The Co-operative Premium Mendoza Malbec 2010, Argentina

It is becoming something of a cliche to say that Malbec, originally from France, is now Argentina's signature red grape, with its crowd-pleasing, blue-collar-hero, up-front fruit and spice.

This Co-op Malbec from Bodegas Septima in the cool-climate region of Lujan du Cuyo certainly has plenty of ripe fruit and spice, but also retains a good European sense of structure and complexity.

Precise, firm and muscular with a pretty face and a broad grin, it rather reminds me of a hip-wiggling, tight-trousered, Latin ballroom dancer.

Dark purple in the glass, there is plenty of bramble fruit, spice and toasty oak on the nose.

The palate shows more ripe black fruit, leather, pencil shavings and sweet, toasty vanilla spice with good juicy acidity and perfectly-ripe tannic underpinnings, giving a soft-yet-firm, inky texture.

The fruit is pure and the finish persistent with some smokey, toasty oak and a touch of pepperiness.
Match with robust dishes, such as char-grilled rare steak or the sweetness of slow-roast chicken with pigs-in-blankets and root vegetables.

£8.49 from the Co-operative (reduced to £6.49 in selected Co-operative food stores from 2 January to 15 January 2013 inclusive); provided for review.

Other related articles
Viñalba Patagonia Cabernet Merlot 2009, Argentina - The Co-op

Argentinian Tasting At Cambridge Food and Wine Society 
Malbec and Me, by SipSwooshSpit

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