Malbrontes, Le Malbec, IGP Pays d’Oc, France, 2012
How does French malbec compare with Argentinian?
France: structured wines with good acidity and medium (+) grippy tannins; in youth black fruit with a savoury note – redcurrant, black cherry, black berry, bilberry; and with age ripe plum and prune, cedar, liquorice, clove and smoke ..
Argentina: fruit forward, with a similar flavour profile, balanced acidity but less firmly structured, smooth texture, historically more alcohol – but this is changing.
This wine: Screw cap closure, 13% abv, Weavers £9
WSET style tasting note
Appearance: clear and bright, deep intensity purple, showing tears.
Nose: clean on the nose, of pronounced intensity, youthful, with aromas of slightly high-toned ripe black cherry, stewed black berry, a little savoury.
Palate: a dry wine, with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) smooth yet grippy tannins, medium (+) alcohol and a medium (+) body, a smooth texture, medium (+) intensity, with flavours of black berry, bilberry and a savoury note. A medium length, with a clean modestly grippy bright black berried finish.
Quality: a good quality wine, simple yet well-made, balanced with a good acid and tannin structure supporting the fruit intensity. A warm nose, easy to drink, a bit short on the length, but with a fruity balanced finish. This wine is ready to drink now, will keep for a year or so, but not improve with further cellaring.
