Malbec was the variety of choice at our most recent Pelly Wine Club tasting hosted by the Wolfe’s, honorary club members even though they actually reside on another street. There’s a house for sale next door, we may need to make them move in to keep them in the club ; )
Robert slaved all day on the wonderful spread that included empanadas and puffed pastry desserts that he made all by himself… we had no idea! His wife Kay acted as emcee and host as we blind-tasted 8 bottles and then grilled us with some serious Malbec trivia questions for prizes. Here are the wines and scores from my tasting card:
2006 Mendel($24) – Nose was a bit tight and smelled of shower curtain, though the taste brought a lot of fruit, licorice, medium spice… hint of chocolate was noted by some (3.0/5)
2006 Melipal($15) – Light oak on the nose and a little vegetal, very strong tannins, but not much else (2.5/5)
2007 Trivento Select($10) – Very light hue, cold medicine and vegetal nose. Taste was of dark fruit and alcohol heat at the end (2.0/5)
2004 Renacer ($50) – Oak, chocolate, barnyard, meaty nose with rich and full-bodied taste. Nice, long finish (4.0/5). Third place of the night.
2007 Tilia($10) – Tight nose, very uneventful, couldn’t discern a single Malbec (or wine for that matter) characteristic (2.0/5)
2004 St. Francis McCoy Vineyard($45) – Celery, vegetal, spice on the nose with vanilla, black fruit on the taste… vanilla whipped creaminess at end when you breath in at the finish… nice! (4.5/5). Came in 2nd place behind the Keiken
2005 Keiken Ultra($20) – Light oak, some vegetation, but very chewy, jammy mouthfeel and long finish. Another winner (5/5) – my WOTN and the overall winner voted by everyone.
2006 Colome’ ($20) – Alcohol and synthetic nose, medium spice, could be ok for an everyday wine. (3/5)
Kay’s trivia was pretty tough, but I came away with the big shocker when I answered her question about the other name for Malbec == “Cot” from the Cahors region in France. Big Money over here!! Woo!
