Wondering about a Thanksgiving wine? Even with a trimmed down dinner list as small as two people, the wine choice remains a dilemma for most people. But no problem if you approach with the same attitude you had when dining out when everyone selects a different entree.
You need to go with the best all purpose, versatile wine. Until recently, most experts would automatically suggest Beaujolais, the fruity light-bodied French Red. But honestly, that was a weak compromise, leaving nobody happy.
Now there’s another choice. The go-to wine for this Thanksgiving should be today’s very popular restaurant wine by the glass…Malbec. Before the recent restaurant restrictions, it had become my go-to wine by the glass.
Malbec is versatile enough to please the red and white wine drinker and it is, or should be, reasonably priced. It is neither too tannic as some other red wines nor too acidic or sweet like many white wines. And you dont need some silly vintage chart with vintage ratings.
A safe choice for sure.
Though originating in France and made in many countries, Malbec from Argentina has become so popular that it is practically a brand. And as its popularity continues to grow, there’s not a lot of difference between one major brand of Malbec and another.
That’s a nice way of saying they are many decent, reliable and, well, not terribly exciting Argentinian Malbecs on the market. Still a good choice.
But recently, I’ve encountered Malbec from two wineries new to me that are the real deal and also offer some flavor excitement. And are priced well below the famous brands.
First up: Proemio
Proemio means prologue or first page in old Spanish.
2017 Proemio Red Blend, Estate Bottled, Mendoza, Argentina $10.99
If this Red Blend is Proemio’s entry level wine, then we are at the door of a super discovery. Made from a single vineyard in Maipu, this is 50% Malbec with equal doses of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. It is dark and opens to reveal plum and ripe blackberry fruit with lovely notes of sage and violets along with some earthiness. Lively and mouth-filling spicy flavors show smooth tannins with touches of black pepper and leather.
Seems like the 25% Petit Verdot added some complexity and earthy, leathery notes to turn this one into something very special at this price.
Based in Mendoza, Proemio is a family owned winery founded in 2001 that is not the typical Argentinian producer. With vineyards in three distinct regions, it features “Icon”which is a Bordeaux blend as the top of the line. Offering several Malbecs, it also bottles a Syrah-Grenache blend as well as a varietal Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
Next: Siete Fincas
The name refers to vineyards in seven locations.
2019 Siete Fincas, Tupungato, Argentina $16.00
Dark, almost black in color suggesting it is not watered down, big volume stuff. With ripe plum fruit along with a black pepper edge, the aroma is also slightly floral-earthy. Medium bodied with soft edges, fine grained tannin, but nicely structured with a touch of oak and good length in the finish. Holds up well in the glass over time, a sign it can be cellared for a few years.
Siete Fincas is also a family winery. Created in 2000 by Edgardo Stallocca to continue the viticultural tradition his grandfather, Juan Stallocca, began in Mendoza in 1904, it has vineyards in several sub regions.
Other Malbecs:
Best reliable brands:
Norton
Domaine Bousquet
Susana Balbo
Salentein
Finca Flichman
Personal favorites worth a special search:
Zuccardi Q
Pascual Toso
Norm Roby's Unfiltered Guide to Savvy Wine Shopping 