In this modern world of internationalism, certain countries, because of climate, soil, and/or geography, have become famous for a specific variety of wine. For Germany it’s the Riesling, New Zealand the Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa the Pinotage, Sicily the Nerello Mascalese, Italy the Sangiovese, Spain the Tempranillo, in the United States it’s the Zinfandel — and in Argentina, it’s the Malbec. I saved the Malbec for last because I was privileged to sample some Argentinian Malbecs that were more than good — they were excellent. Malbec was once considered a ho-hum grape variety in France and was never able to compete with the mighty duo, Bordeaux’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Burgundy’s Pinot Noir.
The “new world” opened new vistas for grape varieties. Malbec, when it was planted at the foothills of Argentina’s Andes Mountains, was found to produce not only good wines, but wines that in every way were the equal to the mighty duo of France and California, and at considerably less cost to the consumer.
I again admonish the reader not to judge quality by price, as there are many facets that must be considered when the price of a wine is determined. The prices that I show indicate the producer’s suggested retail price; however, the final price can wander all over the place on the internet, and some incredible buys can be found there. It should be pointed out that the internet prices do not include shipping, which is included in the “off the shelf” price, so the buyer pays for the shipping one way or the other.
Coen Classic 2019 Malbec ($24.99). This wine could be considered an ambassador for Malbec; it is that good while also being that affordable. The grapes used for this wine are the great-great-grandchildren of the vines brought over by the original Spanish colonists. While the grapes had found a new home and thrived, it was the Italian immigrants of the early 1900s who perfected Argentinian wine-making techniques and brought the Malbec to its full potential. The Coen 2019 Classic Malbec had no oak aging, so it is about as “au natural” as a wine can get. This wine has a deep ruby color, a medium body, and a flavor that’s almost explosive, exhibiting summer red fruits, cranberries, pomegranates, and ripe giant raisins. This can be considered a wine for all seasons because it will fit with any food from Spanish to Japanese.
Coen 2019 Reserve Malbec ($44.99). Critically selected grapes in the hands of a dedicated winemaker usually lead to a higher selling price. The question now: Is it all worth it? In the case with this wine — yes, yes, and yes. There is a smoothness about this wine that rivals the best of the best from anywhere in the world. Had I not read the label, I might have believed this wine had received many years of extra aging. The finish of this wine, too, is something special, as it is very long and a revolving display of all the flavors that a great Malbec is famous for cherries and summer berries along with a host of fruit under-flavors. These under-flavors are subtle and constantly intermingling with each other. I will add that I believe that this wine is probably one of the finest Malbecs that I have sampled in a long time.
Graffigna 2019 Malbec ($11.99). This wine is again proof positive that price does not indicate quality. The Graffigna Malbec is more than just an affordable wine; it is the wine that, if you have never experienced a Malbec before, could open the door to a very delightful variety. This wine is 100% Malbec and is alive with the flavors of plum and blackberry, with hints of tobacco and chocolate in the background and in the finish. This is another red wine that can accompany all of the red-meat dishes as well as many of the spicy Italian or Spanish dishes.