Wino tygodnia (14/2013): 2010 DiamAndes de Uco Malbec

WINE OF THE WEEK

Wine of the Week: 2010 DiamAndes de Uco Malbec
Region & Country: Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina
Price: $25

As regular readers know, I have long been a fan of Malbec wines, deliciously juicy and packed with flavor…
This 2010 DiamAndes Malbec from Mendoza’s premium Uco Valley is certainly no exception. While on the more expensive side, it more than delivers the value.
It has a deep, purple, almost opaque color. The nose is opulent and dense showing aromas of ripe dark plum and bramble fruit laced with creamy coffee, toast, vanilla, spice and hints of smoke. The opulence continues across the palate, which has a plump texture, juicy supple tannins and lots of succulent fleshy dark fruit with spicy oak flavors. The alcohol is noticeable, but is well contained and in balance with the wine’s rich flavors and long creamy finish. This is a big, bold, full-bodied, modern style Malbec.
At the Table: This richly flavored Argentinian Malbec screams out for a juicy steak. Take your pick — strip, flank, rib-eye or whatever takes your fancy — simply grilled and served with herb-roasted baby potatoes, a pairing that works every time.
About DiamAndes de Uco, Malbec and the Uco Valley
Bodega DiamAndes (meaning a Diamond Born in the Andes) is the Argentinian project of the Bordelais Bonnie family, who own highly regarded Châteaux in the Graves (Ch. Malartic -Lagravière) and Pessac Leognan (Ch. Gazin-Roquencourt) areas of Bordeaux. In 2005, after an extensive search Alfred-Alexandre Bonnie finally found his diamond in the Andes, and settled on a 320-acre vineyard in the heart of Mendoza’s Uco Valley, which he named DiamAndes.
The Malbec grape, while native to Bordeaux, is best know as the signature grape and wine of Argentina. After all, it was Argentina and not France who successfully put Malbec on the international wine map.
Mendoza represents the most important wine region in Argentina, accounting for about 80% of the country’s wines and vineyard area. The Uco Valley (Valle de Uco), located about 60 minutes south of the city of Mendoza is home to some of Argentina’s highest altitude vineyards (up to 3000 feet asl.), and is considered one of the most picturesque regions in all of Mendoza.
For more on Malbec check out my previous posts here and here.
Mary Gorman-McAdams, MW (Master of Wine), is a New York based wine educator, freelance writer and consultant. In 2012 she was honored as a Dame Chevalier de L’Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne