NYWCA -- Program Reports-- Argentinean Malbec Wine Tasting

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Argentinean Malbec Wine Tasting
Jeannie Chen

On February 2, 2010, eighteen Alliance members were invited to taste the range of Malbec wines from Argentina in a program called Argentinean Malbec: Solo and Blended. Held in the wine cellar/dining room of Tribeca restaurant Industria Argentina (329 Greenwich Street; www.iatribeca.com), it was led by sommelier German (pronounced Hermaan) Calle. Some of the restaurant’s delicious “small bites” were served along with the tasting. These included plates of empanadas in three styles (with beef, shrimp and ham and cheese fillings), chicken Milanese fingers in a creamy herbed dipping sauce, mussels in a garlicky broth, bite-size chorizo with chimichurri sauce, and smoked duck with red onion on crostini. The night was organized by NYWCA member, Stephanie Teuwen, a lifelong oenophile.

Six wines were offered in the tasting; each was donated by its vineyard.

• Calle started us off with a sparkling wine called Finca Flichman Extra Brut; an 80% Chardonnay, 20% Malbec blend, this was the only white of the evening. It was a reasonably priced alternative to Champagne.
• Next, was a fruity red called Carlos Pulenta Tomero Malbec, 2008. Calle explained that this was 80% steel barrel fermented, and 20% oak barrel aged.
• The third bottle was a smoky, structured wine called Luigi Bosca Single Vineyard D.O.C Malbec, 2006; aged 12 months in French oak, then aged 12 months in the bottle.
• The fourth bottle was a Venetian-style wine called Masi Paso Doble, Tupungato Argentina, 2007; a 70% Malbec, 30% Corvina blend.
• Next, Calle surprised us with a dry wine called Carlos Pulenta Vistalba Corte B, 2005; a 60% Malbec, 30% Bonarda, 10% Cabernet blend.
• The final bottle was an amazing full-bodied rustic wine called Achaval Ferrer Quimera Malbec, 2007; a blend of 38% Malbec, 24% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 14% Cabernet Franc. Due to very low yield, production is limited to 5,000 cases of this wine per year.

The evening showed Malbec, a little known grape in our U.S. market, to have a range from sparkling white to dry, full-bodied red. These Malbecs have a place alongside more well-known varietals on your table and in your cellar.

IMAGE (above): Photo of German Calle, Industria Argentina sommelier

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