ARGENTINE MALBEC

[Randy Caparoso]

Sounds pretty wild. Hey, I thought that the K-J group's Mariposa Malbec was pretty decent, if simple, drinking stuff; especially for less than $10. But have any of you tasted Arrowood's Malbec? Pricey, but damn, it's great stuff -- deep, velvety, compact, powerful, clean blackberry flavors without the weight of Cabernet and Merlot varietals.

Going further away from the subject: hopefully we'll all begin to better appreciate the grape as we see better and better Argentinans coming over. Meanwhile, don't forget that the classic style still comes from France's Cahors region. We slow cooked meats (braised short ribs, pork pot roasts, etc.), it's hard to beat ones such as Clos la Coutale (70% Malbec, and the balance Tannat and Merlot) and Domaine Pineraie (approximately 70% Malbec, and the rest Merlot) -- dense, slightly chewey, yet marvelously rounded and soulful black fruit, leather, smoke, and earthy flavors. Both of the cited imported by Kermit Lynch.