I could not agree more on Achaval being over-rated. It is very, very sad that they have changed so much (in a bad way) since their beginnings.

I would not go quite as far as dismiss Carmen�re as a bad grape. You are right, there are too many Chilean Carmener�s that are not up to snuff, but they are a result of bad winemaking, not of a bad varietal.

I've had many a good 100% Carmen�re (Notas de Guarda, Arboleda, Mayu) and will happily try others.

Cheers,
T.

I recently had a delicious Malbec from Washington State:
2009 aMaurice Cellars Malbec Columbia Valley

KM

Its interesting to see more regions bottling Malbec on its own. The best non Argentine Malbec Ive had to date has been from South Africa.

For those seeking an everyday Malbec, I suggest trying to seek out a new line of wines created by Ernesto Catena. Padrillos is a new series of wines that includes a Malbec and also a Pinot Noir. These labels are priced under AR$100 per bottle (retail) in Buenos Aires... according to my source at the Winery, these labels already have US distribution.

New Vintage alert for various of the High-End Malbecs from Argentina....

Rutini Apartado Gran Malbec 2009
Parcela 26 Malbec 2009
Antologia XXXI 2009
Colome Reserva 2008
Angelica Zapata Malbec Alta 2009
Escorihuela Gascon DON Malbec 2007
Yacochuya Rolland 2009
Colome Autentico Malbec 2010
Escorihuela Gascon Small Productions Malbec 2009
Jorge Catena Zapata Ricominciare Altisimo Malbec 2009

How much do they cost in AR$ Gaucho100K?

I have lots of taxes to pay you know.

Prices for the above quoted labels range from AR$280 to AR$850 (Argentine Pesos) - those are figures per bottle.

I will post some updated options in the perhaps more 'everyday' category.

Updated short-list of interesting Malbecs & Malbec Blends for the more 'every-day' use....

Jorge Catena Zapata Ricominciare Malbec-Cabernet Franc
Flichman Expresiones Malbec-Cabernet
Rutini Coleccion Malbec-Cabernet
Escorihuela Gascon Gran Reserva Malbec
Ernesto Catena Padrillos Malbec
Durigutti Reserva Malbec
Zuccardi Q Malbec
DV Catena Malbec Malbec
Rutini Coleccion Cabernet-Syrah
Encuentro Malbec
San Pedro de Yacochuya
Jorge Catena Zapata Ricominciare Malbec-Tannat
HD Malbec Reserva
Benegas Estate Malbec

Every-day or not, but e.g. the Zuccardi Q is a fabulous wine for the price. It sold for 18 euro (about USD 23) in Finland a a few years ago.

Cheers,
T.

We have found one from France, yes you read correctly from France where Malbec grapes were first cultivated. Most people think that Malbec originated in Argentina, but the grapes were actually first cultivated in France and are named after a Hungarian pesant who first spread the grapes throughout the French countryside. Malbec grapes are one of the 6 that are allowed to be used in Bordeax wines. This grape can be found in the Cahors region of southern France.

The Malbec we have found is Prieure de Cenac and it is in limited quantities in the United States, but the flavors are full bodied with great tannins. We have found the wine at of all places Costco and runs $14.99 a bottle. If you like Catena Reserve Malbec, you'll LOVE this French version of the wine.

The reviews from Wine Spectator rate the 2009 a solid 91 points with a review of drink now or hold. Seeing as how it is in limited quantities, we have purchased just under 100 bottles of the wine for our cellar. Everytime we see it at our local store, we buy every bit of it and have even driven more than 100 miles round trip on a buying spree to buy out every Costco store in the state of Georgia.

Enjoy!

Very True. It is also pertinent to say that the Malbec grape would have never gone anywhere past a 3rd tier blending grape had it not been for its migration to the New World, where the local climates reconverted it into what it is today.

Malbec has established itself as such a relevant grape varietal (in its new World style) that this has forced the growers of the 'original' stuff in places like Cahors to adopt the styles of the colonies..... some growers even resort to including the term Malbec in their labels for export business. Today, if you walk into any retail store that has a Cahors on the shelf, they sell it as Malbec..... only the very well informed Whino knows what a Cahors is all about - and forget the traditional names for this grape like Auxerrois or Noir de Pressac.

Mmmmm and I had to think twice about buying a 160 peso bottle of Malbec just the other week.

The second list with the more 'everyday' wines has various options that should make you think a little less..... the range there is from AR$110 to AR$200.....

Ah that's more like it. ^

A wider audience will find that list much more appealing than your previous lot. I might be a connoisseur of Argentine Cognac but I'm rather more frugal when it comes to buying Malbec.