Tuesday, October 16, 2007

A Malbec from Walla Walla - It's good (trust me).



Mmm, mmm, mmm. This is a really tasty wine that I will happily drink again, and again. It smells like Malbec, with some mixed berry fruit and subtle floral notes. The texture is very soft and supple, with mulberry and some raspberry fruits, and the inner mouth floral notes that I love to perceive in wines and seldom do in more inexpensive offerings. Tannins are light and very well integrated. Nowhere is the overoaked, cloying, manipulated quality found in many Argentine Malbecs. Seven Hills Malbec is refreshing, food friendly, and should please many a Euro-centric, jaded, geeky palate. At least it certainly did with folks I was tasting with.

Why don't more folks in the US make wine like this?? If they did maybe more younger wine drinkers would support their wine instead of buying imports.

7 comments:

jz1 said...

I love Malbec! I'll try this one (if its cheap).

Joe Manekin said...

Jon, I thought this one was cheaper when I posted. It's about $30. It's a very good wine at $20, and would be a great deal at $15. For $30, eh. That is why, even with the weak dollar/strong Euro situation, so many wine drinkers are still buying mostly French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, etc. More interesting wines for less $.

For an inexpensive, decent malbec try Crios which should be about $13. For something a little more interesting, Achaval-Ferrer for $20.

jz1 said...

Thanks Joe, I'm a get me some tonight if I they have it at The Old Vine. Maybe I'll text you some options later.

Anonymous said...

I live in Walla Walla and this Malbec is one of my favorites. Seven Hills did an awesome job, and even at $30 I think it's worth it. It has only improved over the last few months.

Joe Manekin said...

Amy,

Thanks for the comment. I didn't mean to come down too hard on this wine, as far as pricing goes. I think it's a solid midweight, thirst quenching, very food friendly and with some nice complexity too. Sort of reminds me of another wine from up your way - Waterbrook Melange. But with much more character ;-)

At $20 it's hard to beat, and at $30 there are just more options to consider, especially across the pond. That having been said, it's a very tasty wine and one of my favorite Washington wines I have had this year.

jz1 said...

So, not remembering the name Crios, I went to the shop last night hoping something would spark my memory. So, when I saw Ciclos, I thought I had found it. $25 for this Malbec/Merlot (more than I'm used to spending) and I pretty much hated it. I guess that's how you learn! Next time, I'll write it down.

Joe Manekin said...

Ciclos? Haven't seen it before. I'd be suspicious of most of the Malbec and Malbec blends coming out of Argentina that are priced in the $20's. They often seem to be on the heavy, ponderous, over-extracted side. Too bad - next bottle will have to be cheaper and hopefully better.