About WiNEZ

WiNEZ was a monthly event at EZ Street Saloon in South Range, WI. Unfortunately, due to lower turn out the owners had decided to stop hosting the event. The last wine night at EZ was held on November 12, 2014. But that is not to say the die hards won't be getting together for some wine tasting periodically at EZ Street Saloon. I will continue to blog the wines we have tasted pre starting this blog, along with our impromptu meetings, and maybe transform the blog into something more personal. We will see where it goes. I do know the blog will still be about wine!

So for my WiNEZ pals you can count on this blog to serve as an archive of what was consumed and a reference for your spending sprees. For those who are just curious about what the Northwest Wisconsinites are drinking here are some thoughts… but be warned I am by no means a wine expert-I only know what I like. Since I am not an expert I will try to include the winemakers label descriptions as well.

Salute! or as the Finnish would say Kippis!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Trapiche Malbec 2009


According to the local liquor distributor Trapiche Malbec is currently the number one selling Malbec in the US.  The grapes are grown on sandy soils high on the Mendoza River in the east region of Mendoza.  The wine was aged in French and American oak barrels. 

While it wasn’t a bad wine, it just wasn’t what we expected for a Malbec.  Typically I think of a Malbec as a medium bodied, fruity, smoother, mellow wine.  This one was a little sharp with the loads of peppery spice. If you can ignore the peppery mid-tone you might be able to taste the plum hiding in the background. Some nice toasted oak flavors are mixed in, but again you have to get past the pepper.  It did finish nicely with a full blackcherry aftertaste. 

Cheese did improve the palate of the wine quite a bit mellowing it out and upping the rating. This one should be accompanied by food, but not chocolate.  Chocolate gave this wine an awful sour effect.

I wish I would have had my aerator, maybe aerating would have helped smooth some of the sting.  Or maybe in a few more years this wine will age into what can be described as a quality Malbec.  For now it is just too harsh.


Varietal:  Malbec
Producer/Importer:  Trapiche          
Region: Mendoza Argentina
Vintage: 2009
Price: $8.95
Tasting notes:
 Sight (Color/Clarity): ruby red with violet hues
 Smell (bouquet, aroma): peppery & earthy, a little timid
Taste (acidity, balance, body): Strong peppery middle, plum in the midtones if you can ignore the spice, toasted oak flavors mixed in. It finishes full bodies with very black cherry aftertaste
Bottle presentation:
Winemakers Notes: “A rich, red-colored wine with violet hues, redolent of plums and cherries. Round in the mouth with a touch of truffle and vanilla. Food pairings: The ideal wine for grilled meat. It also combines very well with pasta, mild to spicy cuisine and semi-hard cheeses such as Gouda, Edam or Gruyere.”
Comparisons:
Overall rating (1-10): 7
Date consumed: January 11, 2012
Comments:  Number one selling Malbec in the US.  Cheese mellowed the spiciness.  NO chocolate! 13.5% abv
Posted by at
Labels:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)