherry that makes me think of sweet tart candies. There is a hint of pink peppercorn and some alcohol spice. The aftertaste has a touch of oak on the back of the palate with some lingering berry notes on the tongue.

Next Month is Zinfandel Month - that is Red Zinfandel

A Wine Review: Catena Malbec 2008

13.9% abv
Bodega Catena Zapata Estate
Mendoza, Argentina
My Strength Rating: 8 on the first glass; second glass a 7.

This family has been growing grape vines since 1902.

This Malbec is a blend of ‘becs’ from four of the family’s vineyards. Maipu 20%, Lujande Cuyo 10%, Tupungato 40%, and San Carlos 30%.

First glass without decanting: My first sip is a luscious black fruit explosion and the blackberries seem to be leading the way. There seems to be a dark chocolate bite swirling around on the palate that has a slight creamy feel on the palate.

Between the blackberry bite and a high % dark chocolate bitter style the mouthfeel/texture sure is intense during this first glass.

This is no lightweight Malbec. This is heavyweight stuff. If you like mild-medium bodied Malbecs you better sit on the sidelines or this linebacker will knock you down.

The aftertaste starts with an alcohol warmth on the back of the palate and then I feel a jammy feel that coats the whole mouth.

The second glass is a little more relaxed once the wine had some time to breathe. There are more black fruits to choose from on the taste: Blackberry, black cherry, mulberry, and/or boysenberry. Take your pick on the berry profile but, it sure is tasty. The earthy notes are more noticeable. Earthy notes: mineral soil and tobacco. The mocha flavor is pleasing and there seems to an undertone of vanilla. The bitter dark chocolate and sharp blackberry bite is not as noticeable as it was on the first glass. The finish is smoother than the first glass.

I don’t know if I like the first glass or the second glass. I do know that I sure liked the intensity of the first glass.

Overall, this is one tasty Malbec. The complexity is there. The dark fruits are plentiful. The aftertaste is pleasing.

Must buy.

Read the cigar pairing on Feb. 12

Linking you up!
Here are the Malbecs that I reviewed this month:
Terraza Malbec 06
Cigar Box Malbec 09
Peirano Malbec 06
Luigi Bosca 08
Layer Cake Malbec 07

A Wine Review: Peirano Estate Malbec 2006 Lodi

The Heritage Collection

13.8% abv
$16.00
Peirano Estate Vineyards - (per-an-o)
Graton, California,USA
My Strength Rating: 4

This Malbec pours a nice amethyst color with ruby highlights.

Light nose with dark berry, plum, green spice.

The taste is pleasing. The plum seems to lead the way to a touch of mixed berries, mossy earth, hint of anise, green spice. I keep thinking I get a slight hint of mocha now and then.

The mouthfeel is on the light side of medium. Red berry and moss like aftertaste. Fairly, clean on the palate, soft and smooth in its delivery.

If you are looking for a mild-medium red wine this is tasty.

Linking you up!
Here are the Malbecs that I reviewed this month:
Terraza Malbec 06
Cigar Box Malbec 09
Peirano Malbec 06
Catena Malbec 08
Luigi Bosca 08
Layer Cake Malbec 07

A Wine Review: Cigar Box Reserve Malbec 2009

14% abv
$17.00 ? - I'll be finding out because, I'll be getting more
Argentina
My Strength Rating: 7
Visit CigarPostings for the cigar pairing with Cigar Box Malbec


Now, I am not a Malbec slappy for I only drink one or two bottles a year and I think I may have only reviewed one maybe two bottle of Malbec this past year.

Appearance: dark almost black body with a slight ruby edge around the rim.


Aroma: dark berries and dark fruit, light spice, floral, and sweet cedar.


Taste: tart red currant, sweet cedar, dark chocolate, mineral earthiness, I don’t notice any violet notes.


Mouthfeel: the tart berry and dark chocolate notes give a little bite. Pushing toward the jammy side yet, the flavors are rich. Lasting aftertaste that is thick on the tongue like a good piece of 80% dark chocolate.


The typical violet note known to Malbec wines shows up as the wine opens up. The texture also becomes a little fuller.


I am going with a 7 strength rating because of the tart berry and dark chocolate bite, also the lasting aftertaste.


This is my kind of wine. I like this fuller style of Malbec.

Here are the links to the Malbec that I reviewed this month:
Terraza Malbec 06
Peirano Malbec 06
Catena Malbec 08
Luigi Bosca 08
Layer Cake Malbec 07

A Wine Review: Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Malbec 2006

terrazasdelosandes.com
$15.00 a bottle
13.5% abv
Bodega Terrazas De Los Andes
Argentina

I love it when there are tasting notes written on the bottle. As a consumer that is important to me when I have not tasted the wine before. The notes give me an idea of what some of the flavors may be when I drink the wine. Yes, there have been times when I feel the description is dead on and there are times when I experience some of what they describe. I think with wine descriptions that they are pretty good to go by. One thing I think they are usually off on is the body description. They will say, “This full-bodied …,” and then I taste the wine and it is medium body at best.

Here is the description from the bottle:

Color: Deep, dark purple.

Aroma: Concentrated cherries, raisins and licorice together with toasted notes and vanilla. Hints of violets stand out, typical of Malbec.

Palate: Great intensity of fruit. Despite its concentration, it is soft with round tannins. It has great potential for ageing.


Let’s take a look

Color: this is a good looking deep purple color.

Aroma: Yes, it is a big cherry profile on the nose. A touch of spice and I could agree with a slight toasted note.

As for the raisins, licorice, and vanilla: raisins – no; I have to assume they are talking black licorice – ah, no; I have some really good black licorice and I checked it out – aaaah, it’s a stretch to me. Vanilla – a high quality vanilla extract aroma - aaah maybe , sweet vanilla no.

The aroma is very delightful though.

Palate: Bing cherry, black and red currants. They call it ‘great intensity of fruit,’ – it sure is. It is yummy.

The mouthfeel is soft and the tannins are tame. This is a very enjoyable wine to drink.

Give this Malbec a try – it will be worth it.

Malbec Month

I am planning to review a few bottles of Malbec this month. Malbec is one of the grapes that can be used in Bordeaux blends. Argentina has had great success with this grape and you can find some very tasty Malbec wines at a great price, usually under $20.00.

Malbec is normally a medium to medium-full bodied wine delivering some tasty plum, tart red berries and dark berry notes. Violet is a note that can be found along with a nice earthy, mineral, and some woody notes along the way.

For food pairings it is definitely a red meat wine. It should also pair well with spicy food and even barbecue.

Hopefully, we find some tasty ones this month.

A Wine Review: Colio CEV Gamay Noir 2008

12.1% abv
$15.75 Canadian
Harrow, Ontario, Canada
Colio Estate Vineyards
Coliowinery.com
My Strength Rating: 4

Here is the description on the bottle, “Scents of dark cherry, cedar spice, and strawberry pie foretell the dark cherry, cranberry and pomegranate finish.”

The Gamay pours a pretty ruby color. This wine has one tasty bouquet. I get the dark cherry and spice. I don’t know about the strawberry pie but, this wine has a very tasty berry presence. The aroma is much better than I expected from the light appearance.

The taste does follow the nose. There is a very pleasing dark cherry and red berry flavor that dominates the profile. I also pick up that cedar spice on the taste and I notice it more on the nose now as the wine opens up. And, as a cigar guy I like that cedar note. The other spices on the palate remind me of a mixture of fine grind green, white, and pink peppercorns. I could agree with sweet cedar on the taste, but, to me it is lacking the woody character. That is why I am calling it the pepper mill mixture that I described. The acidity and tannins are low.

This wine would be nice with a salad dish, turkey or a portabella mushroom cap.

This is a must buy in my book.

A Wine Review: D’Angelo Baco Foch 2004

12.5% abv
$8.00 a bottle Canadian
D’Angelo Winery
Amherstberg, Ontario, Canada
Dangelowinery.com
My Strength Rating: 3/3.5

This wine is a blend of Baco Noir and Marechal Foch. It has a dark berry body color with ruby highlights. The nose is grapy and red raspberry like but, it is light overall.

The taste was puzzling at first. What are the berry notes here? To me it’s not berry like. It tastes like grapes! I think it taste like red globe grapes, just like I thought with the nose. Grape is what I smell and grapes is what I taste. Imagine that a wine that taste like a grape. I think it is in the simplicity of this wine that I get lost and it is in its simplicity that I like.

The texture is smooth on the delivery and finish. The aftertaste has that grape skin taste. Overall, this wine has a pretty clean mouthfeel.

This is the perfect wine to enjoy with a sandwich, a salad or a white pasta dish. This would be a nice wine to share with friends over a good conversation or a bad conversation at that. Because of its taste and mild body this wine should have a great range for food and cigar. Because of the low acidity, tannins and no astringent notes this wine should not interfere with the foods you want to enjoy.