▻ Viva Argentina! – Part Five
The Age-ability of Malbec
Episode Summary:-
Many experts believe that to be defined as a “fine wine,” a wine must have the ability to age. In this episode in our Viva Argentina series, Sarah Kemp attends two tastings of old Argentine wines, one at Finca Decero and another at Catena Zapata.
Sarah talks to Juan Marco, CEO of Finca Decero, about their decision to hold back 50 cases of each vintage of their wines from the Remolinos Vineyards, situated in the highest area of Agrelo in the province of Mendoza. As pioneers of single-vineyard wines, they believed that it was important in establishing the reputation of a region to have some older vintages which could show the history of the vineyard. Juan describes how Malbec ages, going from flowery notes to dark fruit and then showing notes of fennel, liquorice, and cedar. “Its velvety tannin structure won’t decay,” he says. Sarah and he talk about the tasting of the older wines and Sarah reflects that the wines, 2009, 2011, and 2008 are going through a secondary phase, with the fruit relaxing. Juan says he is very excited about the potential of the blends, which he believes will last 30 to 40 years.
The second retrospective tasting Sarah attended in Argentina was at Catena Zapata, with Laura Catena and Alejandro Vigil. Sarah describes the vertical of their flagship wine, Nicolas Catena Zapata 2009, 2006, 2005, and 2001. She is very impressed with the flight and finds the 2005 on a par with top Bordeaux wines. She suggests laying down Argentine wine, especially when you compare their price to Bordeaux and Burgundy, and confesses that she certainly is going to.
““I think the age-ability of Malbec is going to be one of the great stories of the next 50 years.” ”
Running Order:-
-
0.00 – 11.23
“It was important to establish the reputation of a region to have some older vintages which could show the history of the vineyard.” – Juan Marco, Finca Decero
– Sarah Kemp talks to Juan Marco, CEO of Finca Decero, about the age-ability of Malbec and Malbec blends.
– Juan Marco describes Malbec’s flavours with age. -
11.23 – 14.48
– Sarah talks about the vertical tasting of Nicolas Catena Zapata wines and describes the four vintages.
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