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Back on the Malbec bike
I won't say the Norton Reserve Malbec that inspired Wednesday's rant left a bad taste in my mouth, exactly, but its oaky, fruit-forward flavor profile put my attitude in need of adjustment, as I discussed in some detail at the time.
Norton, after all, is a historic and respected Argentine producer with a 110-year track record, and I've enjoyed its wines in the past. On the other hand, a review of my tasting notes suggests that they've drifted toward a modern, "international" style in recent years (possibly since an ownership change in 1989), and the '02 Reserve Malbec certainly offered a vivid example of that. But sometimes simplicity is a virtue, as Norton's simpler, less expensive regular Malbec happily demonstrates. Perhaps because there's no point in using expensive new oak barrels on a low-end wine that's not likely to get much attention from the critics anyway, Norton seems to have let this Malbec be Malbec, expressing the fruit and even a hint of earthy minerality without a lot of interference by the wine maker's hand. It's a good value in the $8 range, and as I like in modest Malbecs, its easy-drinking combination of fresh fruit and crisp acidity makes it a natural partner with pizza.
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Bodegas Norton 2003 Mendoza Malbec ($8.49)
Very dark reddish-purple, black at the center. Black-fruit aromas, plums and black cherries, lead into a ripe and juicy fruit flavor, open and fresh, shaped by mouth-watering acidity and a hint of the clay-like minerality that Argentine Malbec tends to show if it's not manipulated out. At half the price of Norton's Reserve bottling, it's a more appealing wine and a much better value. U.S. importer: TGIC Importers Inc., Woodland Hills, Calif. (Aug. 3, 2005) FOOD MATCH: Malbec is becoming even more of a cliche than Chianti with pizza for me, and it was fine with a straightforward model topped with sausage, mushrooms, peppers and onions. VALUE: A top player in the $6 to $8 range. Be wary of pricing over $10, though, a rapacious markup. WHEN TO DRINK: Best enjoyed young and fresh, but another year or two on the wine rack won't kill it.
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Friday, Aug. 5, 2005
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