Try This, Cellar That - Argentinian Malbec

With this edition we showcase Argentinian Malbec:

Try This...

Bodegas Escorihuela 2015 '1884' Reserva Malbec - $18
A doppelganger to the excellent 2014 edition, with a similar profile that combines red and black berries, sweet pipe tobacco, herbs and spice on the feminine nose and medium-plus bodied palate where the long-ish finish is nicely framed by fine, smoky tannins, rounded, berry acidity and lingering spice. Drink now-2019.
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Cellar That...

Rutini Wines 2015 Trupeter Malbe - $21
A graceful, approachable Malbec with evenly matched fruit and savoury characters: blackberry, cherry, charred oak, sweet spice, licorice and fig. Full-ish, with good texture and smooth, smokey tannins. Shows potential for further development over the next 2-3 years.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Try This, Cellar That - Kaiken Malbec

This week we showcase two Malbecs from Argentina's Kaiken Wines:

Try This...

Kaiken 2015 Reserva Malbec - $15
Impressive balance and intensity for the price, the Kaiken Reserva Malbec is produced by the Montes family of Chile from Mendoza fruit and offers a blooming nose of dark berry fruit, charred oak and sweet pipe tobacco aromas followed by a mouth-watering, full-bodied and round palate with a combination of sweet berry and spicy flavours. Finished with a hint of mint. Enjoy in its youth with sweet'n'spicy, BBQ dished. Drink now-2019.
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Cellar That...

Kaiken 2014 Ultra Malbec - $25
The Ultra Malbec sees 12 months in French oak prior to bottling, imparting a smoothness to the palate and light oak aromas and flavours. Ripe, dark fruit throughout with lively, brambly acidity, soft, fine tannins and a touch of smoke and spice that linger on the moderate-plus finish. Handles its 14.5% alcohol superbly. Ready to go now, or hold for some further development over the next 2-3 years. Drink now-2020.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Celebrate Malbec World Day with Free Wine Tastings

This year's Malbec World Day falls on Monday, April 17th, and British Columbia will get a jump on the celebrations with free Argentinean wine tastings at 5 private stores.  In addition, select BCLDB stores throughout the province will offer free tastings of Argentinean wines in April.

In BC, the following private stores will host complimentary consumer tastings.  Each store will pour at least 6 different Malbecs and Malbec blends, paired with samples of authentic Argentinean cuisine.

Saturday April 8 2017:

Everything Wine

North Vancouver, South Surrey & Langford locations

2:00 to 6:00pm

Marquis Wine Cellars

1034 Davie Street, Vancouver

With traditional empanadas from Panaderia Latina Bakery

PLUS a DJ will provide music at this lively event - 

2:00 to 5:00pm 

(Donations accepted to the BC Hospitality Foundation)

Saturday April 15 2017:

Legacy Liquor Store

1633 Manitoba Street, Vancouver 

2:00 to 6:00pm

Also:

• Keep an eye on Icon Scores for new reviews of Malbecs in March and April.
• BC Liquor Stores across the province will host over 50 Malbec World Day tastings.
• Follow twitter @ArgentinaWineCA or #MalbecWorldDay for ALL locations.

Try This, Cellar That - Malbec Blends

This week we showcase Malbec-leading blends:

Try This...

Bodega Norton 2010 Privada - $23
The 'Privada' is a blend of 40% Malbec, 30% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon offering a smooth, rounded nose of sweet mixed berry and dark plum aromas with oak aging influenced notes adding depth and complexity. Ready to go now while you wait for the Red Icon to reach its sweet spot in a few years.
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Cellar That...

Painted Rock Estate Winery 2011 Red Icon - $55
The ever changing components of Painted Rock's flagship wine, Red Icon, sees the 2011 vintage favour Malbec (30%) for the first time while the rest of the classic Bordeaux blending partners come in at 27% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot and just 3% Cabernet Sauvignon.  More approachable in its youth than previous vintages, and though the 2011 is ready to go now (with proper decanting, of course), it will improve over time as its predecessors have proved, with another 2-3 years of bottle age.
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- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca

Monthly Picks: April '14 - World Malbec Day

April's only official statutory holiday is Easter, but there's another fun fiesta worth making on your calendar taking place on the 17th: World Malbec Day.

Yes, it's a creation of the Wines of Argentina marketing machine, but we're willing to put that aside and embrace the manufactured reason to enjoy a bottle of Malbec along with millions of our wine-loving peers world wide.

Many liquor stores and wine shops have also embraced the idea, so look for complimentary Malbec tastings at your local haunt on the day. Sip, quaff and take home a bottle. Or, for those of you in too much of a hurry to stop and go through a few samples, here are some Malbec recommendations to fulfil your quick shopping requirements:

Graffigna 2011 Centenario Reserve Malbec - $14.50
Impressive intensity and balance of aromas on the nose of this Malbec with ripe blackberry and sweet spices in the lead supported by light, toasted oak and sun-drenched rock notes.
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Pascual Toso 2012 Malbec - $15
This easy-drinking, fruit-forward Malbec offers plenty of juicy, ripe cherry and tangy wild-blackberry fruit on the otherwise spicy-vanilla nose and the mild-mannered palate where light tannins and acidity play a supporting role to the hero of the wine, its tangy, fleshy fruit.
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Bodegas Escorihuela Gascón 2012 '1884' Reservado Malbec - $17
There's a warm smokiness on the nose of this Malbec that envelopes the blue fruit, mocha and light spice aromas while hints of vanilla and oak poke through the fog adding impressive depth and complexity for this price point.
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Luigi Bosca 2011  Malbec - $20
A very pure expression of Malbec with a focus on the balance between the natural, fleshy-fruit and peppercorn qualities of the variety. Some oak influence from 12 months in French barrels is perceptible and successfully enhances both the blackberry and plum-infused nose and the modern, fruit-forward, easy-drinking palate. 
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Michel Torino 2011 Don David Finca La Maravilla #6 - $20
This inky-purple, single-vineyard Malbec from the Cafayate Valley packs a punch. Albeit, a well-balanced, accurate punch. Should make for an excellent pairing with a fine cut of beef, either grilled or broiled.
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Bodega Norton 2010 Reserva Malbec - $20
Warm, inviting and layered, the Reserva from Bodegas Norton is the Malbec for lovers of red wines with character, a sense of place and bold fruit but without the residual sweetness all too common among red wines these days.
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River Stone Estate Winery 2012 Malbec Rosé - $20
Bold, both in hue and in flavour, the River Stone Malbec Rosé is one of the more colourful and fuller-bodied blush wines on the market in BC today.
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Perseus Winery 2011 Select Lots Syrah Malbec - $29
Sourced from vineyards in the Similkameen Valley and Osoyoos, this blend of 68% Syrah, 23% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Merlot offers ripe and spicy red and blue fruit aromas on a charming nose enhanced with toasted oak notes and hints of cinnamon sticks.
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 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2014 IconWines.ca