Powerful and complex, lording its dominion over an entire region – there is, in fact, only one grape from South America which I adore. It was transported from the Old World in the 19th century – nearly dead, amputated from its mother vine, a young sapling traveled across the Atlantic, wrapped in a damp cloth by its loving protector, an old Argentine agriculturalist. The sapling, desirous of more dry sunlight and warmth than its native Bordeaux could provide, thrived after taking root in Argentine soil.
The sapling grew into a powerful, twisted vine; and the farmer spread this forefather vine across his new vineyard. The vine flourished, living a quiet country life in Mendoza Valley for decades. It rarely gained any fame outside of its new homeland. But when an early frost decimated its European cousins, pushing its family into near-extinction in the 1950s, the quiet Argentine grape grew in importance. It was a surviving remnant of one of the first six varietals of Bordeaux wine, after all – it was descended from royalty.
Over the past fifty years, this grape – the Malbec – has soared in popularity. It's sweet, plum-like smell, combined with a tart and robust taste, make this dark red beauty an immediate favorite among wine-appreciatives. The Argentine grape, while embodying that warm, rich sensation given by wines of the Bordeaux peninsula also brings a unique dry tartness, much like a Spanish Rioja. It is either a unique adaptation to the New World or a fortuitous preserve of an Old World grape which now thrives in Argentina.
The sapling grew into a powerful, twisted vine; and the farmer spread this forefather vine across his new vineyard. The vine flourished, living a quiet country life in Mendoza Valley for decades. It rarely gained any fame outside of its new homeland. But when an early frost decimated its European cousins, pushing its family into near-extinction in the 1950s, the quiet Argentine grape grew in importance. It was a surviving remnant of one of the first six varietals of Bordeaux wine, after all – it was descended from royalty.
Over the past fifty years, this grape – the Malbec – has soared in popularity. It's sweet, plum-like smell, combined with a tart and robust taste, make this dark red beauty an immediate favorite among wine-appreciatives. The Argentine grape, while embodying that warm, rich sensation given by wines of the Bordeaux peninsula also brings a unique dry tartness, much like a Spanish Rioja. It is either a unique adaptation to the New World or a fortuitous preserve of an Old World grape which now thrives in Argentina.
Photo: Catena 2007 Malbec from Argentina
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